Civic Council - Stick both hands out

[Noone]

I'd say no.

[CityLife]

All depends on how well the Pension Fund manager performs. If whoever is managing it has proven that they can consistently perform year in and year out, and yield returns significantly above whatever interest rates the bonds would be issued at, it would be a good idea....but if they are solely looking at this years returns (in a good market) and assuming that will continue, that may be short sighted.

Without knowing those facts, its hard for anyone on here to make an informed decision.

[MEGATRON]

I'd say no.

What is your suggestion then?

[Tacachale]

Here's an actual story on it for those who missed it.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540485

It's a good idea, and our illustrious government could certainly use some ideas. The only trouble with this would be getting this government to hire someone to oversee it that could actually handle it.

[Noone]

I'd say no.

What is your suggestion then?

Show up at the DIA meeting in an hour. A BILLION dollars for US! Gee whiz! Will there even be one TV news station at this? Millions  and Millions of dollars may be just dropped in our lap. We have a TV crew on the way to the scene.

3pm 1st floor Ed Ball bldg.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

Anyone going?

[dougskiles]

This is an arbritage bet, and I suggest anyone seriously considering it should study up on what happened to Long Term Capital Management.  There is a good book about it, When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long Term Capital Management.

Arbritage can work great when things are going well.  But when the markets aren't favorable, the losses can pile up faster than the arbritager can cover the lost bets.  Long Term's failure almost took down the entire banking system.  Scary stuff.

[Noone]

I'd say no.

What is your suggestion then?

Suze Ormon.
Can I afford It?
Why not?

[Noone]

At a recent DIA meeting the group guiding the CRA said that they had requests for anonymous participation. Will the DIA Board allow for that. I'd hope not.

Couple that with the announcement of a portfolio of prime Downtown properties that will be just taken away from DIA oversight. And this is the Schellenberg bill drafted by Keane with the PFPF. And they had been working on this for months and never thought to approach the new DIA and say "Hey guys" Lookie here. Why not? What is the message that is being sent?

The CRA needs to be finished and lets hope that the DIA Board tells everyone to show up.

Also OED had the DIA just gave up their power on a whole bunch of other related projects. Jim Bailey was the lone dissenting vote and has now resigned. OED can take all the money and put in in to one project if they so choose and DIA can only say "But"

[Kay]

From everything I've read, I'd say we missed the boat on borrowing for pension.  Timing is not right.

[dougskiles]

It's not exactly the type of thing I would like us to borrow money for regardless.  Much better to live within our means and use borrowed money for stuff that adds (or creates) value, and will hold value once it has been paid off.

[MEGATRON]

It's not exactly the type of thing I would like us to borrow money for regardless.  Much better to live within our means and use borrowed money for stuff that adds (or creates) value, and will hold value once it has been paid off.

But that money is already owed.  Its simply a matter of it its owed to a bank or if its owed to the pension.

[Cheshire Cat]

Looks like someone held out both hands in order to be arrested and handcuffed for a DUI.  Oopsie.  While I find no humor in the arrest or the reason there was one thing that made me chuckle because it is "oh so Jacksonville".  It seems that one of Jacksonville's elite movers and shakers, the kind of guy our city looks to for leadership was on his way from home to "Walmart" when he was arrested.  Oh my goodness, why couldn't he have been going to some sort of upscale establishment, say Ruth Chris?  Lordy, lordy Jacksonville.  Ye Haw. 




http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-09-24/story/police-chairman-civic-council-arrested-drunk-driving

The chairman of the Jacksonville Civic Council was arrested and charged with drunk driving Thursday after an officer saw him weaving on Hendricks Avenue.

Steven Thomas Halverson, president and CEO of The Haskell Co., was stopped about 11:45 p.m. after the officer said he observed the black 2013 Tesla weaving and saw another motorist hit their brakes presumably to avoid a collision, the arrest report said.

The car continued south and at one time a rear wheel rode up on the median. It turned east on Emerson Avenue then turned south at the intersection of Philips Highway and stopped after the officer engaged the emergency lights. After the stop, Halverson said he had been at a wine event and was traveling from home to Walmart. He said he split a bottle of wine with someone and had his last drink at 8:30 p.m. To explain his driving, he told the officer the car was new and might have contributed to his having difficulty maintaining a single lane. He said he would drive with "loved ones" in his condition and doubted he was over the legal limit to drive. The arrest report does not indicate a blood-alcohol level.

The Civic Council is a nonprofit comprised of 58 corporate leaders.

Halverson, 59, has been instrumental in the Civic Council's vocal stance on the city's effort toward pension reform. He and the Civic Council recently proposed the city borrow up to $1 billion as part of a strategy to make it easier for the city to pay pension benefits over the long term.

Halverson in May was awarded the OneJax 2013 Silver Medallion Humanitarian Award for work with Jacksonville University, St. Joseph's University, Regis University and the University of North Florida, along with charitable organizations.

"I take this matter very seriously and I accept full responsibility for my actions," Halverson said in a comment emailed to the Times-Union. "I am profoundly sorry. I fully acknowledge my responsibility to model a high standard of behavior. I ask for your understanding

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-09-24/story/police-chairman-civic-council-arrested-drunk-driving#ixzz2g2DUXQuD

[If_I_Loved_you]

Looks like someone held out both hands in order to be arrested and handcuffed for a DUI.  Oopsie.  While I find no humor in the arrest or the reason there was one thing that made me chuckle because it is "oh so Jacksonville".  It seems that one of Jacksonville's elite movers and shakers, the kind of guy our city looks to for leadership was on his way from home to "Walmart" when he was arrested.  Oh my goodness, why couldn't he have been going to some sort of upscale establishment, say Ruth Chris?  Lordy, lordy Jacksonville.  Ye Haw.  (((Cheshire Cat I'm a little surprised you would go this low, I thought your standards were higher then this?)))




http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-09-24/story/police-chairman-civic-council-arrested-drunk-driving

The chairman of the Jacksonville Civic Council was arrested and charged with drunk driving Thursday after an officer saw him weaving on Hendricks Avenue.

Steven Thomas Halverson, president and CEO of The Haskell Co., was stopped about 11:45 p.m. after the officer said he observed the black 2013 Tesla weaving and saw another motorist hit their brakes presumably to avoid a collision, the arrest report said.

The car continued south and at one time a rear wheel rode up on the median. It turned east on Emerson Avenue then turned south at the intersection of Philips Highway and stopped after the officer engaged the emergency lights. After the stop, Halverson said he had been at a wine event and was traveling from home to Walmart. He said he split a bottle of wine with someone and had his last drink at 8:30 p.m. To explain his driving, he told the officer the car was new and might have contributed to his having difficulty maintaining a single lane. He said he would drive with "loved ones" in his condition and doubted he was over the legal limit to drive. The arrest report does not indicate a blood-alcohol level.

The Civic Council is a nonprofit comprised of 58 corporate leaders.

Halverson, 59, has been instrumental in the Civic Council's vocal stance on the city's effort toward pension reform. He and the Civic Council recently proposed the city borrow up to $1 billion as part of a strategy to make it easier for the city to pay pension benefits over the long term.

Halverson in May was awarded the OneJax 2013 Silver Medallion Humanitarian Award for work with Jacksonville University, St. Joseph's University, Regis University and the University of North Florida, along with charitable organizations.

"I take this matter very seriously and I accept full responsibility for my actions," Halverson said in a comment emailed to the Times-Union. "I am profoundly sorry. I fully acknowledge my responsibility to model a high standard of behavior. I ask for your understanding

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-09-24/story/police-chairman-civic-council-arrested-drunk-driving#ixzz2g2DUXQuD

[Cheshire Cat]

This from the Business Journal.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/09/24/civic-council-head-charged-with-dui.html

[Cheshire Cat]

Also from Actions News.  http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Haskell-Co-head-civic-council-chairman-arrested/aWtorDLoe0eWGXJxPgZ-jg.cspx?rss=3568

The cost of a place in the spotlight.  Bad choices lead to bad press.  Who knew?