Jacksonville Boat Parade

fsujax · October 20, 2011, 08:32:36 AM

One of the biggest events of the year that draws thousands Downtown has been cancelled. I look forward to this every year, what a shame!

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/223313/483/Lights-Out-Jacksonville-Lighted-Boat-Parade-Nixed

I-10east · October 20, 2011, 08:48:22 AM

The operating costs for the boat parade wasn't all that expensive at 107,000. It's not like it was 1.5 million or something that can really justify the 'cost cutting'. It's definitely not a good thing when a city's annual tradition is cancelled, esp one that was well liked like the boat parade.

fsujax · October 20, 2011, 08:51:52 AM

and the excuse of it didnt pass a cost benefit ratio test is crap. How do you measure thousands of kids and adults having a great time, enjoying the riverfront Downtown and watching a huge firework display? this is lame and to me goes against the Mayor's platform of attracting people downtown.

BridgeTroll · October 20, 2011, 08:58:09 AM

For the past five years we have always gotten a riverview room at the Hyatt for the event. We ate at the resteraunts and hit the bars dowtown before and after the show. Many people did the same thing and Hyatt was full for at least that night. 107k does not seem like too much for an annual event of that size...

Tacachale · October 20, 2011, 08:59:54 AM

This was a pretty silly thing to cut entirely. Sure, it costs money, but it also draws thousands to downtown. How much will the local businesses lose at the Landing alone? They should be expanding on this stuff and building tradition, and they're doing the opposite.

tufsu1 · October 20, 2011, 09:02:10 AM

hey...this is what we voted for....no new taxes and fees means making cuts!

btw...rumor has it New Year's fireworks are also gone...although the downtown hotels are still lobbying and there may be a potential partnership with the Gator Bowl.

CG7 · October 20, 2011, 09:22:20 AM

No matter how many times I see it, the waterfall fireworks off the bridges give me goosebumps. Absolutely my favorite city sponsored event. This is another sad example of our city government being ass backwards.

tufsu1 · October 20, 2011, 09:45:57 AM

If you had to choose between waterfall fireworks and libraries staying open, which would you choose?

mtraininjax · October 20, 2011, 10:14:49 AM

Quotethis is lame and to me goes against the Mayor's platform of attracting people downtown.

I smell a HAND having a HAND in this. Maybe time to wash the HAND of too much power.....First poor Alice Newman, now the cancellation of the boat parade and 4th of July Fireworks. But hey, we do have the Veteran's Parade, Fishing with the seniors, A lovely canning operation on the westside for your vegetables, and a great recycling program....

Mayor Brown is quickly making friends and influencing people, first 100 days have been a Bang, so we had to cut the fireworks. Not sure what Hogan would have done, but I seriously doubt he would have cut fireworks or the parade, 2 events that fire up downtown businesses and help to draw people downtown. Boo on Mayor Brown!!!!!

RockStar · October 20, 2011, 11:21:59 AM

@mtrain, I believe it's only NYE fireworks that are cancelled, not 4th of July. Apparently the Gator Bowl committee is/was trying to find a way to make NYE fireworks happen.

Can't believe this about the boat parade tho... although the cost seems rather high. Maybe if they just cut the fireworks at the end of it, they could do it for much cheaper.

mtraininjax · October 20, 2011, 11:24:15 AM

Rockstar - Jax Beach already cancelled their 4th of July fireworks for 2012. So its not entirely that far off for COJ to do the same.

fieldafm · October 20, 2011, 11:32:55 AM

Quote from: mtraininjax on October 20, 2011, 10:14:49 AM
Quotethis is lame and to me goes against the Mayor's platform of attracting people downtown.

I smell a HAND having a HAND in this. Maybe time to wash the HAND of too much power.....First poor Alice Newman, now the cancellation of the boat parade and 4th of July Fireworks. But hey, we do have the Veteran's Parade, Fishing with the seniors, A lovely canning operation on the westside for your vegetables, and a great recycling program....

Mayor Brown is quickly making friends and influencing people, first 100 days have been a Bang, so we had to cut the fireworks. Not sure what Hogan would have done, but I seriously doubt he would have cut fireworks or the parade, 2 events that fire up downtown businesses and help to draw people downtown. Boo on Mayor Brown!!!!!

With the new reorganization plans, Chris Hand effectively becomes a little mini-mayor.

fsujax · October 20, 2011, 02:19:32 PM

it sure seems that way.

RockStar · October 20, 2011, 04:30:12 PM

Quote from: mtraininjax on October 20, 2011, 11:24:15 AM
Rockstar - Jax Beach already cancelled their 4th of July fireworks for 2012. So its not entirely that far off for COJ to do the same.

I'm hoping that the COJ administration is at least smarter than the City of Jax Beach.

futurejax · October 21, 2011, 01:30:23 PM

I understand budgets are tight but at 107k this seem almost penny wise, pound foolish. Then again, when your administration is cutting police left and right it's a little absurd to say we've got the money for a boat parade.