Jacksonville Journey money used to fund demolitions?

[sheclown]

Municipal Code Compliance Division (MCCD) As a means to eliminate blight and unsafe conditions that provide potential havens for criminal
activity, MCCD cites unsafe structures, abandoned/junk vehicles, established
residential/commercial minimum building standards violations, nuisance conditions and
vacant/open structures requiring board-up. If owners fail to address unsafe structure and/or
nuisance issues, Journey funding supports demolition and site clearance activities to correct code
violations. Through the Drug Abatement Response Team (DART), MCCD partners with JSO and
other city agencies to inspect properties where reported criminal activities occur and take action as
necessary

http://www.coj.net/Mayor/Docs/The-Jacksonville-Journey/JJ-Funded-Prgms-Handout--FINAL.aspx

Apparently there are two demolitions being funded by Jacksonville Journey money.

[iloveionia]

What is Jacksonville Journey money?
Who is Jacksonville Journey?
How is JJ funded?

[ChriswUfGator]

It's supposed to help at-risk kids, what does that have to do with funding Code Enforcement's demolition budget?

[iloveionia]

Who is MCCD's Chief's boss?  Who is above Kim Scott?  The mayor?
Once again, mama's gonna lose it. 

[strider]

Tearing down a house because a criminal MAY use it for something illegal is treating the symptom rather than a cause. The house did not do the crime.  The house did not make the criminal.  The house also did not cause the blight.  I suspect it is an action and so makes the politicians, police and code look like they have done something, when in fact all they have really accomplished is another empty, forgotten lot.  A shame that is the standard here in Jacksonville.  I would be nice if we were smarter than that.

[avs]

JJ is one of the program's Brown shut down I thought.  So this money should no longer be available, not still used for a JJ purpose even though the program no longer exists.

[sheclown]

Jacksonville Journey money is being used as well as NSP 1 money to fund this current round of demolitions. 

At least, that is my understanding.

Where are the protections for historic structures?  I simply do not understand.

[Sigma]

Tearing down a house because a criminal MAY use it for something illegal is treating the symptom rather than a cause. The house did not do the crime.  The house did not make the criminal.  The house also did not cause the blight.  I suspect it is an action and so makes the politicians, police and code look like they have done something, when in fact all they have really accomplished is another empty, forgotten lot.  A shame that is the standard here in Jacksonville.  I would be nice if we were smarter than that.

+1

[sheclown]

JJ is one of the program's Brown shut down I thought.  So this money should no longer be available, not still used for a JJ purpose even though the program no longer exists.

Anyone know this for certain?  What happens to funds previously allocated if the program goes away?

[Kay]

Journey has not gone away.  Why don't you guys ask for a meeting with your councilmember and Kim Scott?

[Springfielder]

been there/done that

[urbanlibertarian]

Abandoned houses don't smoke crack, people do.

[avs]

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2011-09-09/story/cutting-jacksonville-journey-funds-pound-foolish

[Debbie Thompson]

I think the media needs to be involved.  This need to stop.  Taxpayer funds being used to tear down historic homes when they are SUPPOSED to be used for at-risk families?  Why? Because a drug dealer MIGHT be using the house?  Isn't that what the jail is for?

[ChriswUfGator]

Well, look at it another way, if the money isn't being used to help at-risk kids, which was its stated purpose, and is instead being co-opted to fund COJ's Code Enforcement budget, then by all means I have no problem with JJ funding being cut to the bone. That is some really tenuous logic that one has anything to do with the other, because a drug dealer *might* use a house so we better go ahead and knock it down using this funding source. Downright ridiculous logic actually.