I've always felt local politics are way more important than national. Leadership is typically reflective of the general population that willingly puts them into office.
As for the shotguns, it's kind of ironic that the OED solicits an RFP for the Sax site requiring proposals to consider LaVilla's history and heritage, yet at the same time, we're seriously considering not preserving the last three 100-year-old shotguns still standing (mind you, we've already taken out thousands). This was Florida's first urban black neighborhood and one of national historic significance. The first blues song recorded in America happened right on this block. This type of house represents what national figures from (or who spent a considerable amount of time here) Jax, such as James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Philip Randolph, Ray Charles, etc. resided in. Their grouping also provides a visual glimpse into what Jacksonville's urban residential built environment looked like during a time when if you were black, the law would not allow you to live in areas we treasure today, such as Springfield, San Marco, and Riverside/Avondale.
In reality, this issue shouldn't even be a debate. Every building still standing (you could probably count them on your fingers now) representing the true authenticity of LaVilla should be landmarked, ASAP. Instead of discussing the pros and cons of preserving these structures, the conversation should be centered around rebuilding this urban environment in a manner that integrates new with the old.
