California is known for their large fires that destroy forests and homes at least once a year during “Fire Season”.  I question why the heck people would live in California.  Every year it seems to be the same story yet people still build and develop in areas that are prone to fires.  Californians are “different” in many ways and I wondered at times if the smoke had damaged their thought processes over the years.  They vote on strange bills; pass laws that hurt the majority of their citizens; scream about saving the bait fish while farmers can’t grow food; let the environmentalists run their towns into the ground; and demean capitalism when Hollywood elites are some of the richest in our society!   Yep, that ash has done some real damage to their decision-making.

North Florida has been experiencing smoke-filled skies from fires recently and we are getting a taste of what it feels like to live in California.  It has caused a lot of breathing problems and other illnesses.  The ash building up on cars and homes is creating a mess that is difficult to clean up.  (Just try sweeping pieces of ash and see what happens!) 

The ash must be affecting our Lame Duck City Council and Mayor.  It appears they are attempting to rush through some bills here at the last hour of this administration.  Many in the tea party have become Watchmen on the Wall and alerted us to some things you NEED to know about. 

Here’s a conversation from one of the watchmen and a response from City Councilmen Crescimbeni who is not happy with how these bills are being fast-tracked: 

Watchman to Crescimbeni

It has been brought to our attention that there are several questionable bills in City Council that are being un-vetted and fast tracked by the Mayor and City Council.
These bills are dealing with money being given by the JEDC to Everbank for a move to downtown and for a parking garage that Everbank will benefit from.

Also there is a move to purchase land for the bus terminal, that has not fully been looked into. There has been NO approval for a Regional Transportation Center project to buy any land for JTA so that they do not have to pay for it. This bill should be withdrawn.

Also there is a $500,000.00 three old dispute between the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville on who is responsible for paying. It seems that this could be easily resolved by having city attorneys look at the contract between the COJ and the Jaguars.

The city of Jacksonville has given enough to Everbank and the Jaguars.  We gave up $4,000,000.00 to sweeten the deal for naming rights to Everbank.

Crescimbeni to Watchman:

Thank you for your email. Your list is generally correct, and all the legislation you
listed is on the fast track by the mayor to be voted on at our next City Council meeting.

However, please be advised that you will need to add two more to the list.  There were two pension bills added to the addendum to the addendum to the agenda of last night's meeting (2011-399 and 2011-400).  I believe both are now available for review online on the City Councils web page.  Their introduction (first reading) was very last minute.  In fact, I have learned that the Office of General Counsel presented them to the Legislative Services Division after the start of last night's City Council meeting. 

As a result, the addendum to the addendum to the agenda (listing the same) was typed up in a different format than usual, because OGC had to prepare it (a function normally handled by Legislative Services - but they were all staffing the ongoing City Council meeting and couldn't do it). 

It is my understanding that the mayor wants these bills taken up as an emergency next week in City Council committee meetings, and then he wants a final vote by the full City Council at our next City Council meeting on June 28.  Imagine that?  Two bills with a potential $700 million impact on the city, and the mayor wants an emergency vote.  I don’t think such a hasty approach is a prudent one and I’m not going to put the taxpayers at risk by rushing legislation through just because the mayor wants to get it done before he leaves office on June 30.

We are unsure what is going on but it doesn’t appear to be transparent and where there is smoke there is fire!  We appreciate our watchmen and we really appreciate Councilman Crescimbeni’s candor. 

We also want to alert you to a hastily called Emergency meeting that will be held this coming Tuesday, June 21 at 1:00 in City Council Chambers.  This emergency meeting will take up the issue of the Pensions.  The fires are being set all over and we need you and other watchmen to do your part.  A simple email, a phone call or appearance at these meetings is all you need to do to activate your citizenship!

HERE’S WHAT WE MUST DO

Contact your City Council Member (and the others too if you have the time).  Contact information can be found here:  Email/Phone City Council Members List   

Ask these questions when you contact them:

• What is the rush on some of these bills?  When you rush something through, isn’t it obvious that YOU will make a mistake somewhere that can later bite us and You?
• Why would you hold meetings in the middle of the day that makes it almost impossible for the citizens to attend?
• Why are you giving JTA land?   Who approved a new Regional Transportation Center?  Was this done behind the scenes and not in the Sunshine?   Bill 2011-0361 JTA Give Away Bill
•  Do you believe the citizens are going to be happy funding a deal for a BANK to move when we are pinching pennies and trying to pay our bills?  Bills 2011-365, 2011-366, 2011-367, 2011-368, 2011-369 Check the many bills associated with the EverBank deal
• The Pension issue is the largest financial issue facing our city.  Why was legislation put on the table on 6/14/11 that is being fast-tracked?  Will you have time to be fully informed about the largest issue facing our city before you have to vote on it?  Bills 2011-377, 2011-378, 2011-379, 2011-400 Four Pension bills just introduced this week
• Do you think the citizens watching this unfold would have reason to believe this fast and furious approach to running our city lacks transparency?
• Do you believe a Lame Duck Mayor and City Council should hold off on big issues like these and let the new Administration make those decisions?
• Will you Vote NO on all these bills and let the new Administration and City Council handle them in a thoughtful and transparent way?  If you vote Yes for these bills – what do you think we should do, if you were us?