Keep Council there past midnight!

[Skot David Wilson]

I was there last night, and spoke five times. Once on Station Five, on the cameras at intersections and promoting Three Seconds Red, on the 300/100 square foot overlay for Springfield which will effect halfway houses, even on Pey-me-a-ton's appointment of the unqualified....
Where were you?
The council again stayed until like 1 am.
I even told a few of them as they were leaving that I intended to keep them until midnight every meeting until they start just getting the right things done.
I had a good conversation with Clay. He really is a decent guy, and wants to do the right thing, period.
I'll update more later... but if I alone cost them a quarter hour, because there were five issues I felt I needed to speak on, picture sever more people costing two hours of comment time, or fifteen more costing them four hours.
We can spend one very late night a month, get together afterwards for coffee, planning, and a laugh.
We can support Craig, weigh in on our opinion about red lights and appointments of the unqualified, and basically stand up and change this city.
I say extortion by deinal of sleep is a wonderful form of political action.
I say walking up to developers and confronting them, by comments or just starting a conversation, makes sense.
I had one supporter for Five show up.
Hats off Maria!
More later.......

[Lunican]

I doubt keeping them there late will make them do the right thing, but it probably will make them change the rules regarding public comment. Something like, "In order to more efficiently serve the people of Jacksonville, the public comment period has been reduced to five minutes total".

[02roadking]

Good job Skot. Keep the faith. You actually could be on to something  .

[downtownparks]

Skot, what did you have to say about the Springfield Overlay issue? How did the vote come out?

[Skot David Wilson]

Since we had this discussion in JaxOutLoud, I will only go into something brief here.
My view is that established halfway houses, ones that are state licensed and have operated the same way for years, that provide a great service to the community and have proven success record, should be allowed to continue as they have been.
The 300 square foot overlay is unfair to them as is JAA trying to extend Craig Field after a promise never to do so.
The excuse of JAA supporters is that things change, but people establish themselves and live and should never be forced to make changes that disturb their lifestyle.
In Springfield, these halfway houses were already there before money moved in to save and restore the area. They are in compliance with state and federal laws, and they have the right to stay. 300 square foot per resident would put them, and the service they provide to the community, out of business.
There should be an exception to them, as they are grandfathered in.
If you have a diffent opinion, good for you, this one is mine.
It was made after listening to both sides, and I decided to speak only after public comments were well underway, because I felt it was important to support others who were being unfairly treated.
The 300 sq ft overlay would apply to any new halfway houses.
But it shouldn't to those who have been there for ages.

[Skot David Wilson]

See you at council! (yeah, sure)
I'm getting The Ombudsman printed up, only four pages but oh, well... it's a start.
See the other articles in here on the "Ombudsman" for info.
Let's see if we can go to midnight again.....
Maybe Davis will let public comments start sooner...
(yeah, right)

[raheem942]

a if there getting paid overtime they might not mind and we might be da one getting screwed