Comment

Comment by Stephen Cargile on October 5, 2010 at 7:53am

If it is "complicated" then it is the responsibility of the politician to either justify/explain it or to simplify it, rather than using that word as a potential excuse to avoid serious discussion. Being told that "you just don't understand" was, hopefully, just the result of a frustrating day on Michael's part but it is symptomatic of the great divide between elected officials and the Citizenry. (Akin to "We have to pass the bill in order to know what's in it.") The oddity here is that we truly believe that the answer IS simple and they THEY don't understand.

Comment by Joan C. Hall on October 5, 2010 at 7:29am

Kurt, I agree that good people enter the political world and are hampered by the bureaucracy that has grown through our inattention to what is going on. That still shouldn't stop them from voting NO on issues that their constituency doesn't want. It's up to us to vote in people now and hold their feet to the fire to do what we want. I think we know we won't get it right the first time because the people that can do the job aren't there yet, but if we keep voting them in and out if they don't perform then eventually we'll have a city that is run well. If I'm not mistaken Florida is a right to work state and you don't have to belong to a Union to work. Perhaps that's the mountain we should start chipping away at. I think that's what you mean by putting ALL services up for competitive bid on the open market.

Comment by Kurt D Wullenweber on October 5, 2010 at 6:19am

We really do need an edit button here...........:-)

See you guys tonight at the Zamar Center.

Comment by Kurt D Wullenweber on October 5, 2010 at 6:15am

Sorry, that was "horror stories"
I will add, before having to go, that you also have in every department and office, the attitude of EVERY person there that everything is running fine (they're not having to work very hard) and they see NO reason to change ANYTHING.
As I've said in other threads, until we can get someone who can shake things up by putting ALL government services up for competitive bid on the open market, it is a near impossible task to reshape city government.
We have seen that having city employees (or any level government) with great pay and benefits has NOT returned to us any semblance of loyalty in return, so it is time to dissolve any sense of loyalty we are supposed to have for them. They have become nothing but looters of the wealth of the hands that feed them, so it's time for the last meal.
PUT ALL GOVERNMENT SERVICES UP FOR BID IN THE OPEN MARKET!

Comment by Kurt D Wullenweber on October 5, 2010 at 6:07am

I don't have a lot of time this morning, but I will tell you I've known Mike Corrigan, his father and sister for many, many years. They are excellent business people and have a well established, well run small business here in Jacksonville.
I've spent a fair amount of time, over the past few years, listening to Michael tell me horro stories of the stone walls he ran up against in trying to get different departments in the city to act and run in any manner that even resembles efficiency. Good luck. Every department head and every union leader has his or her own agenda that comes before ANYTHING else. Every one of the politically motivated people has his or her own special little project idea that comes before ANYTHING else.
I may be wrong, Lord knows that has happened before, but I think what you will find Mike telling you is that until you can figure a way to elect people willing to take on the organization and the sysytem of city government, as he has tried - without help, just making it run on borrowed money will solve nothing.

Comment by Mike Austell on October 5, 2010 at 4:52am

I don't believe there is any requirement (in Florida) to tell anyone they are being recorded in a face-to-face meeting. A telephone call is a different matter.

Comment by k. obrian on October 4, 2010 at 8:15pm

Does anyone now the legality of recording the meeting? I'd like to record it and post on my personal blog for all to see. Of course, I'd let him know I'm recording. I'll wait until end of tonight then see who can go, then request that time with him. Also, I'll have my children and I told him, I want him to look into their eyes and explain why he didn't vote for families in his community.

Comment by Cathy J. Welch on October 4, 2010 at 8:03pm

Yes let's do it.
Cathy

Comment by Vince Curcio on October 4, 2010 at 7:41pm

I can go with you ... but it's going to have to be on Friday afternoon .... let me know .... the office has my phone number ...

Comment by Joan C. Hall on October 4, 2010 at 6:19pm

Sorry Kassie but meeting with any of the present Councilmen is in my opinion a waste of time. They made their agreements with the lobbyists and knew what they were doing. Any excuse he gives you is pure hogwash. The only thing they will understand is voting them out of office and voting no on their referendum to change the voting date and give them 6 more months in office. We should be concentrating on informing our neighbors and everyone we know what they are doing . Hopefully the people will vote no in November and show them we are not going to take it anymore.

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