Glad to see Tony on board, but this editorial basically told me nothing. I'm growing tired of PR talk. I want honest talk and I want real opinions. I want to hear where leaders truly think we are right now, where we need to go, and from a 10,000 ft view rather than a 100,000 ft view a plan to get there.
The Chamber is the "front door"? It's barely noticeable to me, and the redesign is an improvement, but the whole building itself is an abomination that replaced a treasure trove of standout warehouses that could have given Jacksonville's waterfront a similar feel as Nashville's waterfront today.
I hear more self complimenting and vaguery from Jacksonville's leaders (and I know this was a quick PR message) than I hear coming from city leaders in NYC, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Even in those great cities, everything is about fixing or improving something with a more defined plan and partnerships laid out. There's not talk of "we have such great assets" or "help spread the positive message" (i.e. what positive message?).
And the only people I think can talk about the "urban core" without being hypocritical or sounding ridiculous are those on this board, Tony Allegreti himself, and perhaps a few others who are involved with specific things going on in the core (Sue Carmichael and Robert Lee for one with Fresh Ministries and some revitalization projects).
Wally Lee? I know who he is, but what the hell does he do for the "urban core"? He's an overpaid, over tenured guy who probably should step down and let a fresh face in. He's an embarassment just like his latest PR message.