The Issues by Mayoral Candidate Mike Hogan

[copperfiend]

He is merely pandering to the voters that will elect him mayor, and they will. Sometimes in this town I feel like Dr. Evil. Why must I be surrounded by frickin' idiots?

[bill]

As inane as most of that reads. The most important thing any Mayor is going to have to deal with is the pension funds. I have not heard anything from either candidate regarding that. Hard to not raise taxes if we allow EMTs retire at 50 years old.

Bill can you find any math that proves that the Pension funds actually need to be dealt with?

It is pretty much common sense. You cannot sustain having people retire between 40-50 years old and pay 80% of their salary all while paying an 8.5% return. The unfunded liabilty is at least 2 BILLION dollars. The pensions are taking more than 11% of the general fund and rising. Here is a link.

http://www.jaxtaxpayers.org/curtis-lee%e2%80%99s-11410-speech-to-jacksonville%e2%80%99s-true-commission-re-jacksonville%e2%80%99s-public-pension-problems/#more-744

So, then the answer is 'no'?

I laid it fairly simply and gave you a letter that goes into more depth. IF you are not capable of grasping the problem from there that would explain why we are in such a mess.

[Jimmy]

I live on the river in Riverside, and there are often Navy planes and helicopters flying over my house.

I'm a couple of blocks from the river in Avondale.  Couldn't tell you the last time I heard or saw one.  I grew up 3 miles west of Cecil field.  You had to keep the TV on closed caption mode if you wanted to make it through a whole hour program without missing some dialogue due to the jets.  Day, night.

[ChriswUfGator]

I live on the river in Riverside, and there are often Navy planes and helicopters flying over my house.

I'm a couple of blocks from the river in Avondale.  Couldn't tell you the last time I heard or saw one.  I grew up 3 miles west of Cecil field.  You had to keep the TV on closed caption mode if you wanted to make it through a whole hour program without missing some dialogue due to the jets.  Day, night.

So I'm lying, or the planes and helicopters are optical illusions? Trust me, they're there.

[Jimmy]

I have no idea if you're lying, or not.  I can't imagine why you'd lie.

I'm telling you what I hear and see now in Avondale vs. what I heard and saw when I lived near the active Cecil NAS. 

[bill]

As inane as most of that reads. The most important thing any Mayor is going to have to deal with is the pension funds. I have not heard anything from either candidate regarding that. Hard to not raise taxes if we allow EMTs retire at 50 years old.

Bill can you find any math that proves that the Pension funds actually need to be dealt with?

It is pretty much common sense. You cannot sustain having people retire between 40-50 years old and pay 80% of their salary all while paying an 8.5% return. The unfunded liabilty is at least 2 BILLION dollars. The pensions are taking more than 11% of the general fund and rising. Here is a link.

http://www.jaxtaxpayers.org/curtis-lee%e2%80%99s-11410-speech-to-jacksonville%e2%80%99s-true-commission-re-jacksonville%e2%80%99s-public-pension-problems/#more-744

So, then the answer is 'no'?

I laid it fairly simply and gave you a letter that goes into more depth. IF you are not capable of grasping the problem from there that would explain why we are in such a mess.

I understand you have trouble with the math thingy. I am amazed someone as well read as you has not researched the issues. If not it is not worth my time to explain it to you

[JeffreyS]

The parts your link ignores is the declining property values it references is a temporary problem and the unfunded liabilities are from taking pension holidays and not paying when times were good.  It is not growing unfunded liabilities at that rate when normally funded. Alvin Brown has said he won't take those holidays that create problems. I do not have big problem with negotiating some reforms but this whole sky is falling routine seems over board.

[bill]

The parts your link ignores is the declining property values it references is a temporary problem and the unfunded liabilities are from taking pension holidays and not paying when times were good.  It is not growing unfunded liabilities at that rate when normally funded. Alvin Brown has said he won't take those holidays that create problems. I do not have big problem with negotiating some reforms but this whole sky is falling routine seems over board.

Fair points. The problems I have are that the number is already so large. Property values may not return for years and are still declining. We promise an 8.5% return when the market has been in a decline. This thing only mushrooms as more people retire at a young age and live longer.
No matter what the next mayor does the unions have shown little willingness to negotiate. It is not a fun issue for politicians to bargain with the people that got them elected. 

[Coolyfett]

Why would Jax vote for this guy who has no plans of making the city Better?

[tufsu1]

Why would Jax vote for this guy who has no plans of making the city Better?

because he's a Republican...lots of people vote strictly D or R without paying any attention to what the candidate says or does

[wsansewjs]

Why would Jax vote for this guy who has no plans of making the city Better?

because he's a Republican...lots of people vote strictly D or R without paying any attention to what the candidate says or does

And people who vote strictly for D or R are completely stupid and ignorant especially for this CITY election, not national.

-Josh

[Timkin]

Welcome (unfortunately) to the last century of most voters

[CS Foltz]

Timkin..........I concur and then some! Voter appathy is prevelant and due to the people running for office, I can understand! No one appears to take the voter concerns into play, just their own rehtoric and pandering to the inner circle. Until all of the voters wake up...........forgetaboutit! Tis truely sad!

[Timkin]

I am really no one to talk... Until a few years ago , I didn't pay attention to politics and the players,, but then I did , and when I did what I was observing became alarming to say the least..  So I cannot finger point ,really...

I DO THINK however, that the population is waking up and taking notice!  certainly hope that is the trend ..

[CS Foltz]

Tim it would be nice...........but I gotta point out this past election cycle, voter turnout of 13% does not bode well for any of us other than the normal insiders! Public will just end paying for it like normal!