POLL: What are The Biggest Issues?

[Mattius92]

SPRAWL, the root of all evil. Everything goes hand in hand with sprawl.

[CS Foltz]

Sprawl of anykind is detrimental to anything worth while, but I am surprised that no one mentioned making use of the River, in any shape fashion or form. It is there and why are we not taking advantage of a natural resource? The only person who even suggested utilization, has been one Councilmember want to be! No one else, has broached the subject other then Mr Nooney.............what the heck! Granted there are really numerous issue's that must be addressed before Jacksonville goes down the tubes but really!

[kitester]

Access to area beaches and waters is extremely important. Those features are the best ones we have. We have been fighting to preserve access for all the community to enjoy but, a small handful of people want to reduce or remove access altogether. They are well funded and have picked their candidate. All the work to achieve a sort reasonable compromise the city just went through could be undone. All the candidates have plans to deal with all the major issues but this issue may affect more of us and how we are able to enjoy our city's most beautiful resource.   

[urbanlibertarian]

Balancing the city budget without raising taxes.

[jcjohnpaint]

I am going to say Transit as my top with a close second to downtown and infill.  I do feel the transit will help mend the second problem so I put it as a main concern. 
I feel that Jacksonville has never (in recent history) had a great downtown and once or if the downtown ever comes around/ a great downtown will become an issue of pride and protection of the people of Jacksonville.  I believe a strong downtown could completely change the way people think around here where the people will have something to protect and preserve leading to more support on intelligent transit issues.   

1) Transit
2 Downtown/ Infill
3) Neighborhoods/ Historic Preservation

[jcjohnpaint]

I would also follow up with Education since I am an educator, but this is one of the most complicated issues on here I am not sure what the answer would be to correct the problem, but I do believe re affirming infill infrastructure would put more pressure on reforming educational institutions in town and not continue to build (better schools) out of town. 

[mfc]

I see education as the biggest issue because the beneficiaries of better educated students is less crime, a better economy, more job offerings due to the attraction our city would be to companies wanting to move here. The issue of race relations would improve. Education is at the root  of most issues.

[mfc]

I see education as the biggest issue because the beneficiaries of better educated students is less crime, a better economy, more job offerings due to the attraction our city would be to companies wanting to move here. The issue of race relations would improve. Education is at the root  of most issues.

[Garden guy]

Education is our biggest issue in jax...the leaders of this city have historically defunded our school system and now the cards are falling. Companies dont want to locate here because our children are not as smart as mostly everyone else. Conservative leadership is what has cause this. It's funny how they'll keep lowering taxes at the cost of the children who are the future of our city.....yet give massive tax incentives for corporations to locate here only for them to leave here when the city's workforce cant support the work....just sayin...it's a cycle. Our city in particular has made waise of many millions of frivalous actions and whims..the waste is everywhere and yet they still take money out of the schools every year...time to pay the piper....and how do we pay?...with 30 more years of delay for our city unless something is done and done now.

[Noone]

What are the Biggest Issues? Some need to be added to the list.

Code of Ethics.
The recent Charter Revision Commission which meets every 10 years had a recommendation that the Code of Ethics that was in our original charter in 1968 and removed in 1972 be restored.

Pension Reform- Didn't happen. 2005-1007
Our City is broke.

[JeffreyS]

It may need to be done but we need to stop using the nom de plume "Pension Reform" and call it what it is breaking the promises we made to the people who run into fires, stand in front of bullets and remove the trash for us.

[Noone]

JeffreyS 4 days ago front page Florida Times Union story about a 22 year veteran of JSO accused of stealling $50,000 from a non profit. So what do you do. Resign and collect a pension for life.

So what should we do?

[JeffreyS]

So is that representative of JSO or an extreme example.  I am OK with the city trying to negotiate in good faith.  I just think were pension reform and assume these villians have to be reformed.  Let's just not try to cloud what we are doing.  We need to be honest when we can not live up to the deals we have made.

[simms3]

Right now Jacksonville needs an economic driver to lift it out of recession.  I listed the port.  In good times I would say transit, improving the neighborhoods, or stopping sprawl, but Jacksonville is in BAD times.  It needs a Hartfield Airport or something to make it recognizable to the national/international community.

[stjr]

The very best driver of our economy should be medical, electronic, software, and other high technologies.  I just heard a report on the news this morning that this is far and away the only significant growth sector in our down economy.

Unfortunately, Jax is heavily handicapped by the huge State and local underinvestment in public education.  Scott wants to create jobs, but he will be lucky if anything pans out - at least with above average wages - given his further 10% plus reductions to our 50th lowest state per capita funding.

Play back the interview on WJCT's First Coast Connections with Duval School Board Chairman W. C. Gentry this past week.  He articulated very well the depressing plight facing our schools under Scott's budget. See free February 28th broadcast at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wjcts-first-coast-connect/id328347910?ign-mpt=uo=4 at: