More than one year after a mayoral election that saw the future of downtown play a pivotal role in shaping the race’s outcome, the debate rages on.
The Jacksonville City Council is engaged in discussions over Mayor Alvin Brown’s proposal to create a Downtown Investment Authority and the future of Hemming Plaza. Both discussions are critical to downtown’s future, but there are other topics that must also be part of the discussion.
Take, for starters, the long-running conversation over a daytime homeless shelter, which would provide access to services for those unable to utilize the services of one of the city’s homeless shelters. The mayor’s office announced the outline of a plan to launch a 12-month pilot center late Monday.
The now-promised center, however, will not cure downtown’s woes overnight. There are also ongoing vagrancy enforcement issues that must be addressed. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office must be properly manned and funded to do its part.
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