The FTU ran one of my editorials!

[simms3]

I was the top editorial today!  Slightly shortened, I wanted to make the point that downtown/core already has existing infrastructure that "merely" needs to be maintained instead of newly constructed, but I'm glad they ran it.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2011-04-08/story/election-observation-consolidation-no-longer-makes-sense

I have another editorial I wrote for the paper that should come out within a month.

[BridgeTroll]

Congrats!  How much did they edit your piece?  Can you post the unedited version here?

[Jaxson]

Well done, Simms3!  I read it this morning and think it is great!

[mtraininjax]

Mr. Simmons, excellent post in the TU, I read it loud and clear. Great idea too! Do you think we can convince anyone in town of the idea?

After reading Littlepage, I am more convinced than ever that he and Stephen are related somehow.

[buckethead]

Orrr... Stephen has more influence around town than is readily visible.

[simms3]

As you can see, they did not do much editing, which is nice (but I have a hard time being concise and being tactful with my writing so I had to edit it down to as short as I could make it).

Should Consolidation be Revisited?

1968 was hailed by many in our city as the year that marked Jacksonville as one of the most cutting edge cities in America.  It was the year of consolidation between various neighborhoods, the county, and the beaches.  This process required a visionary mayor in the form of Hans Tanzler and a unified and invigorated constituency.

2011 tells a different story as the election results give us evidence that Jacksonville has separated into three or four entirely different towns, each with people who express entirely different viewpoints and believe they need entirely different things.  Given this brewing division, I believe it is time for Jacksonville to deconsolidate from the county and from outlying suburban areas.  The new city limits should encompass merely the Moran voting territory along the riverfront and around downtown and some of Alvin Brown’s voting territory, as well.

There are financial and political reasons for doing this.  For one, Jacksonville has spread out to unsustainable proportions.  Not two decades ago, one square mile of downtown provided close to 15% of our city’s taxable base.  Because of endless sprawl creating a skyrocketing city budget and because of the failure of any leadership downtown to keep companies rooted, that number has plummeted to 2-3%.  Downtown and the urban core have existing infrastructure that only need be maintained and that which supports the highest intensity land use in our metro.

It is painfully obvious that most of our suburban population believes that downtown and the surrounding urban core is a money pit filled with people unlike themselves, but as a former 18 year intown resident and long time proponent of downtown, I believe it is the other way around.  Let us keep downtown and our established neighborhood communities and let those on the Southside and Westside finally get a chance to be in complete control of their own communities.  I believe this will benefit all areas and all people politically and will benefit the inner ring of Jacksonville, including downtown, financially.

Given the fact that each candidate could not have had a more different message and that clear voting lines were able to be discerned from a map, the people of Jacksonville have spoken and they demand a municipality split.

[simms3]

My other editorial, which may or may not run (the editor told me he would run it in about a month...).  I rewrote this piece over and over again until I was still not satisfied and submitted it anyway.

Putting a Finger on Our Economy’s Stagnation

Jacksonville was recently seen as a boom town with 2% annual metro area growth, a condo explosion, and several high profile F500 corporate relocations.  It is no secret that the supposed boom did not leave us in any better financial or political shape, and it can be just as easily argued that Jacksonville is currently on track to become the next Birmingham, AL: forgotten, stagnant economy, low population growth, no professional sports team, and butt of jeers.

It is time to wake up, smell the Maxwell coffee, and take a hard look at reality.  Whether we would like to admit it or not, Jacksonville cannot focus solely on attracting middle class families fleeing South Florida or Upstate New York who may or may not arrive with a job lined up.  We must focus our effort on attracting the 18-32 year old professional class, otherwise referred to as Generation Y.

Generation Y is urban minded, worldly, informed, involved, arguably moderate to left of center politically but mostly ambivalent, and incredibly fast paced.  Just as CEOs love their pet projects for improving the cities in which they live in, Generation Y likes to be engaged, as well.  More of them than ever have graduated from top notch colleges and so the collaborative, walkable, open, university mindset has not left them and likely will not leave them for a long time.

The reason why our peer cities such as Charlotte, Nashville, and Austin are leaving Jacksonville in their dust in terms of employment, GDP, salaries, educational attainment, and other measures is because they are actively pursuing the ultimate transformation from being sprawl havens suitable for middle class families to mature cities suitable for young professionals, corporate executives, and empty nester baby boomers who are moving back in.

Here are a couple of pointers for Jacksonville.  First, do not give up or abandon downtown and the surrounding established neighborhoods.  Jacksonville already has no identity as it is, but surely won’t create one on Gate Parkway.  Secondly, Jacksonville’s historic areas need to embrace contemporary design and infill.  At this point Jacksonville needs to take what it can get in terms of infill and development, and if someone wants to build a contemporary home or mid-rise on a vacant parcel in Springfield or Riverside, then SPAR and RAP need to encourage it rather than demand some historic look-a-like single family home.  Thirdly, we toot our own horn all the time about having the most extensive urban park system in America and we have no great parks to speak of.  Improve our urban parks and expand the riverwalk so that townies have somewhere to congregate other than the mall.

I’ll end on a brighter note.  Even if Jacksonville increased property taxes by 20%, we would still be cheaper than almost any other city in America, and we have the abundant sunshine to throw on top.  There is no reason why we should not be the most desirable city to live in in America.




(Now I realize that my point is jumbled because I forgot to say "here are some tips for attracting Gen Y....").

[Captain Zissou]

Nice work Simms.  I agree with the majority of your points.  I realize you weren't able to list your tips for attracting Gen Y, so I assume removing prohibitive and antiquated policies downtown is among them.  That is one huge sticking point for me.  A few friends and I are considering buying property in one of the core neighborhoods to start a business, but I am very hesitant to choose DT because of the uphill battle we'd face in getting up and running.

[SeaEmBee]

I know what the experts say about attracting young, well-educated professionals. I think Richard Florida has that research on lock. However, I'd like for the young professionals in Jacksonville to tell us what's missing. When I hear the drone of "there is nothing to do here" and all the other negativity it sometimes boils down to the lack of a wild entertainment scene or the perception that "everyone else" is a hick. I recently heard from a very dear 30 something that Jacksonville has no young professional groups, but there are over 40 such groups looking for members. Another 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta. Why all the misperceptions? Is it all about DT entertainment venues, intolerant newsmakers, and not having enough $100,000 jobs for college grads?  What else is at play here with regard to attracting and retaining talent?

[ChriswUfGator]

Like the editorial, sums up the sprawl issues that killed Jacksonville.

I have to say you have certainly grown on me simms.

[Captain Zissou]

Another 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta.

I don't thinking using the city population data is helpful.  Atlanta metro has 5 times our population.  If you go into DT Atlanta, this becomes very obvious. 

[ChriswUfGator]

Another 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta.

I don't thinking using the city population data is helpful.  Atlanta metro has 5 times our population.  If you go into DT Atlanta, this becomes very obvious.  

According to our skewed population statistics, we actually have more people than Boston. Useless bunk.

[danem]

Definitely some good points made.

I'd like to know: has any city like this ever de-consolidated? How could that ever possibly happen? Also, if it never happens, is there a viable alternative, perhaps a restructuring of government to some decentralized hubs specific to certain neighborhoods?

[hillary supporter]

I know what the experts say about attracting young, well-educated professionals. I think Richard Florida has that research on lock. However, I'd like for the young professionals in Jacksonville to tell us what's missing. When I hear the drone of "there is nothing to do here" and all the other negativity it sometimes boils down to the lack of a wild entertainment scene or the perception that "everyone else" is a hick. I recently heard from a very dear 30 something that Jacksonville has no young professional groups, but there are over 40 such groups looking for members. Another 30 something was surprised that Jax. has a population of 900,000 people - more than the Cities of Orlando or Atlanta. Why all the misperceptions? Is it all about DT entertainment venues, intolerant newsmakers, and not having enough $100,000 jobs for college grads?  What else is at play here with regard to attracting and retaining talent?

Artists..... the "hip" factor. Most of which is the same age group. But that will change now with the King street art district.

[Captain Zissou]

But that will change now with the King street art district.

We have a King street art district??