Bus shelter battle heads to Jacksonville City Council

[Omarvelous09]

Not a very deep response to the thread...but GIVE US SHELTER!! it'd be nice to sheild myself from the elements while waiting for the bus, which moves at glacial speeds (btw). 

[CS Foltz]

Not enought shelters but boy do we get advertisments inserted whenever...........thanks ComCast! I think it's time to go to the Dish Network or Direct TV!

[stjr]

Bad news.  And this is most disturbing:

Attorneys with both the city General Counsel’s Office and JTA expressed confidence that the amendment was legal. That seemed to be enough for the majority of the council.

Not only are the local government attorneys less expert than those attorneys in opposition, they have had a number of legal fiascoes they "assured" us wouldn't happen, including courthouse contracts, stadium deals, the shipyard disaster, public records mishandling, etc.   Now, they are the best advice we have?

Opponents of the amendment accused JTA of collaborating with Clear Channel. The law firm of JTA attorney David Cohen  also represents Clear Channel.

Cohen said there is no conflict of interest because he doesn’t deal with Clear Channel, and does not discuss JTA business with his law partner who does represent Clear Channel.

The JTA attorney has a clear conflict of interest.  If ANYONE in his firm represents a conflicting client, ALL the attorneys in that firm should have a conflict.  I know that's what my attorneys always tell me.  The Bar should investigate this.

Here is what I would consider the perfect storm:  We get sued by the billboard companies AND, because we poorly design a contract with a bus shelter ad company, they ALSO sue us when we try to void their contract if we lose a suit to the billboard companies.  It will be a typical Jax legal train wreck and the taxpayers will pay a lot more than the ads will ever deliver.  Expect litigation to be hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

By the way, JTA's promise to cough up $250,000 for legal fees could have bought about 50 new shelters or maintained about 200 of them.  And, that's just their legal down payment.  Funny, they have lots of money for lawyers and litigation, but none for transit.  Once again, we have a gullible City Council.  Hope the mayor comes through with a veto.

Clear Channel, the largest sign company in Jacksonville, wouldn’t comment earlier this week about a lawsuit or whether it might bid for the shelter contract.

Taking bets on WHEN, not if, this lawsuit gets filed...

Typical Jax GOB deal.  And, posters here wonder why this town is always in the backwaters.

[CS Foltz]

Welll Johnny has a chance to do the right thing..........not holding my breath but I am going to watch just what takes place!

[Doctor_K]

It passed.  Let's see what happens now.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/New-bus-shelters-wont-waste-taxpayer-dollars/Fs5GYwdkykO8fhupfVLg_A.cspx?rss=1

New bus shelters won't waste taxpayer dollars


All the people are waiting to see how this budget will affect their wallet or if funding will be cut from their favorite program.
 
Instead, they will be paid for by selling advertising space on the shelters.

The bus stop shelters will go up on Jacksonville's major corridors.

Those opposed say it will open the door to more billboard advertising around town, which has been limited thanks to a city ordinance that's been around for more than 20 years.

Bus riders say the shelters are much needed, but some neighbors aren't happy about the plan.

"They will be an eyesoar for one, and nobody uses them," said Southside neighbor, Tina Schnittke

JTA says the shelters will not go up in residential neighborhoods.

Right now, Jacksonville has around 6,000 bus stops and only 350 of them have shelters. 

Copyright 2009 High Plains Broadcasting LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Other than the horrible typo that was obviously missed

[BridgeTroll]

"They will be an eyesoar for one, and nobody uses them," said Southside neighbor, Tina Schnittke

Tina would be horrified...

[urbanlibertarian]

I see this as something that benefits bus riders, tax payers, the businesses that advertise on the shelters and their customers and potential customers.

[CS Foltz]

The door has been opened now...........who wants to form a pool to call when the first law suit comes to life? If we get enough people it could be worth someones while!! I call it within 75 days from today! Any takers?

[TheProfessor]

I am glad someone knocked some sense into the city council for once.  If the council members had to wait for the bus one day then I'm sure they would have a better sense of compassion.  I think JTA needs to increase the annual bus shelter installation number though!  Next battle is for light rail =)

[CS Foltz]

I am gonna move the date out to 90 days......what no takers?