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In This Episode

We recap Monday’s debate from the University club where the fists start flying between Moran and Mullaney.

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EVENTS and RESOURCES
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Early voting is happening now
The election is March 22 (2 weeks away)

ThinkVoteJax Debates
ThinkVoteJax – stream all the debates at http://www.wjct.tv
Thursday 3/3 at 8pm The role of government in Growth/the Environment
Sunday 3/6 at 10am School Matters Special: Mayoral Forum on Education
Monday 3/7 at 8pm Debate #2 The role of government in Economic Development
Thursday 3/17 at 8 Debate #3: The role of government in Public Health & Safety

jacksonville.com/votersguide

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FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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NEWS
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Monday’s Channel 4 Debate

Mayoral candidate Warren Lee was fired for soliciting petitions

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-03-08/story/mayoral-candidate-warren-lee-was-fired-soliciting-petitions#ixzz1GFNUfSEd

First attack ad in Jacksonville mayoral race runs early by mistake

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-03-14/first-attack-ad-jacksonville-mayoral-race-runs-early

Rival mocks Rick Mullaney’s 34-point plan: “Point 35 is ‘When desperate, go negative

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-03-14/rival-mocks-rick-mullaneys-34-point-plan-point-35-when

TU Editorial Board Endorsement of Audrey Moran

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2011-03-13/story/audrey-moran-mayor-best-choice

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In This Episode

We recap first televised mayoral debate, go through all the news and talk about this mayors race and how it’s taking a turn for the weird.

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EVENTS and RESOURCES
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Early voting tomorrow Monday, March 7
The election is March 22 (2 weeks away)

Last Week on First Coast Connect
March 15th Steve Irvine

ThinkVoteJax
Monday 3/7 at 8pm Debate #2 The role of government in Economic Development
Thursday 3/17 at 8 Debate #3: The role of government in Public Health & Safety

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EMAILS and TWITTER QUESTIONS
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@SunshineEmpire asks Question: Which candidate benefits the most from light voter turnout, and which does from heavy turnout?

@JaxMayorShow @abelharding Folio Weekly suggests Warren Lee’s campaign is a Republican plant. Any real evidence supporting their claim?

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NEWS
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This election has taken a turn for the weird…

• Warren Lee a stooge for the Republican party (Folio Article) http://www.folioweekly.com/documents/folio0301wkl006.pdf
• Mike Hogan again getting into hot PR water on Preservation Lands and still refusing to show up for debates http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/david-bauerlein/2011-02-28/mike-hogan-says-he-would-consider-selling
• Abel Harding: Leadership isn’t found in empty chairs http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/abel-harding/2011-03-01/abel-harding-leadership-isn%E2%80%99t-found-empty-chairs
• Part of Mullaney’s pension paid by Jacksonville’s operating budget http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-03-04/story/part-mullaney%E2%80%99s-pension-paid-jacksonvilles-operating-budget

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DEBATE Growth and the Environment
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Is there a clear winner / loser?
Who helped their movement the most / hurt their movement the most?
Is there any significance to the number 34?
What are public private partnerships Alvin Brown kept mentioning?

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MEDIA MONITORING
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Will we seen any ads from Brown, Irvine or Lee?

Moran: 3 new ads http://www.youtube.com/user/ImWithAudrey#p/u/4/npcEbUbvnTQ
Hogan:
Lee:
Mullaney:
Irvine:
Brown:

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FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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In This Episode

We discuss whether or not Mike Hogan is gaffe prone, why Rick Mullaney won’t ride the skyway and we break down the pension issue in a way that won’t make your eyes bleed.

Show intro

Joey Marchy from Urban Jacksonville
Abel Harding Business Reporter and Political Blogger from the Florida Times Union and Jacksonville.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JaxMayorShow
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JaxMayorShow
Email: JaxMayorShow@gmail.com
Subscribe to this show in iTunes (please rate us)

Early Voting and Election Day

The election is March 22, and early voting starts March 7

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EVENTS and RESOURCES
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The election is March 22, and early voting starts March 7

Last Week on First Coast Connect
Feb 17 Listen to Warren Lee
Feb 22 Listen to Rick Mullaney
Feb 23 Listen to Alvin Brown
Feb 24 Listen to Audrey Moran
Feb 28th Mike Hogan (will not appear)
March 15th Steve Irvine

Mar 3 – FPRA is hosting an analysis/panel of experts moderated by #jaxmayor show’s own Abel Harding on the Mayor’s race from 11:30 to 1 at River City Brewing. Non-involved observers include Bruce Barcelo, Jim Bailey and Matt Corrigan. More info at http://fpra-jax.org/.

ThinkVoteJax
Thursday 3/3 at 8pm The role of government in Growth/the Environment
Sunday 3/6 at 10am School Matters Special: Mayoral Forum on Education
Monday 3/7 at 8pm Debate #2 The role of government in Economic Development
Thursday 3/17 at 8 Debate #3: The role of government in Public Health & Safety

Candidate surveys from the St. John’s Riverkeeper

What do you consider to be the most significant threats to the health of the St. Johns River and its watershed and, if elected, what will you do to address those problems

Live chats with each candidate on Jacksonville.com
Warren Lee, Alvin Brown, Mike Hogan, Audrey Moran and Rick Mullaney

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MIKE HOGAN NEWS
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Mike Hogan pulls out of more forums and debates

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-02-25/mike-hogan-will-only-attend-two-four-tv-mayoral-debates

Mike Hogan Abortion bomb
Is Mike Hogan gaffe prone?

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2011-02-24/story/jacksonville-mayoral-hopefuls-take-shots-tea-party-forum

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NEWS
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Glorious Johnson takes aim at Rick Mullaney’s pension

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-26/story/former-rival-takes-aim-jacksonville-mayoral-candidates-pension

Mayor’s race: How pension and budget are intertwined

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-26/story/mayors-race-how-pension-and-budget-are-intertwined

Mallaney to stop funding skyway http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-02-23/rick-mullaneys-skyway-pledge-draws-attention-forum
Observation from listening to all these Mayor forums is how fucked up this city is. We are in really bad shape. Education, Violence, Business Development, Pension, etc.

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MEDIA MONITORING
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http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-02-24/another-rick-mullaney-ad-no-punches-thrown-%E2%80%94-yet

Mullaney: New ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy9piQ6aJXw

@abelharding : Overwhelmed by sheer volume of @Mullaney4Mayor ads on @wtlvdotcom tonight. Haven’t seen one for other candidates.#jaxmayor

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2) FAVORITE TWEETS
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Faves http://twitter.com/JaxMayorShow/favorites

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ELECTION ISSUES – PENSION
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Hogan require employees in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan to take money when they leave, not roll it over as an investment. Slash appointed positions at City Hall, reforming the city’s purchasing code and eliminating funding for the Human Rights Commission.

Brown pledged to review the budget and pension plan to find ways to cut costs and eliminate duplicative and ineffective services. Will create a financial review task force of experts to oversee a top-to-bottom review of city programs and services, including size and salaries of mayor’s staff and appointees. Brown said he would take a 20 percent pay cut to lead by example.

Lee would give a certain percentage of a payout to people drawing a pension then restructure the plan. by repealing the garbage, stormwater and drainage fees. He proposed no changes to the budgeting process. Will look at appointed employees and specific budget cuts.

Moran require employees to work longer before earning benefits, modifying benefits to current employees, possibly moving general employees to a 401(k) plan, cuts in appointed officials, fleet management and the city’s use of space.

Mullaney shift to a market-based DROP plan instead of a guaranteed 8.4 percent return, increase minimum service requirements from 20 to 25 years, increase employee contributions from 7 to 8 percent and push the cost-of-living increase back to year five. Also contains a combination of cuts and a restructuring of finances, including pensions, salaries, purchasing, procurement, contracts, privatization and technology.

From the Ed

Will Jacksonville become a Jiffy Feet town who shutters it’s cultural organizations? Abel Harding from JaxPoliticsOnline discusses the current debate over cultural funding in the city.

As Jacksonville’s budget debate has heated up over the past few weeks, city spending on arts and culture has, predictably, come under heavy criticism. Taxpayer funding of the Cultural Council—the non-profit organization that oversees the city’s grant program—has long been a target of those who believe that support of arts and culture is not an essential role of government. Critics point to long-struggling organizations like the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and question the wisdom of local government continuing to pick up the slack. The school of thought seems to support the mantra that if non-profit organizations are unable to survive in the free market, they should cease to exist.

In truth, Jacksonville’s arts and culture scene, while surprisingly vibrant, is not heavily funded by local government. Jacksonville actually allocates roughly $3 million of taxpayer dollars—less than 1/2 of 1% of the city’s budget—to fund arts & culture programs in the city. According to the Cultural Council, that $3 million equates to the city investing $3.50 per person in arts funding—less than the price of a Starbucks Latte. That minimal expenditure of taxpayer dollars is used to leverage matching funds from private organizations, a tactic that is essential to obtaining those private dollars. (Private charitable trusts and companies are unlikely to demonstrate a willingness to invest in arts & culture in a city that has no interest in investing any of its own taxpayer dollars.)

The Cultural Council uses that $3 million dollars in cultural services grants to support 26 organizations, including the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, the Florida Theatre, the Museum of Science and History and the Beaches Fine Art Series. Lest anyone assume the aforementioned organizations are merely high-priced venues for Jacksonville’s elite, the reality is that the Cummer served 2,400 Jacksonville kids with disabilities at Very Special Arts Day, the Florida Theatre subsidized the fees of more than 25 nonprofit events, MOSH has taken the lead in developing educational awareness of water resources and the Beaches Fine Art Series presented eight free concerts to more than 10,000 people last year. Those are just a sampling of the organizations that benefit from Jacksonville’s public service grants. In all, the organizations funded through the Cultural Service Grant program served 339,826 Duval County students last year.

Before Jacksonville considers slashing funding of arts and culture, we need to pause to consider where downtown would be without the arts. Despite decades of failed development attempts, the one thing that has continued to thrive in downtown Jacksonville is arts and culture. Whether it’s a Jacksonville Symphony Concert, a new exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art or an event at the storied Florida Theatre, the organizations that serve Jacksonville’s arts community have proven to be the lifeblood of downtown.

In all, the organizations that receive funding through the Cultural Services grants program, provided an economic impact of $69 million last year. Not all of the impact; however, can be measured in terms of dollars. Imagine a Fortune 500 company that would consider relocating to a city without a symphony? Or, a thriving ballet program? Or, a historical society? The business of the arts is truly the business of economic development. A flourishing arts community symbolizes a city committed to greatness.

A tough economic environment is no excuse to deliver a sucker punch to Jacksonville’s arts and culture community. Their funding should remain intact. They are a critical component of the Jacksonville I want to live in, the Jacksonville that will continue to attract economic investment and the Jacksonville I hope my child settles in someday.

This article first appeared on Abel’s blog JaxPoliticsOnline. Abel is a regular political contributor to this site.

Tomorrow is a huge day for the future of our city. No matter what side of the budget debate you fall on, you have to be a bit apprehensive. If City Council votes against the Mayor’s tax increase, will the outcome be as dire as the mayor forecasts? Will cuts to cultural institutions, the shuttering of the LaVilla Theater, the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission and more set our city back culturally for years to come?

Today the 16 member 19 member City Council will vote on the issue of raising property taxes to avoid cutting Public Safety, City Services and Social/Cultural/Events. It’s going to be a real nail biter too. Tia Mitchell reports the council is literally divided on the issue:

Nine of the 16 council members reached last week told the Times-Union they’re leaning toward supporting Mayor John Peyton’s proposal for now, setting the tax rate at 9.5 mills – a 12 percent increase.

Regardless of the outcome there are those in the city who will carry on the fight for cultural enhancement, despite (or in spite of) those who would trade culture in our city for lower or no taxes.

Let’s say after all is said and done, Council does not approve the tax increase, what next? Peyton can veto the bill or refuse to sign, but so far he hasn’t indicated what his plans are if the hike is rejected.

Some more links on the topic

City Council divided on property tax (Jacksonville.com)
Has the budget crisis spawned a ‘new’ Mayor Peyton? (Jacksonville.com)
Yarborough: cut arts and social service funding (Folio Blog)
Pension Tensions (Shelton Hull)
More links on the budget

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Special Guest: The Mayor – Topic: Millage Increase

A lot happening so these are gonna be rough! Better just listen. – Jack

Mayor – for the increase
City Council – cut spending instead
Residents – siding with council
voting next week (July 28th)
Mayor is optimistic
3-part plan
“we are at a crossroads”
lowest millage rate in FL
Clark’s influence?
Peyton is up for the fight!
Mayor v. Council – is that healthy?
? – shouldn’t fund arts, culture, social etc.
arts and culture will lose
T- people are evenly split on the issue
arts/culture = less than 1/2 of 1% of budget
@hiddentrack: “if we’re guilty of anything, it’s under-investing.” well said, mr. mayor. #ujw
T – Ritz Theatre will not be able to come back if we don’t protect it
government destroyed LaVilla, Ritz is all that’s left
J – fire/police budget always comes up
Peyton – does not support cutting fire/police budget
“violence epidemic in Jax”
“moving from being cheap to being irresponsible”
Sheriff’s Dept largest budget at City Hall
Abel (@jaxpolitics)
Ask Mayor how much faith he has in Council (running for re-election) to support true pension reform? #ujw
Public remains cynical b/c there has been no reform to AMIO positions. They’ve almost doubled in last few years. Nearly $15m. But, yet, emphasis has been placed on social services/cultural cuts. Why not move AMIO’s to civil service and trim to build trust? #ujw
Was there an attempt to bring Council members in on the budget planning process?
Legislature allowed “out” for Duval in statutory tax cuts, why didn’t Mayor ask Council to override that cap last year?
Does the Mayor support combining elections w/ state? What are the downsides?
T – wants the World Cup (Mayor’s for it!)
T- QOL first thing a big business asks about when they come to town
The mayor just said “critical mass.” No that critical mass, but still…
T – Kiplinger named Jax #6 Tax-Friendliest City
fixitnow.cc – website
Last ?: Does Mayor think public wld be more likely to support increase if it was dedicated mil to fund capital improvements/maintenance?
Jags/stadium

Music from Jack Diablo

Tuesday, July 21
Warehouse Show (1850 Wambolt 8B)
Panzram (Ft. Meyers)
Ripper (Jax)
Tourist Trap (Jax)

Wednesday, July 22
Indie-folk at TSI
Kevin Lee Newberry (Jax)
Little High Little Low (Gainesville)
Zeke (Jax)

Friday, July 24
Hip Hop at TSI
Shunda K (from Yo Majesty)
Heavy Flow (Jax)
Tough Junkie (Jax)

Sunday, July 26
College Street House Show
The Daytonas
Matrix Infinity
Erzulie
Omebi
Wudun
Royal Chord (Australia)
Psychic Reality (San Francisco)

Monday, July 27
Shantytown
Psychic Reality
Royal Chord
Bright Orange

Tuesday, July 28
Metal/Hardcore/Prog/Other Stuff at Doozers
Republicorpse (Orlando)
Time To Die (Orlando)
Buff Clout (Jax)
National Dairy (Jax)
Chicken & Whiskey (Jax)

Recommendations

Jonathan – Sulzbacher petition
Joey – budget links
Tony – RAM, duh – Justin Roberts (Paul McCartney of kid music)
Renee – Mayor’s appearances
Mayor – fixitnow.cc GET SMART!

Last night the Sulzbacher released a sweet little web app that allows people to sign a digital petition and leave a 140 character message for all to read. Developed by Hampton Catlin, the petition app is an easy way to show your support for the Sulzbacher.

Sign the petition at http://action.sulzbachercenter.org

The second step the petition shows how many people have signed it (I was #54) and allows you to send a pre-written message to all city council members or your friends. See below:

As a supporter of the Sulzbacher Center, I see first hand how the critical services that they provide change the lives of homeless men, women and children. The city funding cuts that are being proposed will result in a significant reduction in services that will impact our entire community. Feeding people who are hungry and housing families is simply too important to consider cutting. Please vote to keep the Sulzbacher Center’s funding intact, even if property taxes are not increased.

This is a great example of a non-profit using, what I assume is the Twitter API in an innovative way.

Recently City Council has taken the line of looking for ways to tighten it’s belt. The Mayor calls this a slogan for a bumper sticker, implying Council is only paying lip service to reducing government spending. While Ron Littlepage has an interesting take on this who knows how everything will shake out. One thing’s for sure, there will be lots of budget talk between now and late September when City Council votes on the issue.

What follows is a note I sent to city council and the local news media. It was inspired by Tony Allegretti’s message to council last week titled “Quality of Life at Stake”, hence my title. It’s not pro millage increase or anti-waste reduction, but it is pro-Jacksonville.

Dear Council members and local news media

After reading Tony Allegretti’s message I felt compelled to write and weigh in on this issue myself.

Our city is uniquely positioned to lead the Southeast region into the 20th century by embracing arts and culture. To get there we need retain our smart, artistic people and attract new, innovative thinkers to our city.

We can do this by increasing or maintaining (at a minimum) current levels of arts, culture and historic preservation funding. We should take a step back and look at the long view for our city. What do we want our city to be for ourselves and our children? Personally I would like a city that is seen as innovative, arts and culture forward and architecturally significant. A place where people want to move to, not move away from.

When I moved back to Jacksonville from Minneapolis in 2005 I was distraught to see our city had barely progressed culturally in my 3 year absence. In order to move the city forward I started the Urban Jacksonville blog to show people, through technology, not only what our city had to offer, but what it could be.

What did I focus on? The arts, culture and developing historic neighborhoods. I feel these three items are an important barometer to gauge the health and future of a city. All major metropolitan cities have a history of embracing and supporting the arts. Minneapolis is a vibrant city who focuses on their arts and culture. Because of this, they are a major talent draw in the Midwest region. Attracting the best artists, chefs, designers, architects and musicians from small (Madison, WI) and large (Chicago IL) cities in the Midwest.

Jacksonville would be wise to position itself as an arts and culture leader in the Southeast. Imagine attracting the most talented from Atlanta, Orlando and Tampa instead of losing our best and brightest to those cities on a weekly basis.

We have a chance not only with this budget decision, but in every decision we make to position ourselves as an innovative city. Vision and leadership require tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. Please consider the future of our City and not just the present when making your decisions over the coming weeks.

Thanks for your time,

Joey Marchy

Mayor Peyton on Urban Jacksonville Weekly

This Tuesday at 5:30 Mayor Peyton will be out guest on a special budget issue of Urban Jacksonville Weekly. We’ll discuss how potential cuts to balance the budget could affect the arts and historic preservation in the Urban Core. We’ll also be joined remotely by our political correspondent Abel Harding from JaxPoliticsOnline.com.

Please leave any questions you have for the Mayor regarding the how cuts might effect the arts and historic preservation in the Urban Core on this post, on Facebook or on Twitter with the #ujw hashtag.

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Summertime In the City w/ Tough Junkie

• Summertime in the City page on Urban Jacksonville
• 4th year
• Hip Hop Festival, DIY vibe
• Tough Junkie goes on first (10pm)
• will start on time, probably
• lineup – Edan (psychedelic hip hop), Dagha, Paten Locke, Willie Evans Jr., Dillon
• Saturday – breakdancing at RAM, pizza party at BBB (1520 N. Main St.)
• Saturday night – Shantytown show: tons of folks playing
• Tough Junkie’s new CD available on toughjunkie.com, iTunes
• TJ – “goal is to get in trouble”

Uptown Market Part Deux

• skipping it!
• set to open Aug 31 (or later)

Pineapples

• film Tony’s day (cuz it’s soooo interesting)
• he works real hard and funny stuff happens
• RAM office is completely full of pineapples
• will be for sale at RAM, cheap, all proceeds go to Hubbard House
• donated by Winn Dixie
• more details to come on Urban Core
• accepting applications for interns to film Tony’s life
• @mogdoy: #ujw. I want a pineapple.

Music (Jack)

Wednesday July 15
Doozer’s Pub – Florida Punk Show
The New Threat (St. Cloud)
Big City Bombers (Orlando)
False Arrest (Valdosta, GA)
Psycho Vision (Cocoa)

Friday July 17
Doozer’s Pub – Hardcore/Punk/Thrash Show
Fortitude (Daytona Beach)
Suburban Lockdown (Orlando)
Talk Sick Earth (Jacksonville)

At Shantytown Pub
Buff Clout (Jacksonville)
Antarctic (Jacksonville)
Victor! Fix the Sun (Grand Rapids, MI)
Pisces at the Animal Fair (Elmhurst, IL)

More shows on the EU music calendar.
Follow the EU Music Twitter feed.

Tony – Summertime In the City spread in REAX
TJ – officially representing Larry Otis

Bloggers’ Summit

• folio – neighborhood interviews
• flog – stepping it up
• bloggers’ “meeting” with the mayor
• walked in, walked out (but not next week)
• Random Control (TJ’s blog)
• mostly discussed the budget
• @mogdoy: #ujw. If the republican state house had not “cut” property taxes we wouldn’t be in this situation. Peyton fought that one.
• embracing new media
• TJ might’ve stirred it up
• T – it’s not about the mayor but about the people interacting with their government

Recommendations
Joey – new Urban Facelift project from content design group
Jonathan – mayor’s chats, details on jacksonville.com
Tony – City Kidz Ice Cream on 3rd/Main
TJ – eat spinach, honey (mogdoy: #ujw. Local honey cures allergies.)
Jack – Nicole Middleton art show at Bogda (Saturday July 18)

I would say new media is already shaping the Jacksonville budget conversation. If you read this weeks post from Metro Jacksonville, First Official Blogger Conference at City Hall, you can see how.

This was one of those moments where the City was well served and represented. Both by an Administration opening up to the new times, and by the representatives of those New Times themselves.

It was an unprecedented move by the city to solicit feedback from new media influencers and tastemakers in Jacksonville. I have no doubt many of our recommendations were noted and will be implemented.

While I won’t go into detail on what was said I will express my own opinion on the budget debate. I am for the millage increase. To me this sums it up.

We haven’t had a property tax increase in many years, even while inflation and the cost of city services continued to rise. Do opponents of the budget increase really think taxes will and should stay at their current levels? Should Jacksonville alway have some of the lowest tax rates in the state even while we are pushing the development boundaries of the largest landmass city in the U.S.? If not now then when? We can’t sustain the city without increasing taxes. Period. If anyone has a counter argument, I’d love to hear it.

Yesterday the city launched a massive public conversation campaign or maybe it started earlier with JaxObserver’s first show featuring Mayor Peyton.

You’re likely to hear the words budget, millage, increase, stupid and tea bag ad-nauseam for the next couple of weeks, so let’s get started. Here a selection of events and conversation circling the announcement today:

Tracking Budget News

I’ve created an RSS feed to track budget news, stories and info. You can get the budget RSS feed here.

Important Upcoming Budget Events

July 13, 2009 Mayor Peyton presents his proposed budget to City Council. 10 a.m., Council Chambers, City Hall (117 W. Duval Street)

July 21st, 2009 the Mayor will appear on Urban Jacksonville Weekly. Tune in live July 21st. Start sending your questions in now!

1. Tweet your question using the #ujw hashtag or mention Urban Jacksonville Weekly in your tweet
2. Leave a question on the Urban Jacksonville Facebook page
3. Leave a comment on Urban Jacksonville or email urbanjacksonvilleweekly@gmail.com

In addition to appearing on UJW, the Mayor will participate in a series of live video webcast and chats, hosted by UJW broadcasting partner Jacksonville.com. These will live blogged by the talented Tia Mitchell and moderated by someone, not sure who yet. There are also plans for users to submit YouTube questions prior to the webcasts.

July 28, 2009 City Council votes on maximum millage 5 p.m., Council Chambers City Hall (117 W. Duval Street)

Budget Tweets (newest to oldest)

polkadotz: Coming in tomorrow’s TU: The urgency of audience. Mayor Peyton’s drive to convince a divided public on taxes.

coj_tweeters: @urbanjax AMIOs are special appointed employees paid on avg about $70,000/yr. Jaxpolitics did recent post on them: http://tiny.cc/DfXFM

urbanjax: COJ should remove Media and FAQ main nav until they have content. Media FAQ

polkadotz: Wondering if it would be more effective for cops to not boycott Gate, but break into mayor’s office and decorate it with Hess toys.

JacksonvillNews: Sulzbacher Center Fears Proposed City Budget Cuts – First Coast News: http://bit.ly/1mIJFy (Note: I love the way FCN allows people to share their videos, FAIL) and How Budget Cuts Would Impact Sulzbacher Center

coj_tweeters: Budget savings? Cut 166 AMIOs making over $11 million in salary. Mayor promised to reform AMIOs when elected, but hasn’t kept promise.

gotv63: Mayor Peyton speaking to Dalton Agency staff meeting about his FixItNow campaign.

Trending on: happn_in_jacks: mayor peyton’s

thewayhome: Email city council president Richard Clark at RClark@coj.net and tell him you oppose the city’s proposed Sulzbacher Center budget cuts.

jax_just_in: Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton invites residents to discuss city budget http://tinyurl.com/nuaxr7

Jacksonville’s Budget Shaping Debates around Town and with JCCI

Lunch with the Mayor

Beginning next week, the mayor will host five lunch meetings from noon-1p.m. at area libraries. Residents are invited to bring their own lunch. Locations across the city have been selected for proximity to some of
the community’s larger business parks/complexes and residential areas to allow for easier access. The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, July 16
Brown-Eastside Branch Library, 1390 Harrison St. call (904) 630-5466

Monday, July 27
Jacksonville Main Library, conference center multi-purpose room, 303 N. Laura St. call at (904) 630-2665

Thursday, Aug. 6
Pablo Creek Regional Library, 13295 Beach Blvd. call at (904) 992-7101

Tuesday, Aug. 11
Southeast Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd. call at (904) 996-0325

Wednesday, Aug. 26
Mandarin Regional Library, 3330 Kori Road call at (904) 262-5201

Town Halls with the Mayor

Also beginning next week, the mayor will host three town hall meetings in various locations across the community. All residents are invited to attend. All meetings will be held in the evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 16
Ed White High School cafeteria, 1700 Old Middleburg Road call at (904) 693-7620

Monday, July 20
Edward Ball Building, 1st floor training room, 214 N. Hogan St. call at (904) 630-CITY (2489)

Monday, Aug. 3
Ribault High School media center, 3701 Winton Drive call at (904) 924-3092

A timely lunchtime conversation on Our Money, Our City: Financing Jacksonville’s Future with Study Chair, J.F. Bryan IV

What kind of city do you want to live and work in? JCCI’s City Finance Study has become central to this year’s city budget debates, getting to the core question of just what quality of life our community wants. You will have unprecedented opportunities to contribute to answering that question in the coming weeks. Please join us for JCCI’s:

Wednesday, July 29th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm @ JCCI- 2434 Atlantic Blvd. Please feel free to bring your lunch. Drinks and desserts will be provided. RSVP to Earlene at earlene@jcci.org by Monday, July 27 or call 396-3052.