Print ArticleSome say, Jacksonville is a diamond that wants to remain coal. What would it be like if Jacksonville were a city that didn't have such apathy for itself... led by people who acknowledged its achievements?
Tourist visiting the area wouldn't leave town without making a trip over to the energetic and cultural diverse Jacksonville Farmer's Market District, which connects downtown with historic Durkeeville.
There would be a permanent exhibit of Joe La Rose's shoes at the City hall or perhaps the LaVilla School of the Arts and students would host John Fluevog competitions for shoe design every year.
Downtown would be full of Paparazzi following the exploits of Jacksonville's unbelievably accomplished Spoken Word Royalty.
Al Letson, Liz Straight, David Pugh Allan Justiss, Jon Reich, Valerie Anthony, Christina Wagner, Lee Harvey, and Tyler Shields would be household names. The Mayor would know them all, and they would be able to make a living with speaking engagements.
But we don't have those things.
They are too 'low class', too 'black' and too 'southern'.
Instead we have consultants telling us how to appear more like Indianapolis or Louisville.
If we wanted to be Indianapolis or some other place...
But we don't have a "Jacksonville".
Editorial by Stephen Dare
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