Jacksonville's Official Federal Stimulus List

[BridgeTroll]

Faye... Thanks for posting.  By adding the numbers you posted this accounts for about half of the trillion proposed bailout money.  Lets assume they fit the Presidents definition of stimulus.  What of the other half a trillion?  We should be concerned about the numbers being tossed about. 

There are many good arguments for nationalized health care... but there are also unintended consequenses.  Ask the 75 year old British man who cannot get a new heart valve because he is too old.  How about a government database containing all of your health records?  Some here are against video cameras downtown because it is an invasion of privacy... would you be content with the Feds keeping your medical records?

[Ocklawaha]

Ocklawaha

On the Civil side, the government has had to start some social service programs which include a national healthcare system with private insurance companies...a model we could look at. Healthcare is free to anyone the moment one steps off a plane, and since National ID cards and insurance are required the cost is so spread out that it is dirt cheap... Beyond that Medellin now ranks as one of the top cities in the world for medical treatments and surgery's. (Something I've experienced first hand).

Utilities, security, and transportation are also heavy priority's, with utilities billed on a sliding scale according to your income zone. For example Ortega or Ponte Vedra residents might pay as a zone 6 and NW Jax as a zone 1. So everyone pays, but according to their ability.

Oklawa, how come you are a Colombian citizen? Are you keeping your citizenship for the free healthcare?

Faye,

1. My wife is realated to everyone Who is Who in Colombia.

2. She was born there, equal to a princess

3. We went to live there and I was accepted by the people because I was ONE OF THEM not some YANKEE INVADER far above them.

4. I LOVE COLOMBIA as much as I love my own Confederate Roots.

5. I would gladly give my life to defend Colombia.

6. So I'm in, besides I live there about 1/2 the time...

7 Cool? or What?

OCKLAWAHA

[archiphreak]

Extremes and Excesses will abound in whatever system we choose, whatever "thing" we discuss.  Let me just say this:  I hope to God that Obama's plan succeeds.  I hope he does manage to turn around the economy and save (not create) 4 million jobs.  Do I think it will happen, realistically?  NO.  I think this bill is doomed to fail.  The interest alone from this bill will bury our children in debt long after we're gone.  There are many good things about this bill.  Unfortunately the good things account for less than half of the total spending.  Let's hope the Senate/House Negotiations can iron out all the bullshit that has been thrown in and get down to a bill that will actually help our country.

[FayeforCure]

BridgeTroll, the number cannot be added based on the list, since the taxcuts for individiuals and businesses aren't quantified in the list.

Since this is the House version, I can tell you that those tax cuts do make up 33% of the stimulus, whereas the Senate version has a whopping 42% in the form of tax cuts, which is disastrous for trying to revive our economy.

Since our tax rates are already one of the lowest in the world, and knowing that additional tax cuts have very little stimulative effect ( see Mark Zandi's chart), it is foolish to try to fix the economy with what got us into this mess in the first place.

Remember taxes were higher under Clinton and our economy prospered.

The CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, wants higher taxes for himself.
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2009/02/09/reed-hastings-please-tax-me-more.aspx

That is walking the talk of "Country First" rather than misdirected " Country Club First"

[BridgeTroll]

What I meant was the definition of "stimulus" changed the minute congress was directed to create a bill.  The president wanted infrastructure... highways, bridges, rail, sewer, water, power etc... He did not get very much of that.  The rest... looks to be simply government spending on pet projects.  I think the president and the country squandered an opportunity.

[Ocklawaha]

Mankind will neither spend himself rich, or drink himself dry.... (Ben Franklin)

God knows I've tried to do the Former and the Later, though the later was much more fun!

OCKLAWAHA

[FayeforCure]

What I meant was the definition of "stimulus" changed the minute congress was directed to create a bill.  The president wanted infrastructure... highways, bridges, rail, sewer, water, power etc... He did not get very much of that.  The rest... looks to be simply government spending on pet projects.  I think the president and the country squandered an opportunity.

While I fully agree that not nearly enough is being spent on transit, and again "why no rail for Florida?," I do not consider helping American Families wheather this recession, pet projects. Neither do I consider investment in renewable energy sources frivolous spending.

What might be frivolous is the Heavy Republican emphasis on tax cuts, that will not help revive the economy and will leave future generations to pay for "give-aways," that will do practically nothing to restore our economy.

The estimate is that just 2% of the stimulous consists of what one might call pet projects compared to 42% of the stimulus going to ineffective tax cuts.

The tax cuts issue is just being used for its emotional "soundbite" value, without actually making any economic sense.

Disclaimer: middle class tax cuts do make sense, because the middle class will use the money for consumption whereas the rich will keep hoarding it. The marginal consumption rate ( consumer demand) of the rich is practically zero, as they are already able to do whatever consumption they want, and do not need the tax cut to be able to consume more ( generate more consumer demand). Consumer demand drives 70% of our economy, so boosting consumer demand will help us get out of this recession.

[FayeforCure]

Actually since nobody here has been able to answer the question why there isn't any rail funding requested in the stimulus for Florida, I am going to pose the question to:

Florida PIRG: http://www.floridapirg.org/

PIRG (Public Interest Research Group ) is an advocate for the public interest. When consumers are cheated, or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, U.S. PIRG speaks up and takes action. We uncover threats to public health and well-being and fight to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation. U.S. PIRG's mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented public interest activism that protects our health, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government".

Everyone is pointing fingers at one another, to the point where Robert Mann is asked to produce a plan for John Mica. Aren't there enough people in government to come up with a rail plan? What about among John Mica's own staff.........?

It would seem to me that the powers that be, all the way to the top, do not want rail for Florida no matter how many jobs might be created. Maybe it's part of the YOYO economic philosophy: the You're on Your Own philisophy that many here subscribe to also.

As you can see the "free market forces" will not produce rail. But until we let go of the "get government out of our way" mentality, instead of insisting on a "functional and effective" government, we will never get rail.

[thelakelander]

Several projects have been dropped....

What's on the local stimulus-plan road work list

Several major projects did not make the cut because they cost too much. They included $12 million for building ramps at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Butler Boulevard, $10 million for intersection improvements at Beach Boulevard and University Boulevard and $54 million for a new transportation center for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

READY TO ROLL

Thirteen projects approved by the Transportation Planning Organization on Thursday. They are all “shovel ready” and could begin within 90-120 days after money is received:

CLAY COUNTY

►Operational improvements at Peoria Road from County Road 224 to Moody Road: $1.55 million

► Construct a dedicated right turn lane at Kingsley Avenue: $420,000

► Resurface Knight Boxx Road from Blanding Boulevard to County Road 220: $480,000

DUVAL COUNTY

► Resurface and modify the intersections at Alta Drive and New Berlin Road from Zoo Parkway to Florida 9A: $7.5 million

► Build drainage improvements, safety upgrades, signal system upgrades and resurface Ninth Street from Beach Boulevard to  Butler Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach: $5 million

► Add lanes and reconstruct Collins Road: $4.2 million

► Widen Fort Caroline Road from Caroline Vale Boulevard to Merrill Road: $7.4 million

NASSAU COUNTY

► Resurface Eight Street from Atlantic Avenue to the Port of Fernandina: $115,000

► Resurface Fourteenth Street from Pogy Place to Atlantic Avenue: $660,000

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

► Ramp improvements at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Florida 207: $2.2 million

► Signal system upgrade at County Road 210 and Race Track Road: $1.3 million

► Make sidewalk improvements in St. Johns County: $875,000

► Resurface West King Street/Florida 214 from County Road 13 to U.S. 1: $2.2 million

full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-02-12/story/whats_on_the_local_stimulus_plan_road_work_list

[tufsu1]

well at least 9B didn't make it....I was really worried about that!

[thelakelander]

I believe the Collins Road project is already underway.  I wonder if this is for the stretch between Blanding and Roosevelt?

[Ocklawaha]

well at least 9B didn't make it....I was really worried about that!

Don't know how many of y'all know this, but recent digging in the DOT files brought some new light on the 9-B idea, at least between I-95 and I-295E. Since the area of I-95 / US 1 / Baymeadows / I-295, is a growing retail and housing market, the condept of 9-B is to create a short truck reliever from JaxPort South to I-95. The later part will create a bypass of the urbanized area for trucks moving from ports to the South toward the CSX or NS intermodal yards which are out in the Westlake Area.  In this respect it all makes complete sense. I know, shock of shocks, the old railroad guy rather supports this concept.

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

Several major projects did not make the cut because they cost too much. They included $12 million for building ramps at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Butler Boulevard, $10 million for intersection improvements at Beach Boulevard and University Boulevard and $54 million for a new transportation center for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

But of course darling, let's cut the ones that make the most sense! Take all of the projects on the Duval County approved list and tell me how many DIRECT employees it will represent in 5 years. ZERO!

Clean up the mess at JTB and 95 and we'll probably get another office or two out of the deal.

Clean up Beach and University (one of the worst in the City) and we'll probably see complete redevlopment of the massive old strip centers located all around it.

Build a smart transportation center at JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL and it will employ 200 people in 5 years, more in 10 and lead the South in surface Transportation jobs in 20. YES, IT IS THAT GOOD.

OCKLAWAHA

[Charles Hunter]

The Jax Terminal would have been a good project for the list, but looking at the numbers in the article, it cost $54 million, and the TPO appeared to be working with $24 - $30 million for the entire four-county area.

[thelakelander]

well at least 9B didn't make it....I was really worried about that!

Don't know how many of y'all know this, but recent digging in the DOT files brought some new light on the 9-B idea, at least between I-95 and I-295E. Since the area of I-95 / US 1 / Baymeadows / I-295, is a growing retail and housing market, the condept of 9-B is to create a short truck reliever from JaxPort South to I-95. The later part will create a bypass of the urbanized area for trucks moving from ports to the South toward the CSX or NS intermodal yards which are out in the Westlake Area.  In this respect it all makes complete sense. I know, shock of shocks, the old railroad guy rather supports this concept.

OCKLAWAHA

That's a lot of money for a short truck reliever, especially one that won't reduce traffic since it opens up more land for commercial development.  In the grand scheme of things, if you're working with limited funds, its probably better to spend initial money elsewhere (ex. JTB & I-95 or Beach & University).