Urban Jacksonville

I think it’s fair use to share a poem by one of our most revered Americans, Joey. Here’s a favorite of mine:

“If I should die”

If I should die,
And you should live,
And time should gurgle on,
And morn should beam,
And noon should burn,
As it has usual done;
If birds should build as early,
And bees as bustling go,–
One might depart at option
From enterprise below!
‘Tis sweet to know that stocks will stand
When we with daisies lie,
That commerce will continue,
And trades as briskly fly.
It make the parting tranquil
And keeps the soul serene,
That gentlemen so sprightly
Conduct the pleasing scene!

Yes! Thats awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Um, isn’t getting your dickinson on what everyone is worried all those homeless people are going to do in the library?

/sorry, couldn’t help it

Have you seen the hundreds of mug shots of sex offenders they have arrested since the library opened? They’re in Michael’s office, head of security. Ask him to show you sometime…and don’t EVER leave a kid unattended in there. I’m not paranoid about poor people, but holy god…

poor people? are poor people more likely to be sex offenders? this is certainly not something i’ve heard before. don’t get me wrong, i’m as elitist are the next guy who’s never stepped foot in a public school, but that seems a little off…

I’m really digging this and plan to be there. Thanks, Joey!

I think that people who have mental and social deficiencies are more likely to be homeless AND economically isolated than those who don’t. I would say its quite possible (I dont have a case study infront of me or anything) that it is more likly that a pedophile would have other problems as well, thus increasing the likly hood of the two being tied together in some way.

Its not a “poor people” thing, its a mental illness thing.

Are you kidding? the library is the best free baby sitting there is. plop the kid in that children’s section, and he’s good for hours.

I’m with Adam (not B). There does seem to be a situation where kids are just roaming around at the main library. Don’t get me wrong, a public library ain’t the worst place to drop off kids after school. But it isn’t intended as a social event for the kids, nor an alternative to child care for the adults.

I’m putting on my asbestos suit ’cause I know people will flame me, but go hang out in the main library for a few afternoons straight and see what I mean.

And don’t even get me started on the homeless dudes sleeping, i.e. pretending to be reading a book.

Adam Beaugh, I think she (Jennifer) was referring to the homeless people that Adam (not Beaugh) mentioned in his comment. I’d say most homeless people are poor. I don’t think that’s a stretch, so let’s call it a truce. I sometimes can’t sense when people are being ironic. I have to say though, that I can very well be as ‘elitist’ without ever having been granted the ostentatious privilege of entering a private school.

Right on, Downtownparks. It’s not that these people are poor and therefore commit lewd acts; most often, they are mentally ill and not accepted by society. For instance, pedophilia is a mental illness and no matter how it’s dealt with, a pedophile will never be rehabilitated back into society because society will not allow it.

The State of Florida has a poor system for individuals with mental illness as well developmental disabilities, and it’s only getting worse. Recently, the state-funded organization I work for, which serves children and adults with developmental disabilities, was issued a rate cut of $80,000 for the fiscal year. We are one of many organizations losing funding, many others are losing much more. Mental retardation and mental illnesses need to be handled gently and with more urgency. These people are a part of society just like all of us.

i’d say it’s the “christian clowns” we should be looking out for!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1010071clown1.html

Adrienne, you have to see it from The State of Florida’s view; if they don’t cut corners how are they going to fund the next downtown Starbucks or stadium improvement? (Ahem) Yeah.