Let's Secede!

[jaxpaxpastor]

What started as a whimsical joke among a few people at April's First Friday has been echoing around places personal, professional, and political: Springfield (and to a somewhat lesser extent, Riverside & Avondale) are major pockets of voters in the past primary and earlier elections ... contrary to the 70% malaise that affected the majority of Jacksonville voters.  We talked about whether it would be possible for Springfield to legally "secede" from the city of Jacksonville and become a separate, self-governing municipality (much like the beaches), partnering with the County for essential services.  Frankly, I fear living here under the presumed new mayor.  But if Springfield could take a stand as an incorporated city, I suspect that many people seeking the kind of eclectic, eccentric, community-minded spirit and friendly neighborhood that we have might be tempted to move here and reinvigorate our own business corridor, as well as dwellings.  Am I stupid, naive, or just totally off base with a question about whether Springfield can become a self-standing, incorporated city apart from Jacksonville?

[Ocklawaha]

Right smack in the middle of the OKC Metro area there are several such "cities," Woodlawn Park is one of them, and they contract out services to Bethany PD, or OKC, Etc. Don't know if Florida law permits this but it is interesting.

OCKLAWAHA

[outofhere]

I am not a huge fan of consolidation in terms of the effect our downtown and urban neighborhoods....just look at how the council districts are laid out in pie shaped wedges.

That said my guess is that opportunities to set up your own govt much like the beaches have probably passed. Articles of consolidation often require groups to reserve that action at the time of consolidation so unless someone in the Springfield area took that step decades ago it is probably a nonstarter.

Our best home now is to look at how the council districts will be redesigned this yr and try to get districts that make sense. In terms of zoning, codes, etc. Riverside Avondale has virtually nothing in common w/ Argyle but we share a councilman.

[Demosthenes]

There are big fiscal challenges to doing this, and a police and fire agreement would most certainly have to remain in place (like Baldwin), and tax dollars would still have to be contributed to the county for schools, but the idea of self governing is an interesting one. According to the census, Springfield has a little over 3600 residents. How many of them would support this kind of move.

[Dashing Dan]

I agree with outofhere.

Redistricting is inevitable and secession is next to impossible.  

If we focus on redistricting we could really do ourselves some good.

[Steve]

The only way something like this happens is deconsolidation (if couldn't just be Springfield, it would probably take the pre-1968 city).  This would not be good.  Jacksonville would seriously have the economic power of Detroit if that were to occur.  See the MJ feature form Thursday.

[Debbie Thompson]

Too funny.  I think we are mostly too independent for self-government. And too close to each other.  Friends governing friends?  Recipe for disaster.

[peestandingup]

Too funny.  I think we are mostly too independent for self-government. And too close to each other.  Friends governing friends?  Recipe for disaster.

Yeah, it wouldn't be good. Historic Spr is pretty small to be it's own city, so you'd have to include New Spr as well. A good idea, but I know a lot of people in HS probably wouldn't want to do that. But then NS has a lot of people who probably live well below the poverty line (even HS has quite a few), so that would mean Jax would no longer be caring for these people with services & such. You would.

I agree with the theory & some of it makes sense (Lord knows Jax isn't doing ya'll any favors), but it would have a lot of problems too.

What I'm tying to say is, um, could I be Mayor? Nah, I actually think Stephen would make a better one.

[tufsu1]

Several folks mentioned the same idea at Audrey's campaign party...but I think that was just emotions talking....at the end of the day, I think most will agree that consolidation has more benefits for Jacksonville than drawbacks.

[jaxpaxpastor]

There's just GOT to be an alternative to you-know-who and you-know-what.  We didn't move from Florida to Wisconsin and now to Springfield, JAX, Florida, to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.  Literally and figuratively! 

[iMarvin]

I like the idea of deconsolidation. I'm tired of hearing people say they live on the Northside or Southside. I would like to hear Highlands or Sandalwood. It sounds nicer.

[strider]

In interesting idea.  One that could be used to further the entire Urban core but not by actually doing it.  I agree with some of the others who have posted that it would not work nor would it really be possible.  But there is a way to use the idea.

Years ago in Annapolis. MD, they took out the lift bridge to rebuild it so that you then had to literally go around that proverbial Robinhood's barn to get to East Port.  In "protest", they seceded from Annapolis.  Had elections of sorts, made up new banners and flags and generally had a lot fun with the idea.  Of course, this was all done for the sake of marketing the businesses and such for that year plus the lift bridge was gone.

The same idea could be used to make a statement about the lack of leadership who has a clue about the urban core within the city and the side benefit would be that it would be great marketing for Springfield. Done right, it could get national exposure and so make us a political force within the city.  Someone that should be listened to and so we could end up with what we, as an urban core area, needed regardless of who is Mayor. We would just have to be all inclusive so that we had the vast majority behind it.  We have a few who ran for office that could be the leaders for this type of event and bring enough people together to make it work.

[sheclown]

Seriously?

I doubt the city would fight Springfield's attempt to Secede.  I believe they would whisper "thank God."

[Lunican]

I doubt this could be done without a civil war.

[fsujax]

It is an interesting subject to discuss though. Maybe metrojacksonville could do an article on the pros and cons?