DIA CEO will look to philanthropists to close gap between project costs, profit

[vicupstate]

When all the Miami Herald stuff came out, I thought it would torpedo Wallace's job offer.  Obviously it didn't.  I can only assume that when the DIA heard Wallace's side of the story, they were satisfied.  The whole thing just seemed to go away. 

I have to wonder if power and money is being shifted away from DIA, because the mayor and the council believe the Herald's version of events, and don't want to risk a reoccurrance here. 

[thelakelander]

Personally, I'm going to defer to the DIA Board fro now.  There are some real giid quality people on there and trust that they made the best decision based on who was in the applicant pool

I don't believe they made the "best choice" and I for one am not content to defer to leaders who don't seem to care about who we put into positions that impact all of us.  The DIA failed this test in my view and needs to correct their error sooner rather than later.

I think it was Lake (not positive though) who reported from the final interviews that Wallace was clearly the most prepared candidate that day. He was a long shot amongst members of this website to be the pick, but those in attendance said the other candidates displayed a bit of ignorance and unpreparedness, while of course our favorite of the bunch withdrew his name from consideration.

I attended the presentation where both Wallace and Hanna spoke about what they bring to the table.  Wallace beat Hanna hands down that day, IMO (from my planner mind point-of-view).  Wallace showed up prepared and at least gave a decent talk about downtowns.  Hanna sounded like he had never had any real true experience with downtown revitalization.  From what I can remember, the DIA members at the time, were interested in a CEO who could land and close big real estate deals and attract money. They were not necessarily looking for someone with vast successful downtown revitalization experience.

The Hanna presentation and following Q&A session reminded me of the JTA CEO presentation given by Frank Martin last year.  Downright scary and leaving you wondering how that person made it to the finalist list.

[CityLife]

^I'm not going to touch the "scandal" stuff...but there is PLENTY of positive stuff a DIA director can do for downtown without the $9 million. Not to mention many other potential funding sources, credits, and incentives that he can utilize.

A $180k a year salary is absolutely nothing compared to the value that someone who is good at that position can bring to Downtown and to Jax. Whether or not Wallace is the guy, only time will tell, but the $9 million shouldn't be the end of the DIA.

Wow City...  Let's not touch the 'scandal stuff', and while I agree with you that a DIA director CAN do a lot of positive things for the city, why should we be left with the one that has a history of making un-kept promises, frivolously spending others' money and unable to track the simple payments of invoices on a project?

Sure $180k/yr may not make a hill of beans in our city's overall budget, but are you kidding me?  How many shells, funnels and pass-throughs does it take to multiply that salary 3X in the process of a single $30M project?

In my humble, ill-informed opinion, we've just hired a scam artist that may be capable of turning $.75M into over $30, but dollars don't always equal production.  Hell, how much have we already 'invested' in projects that have had ZERO return?  I can think of quite a few parking garages and a really large grassy area.

Like I said, I don't want to touch the scandal stuff...I was just talking strictly about what someone competent can hypothetically do in that position without the $9 million.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Like I said, I don't want to touch the scandal stuff...I was just talking strictly about what someone competent can hypothetically do in that position without the $9 million.

Which now seems to be the burning question in everyone's mind.  Did we have a 'competent' person in place or do we have a really smooth talker that has history of producing sub-par results with above average capital?

[ProjectMaximus]

THanks, Lake. That's what I thought.

[Cheshire Cat]

I hope everyone and anyone who wonders why our city just can't get things right will follow along with this story.  The actions we have seen on the part of the DIA and what has been exposed about Wallace is alarming and disheartening.  Seriously people.  We see the city play games and support efforts like "Character Counts", even give out awards to the program and then through their actions often make a farce of the very idea that "Character Counts" in any way.

I have written to the entire council as well as "other entities" about this situation.  Time to draw a line in the sand in Jacksonville and let everyone know that "business as usual" when it includes the hire of folks involved in such scandal is not a business model we the citizens will accept.

Below is an email response I received from Councilman Lumb on this issue and below that you will see my response to Mr. Lumb. 

Lumb, Robin (RLumb@coj.net)
Add to contacts
8:17 AM

To: Diane Melendez
Picture of Lumb, Robin

Ms. Melendez:



I read through the thread on MetroJacksonville. It was illuminating.



Unfortunately, City Council is not part of the hiring and confirmation process. The decision rests solely with the Downtown Development Authority's board of directors. Once hired, there is little or nothing City Council can do regarding my Wallace's continued employment.



The only oversight power that City Council has is through the budgeting process. In my view this is not sufficient to affect the DIA's direction or method of operation.



Best regards,

Robin Lumb

My response

Robin,

Thank you for your prompt response and I am happy you have been "illuminated" to the serious issues surrounding this hire.  I know you on the council cannot "undo" the hire but you can all sure ask questions of the DIA  about this scandal history Wallace has and why it was ignored.  The DIA board must turn to the council for funding and growth, as such the council must make sure that the head of that organization is trustworthy and someone who should be handling the expenditure of tax dollars.  I remind you of the findings of the Miami Herald which exposed the fact that Mr. Wallace used his own person non-profit to fund over $85,000 tax dollars to entertainer P. Diddy to fly him around and feed him royally.  Seriously, how in good faith can anyone on the council "accept" without discussion this hire and entertain the expenditure of huge sums of money under the leadership of an individual who has already broken the law regarding the use of federal HUD dollars?  Doing that is not an action that looks after the citizens interests, their tax dollars or is it one that instills integrity in city leadership.  I hope you will "ask" many questions and openly.  I will continue to do so.

Respectfully,

Diane Melendez
Avondale

[mbwright]

If the state can vote for a governor that is a thief (but not convicted), why another CEO thief? 
I do not understand why the DIA does not seem to have much oversight.

I don't think I could get a job with this sort of baggage or history.

[Cheshire Cat]

If the state can vote for a governor that is a thief (but not convicted), why another CEO thief? 
I do not understand why the DIA does not seem to have much oversight.

I don't think I could get a job with this sort of baggage or history.

I think the fact that we get so many thieves in office is because the people sit by and "allow" it to happen.  I am not the sort of person to sit by while Jacksonville hires another person of scandal and not do something about it.  I truly wish folks who want better for our city would speak up and ask why?  Why are folks like this hired? Why does the public ignore this affront to our trust?  Then having asked those questions and not gotten a response that tells us that things are going to get better, speak louder, longer and widen the circle of interest using facts and documents.  Honestly if anyone who reads this really cares about our city ethical standards apparently being thrown in the toilet, please do something about it.  Contact the DIA, contact the Council.  For goodness sakes, take action to change the status quo because it is hurting Jacksonville and in this case downtown.  This city deserves better.

[JayBird]

Though I don't disagree with Diane, I do feel that this discussion is late to the game. Lets face it, we were caught sleeping and dropped the ball on this one. All of these facts were evident before the hiring of Mr Wallace and no one saw it fit then to follow through. Now that he is on site and in place, it would most likely be a greater loss to the City to remove him now. Most likely there is something in his contract that includes a payment should he not work out, and the budget really cannot afford to pay for him to leave and new one to come in. Though I admire your persistence to root out corruption within the government Diane, your letters should've been sent months ago when the option to vocalize such thoughts would've had a meaningful impact.

That being said, we know this now. We know Mr Wallace's past history and sordid dealings. The best solution, in my opinion, is to watch his moves. All his deals will still fall under Sunshine so it is our responsibility to hold him accountable. In these "scandalous" situations that arise it is never one person orchestrating everything. It is a group maneuvering for the common good of themselves. So perhaps that group from Miami has now been broken up and Wallace will have the new vision to see what can be done with downtown.

"Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me." So Mr Wallace got in under the radar apparently. Shame on him and the committee whom hired him. But that's done now. So lets just keep vigilant so the shame doesn't fall upon the City and the taxpayers in the future.

[Cheshire Cat]

To my view JayBird he has only held his position for a few days.  The best course of action is to remove him now and find someone without the baggage and with downtown expertise to replace him.  Considering the fact that the $9 million for downtown has been removed there is time to do this and get it right.  There is no good reason that we the taxpayers should be forced to live with the hire of an individual who has such a past history of action.  We employ these folks, the DIA doesn't.  If the DIA is there to act in the best interest of the city then they need to start by hiring someone with experience and ethics.  Seriously, we create the Office of Ethics to ferret out this type of stuff within the city.  Why in the world we would allow the DIA to invite more via a hire like this?  Foolish with the potential of being very damaging.

[JayBird]

Oh I agree, but you're turning on the lights and sirens of the fire truck and trying to pull out of the station when the house burnt to the ground last night. Sure, you can clean up the damage but the reality is the house has burned. It is extremely hard to remove someone once hired, even more so once they are actually in the spot. Not to mention I'm sure there is some legal precedent that would prevent just such a thing from happening. All if this information was available before the decision to hire was made, therefore it cannot be used as a reason to terminate now.

Lets see what he does first. Lets see what he'll do with the money he brings in now. Your entire line of attack, though valid and honest and right, is just too late. You should've staged this barrage while the decisions were still being made. Now, whether or not you realize it, you are advocating for his removal (severance fee for no work), which I'm sure will be appealed (legal fees) and win (settlement fees). Then the City would have to do a new search(more money and time) and hire another leader (a second salary to budget for this year). Is that really the best use of taxpayer money?

The ball was dropped. You can continue standing on the sidelines complaining about butter fingers, or you can encourage others to watch his actions like a hawk and utilize public opinion to force him and his office to attract investment and use it wisely. In the big picture, which do you think benefits taxpayers more?

[Cheshire Cat]

Oh I agree, but you're turning on the lights and sirens of the fire truck and trying to pull out of the station when the house burnt to the ground last night. Sure, you can clean up the damage but the reality is the house has burned. It is extremely hard to remove someone once hired, even more so once they are actually in the spot. Not to mention I'm sure there is some legal precedent that would prevent just such a thing from happening. All if this information was available before the decision to hire was made, therefore it cannot be used as a reason to terminate now.

Lets see what he does first. Lets see what he'll do with the money he brings in now. Your entire line of attack, though valid and honest and right, is just too late. You should've staged this barrage while the decisions were still being made. Now, whether or not you realize it, you are advocating for his removal (severance fee for no work), which I'm sure will be appealed (legal fees) and win (settlement fees). Then the City would have to do a new search(more money and time) and hire another leader (a second salary to budget for this year). Is that really the best use of taxpayer money?

The ball was dropped. You can continue standing on the sidelines complaining about butter fingers, or you can encourage others to watch his actions like a hawk and utilize public opinion to force him and his office to attract investment and use it wisely. In the big picture, which do you think benefits taxpayers more?

I think correcting the problem now is what will protect taxpayers most JayBird and with all due respect I have never been one to stand on the sidelines complaining.  I am taking action and will continue to.  When did we reach the point in society that we simply stand by and accept bad choices?  What's going through my mind at this point is the DIA hired a fellow who will be making at least five times what the average honest and hard working taxpayer in Jacksonville makes.  If we are going to hire people using the blood and sweat of the average citizens efforts that person better be both ethical and skilled.  It's not okay to ignore character, ever.  IMO

[JayBird]

Apparently it isn't okay to give benefit of doubt or give credence to the fact that someone may change either.

I am not disagreeing with you. However, instead of complaining about his hire, how about asking who hired him and why?  And though I respect your previous role in the hiring atmosphere, it either wasn't direct or was some time ago because now, once hired there are laws that prohibit grounds for termination, especially the higher up the food chain you go.

And quite honestly, I'm appalled at your narrowed vision that it is better to throw him to the side and start over. Well, actually if he was removed it would probably be the end of the DIA for a little while. And that you think this is the better opportunity. How come you aren't raging against Scott as every decision he makes? How come you aren't out there campaigning with those trying to remove Angela Corey? Instead, you are harping on a situation that is done and over with. You had the chance to voice these concerns with the same facts you use today, yet for whatever reason you didn't. So basically, the other team cheated in the second quarter, and now that they have won you want the ref to throw his flag. That isn't settling, that's fact.

I typically respect, agree and even admire your positions on this board. I am hoping this is a little bit of pride or maybe pent up anger that is causing this view of yours.  Was it wrong to hire him? In my opinion, yes. But he is hired. So instead of getting all riled up over what cannot be changed, how about we focus on what can be done moving forward? People often say Jacksonville's biggest problem is that they remain stuck looking backwards. Today, you are proving that theory true. I am in full agreement with you, right up to the point where we differ on the action should be taken now. So turn around, look forward, and maybe you'll see things slightly differently.

Of course, lets look at your solution. What grounds do they have to terminate? Nothing new has come to light. All of this was apparently known by the hiring committee. Now, if you want to fire/remove whomever was in that committee and decided to overlook those past incidents, then by all means let me know where I can sign up and whom I'll be picketing because to me they are the ones who violated the taxpayers, the DIA, and even Mr Wallace.

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks for sharing your opinion JayBird.  Thank you also for reminding me that perhaps we have reached a point in Jacksonville where for many character no longer counts.  It saddens me deeply,  but I must thank you for helping me to realize that my concern and caring for Jacksonville about who is in leadership and how they get there is at the present a waste of my time and energy   Clearly to point out the flaws of a city decision or person the city has hired using our tax dollars and asking for that to be addressed to you and many others is something to be considered appalling.  If that is the case, I am done discussing my concerns via forum posting.  When wanting better is problematic and serves as the basis to attack the thoughts and character of others it is time to step away.

I wish all of you on the forum well and hope that your dreams for Jacksonville come true.  For me, I am putting the burden down once and for all.  Thanks everyone for the respect and honest dialog.   Take care all.  I mean that sincerely. 

[thelakelander]

I'm at the DIA meeting. Wallace just spoke. The DIA office is in the Ed Ball Building. His number is 255-7577. He said his office will be a one stop shop for everything concerning downtown.