Gulliford wants voters to decide on half-cent sales-tax to pay down pension

[Cheshire Cat]

Im with diane.  local democracy is supposed to be interactive.  its not like a lawn service.

Thank you sir.  Involved and interactive voters and citizens are key especially considering the fact that views on what is leadership are often different.  In my opinion leadership is also about looking at a situation and proposing a viable solution to that situation which does not have to be a decision that excludes the public or their views.  Putting an issue to a ballot vote is leading and inclusive.  Some of the worst decisions made in our city were at the time "masked" as leadership. 

[Tacachale]

Is there a clear definition in the agreement, or in statute, of what constitutes an "economic emergency"?  Or would Council open up the City to lawsuits from the JPJPF and other unions if they impose a solution?

I'm pretty sure it's open ended as to any major change to allow for just that kind of thing. I'd have to check the specific wording. The point is, the idea that this was a "30 year agreement" that couldn't be changed no matter what is a myth.

[Cheshire Cat]

I would much rather the "voters" have a say in how their money is spent, that however is just my opinion.

I would rather have my elected leaders in fact LEAD.  And if I don't like what they do, then I vote them out.  That is, of course, how representative democracy (or democratic republic) works.

That's a great sentiment tufsu, but until we even have the option to elect someone who's more concerned with fixing the problems that face the entire city instead of problems that face his financial support group, then it will remain a sentiment. 

This is what....  the third or fourth election cycle in a row?  And we're more concerned about voting for the person we believe will do the LEAST damage instead of the one that will actually lead.  It's going to take a true leader.  Someone willing to sacrifice the remainder of their political career in this city to finally get us back on the right track. 

Respectfully my view and vote this elections cycle will not be based upon who will do the "least" damage but rather a vote in support of experience, past record and real plans that are being put to the public before the election.  I will point to a single issue that Dog Walker mentioned with regard to leadership and skill shown by Bill Bishop while if office and as an indicator of his ability to negotiate politics when it came to the FDOT.  In short that is a single example of many during his time in office.  I would urge folks to take the time to research the issues that concern them the most and then check the records of those on the ballot.  There is no record for what Curry might do while holding an elected position in City Government.  There is however a record for Bishop and Brown.  Considering all the info out there my vote will go to Bill Bishop not as a default to who will do the least harm but rather as a statement of the importance of experience and not large campaign accounts or "happy talk".  This to me is also about the public understanding that making decisions about who should hold political office need to be about the person, their skills, their experience and integrity.  To me, in this race Bill Bishop fits the bill.  Others may feel differently but we do have competence on the ballot.  Recognizing that is up to us each individually.  imo

[Charles Hunter]

For example, does it require the City to declare bankruptcy?

[Tacachale]

For example, does it require the City to declare bankruptcy?

No it doesn't. Something about just any "changed circumstances" or something.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

... Others may feel differently but we do have competence on the ballot.  Recognizing that is up to us each individually.  imo

And I agree with you completely, but the recent sting of the Moran campaign can still be felt in this race.  I believe we will see the best candidate get weeded out (again) and the status quo shall remain, albeit under the [sarcasm] leadership [/sarcasm] of big money, special interest groups Curry.

Feel free to call me a tad jaded with regard to the entire process.

[Cheshire Cat]

... Others may feel differently but we do have competence on the ballot.  Recognizing that is up to us each individually.  imo

And I agree with you completely, but the recent sting of the Moran campaign can still be felt in this race.  I believe we will see the best candidate get weeded out (again) and the status quo shall remain, albeit under the [sarcasm] leadership [/sarcasm] of big money, special interest groups Curry.

Feel free to call me a tad jaded with regard to the entire process.

You are not the only one jaded by politics in Jacksonville.   I completely understand why people are and one of my goals is to "expose" why some of our local politics is so lousy which is likely going to cause a few people chagrin and disbelief in others.  Honestly, after 15 years of research, political campaigns, personal involvement and interaction with local leaders elected and otherwise if the truth were known about just how dirty and corrupt things here get, it would blow peoples minds and everyone would be jaded.  Remember this city was consolidated because of corruption way back when.  Now folks have become a bit more clever in their actions and deceptions but the nonsense continues and it costs us all in progress, reputation and credibility.  Time to pull the curtain back a bit more and see the little men and women who are pushing the buttons via position or wealth. 

[PeeJayEss]

Im with diane.  local democracy is supposed to be interactive.  its not like a lawn service.

Thank you sir.  Involved and interactive voters and citizens are key especially considering the fact that views on what is leadership are often different.  In my opinion leadership is also about looking at a situation and proposing a viable solution to that situation which does not have to be a decision that excludes the public or their views.  Putting an issue to a ballot vote is leading and inclusive.  Some of the worst decisions made in our city were at the time "masked" as leadership. 

Except state constitutional amendments having to go through the entire electorate is a pretty horrible idea.
Putting the sales tax increase to a popular vote without any direct benefit to the voter is a joke. In this town in particular, there's no way it passes. It is solely to prove a point.

[Cheshire Cat]

Im with diane.  local democracy is supposed to be interactive.  its not like a lawn service.

Thank you sir.  Involved and interactive voters and citizens are key especially considering the fact that views on what is leadership are often different.  In my opinion leadership is also about looking at a situation and proposing a viable solution to that situation which does not have to be a decision that excludes the public or their views.  Putting an issue to a ballot vote is leading and inclusive.  Some of the worst decisions made in our city were at the time "masked" as leadership. 

Except state constitutional amendments having to go through the entire electorate is a pretty horrible idea.
Putting the sales tax increase to a popular vote without any direct benefit to the voter is a joke. In this town in particular, there's no way it passes. It is solely to prove a point.

Perhaps, but a point proven in this case would be a clear indicator as to where the current voting populace falls when it comes to a sales tax increase as a way to balance the budget and address the pension issue.  Having it added to a ballot during an election cycle will create no real additional expense and will in fact give us a measure of people feelings about a sales tax increase.  The needed money to address the above issues will not "magically" appear during an audit nor do we have the luxury of time for the needed economic improvements to happen locally to step out of this mess.  The pension debt alone is growing by staggering amounts monthly. The money in the end will come from the taxpayers one way or another.  Having the chance to weigh in via a vote on how that money is gotten is not a bad thing.  IMO

[rcsolano]

Interesting that we don't consider having the uniform forces contribute to reducing the pension debt created by poor city negotiators. We start by eliminating the take home cars for police which would surely reduce the huge budget expenditure. Other municipalities throughout the nation have done away with police take home vehicles and returned to having vehicles available for patrol at the assigned station house or precinct. The common belief when the program was initiated was that a take home vehicle would reduce crime. The program was sold to the public that officers would respond on incidents they witnessed in their routine travels. This has never been validated and in fact the new breed feels entitled to the take home vehicle. A negotiating trade off could be; take home vehicle or the increase and perks in the pension, not both. I’m a retired Police Officer and in twenty years of service I never had a take home car. I don’t see how an officer going fifty miles per hour to drop his kid off at school would benefit the community or prevent crime. Neither is a cop using his car to bring his dry cleaning or going grocery shopping. That was a different mindset and a different era, we need to adjust and consider the majority, not a select few. Another way to reduce the pension gap is to look at federal dollars allocated from drug enforcement for upgrading and improving police services. Community service officers are a great asset to any city, but they must be budgeted. They start as community service officers and end up being swallowed up to cover for vacation slots and other details. Instead of that huge motor-pool why don’t we have scooter patrol? Scooter patrol can be used effectively in downtown areas and/or subdivisions like Avondale, Riverside, Brooklyn, and Springfield.  Municipalities much larger and more congested than ours (NYC-PD) have used scooters for many decades and proved successful. We use bicycles and assign four officers to ride together. Is that being resourceful?  Let’s get creative and start staring down the difficult problems objectively. We can’t be afraid to offend the cops, they are civil servants and working for us. While they do place their lives on the line, it is by choice. Every cop knows exactly what he signed up for the day he/she took the oath. Nothing against being self-serving, but I don’t want to pay cause they need better benefits. If you want to make a lot of money don’t go into civil service!! Just sayin