Visit Jax CEO says "City Leaders hinder tourism"

[simonsays]

Astleford - Just do your job man! No need to air the dirty laundry to the media. Just do your job and build the best solutions with what you have available to you. Build then plan, then work the plan. If you have been successful in other jobs in other cities, there is no reason to doubt you will not be successful here. Just do it! like the slogan says!

I have mentioned before on this site how I think we, as a community, let people in positions of power "get away with stuff" way too much. We rarely hold them to account and seem to be afraid of calling them out. In a constructive way, Astleford is bucking that trend. I welcome it.

And mtrain, old friend....  If it is dirty laundry, it is the people's dirty laundry and we should all be able to  see how it was soiled. That's the whole point of a free media ..... 

[Tacachale]

^I don't buy that argument. Folks harp on the people in "positions of power" over the smallest things, whether or not it's actually their fault. In fact, this contributes to a lot of good people never pursuing such positions because they don't want the headache, which thereby often leaves them to people who just don't care. Our real problems are consistently identifying and supporting good leadership, and our identity problems articulated by Astleford.

[Cheshire Cat]

^I don't buy that argument. Folks harp on the people in "positions of power" over the smallest things, whether or not it's actually their fault. In fact, this contributes to a lot of good people never pursuing such positions because they don't want the headache, which thereby often leaves them to people who just don't care. Our real problems are consistently identifying and supporting good leadership, and our identity problems articulated by Astleford.

This is also true.  So what in your view needs to happen to change the dynamic?

[icarus]

It is a dynamic that needs to be changed and is cited in various discussions hereon including the Consolidation thread.

Jacksonville is more or less a republic of smaller communities.  Each community has its own interests and its own priorities at heart. Which is essentially what he said in the article but even more broad than that as it relates to civic, religious and business groups.

What we need is something or someone that can unite us as one.  I had hoped the Jaguars would have been a catalyst for that but I think the Jaguars have shown it needs to be more pervasive than one singular thing or person. No, it is not all the politicians fault and no, this is not some minute thing.  Its a big issue and we need some real leadership not another photo op.

[Tacachale]

^I don't buy that argument. Folks harp on the people in "positions of power" over the smallest things, whether or not it's actually their fault. In fact, this contributes to a lot of good people never pursuing such positions because they don't want the headache, which thereby often leaves them to people who just don't care. Our real problems are consistently identifying and supporting good leadership, and our identity problems articulated by Astleford.

This is also true.  So what in your view needs to happen to change the dynamic?

Oh, where to begin. In terms of politics, I think there are some systemic issues that may not result in us keeping the best leaders. I've heard compelling arguments that term limits may limit our potential, since we cycle through elected officials too quickly to identify the truly good ones and see that their projects are carried through. Additionally, Bill Gulliford says that since the actual elected leaders come and go every few years, the "institutional knowledge" is held by advisers and lobbyists who may have their own agendas.

I also think we may have some elected positions that really should be appointed, so we don't just have various independent offices lobbying for their own ends. Having off-cycle elections may reduce turnout, and having party affiliations known in elections may encourage people to just vote party line. In the end, it's really the voters' prerogative to identify and elect good people.

Beyond politics, I think there are some cultural issues; Astleford may have identified some. "Siloing" is probably a good term for what sometimes happens between the various local entities. It definitely feels like we're not all shooting at the same target. On this front, though, I think it's a bigger issue that we haven't had consistently strong leadership articulating a consistent vision for Jacksonville, and that holds us back.

[Cheshire Cat]

Those are some good insights. 

[jcjohnpaint]

Great points.

[Cheshire Cat]

Great points.

Tach did make some good points.  I would like to say though that local and state politics do impact what gets done in Jacksonville in unexpected ways.  In spite of the fact that local offices are not supposed to be chosen based on political party, the truth is that the power players in politics will go out of their way to keep a lousy politician in office in order to have some degree of party control and as such to execute some personal agendas.  So I agree with Tach but I also "know" that politics does in fact hold Jacksonville back in many ways.

[simms3]

^^Jax seems to be one of the more ideologically run cities in the country.  I see the benefits of consolidation, but I also see a population that is a little more divided politically than most cities, which provides an impetus for the parties to come in and wage war for control.  As we have seen in real wars in this country and others, the war machine, whether political or military in nature, takes resources and energy.  The resources and energy that people devote to the party-line and/or ideological war in Jax only takes away from the energy and resources those people have to actually accomplish things.

I would love to see Jax politics (public and private sector) become more pragmatic, even Machiavellian to be blunt.  I just want to see shit get done without the imbecilic shenanigans that I read about on this site/local news.

[Noone]

Astleford - Just do your job man! No need to air the dirty laundry to the media. Just do your job and build the best solutions with what you have available to you. Build then plan, then work the plan. If you have been successful in other jobs in other cities, there is no reason to doubt you will not be successful here. Just do it! like the slogan says!

I have mentioned before on this site how I think we, as a community, let people in positions of power "get away with stuff" way too much. We rarely hold them to account and seem to be afraid of calling them out. In a constructive way, Astleford is bucking that trend. I welcome it.

And mtrain, old friend....  If it is dirty laundry, it is the people's dirty laundry and we should all be able to  see how it was soiled. That's the whole point of a free media ..... 

The Public Trust has just been totally crushed in this community. I say Congratulations to Mr. Astleford. I've never met the man. Now I want to meet him more than ever. So who have we had before? Kitty Ratcliffe, John Reyes, Dan O'Byrne and now Astleford.

You have to love the new guy.
Vitti at the Jax 2025 and he arrived late because he got lost but left with a standing ovation that just brought the house down.
Another new guy is Aundra Wallace with the DIA.

Then we have the old guard.
Palms Fish Camp next to a FIND project and the guy is getting a million bucks and you never even opened up the door.
FSCJ and a midnight email for an EXTRA, EXTRA, half a million bucks and then voted on by the Board the next day.
JTA and Blaylock and another proud Chamber of Commerce moment of a golden parachute delivered by a Board.
My favorite a convicted child molester gets a pension from the PFPF with Board approval. Our tax dollars. I just want to throw up.
Does anyone know the first name of one of the victims? I'm serious.
There are more examples. Add your own.

Jeannie Miller
Ron Barton
Don Shea
John Culbreath

Mr. Astleford is a new hope that rejuvenates a sense of optimism for the people of this community that has seen and been a part of a restricted process.

Let's really tell the world to VISIT JACKSONVILLE!

[Garden guy]

Id love to see examples of a successful downtown thats being run by the southern baptist convention and its people...i cant see anything good successful or definitely not ...end that rein and i cen see it......i say the city pay to get th toobe out to the westside or somewhere else...those people scare everyone away....

[fsujax]

^^Can you find something else to say? Did you know that the Southern Baptist Convention is based in downtown Nashville as well as Lifeway Christian stores, that doesnt seem to be holding their city back. It is much bigger than simply faulting the presence of a church for the lack of a vibrant downtown.

[fsquid]

Id love to see examples of a successful downtown thats being run by the southern baptist convention and its people...i cant see anything good successful or definitely not ...end that rein and i cen see it......i say the city pay to get th toobe out to the westside or somewhere else...those people scare everyone away....

Hell Salt Lake City has a decent downtown and they have the Mormon Tabnacle sitting 2 blocks from the state capital.

[Ben Warner]

John, I think you may have met Paul Astleford -- he was at the JAX2025 meetings and was highly engaged in the process. Great guy who sees the potential of Jacksonville and what we should become, especially if/when we harness the positive energy and action in the community and work together on a shared vision.

If you didn't invite him to kayak with you, I'm sure it's not too late ...

[JayBird]

Id love to see examples of a successful downtown thats being run by the southern baptist convention and its people...i cant see anything good successful or definitely not ...end that rein and i cen see it......i say the city pay to get th toobe out to the westside or somewhere else...those people scare everyone away....

Hell Salt Lake City has a decent downtown and they have the Mormon Tabnacle sitting 2 blocks from the state capital.

And highly discourage the 20th century from happening around them.  That is with the exception of sock hops and spiffy looking short sleeve shirts and neckties.

To be honest, I loved Salt Lake City.  All the preternaturally healthy, chipper people.  the sheer vibrant health of the place gave it more of a sensual feel than any amount of misplaced social starchiness could overcome.

SLC is a beautiful city, but I remember when they were giving away space to anyone who wanted to open restaurants or other retail in their downtown so it didn't look empty when they hosted the Winter Olympics, then within the year most closed because they learned most Mormons would not visit a non-Mormon owned establishment. I think FBC is just another downtown church, but then again I'm a transplant and most of the rhetoric stems from decade old stories/legends/myths.