Business leaders launch new civic group

[Lunican]

This group also has the money to back projects they see as worthwhile.

[Dog Walker]

The problem is that many of these people are not in the business of improving Jacksonville, but in the business of seeing that public money and government support flows to their business interests.  There are some really fine people in this group, but there are also a lot of REALLY bad actors.

[Bostech]

Umm except none of these people are elected by people.
Some of them run companies that have been ripping off people without any shame.

And timing is perfect,now that Peyton is going out they finally decided to do something about leadership.
Seems to me they need another Peyton in office to protect their interests and not interests of people.

We need elected leaders that are not corrupted and looking to improve lives of people,not a group who wants to make more money of same people.

[tufsu1]

The problem is that many of these people are not in the business of improving Jacksonville, but in the business of seeing that public money and government support flows to their business interests.  There are some really fine people in this group, but there are also a lot of REALLY bad actors.

I'm not sure that's fair...most of these folks believe they are doing what is best for their companies and Jacksonville.

[Miss Fixit]

I agree with tufsu1 - these are folks who can get things done and many of them have made significant contributions to Jacksonville that don't directly benefit their respective businesses. 

Yes, some of them are developers - but not all developers are "bad actors"!  At least a couple of these developers have some really good ideas for improving infrastructure and delivery of services.....

[Bostech]

Contributions are part of business.
That is FIRST thing you learn if you want to become businessman or a woman.
Donate money to charity so you don't look greedy and evil.
Take $100 and give back $5.

Now lets see what kind of improvements these people did for Jacksonville?
Did they say or offer any kind of support for mass transit?
How about redevelopment of crimes areas?

[Dog Walker]

I'm not sure that's fair...most of these folks believe they are doing what is best for their companies and Jacksonville.

Yeah, "What's good for General Motors is good for the country." 

Lynne Pappas, Jack Diamond, John Rood, John Delaney, Preston Haskell, Herb Peyton, Ron Autry, Fred Franklin, Mac McGriff, Tom Petway, Robert Rhodes are all orcs and would not be part of this if it did not directly and primarily benefit their businesses and careers.

TU, your boss is not on the list just above, not being known to me, but is suspect because of the position your company holds in the development community in this town.

What is good for these companies is what has gotten us into a whole bunch of the problems we have now.

Every candidate for office in this town is now expected to pucker up and go running to this group for endorsement and campaign contributions.  Am I the only one who sees the connection between the formation of this group as a corporation and the recent Supreme Court decision re: corporate contributions to campaigns?

[vicupstate]

Am I the only one who sees the connection between the formation of this group as a corporation and the recent Supreme Court decision re: corporate contributions to campaigns?

That dealt with FEDERAL offices, and has no bearing on the local or state level.  So, there is no there, there.  Sorry to blow your conspiracy theory. Also, this 'new' group isn't 'new' at all, just reformulated.

Smart businesses understand that to be successful, it helps to operate in a city that is successful.  It helps in employee recruitment, in gaining new customers, controlling costs, etc.  In my city, the local businesses are helping the airport recruit a low-cost carrier, Southwest.  If successful, it will lower the companies travel costs. It will also help the city recruit new jobs, because high airfares have been a proven inpediment to economic development.  In other words, there is mutual benefit for the businesses and the city.

Stop  buying into all this cynicism and dark motives.       

[buckethead]

Right.

Clearly there is no evidence of impropriety on the part of this group. We can all rest assured that our taxes and the future of our fair city are in good hands.

[JeffreyS]

You should always try to watch the powerful they can be the biggest detriment or help to an area.