I am not in Jax and my family isn't as plugged in as they should be, but friends have told me there's no real vocal opposition to tearing down the Landing and replacing it with a lawn or to the $230 million dollar entertainment...thing at Lot J. Is this true? Are most Jax residents in favor of these things? Does Curry have a lot of support or is he riding roughshod over the opposition?
Curry has a lot of well-earned support. What you're reading here is an embarrassment from people who should know better. That said, their responses are as predictable as mine. I can admit it. Fine, we're on opposite sides. The difference is this:
they've lost a political battle by a *WIDE* margin because most of the people in the City who care to follow this stuff, always a minority in *every* locale, know the bitch-and-moan crowd (yes, I'm looking at y'all) will only support the approaches they favor that are *totally* group-think from within an authoritarian bubble along the lines of
density, density, density (gargle)
core, core, core (gargle) but only as
*we* define it.
Sorry, friends, that won't cut it. To hell with your definitions, okay? To hell with 'em. I mean, what level of fool doesn't understand the proposed Duval Live! facility is far beyond the possibility of the The Landing? Damn what *you* prefer, the city had spoken about The Landing, loud and clear, years ago. What fool doesn't know how to admit the creation of a district available nowhere else in Florida -- yet demonstrably successful elsewhere -- isn't a plus for Jacksonville?
The Landing was built on a wish, and championed by the sort of folks bitching about its demise. Oh, they say, that was the wrong approach and we knew it all along,
these possibilities are the right approaches. Man, shut up! You were wrong then and you're wrong now.
Talk nonsense about a so-called Lenny's Lawn all you like, the facts say this is a can-do mayor
sho 'nuff getting things done *and* facilitating downtown development.
Since he can't disclose all that is planned or being discussed, I know this upsets the
tell me everything, tell me everything right freaking now gang but that is a feature, not a bug. Win elections, guide the future. Deal with it. So, *y'all* can uncharitably dismiss all he has done for downtown Jacksonville if you want to but it will be dismissed as the sour grapes it surely is.
Now, if only Shad & Tony & Tom & Doug et al. can just get our Jaguars to the Super Bowl . . . sigh.
Good morning, everybody. Nice to be tangling with y'all once again.