Jacksonville may call for offshore drilling

[thelakelander]

Davis wants the council, other elected leaders to support it, too

By TIA MITCHELL, The Times-Union

Former Jacksonville City Council President Daniel Davis is on a crusade to lower prices at the pump.
 
He is convinced that drilling for oil and natural gas off the coast of Florida and other states is the answer and has created a plan that he hopes will urge lawmakers in Washington to remove a barrier that keeps this from happening. The first step is that a resolution must be passed by his City Council colleagues.

The bill urges elected leaders representing Northeast Florida to support easing restrictions on offshore drilling and urges other Florida cities and councils to take the same stance. If the measure passes, Davis plans to actively lobby other city councils and county commissions to pass similar resolutions.

"We need to set policy that does everything we can, including drilling, to obtain resources that reduce our dependence on foreign oil," Davis said Monday.

The bill is scheduled to be considered by two council committees next week and come could up for a full vote Aug. 12.

Davis said he introduced the bill because he believes local governments should take the lead in helping people get relief at the pump and improve the nation's economy. He rejected any notion that offshore drilling is a subject that the City Council should avoid and that his resolution is taking away focus from more pressing topics locally.

"I think that's pretty short-sighted, as well. That would assume I'm not worried about the murder rate," he said. "I'm worried about all our quality-of-life issues, and the economy is one of them."

With gas prices rising and the economy on shaky ground, recent polls show public support for offshore drilling has increased, according to the Associated Press.

Bob Connors, who lives in Ponte Vedra Beach and works in Jacksonville, said drilling in Florida should have started long ago.

"Are we going to let another 10 years go by?" he said.

But others aren't so sure offshore drilling is a topic the City Council should be tackling right now.

Jimmy Midyette, a Jacksonville lawyer who lives in Lakeshore, said it isn't Davis' positions that worries him as much as the precedent it could set.

"As far as I know, Jacksonville has never had what I would consider to be an 'activist council.' ... If our council begins to get bogged down with these hot-button national issues, where will it stop?," he wrote in an e-mail to the Times-Union. "What's next? A resolution against same-sex marriage? A resolution in support of the war in Iraq? A resolution debunking global warming?"

Matt Corrigan, chairman of the political science department at the University of North Florida, said the resolution is unusual for the City Council, but there is nothing wrong with members taking a stand.

"What may be going on is that they're hearing so much from their constituents about gas prices they want to show they are engaged on the topic," he said.

Even if the resolution passes, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., indicated he isn't willing to reconsider his opposition to drilling off Florida's coast.

"Drilling offshore from Florida would destroy the state's $55 billion tourism economy and wouldn't do a single thing to alleviate current high gas prices," he said.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072208/met_307308998.shtml

[RiversideGator]

Kind of a symbolic gesture since I dont know if there is any oil off our coast anyway. 

[thelakelander]

I think his tone would change if oil rigs would be going up off the coast of Ponte Vedra and our beaches.

[RiversideGator]

No doubt.   

[jaxnative]

Jacksonville may call for offshore drilling

Great idea!!  Sometimes the people have to stand up and demand the correct actions when a resentment fueled and special interest led Congress refuses to take action to the detriment of the country.

Even if the resolution passes, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., indicated he isn't willing to reconsider his opposition to drilling off Florida's coast.

"Drilling offshore from Florida would destroy the state's $55 billion tourism economy and wouldn't do a single thing to alleviate current high gas prices," he said.

This is such BS and one of the reasons I no longer have any respect for the senator.  The greatest danger to the tourist industry is what is hurting it now and that is high transportation costs. 

I think his tone would change if oil rigs would be going up off the coast of Ponte Vedra and our beaches.

The rigs would never be seen from the beaches. 

[Driven1]

if u ask me, it's just a "let's get my name in the paper so i can move up to the next level" kind of move - as it means absolutely zero to this area.

[gatorback]

I think T-Bone has the right answer.  We can't drills our way out of this mess.

[brainstormer]

The city council should spend their time worrying about Jacksonville.  IMO Davis is just trying to get his name out there; his resolution is very self serving.  I wonder if this came from those he represents or his own thinking. 

[Captain Zissou]

The idea that this would destroy the tourism industry is absurd.  The rigs are miles off the coast, would be very difficult to see from any beach, and would be comparable to the many ships that dot the horizon every day.  On the other hand, the rigs would bring revenue to the state, reduce the cost of gas, and provide jobs to our citizens.  My only complaint is that it should not be seen as some panacea that will cure the oil problem.  It is just a part of a much bigger solution.

[thelakelander]

In regards to tourism, its not the sight issue that's the problem.  Its the "what happens in the event of an oil spill" that gives me concern.  Another concern I have is everyone keeps stating we'll have more jobs, etc., but there's little talk about if we actually will or if those jobs and much of the income will go to nearby states with processing facilities already in place.  Does anyone have any numbers for/or against drilling, when it comes to our state's economy? 

[RiversideGator]

Well, there are rigs off the Alabama Gulf Coast (some even within sight of land) now and they have suffered no adverse consequences whatsoever.  Their coast has been booming.

[Lunican]

Former Jacksonville City Council President Daniel Davis is on a crusade to lower prices at the pump.

Yeah, thanks Dan Davis. Unfortunately this isn't your job or within your ability. Get to solving Jacksonville's real issues. Talking to JTA about improving their mass transit system would be a good start.

[gatorback]

The idea that this would destroy the tourism industry is absurd.  The rigs are miles off the coast, would be very difficult to see from any beach, and would be comparable to the many ships that dot the horizon every day.  On the other hand, the rigs would bring revenue to the state, reduce the cost of gas, and provide jobs to our citizens.  My only complaint is that it should not be seen as some panacea that will cure the oil problem.  It is just a part of a much bigger solution.

Wrong.  But, honestly, it doesn't matter.  Jacksonville will serve itself in this matter as they've done all along.

[Steve]

Glad everything in district 12 is going so well that he can spend time on this.

Are we kidding here?  Apparently the boys in congress are waiting on Jacksonville's position on the issue.

For Davis' sake, I hope this passes.  How bad would this look for Davis if this resolution that he has no direct control over whatsoever doesn't pass.

Not to mention, I don't always agree with Jimmy Midyette, but I think he hit the nail on the head.  I think this goes down a bad road.  Are we going to get a resolution from the conservatives denouncing erectile disfunction drugs or encouraging natural family planning?  Let's spend our time dealing with issues that we can control, instead of a resolution regarding a global problem that really doesn't impact Jacksonville any more than any other city in America.

[BridgeTroll]

I think T-Bone has the right answer.  We can't drills our way out of this mess.

Your right... he did say that.  I also heard him say yesterday that we should drill everywhere in CONUS where there is oil.  The objective being reducing our dependence on foriegn oil.