Comment

Comment by J.R. on June 10, 2011 at 11:02am

Patricia, which specific approvals by the State have they managed to avoid and what department of the State government do they have to obtain approvals from? Which state agency or department has oversight over the procedures they have to follow and approvals they must have? This needs to be thoroughly and quickly checked out. Do you remember who made that statement?

Thanks for posting that blog on the Federal Reserve, Roma. I've been so busy with the ethics commission and Everbank/Parador,LLC and El-Ad issues, there's been little time to even look at new blogs... but I definitely will. Hayek proved John Maynard Keynes wrong and that markets correct themselves, Keynesian deficit spending does not.

Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 9, 2011 at 8:35pm

JR, I am not sure if I understand how a waiver is to be obtained, but all this is being rammed through and from what was said today, they don't even have state approval for the parts the need state approval for, so they are trying to get this done and then, maybe they won't get state approval........who knows.  They just intend to push to get it through locally before the council and mayor change!  Truthfully, after some of what Peyton has done during his tenure, I am quite surprised he has not been held accountable for anything he has done.  Perhaps the lawsuit filed by CTDC against the city and the union will be the beginning of making the city accountable to the taxpayers since, except for the money they take from us, the taxpayers are barely given a second fleeting thought!

 

Comment by Jim Ryan on June 9, 2011 at 8:17pm

If they are breaking the law, skirting the rules, or in some way violating the charters under which

they are allowed to operate ask the attorney general to investigate and see if there is merit in what is transpiring.  The only legal way to stop this type of political bullism is through the courts unfortunately.

However if not asked to look into it PAM BONDI's office will ignore it.  If asked it is unlikely that request will be ignored.

Comment by FCTP on June 9, 2011 at 7:01pm

Hi all:  I just wanted to pop in here and thank you for the wonderfully well-prepared discussion about this important issue.  You are God-sends to the movement and we thank you for jumping on this important issue.  I was unable to attend today due to a family medial appointment.  However, I am keeping close tabs on this discussion and guess what - many reporters are too!  They have signed on to our website to see what we are up too.  So - give them the information and maybe they will print the truth!  God bless you all and thanks for staying vigilant.

Comment by J.R. on June 9, 2011 at 6:21pm

Well, Patricia, Everbank will be at capacity in the downtown location, so where would there be any room for consolidation or expansion? And, what is the legal procedure for their obtaining a waiver of part of the Public Investment Policy, for authorization or QTI and Brownfields Bonus application?

Further, we need to be armed for bear at the next meeting and get out fact flyers well in advance of it, along with flyers including bullet points to summarize all the facts we do have, including facts about Everbank's violation of their prior contract with the City of Jacksonville. We need to do more opposition research, not only on Everbank, but also on Parador,LLC and El-Ad, the owners of the existing downtown properties related to this flawed deal. The City of Jacksonville/Duval County will not hold title to either of those properties. We have been given no financial information as to how much Parador and El-Ad will be subsidized and profiting from this sweet deal for them and Everbank... or for how long, unless Parador provided something as the final presenter today, but I had to leave shortly before that. Failure and refusal to fully disclose all information to taxpayers about this deal should be a deal breaker and we need to hold their feet to the fire on it. And, to document our requests for full disclosure, we need to send them by priority certified mail to all parties involved. That way, we'll have proof they got it. We have every right to full and quickly forthcoming disclosure. A meeting might be a good idea at this point.

By the way, thanks for all the new information. I sure am delighted to see all these new member hit the ground running. We have a lot to do

It was pretty obvious the JEDC ran from us and changed the meeting location to frustrate our attendance today. Also, that they packed the room with Everbank cheerleaders and downtown business owners. I felt sorry for some of the smaller business owners, but they're fooling themselves if they think they'll get a lot of foot traffic from an online banking and mortgage firm. Wonder what kind of overall reputation that online firm has?

Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 9, 2011 at 6:12pm

JR said:  "the same speaker who told us that Everbank had locations in New York City and St. Louis, MO who stated, and I quote, "Everbank might not stay in Jacksonville." I wrote that down as he said it and made a note to myself that this was "a mild form of coercion for approval."

 

This is the same form of coersion the Weavers use everytime they don't get what they want money wise from the city in spite of the fact they aren't paying what they are supposed to pay!  So it is a form of blackmail that is not uncommon in our city already (and effective thus far unfortunately).

 

Comment by J.R. on June 9, 2011 at 5:42pm

And, another thing. I was sitting in the very first row of tables, directly behind that speaker from Everbank, who was standing at the podium, not even 5 feet away from me... and he had a working microphone in front of him.

Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 9, 2011 at 5:39pm

JR, the City Council research division that researched for the City Council (obviously) indicated that EverBank is considering consolidating and expanding it's operations.  The locations being considered are downtown, their Southside location, their New York or Ohio location.  In order for the city council to do this, they must waive part of the Public Investment Policy, authorization of QTI and Brownfields Bonus application.

Comment by Douglas Newberry on June 9, 2011 at 5:34pm

My point in posting was to draw attention to the fact that every political discussion comes down to one thing... MONEY!

The Tea Party poured out in droves to fight Obamacare and other issues but if we dont end the debt based system none of the rest will matter at all as we will be DONE as a nation.

Obviously I disagree with taxpayer subsidies for billion dollar corporations but we'll never have a chance to set this country right unless we cut the head off the snake... the banks and the federal reserve.

If we dont take care of that job FIRST... we are quibbling over the bar tab on the titanic.

Tea Party leadership across this nation should be demanding an end to debt based slavery now and rally all the troops in this effort.

Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 9, 2011 at 5:29pm

JR, you are correct.  It was stated and that fact is in some of the papers I have in hand.  They are considering doing nothing and moving to one of 3 locations (1 of which is downtown Jacksonville).  Also note that we already have one of these deals with Everbank and they have yet to meet any hiring quotos required on that deal.  Entering into yet another taxpayer funded deal at this point, with the economy moving in the wrong direction again, would not be a wise move.  The other concern everyone should have is that all of this will not be properly vetted if they ram it through in the next week or so.  All the questions that should be asked, won't be asked.  All the documentation that should be in hand, won't be in hand.  Many of the things the council looks at will not be looked at, because there won't be time if Peyton succeeds in getting this underhanded back room deal forced on the taxpayers...................did you know by the way that flyers were printed and handed out in the downtown asking business owners who favored this deal to come to the JEDC meeting today as they expected opposition?  Wonder whose money was used to print those flyers and who money funded the person working on those flyers (one of the small business owners another of our group met and spoke to said she was one of the people handing them out ......  and yes, I know what business she owns and runs, so I know it is true!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 27
• 28
• 29
• 30
• 31
• …
• 41
• Next ›
• Page