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Everbank and Corporate Welfare
Our outgoing Mayor has proposed to the tune of over $6 million of our tax dollars that we the taxpayers buy Everbank's relocation of 800 employees to one of Downtown's vacant highrises. The funds of which $2.75 million goes directly into Everbank's hands to pay for quote "leasing costs" come from JEDC. When JEDC was founded, (1996 I believe) it was specifically stated that these funds would not be used to attract companies to relocate from one section of Jacksonville to another. I work specifically in this arena, I represent tenants looking for office space and I represent building owners and their space and I have never heard of a City doing something like this for an existing tenant . Everbank will come from the I-95/Butler Corridor to Downtown Jacksonville at the expense of their landlord in the suburbs. Would Everbank do this without the money, who knows? They certainly have enough money of their own to do this without this handout.
Another $3.25 million dollars is to build a parking garage so Everbank can park presumably for free. Is this Toney Sleiman's garage? It is not, it is another concession to Everbank. Who will this benefit? Of course Everbank, but who else? First Coast News interviewed a hot dog vendor who said (I paraphrase) "it will be good for my business but I don't think taxpayer dollars should be used." This is a private business deal between landlord and a potential new tenant, no interference is necessary from Government and the Government is damaging the existing landlord by putting this "backroom" deal together.
We invite you to join our discussion on this subject already in progress on "Just Speak Up" heard Mon.-Fri. on AM600 WBOB at 12 o'clock Noon. Any of our Councilmen who are listening are invited to participate in the discussion also, that number is 904-854-1320. Please get involved on this one, let's hold the outgoing Mayor responsible and pray our City Councilmen will make the right decision.
Fiunally JEDC takes up this subject for the first time on June 9th at Jacksonville's City Hall Suite 400 at 9 AM. I'll be there will you?
Views: 243
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Comment by CJ on June 15, 2011 at 10:15am
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I would like to bring attention to Bill 11-361 The Bill implies it is for buying land but if passed with the current language will actually approve the new bus terminal and more as well.I wrote to Council already and addressed the isssue last night explaining the bill as constructed is against the law because it addresses more than one issue. Iasked them to remove it from the agenda until it can be separated and addressed individually.I addressed council last night on different issues all leading back to JEDC and their inability to negotiate contracts and asked that the commission be removed and then proceeded to rattle off examples in how they failed but tax payers were left to clean up the mess.Another bill 366involves land already promised to the landing in bill 2010-330 but now offered to Suntrust. I researched this and the city has on the hook to build a garage for the landing since 1984. through 27 bills and 7 amendment the has continued divert the building of the garage themselves with tax payer financed incentives offered to others.All along money has been available to build the garage coming form the Northwest economic development fund and where the money should rightfully come from. Maybe the Mayor and his cronies feelif they can tie us up on everbank the rest will pass with ease like the bill for us to pay over due bills at the stadium. I found thru research another fund Called Memorandum of Understanding where 2% of all the money from convention/hotel/motel tax goes directly to the Jags to spend on what ever,when ever they please with no prior approval from the city. They just run in the receipts. I told council this fund giving the Jags free reign is where the money should come from to pay for signage, clean up and trash. Not the tax payer. Their audacity never ceases to amaze me.All of these go back to the JEDC and their inability to protect the tax payer thru contract writing as they have over sight and authority.Be vigilant folks
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Hello to all I wanted to share this information I found while looking up laws about everbank. It is for State law information only. They do not advise. They look laws for us, we the people, then send the information back. They replied within 24 hours about Municipal Recalls. I was very impressed.I t didnt help my cause but it was fast. Hope it comes in handy for everyone.LEG.INFO@leg.state.fl.us
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Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 15, 2011 at 9:33am
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Thank you Chuck for this post and wow what a great deal of information everyone pulled .......... now time to use that information in the committee meeting and make sure it is a matter of record.
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I just posted all the committee meeting and what they are responsible for. If at all possible, people need to be at each and everyone of them as most of them will touch and feel the bills coming up on Ever Bank and the "so called" transportation center with all the land grabs by the city. Please if any of you are able to go, please do!
Chuck, I am hopeful for the Ethics Commission and now we will have to watch carefully who is chosen and vet them to be sure they are truly proper additions to such a commission :). And as someone said last night, what was passed last night is a good beginning..............
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Comment by Charles D White on June 15, 2011 at 8:47am
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Did we learn anything from last night? What came out of committee on the Ethics was different than what was passed. Great job, and I hope we can be as sucessful on the next project. I wish there was a way we could track the emails to the Councilmen but they must be listening! Carla Miller has been on Just Speak Up and her energy and passion must be recognized.
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JR, great info on the state ethics commission. I will look up and post the finance and rules committee meeting as these bills for Everbank should move through those now I believe.
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Where do you suppose the city keeps its "unlimited" funds, ie (payroll accts,) what bank does the sheriff use? This may lead us to some sunshine.
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Comment by JL Gawlik on June 14, 2011 at 3:28pm
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Everbank is also a global financial brokerage fund that is not insured by the FDIC:
https://www.everbank.com/personal/global-markets.aspx?referid=11808
They can damn well afford to pay for their own move and should pay the city of Jacksonville their share of the 4 million dollar naming rights, we have pandering idiots in our local government, i would love to see how they are all personally connected to this company. I can betcha' that they all have personal interests invested. Corruption at it's best.
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Any bets on more addendums to the agenda presented 20 minutes before the meeting tonight?
Any takers?
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Scotty I need more power!!! Damn Jim Im giving you all she has..... Scotty I need more power ...now!!!
and time I would like one more day. Rats!
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