Why is Jacksonville the way it is?

[coredumped]

Hi folks, a serious question for you all - why is Jacksonville the way it is?

It's easy to say "bad leadership" "backwards mentality," etc, but why is it like that? Do you really feel the Mayor, city council, whoever (Current or Former) are trying to do Jacksonville harm?
Do you think they believe what they're doing is in the best interest of the people they represent, or do you feel that they're trying to hold back Jacksonville? And if so, why?
Why wouldn't they want the city to do well? Is there money behind some of these bad decisions?

It seems that our city makes 1 bad decision after another and nothing ever changes when so many cities are leaving us behind.

I was curious on your thoughts.

[cityimrov]

I don't know why but why don't we try an experiment? 

Take all the people who live in Jacksonville and put them to a good one - try Charlotte or San Diego or wherever.  Take all the people that live in Charlotte and bring to Jacksonville.  Keep the leadership in place but allow the people who live there to vote for new leaders if they wish during the next election.  Wait 20 years.  See what happens to both cities.   

[jcjohnpaint]

Corruption.  Leaders who are putting their closest interest before the people.  I have lived in some mob run areas and the fish always smells the same. 

[coredumped]

What corruption? Are you implying there's money behind these bad decisions? Are there really kick backs for no sidewalks? (I'm not being sarcastic, I just don't see where the money would be).

[Ocklawaha]

Extreme, institutionalized, old school authoritarian pandering to an entrenched society of business and industrial giants. Giants that pull every string, and call every shot with little regard for anyone who is not a member of the elite club. Historically something that probably stems from the Carpet Bagger era, when the choice between eating and famine meant choosing between silence or 'making the deal.'  Fast forward 150 years and their ways have become a well oiled modus operandi.

[Bativac]

A big part of it is that young people who might become change agents tire of navigating the "good ol' boy" network and dealing with a city full of largely apathetic citizens. These young people don't want to waste their youth hoping Jacksonville will get it together in time to enjoy it, so they leave and go someplace that already has what they're looking for. The people who stay are the ones who don't want anything but to pay lower taxes and to level the old parts of town.

I say "young people" but I just spoke to a woman last week who left Jax after retiring from a 30 year career because "there wasn't much going on."

Things like coming up with a grand new mobility plan and then declaring a moratorium on the funding mechanism for that plan don't help matters any. But it's that small town mentality that really does the city in. My dad was born and raised here and he says it's been that way for a long time (his dad was born and raised here, too).

[Noone]

Extreme, institutionalized, old school authoritarian pandering to an entrenched society of business and industrial giants. Giants that pull every string, and call every shot with little regard for anyone who is not a member of the elite club. Historically something that probably stems from the Carpet Bagger era, when the choice between eating and famine meant choosing between silence or 'making the deal.'  Fast forward 150 years and their ways have become a well oiled modus operandi.

This sounds like an opening statement in a federal conspiracy case against elected officials or board members in a corruption investigation that resulted in the violation of the Public Trust for personal gain.

Tides look good. Anyone interested in kayaking and fishing Downtown under the brand new No Fishing signs that was never before Waterways?

Debating if I'll put in at a Downtown kayak launch that still doesn't have a Mayor Brown Kayak launch logo.

Debating if I'll put in at another Downtown kayak launch option that will have the IOC saying WTF well before 2024.

Will definitely kayak over to the Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel floating dock Riverwalk compromise that is next to SHIPYARDS III ( Grand Jury Investigation Landmark) that was just misrepresented by OGC to the Jacksonville Waterways Commission in the 2013 FIND grant application process.

Is there just one person that wants to write a check for a dollar to 2009-442? It's the Artificial Reef Trust Fund. I know the word Trust is throwing off a lot of potential doners. Will personally deliver it at a Jacksonville city council meeting, DIA Board meeting, Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting.

Ben Warner- JCCI, we need to kayak Downtown before 2025.

Jacksonville the way it still is.

I am Downtown and why you aren't.

[CG7]

Wow! You people make me laugh, with how much you cry.

[Debbie Thompson]

CG7, Baltivac and Ock have something.  Jacksonville is firmly entrenched in the GOB network.  That said, it's not as easy as it sounds to uproot and move somewhere else.  Sometimes you stay and hope things change for the better.  Although, I've lived here 48 years, and haven't seen much in the way of the GOB network going away.  :-)

[Tacachale]

Wow! You people make me laugh, with how much you cry.

Hahahaha

[Coolyfett]

Hi folks, a serious question for you all - why is Jacksonville the way it is?

It's easy to say "bad leadership" "backwards mentality," etc, but why is it like that? Do you really feel the Mayor, city council, whoever (Current or Former) are trying to do Jacksonville harm?
Do you think they believe what they're doing is in the best interest of the people they represent, or do you feel that they're trying to hold back Jacksonville? And if so, why?
Why wouldn't they want the city to do well? Is there money behind some of these bad decisions?

It seems that our city makes 1 bad decision after another and nothing ever changes when so many cities are leaving us behind.

I was curious on your thoughts.

Jacksonville is place where the powers that be like to "take it easy" The big pockets set the tone for any city. If one can not afford to set the tone, then they have to follow the tone, feel, vibe and culture of those with the big pockets. People that have the want MORE personality are a minority in Jacksonville that includes most of the members of this very site. Jacksonville will only progress to as far as the leadership will let it. Truth be told the leadership has no interesting in that fancy pants excitement you are interested in. Its a city about fishing, hunting, driving BIG trucks, naval bases, big town, dim lights. That is the overall culture of Jacksonville.

[Intuition Ale Works]

 I would love for someone to name the members of this so-called GOB network that is holding us back.

[If_I_Loved_you]

CG7, Baltivac and Ock have something.  Jacksonville is firmly entrenched in the GOB network.  That said, it's not as easy as it sounds to uproot and move somewhere else.  Sometimes you stay and hope things change for the better.  Although, I've lived here 48 years, and haven't seen much in the way of the GOB network going away.  :-)

If you are almost 50  or older and live here in Jacksonville Florida you will most likely die here. So bitch and moan all you want for Jacksonville Florida is your home.

[Cheshire Cat]

Hi folks, a serious question for you all - why is Jacksonville the way it is?

It's easy to say "bad leadership" "backwards mentality," etc, but why is it like that? Do you really feel the Mayor, city council, whoever (Current or Former) are trying to do Jacksonville harm?
Do you think they believe what they're doing is in the best interest of the people they represent, or do you feel that they're trying to hold back Jacksonville? And if so, why?
Why wouldn't they want the city to do well? Is there money behind some of these bad decisions?

It seems that our city makes 1 bad decision after another and nothing ever changes when so many cities are leaving us behind.

I was curious on your thoughts.

If there was a single thing that we could point to as a collective in Jacksonville to explain why our city is the way it is, we must first acknowledge that our city has been made manifest around our own views of it.  Those views are ever changing, growing and regressing all at once in this truly old southern community.  As time, changing values and attitudes compete in our hearts, minds and community it is only natural that there are road bumps and conflicts. In that way, we are no different than any other large community in the Nation.

I know this may sound a bit esoteric to some at first blush but consider the opening commentary following the original question asking why Jacksonville is the way it is?  Upon asking the question, the original post goes on to query about a number of negative or problematic things about Jacksonville, this in turn leads respondents to further list the "negatives" about our city.  There in lies our first image problem which is how we view our city.  That view too often seems to lean to a disappointing opinion of things when it comes to Duval.  Perhaps as a community and city we should learn to first ask "What is right about Jacksonville?" 

How often do we see folks post or talk about some poll or report that lists Jacksonville in some negative light to be followed by unflattering commentary that indeed confirms in the minds of many that Jacksonville is not what it should be.  That then begs the question of what exactly Jacksonville should be at this place in history?  What measure is being collectively used to identify the invisible threshold of a better Jacksonville?  This is where opinions and attitudes greatly diverge and the point at which we should recognize that Jacksonville as a city is conflicted in views of where we are and where we should be headed.  A good look at our history helps explain why we are. 

Consider recent finding by the JCCI.  They reported that a majority of folks when asked, felt positive about their city.  It would be fair to say then that those people are satisfied with the way things currently are.  That then translates to how active they are when it comes to voting or working for change and growth, if they do either. 

If we begin by acknowledging all that is right in our city, we can identify what people who live here value and love.  Those values then translate to where we might be headed and what individuals can do to make that road one that is traveled in a positive way.  What I am saying is that Jacksonville first has to embrace the positive and in so doing find the ground to collectively stand upon to change the negatives in community, lifestyle, development and most importantly in regressive views and politics. 

This is just an opening salvo for me in what I hope will be an extended conversation because it is one that needs to be had.  I have much more to impart on this thread question and hope that fellow posters will entertain the idea of first talking about what makes Jacksonville great and then take a serious look at what makes Jacksonville less than it could and should be.

[Coolyfett]

What corruption? Are you implying there's money behind these bad decisions? Are there really kick backs for no sidewalks? (I'm not being sarcastic, I just don't see where the money would be).

Coredumped...what if you were a mayor or ceo or developer. There is a reason to not build sidewalks if your cousins or close friends own a gas station, there is a reason not to build sidewalks if your friends own used car dealerships. There is always a reason. So to answer your question is there Kickbacks? you should be a caddy in Mandarin..youll learn tons.