Visit Jax CEO says "City Leaders hinder tourism"

[Noone]

^Please share the tourism positives.

[fieldafm]

I put in at Hogans today to catch up with the flotilla heading from JU to RAM. 

That said, if the Sons of the Confederacy want to put something in their lease regarding access to Hogans(which would be great), they need to do it themselves. 

Frankly though, the Mayor could easily make one of the dozens of parcels the City owns along the banks of Hogans a designated kayak launch. 

[Noone]

Very cool. Where did you put in at? Sept. 21 is the International Coastal Cleanup and there will be a roll up dumpster for Hogans Creek behind the Jacksonville  Historical Society and Casket Company. Special shout out  props to the Historical Society for permission.

Bingo with the Sons of the Confederacy putting in an amendment that would allow for 24/7 Public Access to Hogans Creek. City council can also do it. The Mayor can request it and do it.  Paul Astleford CEO with VISIT JACKSONVILLE! can make a call that would help in promoting tourism. The applicant was receptive to it at the Public Hearing.

Ben- JCCI All I know is that we need to kayak Downtown before 2025.

[tufsu1]

^Please share the tourism positives.

I think it gives as much (if not more) props to the urban core neighborhoods as it does to Town Center, beaches, and golf

[fieldafm]

Behind JHS.  Called and got permission on the way over.

Two residents of Hogans Creek Estates asked me where I put in at as I floated by.  Told them at the Jerry Spinks Memorial Kayak Beach. 

[Noone]

^Please share the tourism positives.

I think it gives as much (if not more) props to the urban core neighborhoods as it does to Town Center, beaches, and golf

Beaches are mentioned. Anything about our vibrant St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our new highly restricted DIA zone that will make Downtown a Destination and not a pass through?

[Noone]

Behind JHS.  Called and got permission on the way over.

Two residents of Hogans Creek Estates asked me where I put in at as I floated by.  Told them at the Jerry Spinks Memorial Kayak Beach. 

The Jerry Spinks Memorial Kayak Beach is an awesome idea. Is that the plan of JHS? Bring in the food trucks. It's not just a launch it's a beach.

[Jaxson]

I agree that there are quite a few silos in our city.  I may be mistaken, but the article stops short of naming the specific silos.  What 'silos' exist today and how do they interfere with each other? 

[Noone]

^Who is your favorite Silo? Astleford engaged 32 Jacksonville organizations. VISIT JACKSONVILLE!

So in the spirit of RICO and our new OED ( Office of Economic Dispair), Jaguars opener, it was time for a BOLD (Building Our Local Divide) Urban Core Tactical Paddle from PS4 JAX'S Tiki Taki Beach in Dist. 4 that still needs a Mayor Brown Kayak logo which would join VISIT JACKSONVILLE CEO Paul Astleford in promoting tourism in our new highly restricted DIA zone.

Weather conditions were perfect. I launched at 8:30 am and my goal was to do a Vivian Harrell Blue bag cleanup and leave it on the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier 2010-604 which is next to the Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel 26' Berkman floating dock compromise that was misrepresented by OGC during the 2013 FIND grant application process.

The river traffic was light. Dolphins were breaking the surface at channel marker 81 and it was an incoming tide that allowed for a relaxed paddle to the Northbank. I took it by Metro Park Marina and counted 7 boats. This is the type of information that needs to be known not only at Waterways but the next Downtown Experience Committee meeting of the DIA. 2 boats in the Berkman Marina.

Continuing on to the Shipyards property and the floating dock and  that has to be a priority. Because you can't access it. NO TOURISM here.

The next stop on the cleanup paddle was Hogans Creek. It was still an incoming tide and the shopping cart depth meter chart was showing one wheel half exposed. There were a couple of guys on the bank and wished them a good morning. I took it as far as the Jerry Spinks Memorial kayak beach and was doing a floating debris cleanup the whole time.

Back in the river the water levels high and still an incoming tide it was a pleasant paddle to the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier. I left the blue bag on the pier and if any MJ'er posts a pic I'll treat to a meal at Tommy's or Chpstick Charley's. Saw Cat with Kent Justice on WJXT promoting Hole in the Wall Food joints. Has anyone noticed that Chopsick Charley's is remodeling the outside?

The paddle back was catching the slack tide and the boat traffic had picked up slightly. The paddle was just over an hour.

Ben-JCCI we need to kayak Downtown before 2025.

I am Downtown and why you aren't

Who's next?

[Noone]

Does anyone else feel sorry for the Baltimore guys 2014-412? No River pass for you. Uber and Lyft on the agenda for the 2/17/15 Rules agenda meeting.

We all want to say Visit Jacksonville.

You can watch this live on coj.net right now. Nice crowd in council chambers.