Live Blogging@1:30PM. "Mayor to Take Action on Courthouse Furniture"

TheCat · May 10, 2012, 01:09:28 PM

MAYOR BROWN TO ACT ON COURTHOUSE FURNITURE LEGISLATION
So, lets talk about furniture.

2012-299
ORD Amend Ord 2007-401-E; Approp $750,000 from Duval County Unified Courthouse Prog to Fund & Require Purchase of Furniture for the 7th Floor Hearing Rooms in the New Duval County Courthouse. (Sidman) (Introduced by CM Daniels)
Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 5/22/12

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. May 10, 2012 â€" Mayor Alvin Brown will take action today on Council Bill 2012-299.

WHEN: 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Mayorâ€™s Office, Fourth Floor
City Hall at St. James
117 West Duval Street -- 32202

WHAT: Announcement Regarding Council Bill 2012-299

Bativac · May 10, 2012, 01:29:42 PM

They sure have made a big deal about this furniture issue. Judge Moran will not be pleased if he doesn't get his new desks and chairs.

TheCat · May 10, 2012, 01:44:08 PM

I'm not sure if we've been duped into standing in a line for this press conference or if it's legit. There's a lot of press in the house. Channel 4, wjct, times union and, hey it's that guy. I don't know his name but somehow, whenever I see him I end up leaving with a notebook filled with info about a random non-profit organization.

We're still waiting....

TheCat · May 10, 2012, 01:50:22 PM

We're in the room. Mic check.

TheCat · May 10, 2012, 01:52:05 PM

Bill vetoed

TheCat · May 10, 2012, 01:56:41 PM

"we need to live within our means"

Meeting out.

coredumped · May 10, 2012, 02:08:06 PM

Thanks for the live blogging! CH4 has posted their story:

http://www.news4jax.com/news/Mayor-vetoes-new-courthouse-furniture/-/475880/13059292/-/e2jdgz/-/index.html

QuoteMayor Alvin Brown on Thursday vetoed the City Council's motion to spend $750,000 to furnish hearing rooms in the new Duval County Courthouse.

The council can override the veto.

Council members had voted 18-to-1 allocating $750,000 on furniture for hearing rooms on the seventh floor of the courthouse set to open at the end of the month.

The dispute over buying new furniture has been a major battle between the mayor, Chief Judge Donald Moran and City Council members.

"This is not about politics. It's about difficult economic times and that we protect taxpayers' dollars," said the mayor's chief of staff, Chris Hand.

Council members said prior to the veto they still have lots of questions about how the mayor plans to save money by using old furniture -- furniture some say members say will contaminate the new courthouse with mold.

Council President Stephen Joost said the old furniture could end up costing the city more.

"You can't be penny wise and pound foolish and say, 'Alright, we are moving the courthouse and now it's not going to be functional,'" Joost said. "How much more money is that going to end up costing the citizens?"

Joost went on to say he would not call this a defeat for the mayor because he said Brown has saved millions by making other cuts at the courthouse.

The city is expected to begin moving into the new courthouse on May 18. It will be open for court business on May 29.

copperfiend · May 10, 2012, 02:16:21 PM

Too bad Brown was not in office when they started building this monstrosity.

TheCat · May 10, 2012, 02:30:47 PM

Official letter from the mayor's office to City Council.

downtownjag · May 10, 2012, 02:40:26 PM

AWESOME!!! I don't necessarily care about less than 1% of the total budget for the courthouse, but I love that he is making a point and standing up to Moran, who personally I'm beginning to not like.

Anyone else feel this way? How does the public remove a judge? He seems to be the epicenter of the GOB network

tufsu1 · May 10, 2012, 02:56:40 PM

^ sorry...but its a really bad policy (albeit popular with the people) move to go against a 17-1 vote of City Council...and politically speaking, its likely to hurt some of his bigger priorities (like the DIA).

Non-RedNeck Westsider · May 10, 2012, 03:04:17 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 10, 2012, 02:56:40 PM
^ sorry...but its a really bad policy (albeit popular with the people) move to go against a 17-1 vote of City Council...and politically speaking, its likely to hurt some of his bigger priorities (like the DIA).

I don't think it hurts him nearly as much as it would if the council were split over the idea. He knows they'll overturn the veto and their bill will move forward. The majority of the public will see it as him agianst wasteful spending. And he sticks Moran with a public F-U. Mission accomplished.

JeffreyS · May 10, 2012, 03:04:40 PM

It seems to be an honest difference of opinion and the Mayor voted his conscience as the council has.

copperfiend · May 10, 2012, 03:09:35 PM

Quote from: downtownjag on May 10, 2012, 02:40:26 PM
AWESOME!!! I don't necessarily care about less than 1% of the total budget for the courthouse, but I love that he is making a point and standing up to Moran, who personally I'm beginning to not like.

Anyone else feel this way? How does the public remove a judge? He seems to be the epicenter of the GOB network

He definitely appears to have a sense of entitlement.

And apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

http://m.jacksonville.com/news/crime/2012-05-09/story/charges-against-judge-morans-son-dropped-after-he-completes-community

downtownjag · May 10, 2012, 03:13:02 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 10, 2012, 02:56:40 PM
^ sorry...but its a really bad policy (albeit popular with the people) move to go against a 17-1 vote of City Council...and politically speaking, its likely to hurt some of his bigger priorities (like the DIA).

I see your point; however, the council hasn't put his DIA in action either. In fact, they said it was poorly constructed. I don't believe it will set back his DIA specifically either because I believe (maybe incorrectly) that most of the council does want legislation like that in place.