There were a lot of angry people at last week's City Council meeting, and they weren't shy about voicing their frustrations.

They don't want their tax dollars spent on the Jacksonville Journey.

They want to shut down the Jacksonville Children's Commission.

They want to get rid of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.

They don't want the city to help out the symphony or fund any other cultural activities.

They want to do away with the city's public service grants.

They don't want money spent on infrastructure improvements, such as restoring Friendship Fountain, replacing the deteriorated Southbank Riverwalk and redoing Metropolitan Park.

And, more than one of them threatened council members, see it our way or we will vote you out of office.

Listening to their claims about "we the people," one would think all of Jacksonville is in that camp.

I know that isn't the case because I hear from just as many people who would disagree with those positions.

People who understand that money spent on the Journey's anti-crime programs is a better investment than spending much more to imprison criminals.

People who recognize the horrible toll from violent crime and believe the city has a moral duty to reverse the cycle that leads to it.

People who believe that all children should have a shot at having a good life, even if it means using tax dollars to help those who, through no fault of their own, weren't born into the best of circumstances.

People who think it's wise to invest in creating jobs, especially in these times when creating jobs is so vital to our economy.

People who believe that a city lives or dies with its quality of life and that it's worthwhile to spend money on such things as cultural programs, the Jacksonville Jaguars, top-notch parks and making improvements downtown that all can enjoy.

Those are the things that will attract people and businesses to move to Jacksonville, which goes back to that critical goal of creating jobs.

Clearly, there is a division of thought on what functions properly belong to city government and what kind of city Jacksonville should be.

The city elections in the spring will provide an opportunity to answer those questions.

Every candidate for City Council and every candidate for mayor must say where they stand.

Do they side with the people who want to slash the city's budget and only spend tax dollars on public safety, and maybe a little on fixing potholes?

Or do they believe that while staying within a reasonable budget, the city must invest in more areas than those to move forward instead of backward?

Looking at the candidates, especially in the mayor's race, there are going to be clear choices.

People who want their voices heard in setting the direction of Jacksonville's future had better turn out to vote because that direction will be set this spring.

ron.littlepage@jacksonville.com,

(904) 359-4284