Welcome to the First Coast Tea Party
BREAKING NEWS: YOUR PROPERTY TAXES WILL GO UP
I have just returned from the City Council meeting where they voted to raise our property taxes again for the second time in two years.
This was not a surprise. We saw it coming and we heard some disturbing comments over the weeked which we decided to hold back. We held them back because we wanted to see if the council members would prove those statements wrong. They didn't.
Last weekend, it was brought to our attention that local lobbyists were caught laughing at an event about the tea party bringing people to the city council chambers. They said, "They can bring 1,000 people down there and it will not make a difference. The deal is done."
It appears those lobbyists were right.
Here's what the lobbyists and our city leaders do not understand.
Scott Rasmussen, an independent pollster, stated recently, "The Tea Party Movement is not a flash in the pan, as many have assumed. Nor is it a movement of racist rednecks and ignorant boobs, as its detractors have crudely suggested. To the contrary, it is an authentic grassroots movement of concerned American citizens demanding to be heard by an out-of-touch political establishment. Their concerns are real and their issues are legitimate."
When you showed up last night and voiced your concerns one after another in a professional and dignified way - you let the city leaders know the Tea Party Movement has come to town. While we have focused most of our efforts on the federal level, it is now apparent we must spend some time with our city leaders too. They evidently do not understand their job has changed because the economy has changed. We do not have money to burn and if we are cutting at home, they should be cutting too.
Candidly, I wanted to poke my eyes out a couple of times as I watched the questions asked and people scurrying to find the answers and then watching them explain that we can't do this because of this and because if you do this this will happen and then you have this and if do that then we have to do this. I understand why the city council members caved!! They could not get a straight answer from anyone. And they call us "ignorant boobs!"
There are many complex issues to this budget and many moving parts that even the city council members could not understand. We demand and expect that the budget process and the way our money is spent should be simplified and transparent. It should not require 4 rows of people on hand to explain to the city council what the numbers mean. Nor making calls during the meeting here and there to find out what the numbers mean.
The final vote was 11-7 and here are the votes for 2010-557 (Budget)
Yea: Corrigan, Fussell, Gaffney, Holt, Hyde, Jones, Joost, R. Brown, Shad, Webb, D. Brown
Nay: Bishop, Clark, Crescimbeni, Johnson, Lee, Redman, Yarbough
Please contact those who voted No and thank them.
Please contact those who voted Yes and ask them to put into writing Why they did? They should be willing to do that and if they don't it will tell you alot about them.
So what now? A plan is in the works for continued relationship building and accountability with our city council and other city leaders.
In the meantime, if you have experience in running an organization and have been a success at your endeavors, we encourage you to consider running for city leadership. We will not be focusing on those races until the November election is done. When November 3 hits, we will be looking at local political opportunities and encouraging leaders to stand up and help us fix the financial mess we are presently wallowing in.
If we do not find a way out of the tax and spend mentality, we might as well put a "Closed for Business" sign on the interstate -- because no business in their right mind would want to build a business here.
We wish the city leaders had heard from Rick Santelli who recently ranted again. We're with you, Rick!
Views: 40
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Comment by Bryan Shaffer on September 29, 2010 at 5:18pm
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I'm not supprised after the emails I received in response from my represenatvies on the council. I'm mad and am seriously considering running for my district or at-large seat next time it comes up. I have always said I wanted to be involved in city politics, I guess this is my opportunity.
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Peyton is just like Delaney- RINOs.
I despise politicians that believe they can spend my dollars. I'm, personally, getting ready for another Revolution.
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The Mission is clear. Remove ALL the "yea" votes from office.
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Comment by Valerie Myles on September 29, 2010 at 4:44pm
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Is there any way we can work to remove them from office? Hutch for Mayor!!!
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Local lobbyist were not afraid that they would lose this vote they know that good old boy politics is alive and well in Jacksonville. And the players in this game had already assured them they would get what they wanted. The lobbyist here do need to be exposed so the people can really see who is pulling the strings in our city. It is no wonder that the local government of Jacksonville is refered to as the jacksonville mofia in Tallahasee. There is a reward program in this city that is funded by a few business with old money and people with a lot of clout. As long as they get what they want or need things are fine. They don't care how much they squeeze the working class. So expose the lobbyist so the people know who the real local government is and where their money is really going.These are the people that have ran this city for decades they don't want new businesses to come here and cut into their pie.
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Comment by Arthur Crounse on September 29, 2010 at 4:22pm
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When thoes that know everthing and elected by thoes that know nothing, it seem time for thoes that know nothing would do a better job.
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Billy, I agree we need to solicit and encourage people who understand and are willing to listen before they make their decision. Last night many people reminded the council members that they work for us not the other way around. Robert Hutcherson, is a candidate for mayor. He was at the meeting last evening and he spoke in opposition to this tax hike. I urge others to go to his web site www.Hutch4Mayor.com He is one of us and he needs petitions signed to get him on the ballot. Lets kick the local bums out too.
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Comment by Bob Honiker on September 29, 2010 at 3:46pm
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I see the same thing coming in St. John's County.
Government at all levels is addicted to confiscating and spending our hard earned money. It's time for some cold turkey withdrawal treatment.
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Comment by Ron Ogletree on September 29, 2010 at 3:45pm
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Can those lobbyists now be named? Since they are brave enough to yak about it with idle ears around, then they are going to have to be brave enough to experience the new transparency we will demand henceforth.
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Comment by Valerie Sawyer on September 29, 2010 at 3:44pm
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Glad to see you encouraging people to run. That is going to be one of the keys - not sitting back and waiting for the same old tired re-treads to state that they are running for City Council - again - but rather finding fresh new faces who are in-touch with "normal" people and understand what the citizens want and need and who understand the role of government. We need to start vetting this slate of mayoral candidates as well. I hope ALL city candidates will feel like they've had a prostate exam by the time we finish with them.
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