Hazouri names City Council’s social justice committee and standing committees

[Steve]

City Council President Tommy Hazuri named seven council members to a special social justice committee that will vet proposals such as a call by civil rights leaders for a "Marshall Plan" for northwest Jacksonville.

City Council president-elect Tommy Hazouri has named the seven council members who will sit on the special committee that will take on the deep disparities in Jacksonville that civil rights groups say will require a financial commitment like the "Marshall Plan" for post-World War II Europe.

Social Justice Committee:
Brenda Priestly Jackson
Sam Newby
Matt Carlucci
Michael Boylan
Randy DeFoor
Randy White
Ron Salem

Other Committee Chairs:
Rules: Brenda Priestly Jackson
Finance: Matt Carlucci
LUZ: Michael Boylan
Neighborhoods (includes Public Safety): Randy White
TEU: Ron Salem

[marcuscnelson]

Okay... so the Social Justice committee is the chairs of all the other committees plus Newby and DeFoor.

As someone whose closest experience to this is the University of Florida's Student Government, please put up or shut up. No one wants to hear "oh, we care, really."

I was reading this article by Nate Monroe, and the ending of it really sticks out to me.

A colleague and I once conducted a thought experiment on the possibility of a politician running on a Better Northwest Jacksonville Plan — a sequel of sorts to the Better Jacksonville Plan, the sales-tax financed, $2.2 billion in public improvements championed by former Mayor John Delaney in 2000.

Unlike that program, however, the Better Northwest Plan would be a catalyst only for the city's forgotten neighborhoods: A flood of new money for infrastructure. A chance to catch up, to right historic wrongs.

We wondered how such a plan would be received. Would that be a popular proposal? Would that generate excitement — and votes — among black residents? Would that be a viable election strategy for a politician running citywide?

One black city official gave us feedback I'll never forget.

It wouldn't work, he said, because black voters would never believe it.

[thelakelander]

Dust off a million studies and never funded projects proposed and planned since the 1960s. What needs to be done isn't rocket science. The inequities didn't just materialize out of thin air. It's bascially putting our money where our currently woke amouths are at.

[Steve]

I also feel like this may not be the time to throw another "committee" together. The last few weeks have proven there isn't a lot of trust in the black community of government leadership. Here is no exception: look at the promises of consolidation. I have to imagine the Black
Community will look at this with a bit of skepticism.

It's nice that Hazouri wants to fund a "Marshall Plan" type investment in concept, but I don't know that we should start by boiling the ocean. There are plenty of things we can do that don't require a ton of overhead, like sewer systems and storm drainage.

Obviously those things will require engineering plans; I'm not saying they won't. But to have some giant overarching development engine doesn't seem like the answer.

[marcuscnelson]

I imagine there are some waiting for the other shoe to drop and the Republicans on the Council starting to scream about the cost. Also some expecting that such a Marshall Plan would really lead to gentrification and just end with everyone getting forced out of their own community because they can't afford to live there anymore.

[thelakelander]

Gentrification is a byproduct of systemic and institutionalized polices built against underrepresented communities. You can limit the negative impact of gentrification on a particular area through more equitable public investment and planning. As for what the can do now? Pick one of these long delayed infrastructure projects that put communities at an economic disadvantage (like drainage and flooding) and fund it now.

[bl8jaxnative]

Gentrification is 70% fiction.  Most money follows money.   So you may get some "gentrification" on the edge of an area, such as the north end of hooker highway, where cheap housing is lost.  But that development is occurring because it's adjacent to an already well off area, San Marco.

Most "gentrification" is folks that can afford the $1200 2 bedroom apt having to move because someone new bought the building, slapped on some paint is charging $1650 for the same place.

You rarely have situations like Springfield where there's deep poverty surrounded by deep poverty and an actual decrease in poverty and improvement.  Money generally follows money.  You don't see that sort of actual gentrification.

[thelakelander]

Looking at Brooklyn and Mandarin, and also personally witnessing and living through it in areas outside of Jax, I'll 100% disagree with the thought that Gentrification is 70% fiction. Knowing it is real, there are ways to mitigate the negative impacts. Most involve community empowerment and control as opposed to outsiders making decisions and investments without community support.

[Snaketoz]

I used to be a fan of Tommy Hazouri.  I attended school with him.  I liked that he got rid of tolls and odors in Jax.  Lately, not so much.  I wrote him regarding the demolishing of City Hall, County Courthouse, and Landing.  I told him he should defy Curry, be a Democrat and stop the demolishing of DT.  He wrote me back that he "didn't care what I wanted, he was doing what's best for Jacksonville".  I wonder if he has any regrets now? I no longer trust him.