Yarborough Threatens to Defund MOCA, because \

[Redbaron616]

The real question should be this: Why are taxpayers forced to support an art museum anyway? If art is so wonderful, let it pay its own way. Why would you take money forcefully (and taxes are forceful, make no doubt about it) from taxpayers for "art"? If YOU like this stuff, feel free to support it, but don't force ME to support it. That is the heart of the matter. Government should only provide services unable to be procured otherwise, like roads, police, court system, etc.

[spuwho]

Didn't get his way. Announced his apology.

Per jacksonville.com:

http://jacksonville.com/news/2014-12-08/story/jacksonville-city-council-president-ready-move-moca-controversy

Jacksonville City Council president ready to move on from controversy over nude photo at MOCA

After meeting with and apologizing for not initially contacting the director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville City Council President Clay Yarborough said he’s disappointed the downtown museum will not remove a photograph of a nude women but is ready to “move on” from the controversy.

Here’s Yarborough’s full statement:

““I apologized to Director Polednik for not contacting her initially. I also learned the director and board are responsible for content and have the ability to safeguard children from mature material without stifling expression, so I asked whether anything would be done to protect children exposed to a large photograph of a naked woman without having to pay admission when they enter the taxpayer-owned, public building. Ironically, after volunteering that her child has never seen a television and when they go into private homes where a television is on, she requests it be turned off, Director Polednik’s exact response was, “Regrettably, no.” She and Board Chair Gellatly expressed it would reflect poorly on them if they were willing to compromise. Though I unwaveringly believe this weakens Jacksonville’s moral climate and hope the board will, at-minimum, consider a disclaimer similar to what is used in other public forums, there are other important issues that we must move on to address.”

[Charles Hunter]

Fortunately, both Yarborough and Lumb will be off the Council by the time the next budget discussion is underway - so they can't move to eliminate all arts funding.

[Lunican]

Jacksonville’s moral climate? What is that exactly?

[TheCat]

^humid.

[KenFSU]

Here’s Yarborough’s full statement:

““I apologized to Director Polednik for not contacting her initially. I also learned the director and board are responsible for content and have the ability to safeguard children from mature material without stifling expression, so I asked whether anything would be done to protect children exposed to a large photograph of a naked woman without having to pay admission when they enter the taxpayer-owned, public building. Ironically, after volunteering that her child has never seen a television and when they go into private homes where a television is on, she requests it be turned off, Director Polednik’s exact response was, “Regrettably, no.” She and Board Chair Gellatly expressed it would reflect poorly on them if they were willing to compromise. Though I unwaveringly believe this weakens Jacksonville’s moral climate and hope the board will, at-minimum, consider a disclaimer similar to what is used in other public forums, there are other important issues that we must move on to address.”