Deliberate Hemming Park Neglect and DeAmenitization

[nagrom73]

While I find the electrical issues to be a disgrace, I don't think it sends a good message to the city that people abuse the area in the way they do. Not excusing the city, but it just turns into a viscious cycle where nothing gets done. If you do another clean up email me at nagrom73@comcast.net. if I'm not doing boy/girl scout thing, I will try to help. Give me at least couple days notice.

[fsquid]

didn't they cut back how often they are cutting the grass and picking up trash at all of the JAX parks?

[Cheshire Cat]

didn't they cut back how often they are cutting the grass and picking up trash at all of the JAX parks?

They did but then according to Alvin Brown, some of that was restored when he found some money after his last short budget which he claimed would be used to address these issues.  If someone did not have the common good sense to know that the park in front of city hall should top the list, I want to know why.  It should be at the top as it directly makes a statement about how we feel about our city and how it is perceived.  Right now, the park says a whole lot of unflattering things. 

[tayana42]

Why not build a facility for the homeless: a place to take a shower, to use a computer, to get mail, etc?  Until we do, why wouldn't they continue go use Hemming Plaza...it's halfway between breakfast at Clara White Mission and lunch or dinnner at Sulzbacher.
The homeless are human beings; as civilized people we should provide such a facility.  Didn't Jesus say, "what you do the least among us you do to me"?

[Cheshire Cat]

Why not build a facility for the homeless: a place to take a shower, to use a computer, to get mail, etc?  Until we do, why wouldn't they continue go use Hemming Plaza...it's halfway between breakfast at Clara White Mission and lunch or dinnner at Sulzbacher.
The homeless are human beings; as civilized people we should provide such a facility.  Didn't Jesus say, "what you do the least among us you do to me"?

As far as the issues being discussed on this particular thread, none of them have anything to do with whether or not the homeless visit Hemming Park.  It is about maintenance and safety.  The city has failed to provide proper upkeep of this park at the heart of the downtown core.

There is also a new daycare center that opened for the homeless that is addressing some of the issues you spoke about.  It is currently open three days a week.  I have not heard how it is working out though.  The mayors office which kicked the effort off has been silent about it's progress. 

[InnerCityPressure]

I don't care if the park looks like this...as long as they don't raise my taxes     

[Cheshire Cat]

Just received this email.

Diane,

Thank you for providing this information so that we can review and address it.  Our electricians were on the way to the Plaza when you sent this (and may already be there) so that they can immediately evaluate any potential safety hazards related to electrical wires and, if necessary, take the steps to ensure public safety before, during and after repairs.

 

Thank you,

 

Michelle A. Weinbaum

Executive Assistant

Department of Parks and Recreation

214 North Hogan Street

3rd Floor

Jacksonville, FL 32202

(904) 255-7907

www.jaxparks.com

[coredumped]

Just received this email.

Diane,

Thank you for providing this information so that we can review and address it.  Our electricians were on the way to the Plaza when you sent this (and may already be there) so that they can immediately evaluate any potential safety hazards related to electrical wires and, if necessary, take the steps to ensure public safety before, during and after repairs.

They didn't address any of the other concerns, only the stuff that they could get sued over for a safety hazard Please let us know if you ever get that phone call Diane. Thank you for keeping on top of this. 

[Bill Hoff]

Why not build a facility for the homeless: a place to take a shower, to use a computer, to get mail, etc?  Until we do, why wouldn't they continue go use Hemming Plaza...it's halfway between breakfast at Clara White Mission and lunch or dinnner at Sulzbacher.
The homeless are human beings; as civilized people we should provide such a facility.  Didn't Jesus say, "what you do the least among us you do to me"?

As far as the issues being discussed on this particular thread, none of them have anything to do with whether or not the homeless visit Hemming Park.  It is about maintenance and safety.  The city has failed to provide proper upkeep of this park at the heart of the downtown core.

There is also a new daycare center that opened for the homeless that is addressing some of the issues you spoke about.  It is currently open three days a week.  I have not heard how it is working out though.  The mayors office which kicked the effort off has been silent about it's progress.

The new day center is not yet providing services.

The day center, once operational, will have little impact on homeless hanging out in Hemming Plaza.

[Cheshire Cat]

Just received this email.

Diane,

Thank you for providing this information so that we can review and address it.  Our electricians were on the way to the Plaza when you sent this (and may already be there) so that they can immediately evaluate any potential safety hazards related to electrical wires and, if necessary, take the steps to ensure public safety before, during and after repairs.

They didn't address any of the other concerns, only the stuff that they could get sued over for a safety hazard Please let us know if you ever get that phone call Diane. Thank you for keeping on top of this. 

I know they didn't and frankly I did not expect those answers today.  If Ms. Boree does not contact me in a "reasonable' amount of time.  I will pursue other avenues to get this situation addressed and resolved. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Why not build a facility for the homeless: a place to take a shower, to use a computer, to get mail, etc?  Until we do, why wouldn't they continue go use Hemming Plaza...it's halfway between breakfast at Clara White Mission and lunch or dinnner at Sulzbacher.
The homeless are human beings; as civilized people we should provide such a facility.  Didn't Jesus say, "what you do the least among us you do to me"?

As far as the issues being discussed on this particular thread, none of them have anything to do with whether or not the homeless visit Hemming Park.  It is about maintenance and safety.  The city has failed to provide proper upkeep of this park at the heart of the downtown core.

There is also a new daycare center that opened for the homeless that is addressing some of the issues you spoke about.  It is currently open three days a week.  I have not heard how it is working out though.  The mayors office which kicked the effort off has been silent about it's progress.

The new day center is not yet providing services.

The day center, once operational, will have little impact on homeless hanging out in Hemming Plaza.

Thanks for that update Bill.   No wonder we haven't heard anything from the mayor's office on this recently.  Would you happen to know if the hold up has to do with the modifications of the space and when it is supposed to be open?

[HisBuffPVB]

It is a vicious cycle. Phone Calls from citizens about complaints should always be returned, if they are not it is because the Mayor does not emphasize service to citizens. Every call deserves an answer. Beware of public employees who do not think that their main reason for existence is to serve to public.

[Cheshire Cat]

It is a vicious cycle. Phone Calls from citizens about complaints should always be returned, if they are not it is because the Mayor does not emphasize service to citizens. Every call deserves an answer. Beware of public employees who do not think that their main reason for existence is to serve to public.

It's called accountability and very often there is none.  Bottom line is our taxes pay the salaries for all city department heads and employees and we deserve to get timely and appropriate responses to our inquiries.  Something that any employer would expect. 

[DDC]

It's disgusting that this is the FRONT YARD to CITY HALL where our CITY LEADERS work every day. They do nothing about it. Absolutely disgusting that they let this crumble right in front of their own eyes - under their watch. They should all be ashamed.

+1000
If our front lawns looked like that...

My thought exactly. If this park or the Southbank Riverwalk were operated or owned by a private entity it would be shutdown in a heartbeat and/or fined out the yingyang until it is brought up to code.

I move we dock the pay of who ever is in charge of maintaining the park system until they are up to par.

Would that be Ms Boree?

[iloveionia]

Reason 1,562 why I couldn't live in Jax fulltime: ignorance.
Anyone filed a CARE request? 
The park ought to be condemned.
We are held accountable as homeowners, yet the city does whatever they want.
Welcome to corrupt Jax!