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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
Comment
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Comment by CJ on June 10, 2011 at 1:45pm
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Proving corruption or breaking of laws is costly to say the least. Time consuming too.
But Most of all not needed.
Research "City Council Recalls" and see across the country voter discontent is all that is needed. We've got that.
If every group in Jax, Beaches, ( Tea party, CPAC, Sierra etc) came together for just this occasion of recall we could make short work of it. After the recall every one go back to their individual causes and the city is a better place
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New agenda is ready for June 14th on coj.net
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Comment by J.R. on June 10, 2011 at 1:32pm
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The Mayor of Miami-Dade County was recalled about four months ago and I posted a blog about it on this Website. He was recalled for an act of corruption. If it could work there, it could work here. Lawsuits, while they could ultimately be successful, sometimes take years and most can be appealed.
Here is the link to my blog about that Miami-Dade recall:
http://www.fctpcommunity.org/profiles/blogs/recall-election-miamidade
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Lawsuits cost money recalls cost time and only 30 days of it and rid the city of those making the laws.
If the lawmakers are not recalled and replaced do you plan on suing everyone everytime they screw the tax payer? Just wondering because the new bus terminal will be next. The city is already scooping up land and then they need a way to pay for it. A new fee? probably. An addition to the never ending "temporary gas tax?
BJP funds and the General Fund are already bonded against to the max because of the new courthouse.
Do you want to fight the laws or change the lawmakers that make the laws. To me this is easily anwerable.
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With the vote yesterday now compromised by potential conflicts of interest on the part of the Chairman of the JEDC, the entire final votes they took on any issues passed would be suspect. Especially since the JEDC voted in lock step on every issue that I observed. I don't know if there were any votes after the Bolles School vote, since I had to leave before they got to the Parador,LLC vote, if there was one, but believe all votes taken yesterday would be compromised. We need to jump on this right away.
CJ and Jim... great ideas. And thanks to Chuck for bringing us this new, and very interesting news. It could possibly be a game-changer, if we quickly take action on it.
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Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 10, 2011 at 1:11pm
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JR, certainly I noted the same thing you did. Certainly would appear like many ties and wonder how this all came about and was it before or after being the chair and approving several of the programs in the downtown and waiving requirements etc. I am not certainly trying to accuse anyone of anything, but I don't have a time line and will have to see if there is one.
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Recalls don't work. Lawsuits do work.
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If recall is not accomplished we will continually be investigating and fighting.
If recall is pursued with vigor our fights will be few.
I know what I want to do
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Hey, Chuck. It looks to me as if JEDC Chair, Zimmerman Boulos might have one or more conflicts of interest, especially if any office furniture---including library chairs---or any interior items, such as fixed or movable wall systems, architectural, ceiling, lighting, wall case goods, technology items, and so on, were furnished to Duval County government departments or agencies, or to those of the State of Florida, by his company.
Chairman Boulos" company's connections to Gates Petroleum, owned by Mayor John Peyton's father, and the Jacksonville Jaguars owned by the Weavers and subsidized by Duval County taxpayers also would appear to be conflicts of interest. Even his connection to the Florida Times Union might be. Surely, Mayor John Peyton at the very least owns stock in Gate Petroleum and he appointed Boulos, didn't he? Or did he just continue an earlier appointment of Boulos by former Mayor Delaney? Either way, he had a responsiblity to vet any and all commissioners he appointed or re-appointed.
Looks to me as if it would be prudent to demand full disclosure from all appointed commission members, not just JEDC, as to their business and financial associations, affiliations, investments, and stock ownerships that are in any way in conflict with their duty and trust to Duval County taxpayers---or that they or their immediate families have personally benefitted from. Same for elected county officials. Seems to me, every deciding vote cast by Boulos would be suspect.
Duval County taxpayers fund both local and state levels of government, through various taxes they pay. Examples would include, but not be limited to, gasoline taxes, sales taxes, motor vehicle licenses---and other taxes, licenses, fees, fines, and so on. So, both state and local government come into play related to Chairman Boulos... and all other appointees.
Maybe the State Ethics Commission should investigate this.
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Very well put CJ, and as I have already said, if it comes to this, I also will help. This last little coup de gra was a bit too much for most of us................in millions! When people are having a hard time feeding their families and buying gas for their cars, Peyton is giving their tax dollars to a bank who really does not need them!
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