JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Here is a transcript of the Monday forum featuring the seven candidates for mayor of Jacksonville. It is based on real-time captioning of the program, and does contain errors.
GOOD EVENING, I'M DEBORAH GIANOULIS. WE'RE BROADCASTING LIVE TO YOU TONIGHT FROM THE UNIVERSITY CLUB.
Mayoral Forum
The seven candidates who want to be the next mayor of Jacksonville squared off Monday night in their first televised debate.
Every available seat at the University Club was filled with voters wanting to hear what the candidates had to say.
Among the hot topics in the hour-long forum were race relations, education, and the Better Jacksonville plan. Voters said they were happy they got to hear where the candidates stand on the issues.
The first election is April 15, and it is non-partisan. All voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of party.
There will be other forums prior to the first election on April 15, including another to be televised by Channel 4 on April 7.
For more information on this race and other races that will appear on the April 15 ballot, visit our Election 2003 special section.
WJXT ACCEPTED THE UNIVERSITY CLUB'S INVITATION TO TELEVISE THIS MAYORAL DEBATE SO ALL OF JACKSONVILLE COULD GET A CHANCE TO MEET THE CANDIDATES.
DUE TO THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES -- SEVEN -- AND TO OUR TIME CONSTRAINTS -- ONE HOUR -- THIS WILL NOT BE A CLASSIC DEBATE, BUT A FORUM WHERE ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTIONS.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL ALSO HAVE AN OPENING AND CLOSING STATEMENT, AND WE WILL ROTATE THE ORDER OF THE STATEMENTS AND THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS.
JACKSONVILLE'S FIRST CITY ELECTION IS APRIL 15th, AND ALL REGISTERED VOTERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT FOR MAYOR.
WE HAVE THREE REPUBLICANS AND FOUR DEMOCRATS -- EXCUSE ME, THREE DEMOCRATS AND FOUR REPUBLICANS IN THIS RACE, BUT VOTERS CAN CHOOSE FROM THE FULL SLATE OF CANDIDATES.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE OPENING STATEMENTS. EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE, AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR MINUTE IS UP. IN A RANDOM DRAWING, WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH MIKE WEINSTEIN.
Mike Weinstein: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEBORAH. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF JACKSONVILLE.
MY WIFE SARAH AND I MOVED HERE 26 YEARS AGO AND WE'VE BEEN BLESSED THE TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE. WE'VE RAISED THREE CHILDREN. I HAVE THREE YOUNG ADULTS HOME WATCHING.
I WANT TO TELL EACH ONE OF THEM I'M PROUD OF THEM. I LOVE THEM VERY DEARLY. AND I LOVE JACKSONVILLE, AND I AM PROUD OF JACKSONVILLE.
I'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES HERE BEYOND MY WILDEST EXPECTATIONS. JOHN DELANEY, MAYOR, HAD THE CONFIDENCE TO APPOINT ME CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY. WE WORKED BUDGET AFTER BUDGET TO DO EVERYTHING WE COULD DO TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY AND REDUCE TAXES.
HE HAD THE CONFIDENCE IN ME TO PUT ME AT THE POINT TO BRING JOBS AND BUILD THE ECONOMY. I HEADED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR SIX YEARS. THAT WAS MY ROLE. THAT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY.
I KNOW THIS CITY. I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE AND I'M READY TO DO IT.
WE ARE SO BLESSED. WE HAVE CHALLENGES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHERS. WE HAVE MANY CHALLENGES, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE CAN ABSOLUTELY, WORKING TOGETHER, MAKE THIS CITY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY, AND I'M READY TO DO IT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. WEINSTEIN. KEITH MYERS.
Keith Myers: HI, EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS KEITH MYERS. I BECAME THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR ON THE 1st OF APRIL OF LAST YEAR.
I HAVE 39 YEARS OF NAVAL SERVICE BOTH ACTIVE DUTY AND AND CIVILIAN CIVIL SERVICE. I HAVE WANTED TO BE WHERE I AM FOR QUITE A WHILE BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU CAN'T BE ACTIVE POLITICALLY BECAUSE OF THE HATCH ACT. I AM RETIRED, SO THE HATCH ACT DOESN'T APPLY ANYMORE.
WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US FOR THE FUTURE OF JACKSONVILLE. I AM A RESIDENT OF CHOICE. I HAVE BEEN HERE 32 YEARS.
I'M HERE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE SAMUEL ROBERTS, THEY HAVE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE SETTLED. THEY'VE BEEN RESIDING AT THEIR PLACE FOR OVER 100 YEARS. THEY ARE EXTENDED FAMILY. THEY STILL CAN'T GET THE CITY TO HELP THEM. AND WITH YOUR HELP, WE WILL MAKE THOSE DISPARITIES GO AWAY.
THANK YOU.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. MYERS. BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Betty Holzendorf: THANK YOU. I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE YOUR MAYOR.
I LOVE JACKSONVILLE. I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE. I HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL TEACHER. I WORKED FOR THE MAYOR AND WATCHED THE JACKSONVILLE LANDINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT OUT THE WINDOW BEING BUILT.
I'VE WORKED HERE ALL MY LIFE IN A PUBLIC SERVICE POSITION: I HAVE WORKED FOR MANY MAYORS. I HAVE BEEN A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, A STATE SENATOR.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN JUST ABOUT EVERY PROJECT THAT IS IN THIS CITY, INCLUDING THE RENAISSANCE, BETTER JACKSONVILLE, AND I WANT TO MOVE THIS JACKSONVILLE FORWARD WITH THE VISION THAT WILL BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, MAKE US WORK TOGETHER, HAVE US RESPECT ONE ANOTHER, AND TO BECOME PART OF THE VISION THAT HAS BEEN PROJECTED FOR JACKSONVILLE.
THIS IS A GREAT CITY. I RAISED MY FAMILY HERE. I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 42 YEARS. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN. WE ALL LIVE HERE. WE LOVE JACKSONVILLE.
Gianoulis: NAT GLOVER.
Nat Glover: THANK YOU, DEBORAH. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I'M PROUD OF JACKSONVILLE. I AM HE PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. MAYOR DELANEY AND I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER.
AS SHERIFF I MANAGED THE BUDGET OF $200 MILLION, 3,000 EMPLOYEES, AND WE'VE CUT BUREAUCRACY, PUT POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET. WE'VE REDUCED CRIME, AND WE'VE MADE THIS COMMUNITY SAFER.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED HERE IN JACKSONVILLE. AS MAYOR, I HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN THIS COMMUNITY. EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
I'VE ALREADY STARTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION. THE MAIN CONCERN, DISCIPLINE IN THE CLASSROOM. (I'VE) ALREADY ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO DO THAT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'VE ALREADY ANNOUNCED PARTNERS FOR SOME OF OUR CHALLENGED SCHOOLS, AND I WILL GO TO TALLAHASSEE PERSONALLY TO LOBBY FOR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR JACKSONVILLE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GETTING OUR SHARE, AND I WANT TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT.
Moderator: THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. MATT?
Matt Carlucci: THANK YOU, DEBORAH.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY WIFE, TOO. WE WILL SHARE OUR 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW.
AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY TWO BOYS. MATTER OF FACT, MY OLDEST SON, MATTHEW, WILL VOTE IN HIS FIRST ELECTION THIS APRIL 15th. IT AS AWILL BE FOR THE MAYOR OF JACKSONVILLE, AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, THERE IS A LOT OF THOUGHTS THAT GO THROUGH A DADDY'S HEAD ON THAT.
BEACUSE WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE DO -- I AM A BUSINESSMAN, I'VE BEEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL, BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE -- BUT TO ME WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS ELECTION IS LEAD HEER SHIP. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT -- LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES TONIGHT, AND THAT'S GOOD. IT IS NOT ONLY THE ISSUES, IT'S HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. IN DOING THE RIGHT THING, NOT JUST SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS TO GET ELECTED, BUT DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY UNIFIED IN BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AS WE MOVE AHEAD, AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET RESULTS.
THANK YOU, DEBORAH.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. CARLUCCI. GINGER SOUD.
Ginger Soud: GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM; THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES OF OUR COUNTRY.
AS WAR LOOMS ON THE HORIZON, I'M REMINDED OF A WISE SAYING FROM LONG AGO. AMERICA IS GREAT BECAUSE AMERICA IS GOOD. BUT WHEN AMERICA CEASES TO BE GOOD, SHE WILL CEASE TO BE GREAT. WE ARE A NATION THAT HAS RELIED UPON VALUES TO ACHIEVE THAT GOODNESS AND THAT GREATNESS.
I AM A CONSERVATIVE, LIFE LONG. I HAVE A RECORD OF CONSERVE TISM. I HAVE A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT TO CONSERVETISM. I PROMISE TO YOU THAT EDUCATION WILL BE MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AS A WIFE AND MOTHER, TONIGHT I KNOW THAT I JOIN YOU WITH A HEART THAT'S A WORLD AWAY, PULLING FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM TO DEFEND THOSE VALUES THAT HAS MADE OUR GOOD NATION GREAT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS SOUD. JOHN PEYTON.
John Peyton: MY NAME IS JOHN PEYTON.
I AM UNIQUE FROM EVERYONE UP HERE. MY BACKGROUND IS NOT GOVERNMENT. I'M NOT A CREATURE OF GOVERNMENT. MY BACKGROUND IS BUSINESS.
I HAVE GROWN UP IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO CREATE JOBS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BALANCE BUDGET, TO STICK TO BUDGETS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO MANAGE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE VERSUS GOING OUT AND FINDING RESOURCES YOU DON'T NEED. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I HAVE PLEDGED NOT TO RAISE ANY TAXES DURING MY WATCH.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A PLACE IN GOVERNMENT FOR THE BUSINESS SKILLS THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE, WHERE EVERYTHING IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVERYTHING IS ABOUT VISION. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT MEASUREMENTS.
SO I BRING TO YOU TONIGHT A VISION THAT WE'LL SHARE OVER THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS AND A BACKGROUND IN BUSINESS THAT I THINK WILL CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. PEYTON.
NOW FOR OUR FIRST QUESTION. THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IS THE HALLMARK OF THE DELANEY ADMINISTRATION, AND THUS FAR, IS ON BUDGET. BUT OUR NEXT MAYOR WILL FACE HUGE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE CONTROVERSIAL -- PLANNED FLYOVERS -- AND VERY EXPENSIVE.
MY QUESTION TO EACH OF YOU: HOW WILL YOU MANAGE THIS MASSIVE TAXPAYER-SUPPORTED PROGRAM AND KEEP IT ON BUDGET? AND THE FIRST RESPONSE IS KEITH MYERS.
Myers: THANK YOU, DEBORAH. BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN WAS PASSED BY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR IT, SO IT WILL BE DONE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR QUALITY FOR THE DOLLARS WE SPEND.
I CAN POINT OUT SOME ISSUES THAT AREN'T BEING LOOKED ALT CLOSE ENOUGH. TO CITE ONE, THE SIDEWALKS ON UNION STREET, THEY HAVE THE HANDICAPPED ACCESS AT THE CORNER, AND THEN YOU IMMEDIATELY RUN INTO A LIGHT POLE, THEN YOU IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT RUN INTO A SQUARE THAT'S FOR FLOWERS, AND SO ON. SO IF YOU ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR OR JUST PRETEND THAT YOU ARE, IT DOESN'T FIT. YOU KNOW?
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS WE'RE DOING, THE SERVICES WE'RE BUYING, THE CONSTRUCTION WE'RE BUYING IS BENEFICIAL, AND NOT JUST A FACADE.
THANK YOU.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. MYERS. BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Holzendorf: DEBORAH, THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN WAS PASSED BY THE PEOPLE. THE BONDING THAT WAS DONE FOR THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN STATES SPECIFICALLY THAT THE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE PROJECTS IN THE PLAN. SO WHAT THE MAYOR HAS TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PLANS STAY UNDER BUDGET.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST THAT'S BEING EARNED ON THE DOLLARS AS THE PROJECTS ARE BEING DONE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ALL THE PROJECTS AT ONE TIME. SO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PLAN IS GOING TO BE VERY SIMPLE, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CHANGE THOSE PROJECTS, BUT YOU CAN TAKE THAT INTEREST EARNING AND SET IT ASIDE SO THAT IT CAN BE USED IN CASE WE RU INTO SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR WOULD HAVE TO DO WITHHE DOLLARS. INSTEAD OF US SPENDING THE DOLLARS FROM THE INTEREST, WE WOULD HAVE TO SAVE THOSE DOLLARS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT IS COMING UP.
Gianoulis:: THANK YOU. NAT GLOVER.
Glover: THE JACKSONVILLE PLAN WAS PASSED BY THE PEOPLE: ONE OF THE GREAT PLANS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY. I WANT TO BUILD ON THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN.
NOW I WANT TO LOOK AT SOME PEOPLE PROJECTS. AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION. BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN ADDRESSED INTERSECTIONS HERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THEIR CARS WAITING FOR LIGHTS TO CHANGE AND JUST WAITING WITH CONGESTION.
AS I LOOK AT THE CRIME FIGURES ON A MONTHLY BASIS, I AM LOOKING AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS. THOSE INTERSECTIONS WITH HIGH FREQUENCY ACCIDENTS, WHERE WE ARE KILLING PEOPLE AND MAMING PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE INCURRING A WHOLE LOT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE.
NOW I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. SIX OF THOSE PLANS ARE IN THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS NINE OF THEM ARE NOT, AND I WILL BE ADDRESSING THOSE NINE INTERSECTIONS.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. MATT CARLUCCI.
Carlucci: THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IS A GREAT INVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY. AS MAYOR, I WILL KEEP ALL THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY STAY ON BUDGET. I THINK THAT WILL BE CRITICAL FOR THE NEXT MAYOR TO BE TO KEEP THE PROCESSES IN PLACE.
IN ADDITION, THE NEXT MAYOR HAS GOT TO KEEP THE INTENT OF THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IN PLACE, BECAUSE THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE CHANGED BY THE COUNCIL. BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE KEEP THE INTENT OF THE BETTER JACKSON PLAN IN PLACE SO IT IMPROVES OUR TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IT MAKES IN SOME OF OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS. WHEN THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE IN THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP REVITALIZE THOSE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS IN OTHER WAYS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY IS THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK, THAT THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IS ALLOWING US TO BUILD UPON IN AREAS THAT CAN BE REVITALIZED.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. CARLUCCI. GINGER SOUD.
Soud: $750 MILLION OF THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS IN THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN CAME TO OUR CITIZENS AS A RESULT OF A BUDGETARY EFFICIENCY TASK FORCE THAT I APPOINTED AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THOSE DOLLARS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO COMPLETE OUR PRESENT-DAY TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN FIVE TO EIGHT YEARS, RATHER THAN 20 YEARS. MAYOR DELANEY DESCRIBED THESE FUNDS AS THE GENESIS OF THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN.
I VIEW THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN AS A CONTRACT WITH THE PEOPLE. I WILL KEEP THAT CONTRACT WITH THE PEOPLE. I WILL SEE THAT BETTER JACKSONVILLE IS COMPLETED ON TIME, AND ON BUDGET.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS SOUD. JOHN PEYTON.
Peyton: I SUPPORTED THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN. I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE JTA WHEN WE DEVELOPED THE PLAN. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE THINGS THIS CITY HAS DONE. RIGHT UP THERE WITH ATTRACTING AN NFL TEAM. THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IS ONE OF THE GREAT LEGACIES OF JOHN DELANEY.
MY FEELING IS IT PASSED FOR TWO REASONS: ONE, THE MAYOR SOLD IT PERSONALLY, PUT HIS PERSONAL POLITICAL EQUITY ON THE LINE. BUT ALSO WE LISTED A VERY SPECIFIC LIST OF PROJECTS. IT WAS NOT A SLUSH FUND FOR CITY COUNCIL. THERE WERE VERY SPECIFIC PROJECTS IDENTIFIED. IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO DELIVER THOSE PROJECT.
THE NEXT MAYOR IS CHALLENGED WITH DELIVERING THOSE PROJECTS. I VIEW IT LIKE A COVENANT. I THINK BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IS A COVENANT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT. IT IS OUR JOB TO KEEP THE COVENANT, AND I WILL USE MY BUSINESS SKILLS TO MAKE SURE WE ADMINISTER THE PLAN ON SCHEDULE AND UNDER BUDGET TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC WE'RE ON OUR WAY. WE HAVE ABOUT $800 MILLION OF WORK LEFT TO DO, ABOUT A 10-YEAR WORK PERIOD. WE ARE ON SCHEDULE AND DOING A GOOD JOB. I LOOK FORWARD TO BE THE PERSON TO CARRY THAT FORWARD.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. MIKE WEINSTEIN,
Weinstein: THANK YOU. I DO REALLY APPRECIATE THE POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN. MY CONNECTION TO THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN GOES BACK A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE ANYBODY EVEN HEARD OF IT.
MAYOR DELANEY BROUGHT HIS TOP ADVISERS IN, TOP STAFF IN, AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS SHOULD BE IN, WHAT PROJECTS SHOULD BE IN, HOW IN FACT WE WERE GOING TO PACKAGE IT IN A WAY TO CONVINCE THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.
I AM REAL PROUD OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, BUT NOT ONLY DID WE GET IT ACCOMPLISHED, BUT WE'VE ALSO SET IN PLACE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDINGS AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WOULD IN FACT BE DONE ON TIME WITHIN AN OVERALL BUDGET. WE WENT THROUGH MANY, MANY, MANY MEETINGS TO TRY TO DETERMINE NOT ONLY HOW DO IT, BUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES WELL BEYOND JOHN DELANEY'S ADMINISTRATION.
IT ABSOLUTELY WAS A JOHN DELANEY PROJECT. HE CONCEIVED IT, WE WORKED ON IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE WE EVEN INTRODUCED IT, AS I SAID. I'M REALLY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF IT FROM THE BEGINNING.
THANK YOU.
Gianoulis:: THANK YOU, MR. WEINSTEIN. QUESTION TWO: EDUCATION IS THE ISSUE THAT VOTERS IDENTIFY AS THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN, YET AS MAYOR, IT IS TECHNICALLY NOT YOUR DEPARTMENT.
WHAT CAN YOU DO AS MAYOR TO RAISE THE PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM?
BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Holzendorf: THANK YOU.
AS EVERYONE KNOWS, EDUCATION IS MY PASSION. IT WAS MY PROFESSION. YOU CAN SIMPLY ... THE MAYOR CANNOT GET INTO THE CLASSROOMS ON THE CAMPUS, BUT THE MAYOR CAN MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE. HE CAN MAKE THE SURROUNDING OF THE SCHOOLS, THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE SCHOOLS SAFE.
THE MAYOR CAN INVEST IN THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSION WHERE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL READY TO LEARN. THE MAYOR CAN, THROUGH HIS HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WORK WITH PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT LITERACY IS IN EVERY HOME.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT AS MAYOR THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IS THAT IF THESE SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY SOME OF THE SCHOOLS IN SOME OF THE DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES, THAT WE CLEANED THOSE COMMUNITIES UP. WE TAKE OUT THE BOARDED UP HOUSES. WE CLEAN THE LOTS AND ALL OF THE TRASH AROUND THOSE SCHOOLS SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE -- WHEN CHILDREN COME TO THOSE SCHOOLS, THEY FEEL WELCOME AND FEEL QUALITY.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. NAT GLOVER.
Glover: I THINK THE MAYOR HAS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN EDUCATION HERE IN THE CITY. I'M NOT A TEACHER, I'M NOT A PRINCIPAL, I'M NOT A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. THEY ARE ALL DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT I THINK THE MAYOR CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE AS WELL.
I'VE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A NUMBER OF PLANS TO ADDRESS THE EDUCATION WOES IN THIS CITY. I'M GOING RIGHT TO THE CORE OF SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH DISCIPLINE IN THE CLASSROOM.
I'VE ANNOUNCED A PLAN THAT WILL ADDRESS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN CLASSES. I'VE ALSO ANNOUNCED A PLAN WHERE WE'LL HAVE BUSINESSES THAT PARTNER WITH THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CHALLENGED AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME. THOSE BUSINESS PARTNERS WILL BE CONTRIBUTING THEIR TAL EPT, THEIR TIME AND THEIR TREASURES. I'M ASKING FOR $100,000 COMMITMENT, A FIVE-YEAR COMMITMENT, AND I WANT A TOP-LEVEL PERSON TO BE THE LIAISON.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M GOING TO TALLAHASSEE PERSONALLY DURING THE LEGISLATIVE TIME TO LOBBY FOR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION HERE IN JACKSONVILLE.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. MATT CARLUCCI.
Carlucci: THANK YOU, DEBORAH. THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. THE MAYOR CAN WEIGH IN. I HAVE ANNOUNCED A PLAN MYSELF LAST WEEK ABOUT PRE-K.
OUR CHILDREN RIGHT NOW ARE NOT -- A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN, NOT ALL, BUT A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT PREPARED TO ENTER INTO KINDERGARTEN. WE NEED GOOD, PRE-K PROGRAMS THAT HAVE UNIFORM STANDARDS WHEREBY BEFORE WE THEY INTO KINDERGARTEN THEY HAVE CERTAIN READING SCHOOLS, LISTENING SKILLS AND WRITING SCHOOLS THEY HAVE DEVELOPED. THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY TO THE FUTURE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
SECOND THING IS WHAT SHERIFF GLOVER MENTIONED, IS BRINGING THE COMMUNITY, THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND BRINGING AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR DURING SCHOOL AND IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
AND THIRD, I WANT TO FORMALIZE A RELATIONSHIP BWEEN THE LEGISLATURE, SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE WITH UNIFIED STRATEGY.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, BECAUSE I AM IN THE TIME OF MY LIFE WHEN I AM A PUBLIC SCHOOL DAD, I WANT TO REMIND MYSELF AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE MUST BACK UP OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR TEACHERS IN THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE WHEN THEY TRY TO KEEP ORDER IN THE CLASSROOMS.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. CARLUCCI. GINGER SOUD?
Soud: SINCE LAST AUGUST I HAVE BEEN CHAIRING A TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE HAVE BEEN SINCE LAST AUGUST LISTENING TO SPEAKERS BOTH FROM OUR CITY, FROM OUR STATE, AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY INNOVATIVE AND REVOLUTIONARY THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY IN EDUCATION.
EDUCATION IS TOO IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY'S FUTURE FOR THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE NOT TO TAKE A HANDS-ON LEADERSHIP ROLE IN EDUCATION.
THIS FRIDAY, 16 INDIVIDUALS FROM THIS COMMUNITY WILL BRING FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW CENTURY COMMISSION AND THE ALLIANCE FOR WORLD CLASS EDUCATION, AND OTHERS, AND WE WILL BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FORTH FRIDAY, AND I WILL BUILD ON THOSE AS YOUR MAYOR.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS SOUD. JOHN PEYTON.
Peyton: DEBORAH, I ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOL. MY MOTHER TAUGHT IN THE SYSTEM FOR 40 YEARS. I'M SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS. WE UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF A SYSTEM THAT'S NOT PERFORMING.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, AND WE ALSO EMBRACE THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO HAVE A SCHOOL SI SYSTEM THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S THE MAYOR'S JOB TO OWN THIS PROBLEM. AND I THINK THE MAYOR NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROBLEM.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A SITUATION THAT'S REALLY LIKE THE TALE OF TWO CITIES. WE HAVE ON THE ONE END SCHOOLS ARE DOING VERY WELL, THEY ARE REALLY NATIONAL MODELS. I THINK OF STANTON, DOUGLAS ANDERSON. ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE SCHOOLS FAILING: 34 THAT ARE MAKING F AND D. SCORES.
SO MY FOCUS, AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN DO, IS HELP FOCUS ON THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MOST CHALLENGED WITH EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A LITERACY PROBLEM IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE -- 47% OF OUR COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE CALL FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE -- AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUE AND START EARLY. THAT MEANS STARTING AT 3, 4, AND 5 YEARS OLD. AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS I HAVE SEEN, AND I THINK OF ELM, THAT ARE VERY SUCCESSFULL, AND I'D LIKE TO EXPAND THAT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. MIKE WEINSTEIN.
Weinstein: THANK YOU.
EDUCATION IS ABSOLUTELY THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE. WE TALK ABOUT IT AND WE SAY EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S FUTURE. IT IS THE KEY TO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE'S FUTURE. A GOOD MAYOR IS A MAYOR THAT PREPARES THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHAT MAYOR DELANEY HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT.
I'VE BEEN A SCHOOL TEACHER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. MY WIFE IS A TEACHER. I'VE ALSO INSTRUCTED IN COLLEGE AND GRADUATE SCHOOL LEVEL. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I MET MY WIFE WHEN WE WERE BOTH PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING PEOPLE FOR WORK, HAVING BEEN THE TOP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHIEF FOR SIX YEARS IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. OUR FUTURE IS ABSOLUTELY TIED TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WE BUILT HERE. WE'VE HAD FEDERAL COURTS, WE'VE HAD STATE LEGISLATORS, AND WE'VE HAD SCHOOL BOARDS TELL THE COMMUNITY WHAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD BE LIKE. WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THAT.
WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE WITH CONSOLIDATION, WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE WHEN WE WENT AFTER THE JAGUARS, WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE MANY TIMES. IF WE ARE GOING TO BE THE GREATEST CITY ON EARTH, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION SYSTEM.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. WEINSTEIN. KEITH MYERS.
Myers: I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION. WHEN I STARTED MY CAMPAIGN ON THE 1st OF APRIL, I KNEW FROM THE DATA I READ ON IT THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE PAID TOO LITTLE. IF YOU WERE TO GIVE THEM A BUMP IN SALARY, $5,000 PER CLASSROOM TEACHER, YOU WOULD ONLY BRING THEM UP TO THE LOWER END OF THE AVERAGE TEACHER. SO THAT'S A NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
AND I FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REST OF US TALKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT WASN'T CONSIDERED A MAYORAL ISSUE TO BE TALKING ABOUT. WE NEED TO TEACH BASICS IN SCHOOL. I'VE TAKEN THE F-CAT TEST WHEN IT WAS OFFERED AND THE 4th GRADE LEVEL IS EXTREMELY COMPREHENSIVE, I FELT. ONE OF THE FELLOWS IN THE AUDIENCE SAID HE WAS A TEACHER, SAID IT WAS EQUAL TO THE COMPETENCY TEST HE TOOK TO BECOME A TEACHER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE DIAGNOSTIC ONLY.
AND WE NEED TO CRAFT AS YOUR MAYOR, WE NEED TO CRAFT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD THE ISSUES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO FIX OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, BECAUSE OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR TEACHERS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO REALLY KNOW .
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. QUESTION NUMBER THREE: THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE LAST YEAR APPROVED A ONE-TIME $70 MILLION BAILOUT OF SHANDS-JACKSONVILLE SO THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL WILL NOT GO BANKRUPT. STILL, ITS OPERATING EXPENSES TO CARE FOR THE UNINSURED WILL SURELY CHALLENGE FUTURE CITY BUDGETS.
WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE TO CARE FOR THE 20% OF OUR CITIZENS WHO HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE? NAT GLOVER.
Glover: DEBORAH, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RETAIN SHANDS SERVICE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE ENTITY OF HEALTH CARE. NOW, LET ME FRAME THIS UP FOR YOU: MEDICARE TAKES CARE OF OUR SENIORS, MEDICADE TAKES CARE OF OUR POOR PEOPLE. BUT YOU HAVE THE WORKING POOR, THAT'S WITHOUT HEALTH CARE.
NOW, THE CITY HAS A TREMENDOUS OBLIGATION TO SHANDS, AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN MEETING THAT OBLIGATION, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE CONTINUE TO MEET THAT OBLIGATION. WE NEED TO ENSURE THE LONGEVITY OF SHANDS AS A MEDICAL PROVIDER FOR THAT CLASS OF PEOPLE. I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
WE DO HAVE SOME BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO OVERCOME. BUT I'M STILL COMMITTED TO LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TOHAND THAT WE CAN WITHIN BUDGET. EVEN IF WE HAVE TO REPRIORITIZE SOME THINGS. I'M COMMITTING TO RETAINING SHANDS AS THE MEDICAL PROVIDER FOR THAT CLASS OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE MEDICAL CARE IN THIS CITY.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. MATT CARLUCCI:
Carlucci: I'M SENSITIVE TO THE UNINSURED IN THIS COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE WORKING FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
PART OF OUR PROBLEM AT SHANDS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHANDS FOR PREVENTIVE CARE, ILLNESSES, AND SO FORTH THROUGH THE EMERGENCY ROOM. AND THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARE THAT YOU CAN GET IS THROUGH THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
SO MY FEELING IS THAT WE NEED TO LEAN AND APPLY FOR MORE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE HEALTH CLINICS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THEM. THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO TO GET MORE PREVENTIVE TYPE CARE AND NOT GO TO SHANDS. THAT SHOULD RELIEVE SHANDS.
NOW, THE DIALOGUE ON THIS WHOLE ISSUE HAS RISEN TO A HIGH LEVEL. THE MAYOR SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN IT. THERE ARE SOME PILOT PROGRAMS, LIKE WHAT JAX-CARE HAS, THAT WILL AFFECT PART OF THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE WAY WE HANDLE HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. GINGER SOUD.
Soud: FOR MANY MONTHS I MET WITH A GROUP OF STAKE HOLDERS IN THE HEALTH INDUSTRY. THAT MEETING WAS SPONSORED BY THE DUPONT FOUNDATION, AND WE MET FOR MANY MONTHS. MAYOR DELANEY WAS A PART OF THAT.
WE HAVE TWO PROBLEMS. WE HAVE THE PROBLEM OF OUR INDIGENT CITIZENS WHO GO TO SHANDS. THE CITY-FUNDED SHANDS $18 MILLION A YEAR FOR MANY YEARS. WE RAISED THAT TO $20 MILLION. NOW I BELIEVE ITS A AT $24 MILLION A YEAR WHERE FUNDING INDIGENT CARE AT SHANDS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE SO-CALLED WORKING POOR. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A JOB, BUT DO NOT HAVE BENEFITS.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO TRY HARDER THROUGH OUR CLINICS, WE HAVE A NETWORK OF CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE CITY,ENED WE NEED TO USE THOSE CLINICS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WORKING POOR. WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH THESE AND OTHER EFFORTS WITH NO NEW TAXES, BUT YET MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE UNINSURED WORKING POOR.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS SOUD. JOHN PEYTON.
Peyton: I THINK FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY I'M VERY COMMITTED TO THE SHANDS HOSPITAL. I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT INSTITUTION, NOT ONLY CRITICAL TO OUR SAFETY NET WITH INDIGENT CARE, BUT ALSO THE RISING NUMBER OF THE UNINSURED, WHICH, BY THE WAY, MANY OF THOSE FOLKS ARE WORKING UNINSURED.
ALSO AN IMPORTANT PRESENCE AND ECONOMIC GENERATOR AND A SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE NORTH SIDE, A PLACE THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS AS MANY SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDE. ON TOP MUCH THAT, IT IS A TEACHING INSTITUTION. HAVING THAT LINK TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND THAT CRITICAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IS IMPORTANT.
SO I'M COMMITTED TO FUNDING SHANDS AND MAKING SURE IT IS A VIABLE INSTITUTION. THE HEALTH CARE ISSUE IS NOT UNIQUE TO JACKSONVILLE. IT IS A PROBLEM IN JACKSONVILLE, IT'S A PROBLEM IN MY BUSINESS. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STATE, A PROBLEM WITH THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE AS MAYOR IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN WE START TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT IS REALLY BECOMING A NATIONAL CRISIS. SO I CERTAINLY WILL ASSEMBLE THE STAKE HOLDERS LOCALLY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROMOTE USE OF CLINICS AND INVOLVEMENT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE WE COVER THAT GAP.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU MR. PEYTON. MR. WEINSTEIN.
Weinstein: THANK YOU.
HEALTH INSURANCE IS A PERSONAL ISSUE AND A FAMILY ISSUE AS WELL AS THE CITY. I REMEMBER WHEN I LEFT THE SUPER BOWL POSITION -- I WAS PRESENT PRESIDENT OF THE SUPER BOWL -- MY WIFE IS A TEACHER, SHE TOOK THIS YEAR OFF TO CAMPAIGN WITH ME. OUR HEALTH INSURANCE WAS THE KEY ISSUE. WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH IT PERSONALLY.
AS FAR AS THE CITY AND SHANDS, I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SHANDS FOR NOW REALLY ALMOST 10 YEARS UNDER ED AUSTIN'SED ADMINISTRATION AND CHIEF OF FINANCE AND ALSO UNDER JOHN DELANEY'S. I WAS THERE WHEN WE NEGOTIATED THE CONSOLIDATION OF METHODIST HOSPITAL AND OTHERS. IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT. IT TAKES A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
THE JAX-CARE EFFORT THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW INVOLVES ALL THE OTHER HOSPITALS. THAT'S WHAT IT WILL DO. IT WILL BE MAYO AND ST. VINCENT'S AS WELL AS SHANDS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY EFFORT. IT HAS TO TAKE IN THE PHARMACIES AND THE DOCTORS. EVERYBODY HAS TO COME TOGETHER,
AND ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE AS A COMMUNITY, THIS BEING ONE OF THE LARGER ONES, CAN BE MET IF WE MEET THEM TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE KEY. THAT'S THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR. THAT'S ALL ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU MR. WEINSTEIN. KEITH MYERS.
Myers: YES, HOW COULD WE NOT HELP THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP? SHANDS HOSPITAL NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED. WE NEED TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO DO THAT.
AS WE SPEAK, THE CITY HAS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TALKING THE VERY ISSUE. THERE ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE. THEY KNOW HOW TO PULL THINGS TOGETHER. AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF RESOURCES WE NEED TO TALK WITH TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING MONEY. WE NEED TO HAVE SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE. WE NEED TO HAVE IT FUNDED AND FUNDED BETTER SO THAT MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL WORK TOGETHER TO CRAFT WHAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE WHO GO TO SHANDS.
THANK YOU.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. MYERS. BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Holzendorf: THANK YOU.
THE HEALTH CARE SITUATION IN JACKSONVILLE IS ALMOST BECOMING CRITICAL. IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE JAX-CARE, WHICH IS PULLING ALL THE HOSPITALS -- PULLING ALL THE HOSPITALS TOGETHER AND PHARMACISTS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. YOU CANNOT GET PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND FOOD.
THE OTHER ENTITY THAT HAS TO BE PRESENT THERE IS, WE ARE THE INSURANCE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD -- EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT JACKSONVILLE AND ITS INSURANCE COMPANIES. IT'S TIME FOR US TO PULL THOSE INSURANCE COMPANIES TOGETHER. THE CITY SELF INSURES, AND THEREFORE WITH SELF-INSURANCE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE 8,000 CITY EMPLOYEES UTILIZE SHANDS.
SHANDS HAS A PRIVATE PART AS WELL AS THE INDIGENT PART. SO WE CAN'T MAKE SHANDS THE INDIGENT HOSPITAL, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T GET THE PRIVATE PATIENTS, THE OPERATING BUDGET IS GOING TO FALL IN DISARRAY, AND THAT'S WHAT HAS HAPPENED. THAT'S WHY THE BAILOUT WAS NEEDED.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS HOLZENDORF. QUESTION FOUR: THE CITY IS ANTICIPATING THE SUPER BOWL IN 2005 AND MAJOR NEW SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HOW WILL YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOLLOW THROUGH ON THESE PUBLIC PRECTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL AND NOT A DRAIN ON THE TAXPAYER AND HAVE A BETTER FUTURE THAN THE EXISTING JACKSONVILLE LANDING AND PRIME OSBORNE CONVENTION CENTER? MATT CARLUCCI.
Carlucci: THANK YOU DEBORAH.
THE SUPER BOWL GENERATED A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY. THAT'S AN EXCITEMENT THAT YOU CAN FEED OFF OF.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN OUR BASEBALL STADIUM IS PERHAPS AN ANNUAL TOURNAMENT BETWEEN FOUR OF OUR LOCAL STATE COLLEGES, OR STATE COLLEGES: JU, FSU, FLORIDA AND MIAMI, OR UNF AND SOME TYPE OF ORDER. BRING IN EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE, MAYBE HAVE TWO TURNIMENTS.
WE REALLY NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX A LITTLE BIT AND GET GREAT TOURNAMENTS IN HERE. BASKETBALL, WE'VE GOT THE ARENA. WE NEED TO STEP UP OUR MARKETING EFFORTS. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE TOOLS TO MARKET THEM WITH.
WITH THE SUPER BOWL COMING, WE HAVE KIND OF GIVEN OURSELVES A SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE IN MANY WAYS. IN THE SIT WAY OUR CITY IS HURRYING UP TO GET THROUGH WITH OUR PROJECTS EARLY TO BE IN TIME FOR THE SUPER BOWL. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR MARKETING EFFORTS ARE EQUALLY READY.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. GINGER SOUD.
Soud: THE SUPER BOWL IS TRULY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR JACKSONVILLE. WE WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE SUPER BOWL WITH ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE THATMENT CITY AS WELL AS THE SUPER BOWL COMMITTEE WILL HAVE THAT DONE, AND WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY.
BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SUPER BOWL IS OVER. BECAUSE DURING THAT PERIOD, IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MARKET JACKSONVILLE TO THE WORLD. OUR CITY WILL BE VIEWED IN A WAY IT'S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE HERE NOT ONLY FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BUT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND WE WILL BE SEEN WORLDWIDE.
WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE COMPANIES WHO COME HERE, AND TO SEE THAT THEY COME BACK TO JACKSONVILLE TO DO BUSINESS.
THE SUPER BOWL WILL COME OFF, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF IT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS SOUD. JOHN PEYTON.
Peyton: I THINK THE SUPER BOWL IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR JACKSONVILLE. JACKSONVILLE HAS A GREAT ABILITY TO PULL TOGETHER AND MEET THE DEMAND FOR WHAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED. WE'VE GOT A GREAT HOST COMMITTEE, A GOOD STAFF. I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD THAT WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN CREATING ENTERTANMENT VENUES AND WAYS TO, FOR GUESTS TO ENJOY THE AREA, THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS.
THE REAL CHALLENGE IS WHAT DO WE DO AFTER THE SUPER BOWL LEAVES? I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE WE'LL USE THAT TWO-WEEK PERIOD TO ENTERTAIN THE WORLD, AND I THINK WE'LL DO IT EFFECTIVELY. BUT HOW DO WE PARLAY THAT EXPERIENCE INTO MEANINGFUL JOB GROWTH IS THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE? I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE NEXT MAYOR NEEDS TO FOCUS ON.
RARELY DO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOSE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, 800 MILLION PEOPLE, TWO-THIRDS OF WHICH WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTRY. INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE AND WE COULD REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PORT AND INTERSTATES AND NATURAL GEOGRAPHY TO SELL JACKSONVILLE. THAT'S BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO BE SURE WE FOSTER
Those Who Would Be Mayor
RELATIONSHIPS AND MISSION TRIPS AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE MEANINGFUL JOB GROWTH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAM.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. MIKE WEINSTEIN.
WELL, I LIKE SUPER BOWL QUESTIONS, AND I LIKE THAT, AND I LIKE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE PART THAT I PLAYED. AND THIS CITY DOES SPECIAL THINGS. THE SUPER BOWL BEING ONE OF A LIST OF THINGS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE OTHER FACILITIES, IT'S EVEN OUR PARKS -- IF WE WANT THE BEST PARK SYSTEM, THE BEST LIBRARY SYSTEM, IF WE WANT OUR ARENA USED MORE THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ECONOMY. EVERYTHING BASICALLY COMES BACK DOWN TO BETTER JOBS WITH BETTER PAY. AND THAT BRINGS US RIGHT DOWN TO EDUCATION.
EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO EARN MORE, YOU HAVE TO LEARN MORE. AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT BEING A GOOD MAYOR AND PREPARING THE CITY AGAIN IS ALL ABOUT.
WE WILL DO THE SUPER BOWL WELL. WE'VE GOT A GOOD STAFF, A GOOD BOARD -- THE NFL WON'T LET US DOWN. NFL WILL BE HERE, DOING LOTS OF THINGS. WE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE SUPER BOWL BRINGS, AND THAT IS TO SHOW PEOPLE WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE THAT WE ARE A WONDERFUL CITY, A WHOLE SOME CITY, A CITY THAT WORKS, AND IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. WEINSTEIN. KEITH MYERS?
THE SUPER BOWL IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. MY FIRST IN OFFICE I WILL FIND OUT WHAT THE SCHEDULE TELLS US, WHAT OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE MET.
I'M A LITTLE LEERY ABOUT THE LODGING, WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THAT SECURED, BECAUSE WHEN YOU CALL TO ASK ABOUT IT, THEY'LL TELL YOU IT'S OKAY FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO SAVANNAH, TO ST. AUGUSTINE OR DAYTONA. THAT BOTHERS ME, BECAUSE THE SUPER BOWL IS IN JACKSONVILLE, WE NEED TO MAKE THAT OBLIGATION AND COMMITMENT RIGHT HERE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE WE'RE REACHING FOR THE SUPER BOWL TO GET ALL THE PRESS AND MAKE IT POSITIVE, WE CANNOT FORGET WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN TOWN. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE MILITARY. THE MILITARY IS GOING THROUGH ANOTHER BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE COMMISSION SESSION, AND THE TIMELINE FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE TO SAY AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IS LIKE UNTIL JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR. SO WE HAVE THAT ON THE FRONT BURNER. THAT HAS TO BE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE SUPER BOWL, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GREAT IMPACT.
NADEP JACKSONVILLE IS THE SAME AS THREE TO FIVE SUPER BOWLS EVERY YEAR.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. MYERS. BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Holzendorf: THANK YOU.
THE SUPER BOWL COMING IS GREAT. AND THE SUPER BOWL'S GOING TO BE GREAT. THE PLAN IS IN THE WORKS AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE DONE TO MAKE THE SUPER BOWL GREAT.
THE CHALLENGE FOR THE NEXT MAYOR IS TO MAKE THE CITY GREAT. TO RECEIVE THE SUPER BOWL. AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CITY REMAINS A SUPER CITY AFTER THE SUPER BOWL LEAVES. AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME COORDINATING ON THE PART OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS THE HOST FOR THE SUPER BOWL.
THOSE THINGS -- THIS IS OUR ONE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVERTISE JACKSONVILLE, AND TO RECRUIT FOR JACKSONVILLE BUSINESSES, GOOD BUSINESSES, BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE TOP EXECUTIVES IN THE WORLD IN HERE FOR THE SUPER BOWL. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAYOR TO SHINE, FOR JACKSONVILLE TO SHINE, AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAYOR TO SHOW TRUE LEADERSHIP AS HE SELLS THIS CITY. AND THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR IS FOR THE SALESMAN FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. NAT GLOVER.
Glover: SUPER BOWL. THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY IN THE HISTORY OF JACKSONVILLE. AND THE CITIZEN AND CITY GOVERNMENT WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND MAKE THIS SUPER BOWL, THE SUPER BOWL THAT'S COMING TO THE JACKSONVILLE, ONE OF THE GREATEST. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
BUT THE SUPER BOWL IS JUST A SNAPSHOT. I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PORT RAT LOOKS LIKE. AND I'M CONVINCED THAT JACKSONVILLE IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT JACKSONVILLE, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THIS WORLD. AND WHEN THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON JACKSONVILLE, PEOPLE WILL RETURN. BUSINESS PEOPLE WILL COME BACK AND WANT TO STAY. AND WE'LL HAVE BETTER JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
SO I ANTICIPATE GREAT DIVIDENDS FROM THE SUPER BOWL, BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS IN JACKSONVILLE WILL COME THROUGH. AND IT WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST SUPER BOWLS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. QUESTION FIVE: THE RECENT JACKSONVILLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT ON RACE RELATIONS FOUND OUR CITY HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE MAYOR TAKE THE LEAD IN CREATING BRIDGES TO BRING THE RACES TOGETHER.
TELL US FIRST WHY YOU BELIEVE THIS RACIAL DIVIDE EXISTS IN OUR CITY, AND AS MAYOR, WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT? GINGER SOUD.
Soud: THANK YOU.
RACE RELATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND I HAVE SOME VERY FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS ABOUT RACE RELATIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, FOR MANY YEARS WE'VE HAD LAWS ON THE BOOKS AT THE LOCAL AND STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. I HAVE SUPPORTED THOSE LAWS. I WILL SUPPORT THOSE LAWS, AND I AM COMMITTED TO THOSE CONCEPTS.
BUT BIGOTRY IS A CONDITION OF THE HEART, AND I WOULD CALL UPON OUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP TO SET A HIGH STANDARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR PEOPLE. GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT ALL. BUT OUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP CAN SET A HIGH STANDARD TO CALL US ALL TO A HIGHER LEVEL. TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OUR SELF, AND TO TREAT OTHER PEOPLE THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
WITH THOSE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES WE CAN AND WILL WORK TOGETHER TO BRING OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO EMBRACE EACH OTHER FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS SOUD. JOHN PEYTON.
Peyton: RACE RELATIONS IS A TOUGH ISSUE AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE BARRIERS THAT IS KEEPING JACKSONVILLE FROM BEING A TRULY GREAT CITY.
I'VE EXPERIENCED THE POLITICS OF RACE SITTING ON THE CHAIRMAN OF JTA. I'VE EXPERIENCED HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO WITH RACE RELATIONS -- IT IS CHALLENGING.
YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE. THERE ARE THINGS A MAYOR CAN DO. HE DOES NEED TO OWN THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE RELATIONS. IT IS THE MAYOR'S ROLE TO IMPROVE DIALOGUE. I THINK THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY HAS THE BEST TUPT FOR THAT.
CLEARLY THE MAYOR NEEDS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT REFLECTS THE PROFILE OF HIS COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY AND RECOGNIZE IT AS A STRENGTH, NOT A WEAKNESS. AND THEN FINALLY, I THINK WE NEED TO ATTACK THOSE AREAS WHERE THE DISPARITIES ARE GREATEST. AND CLEARLY I HAVE BEEN IN OUR SCHOOLS, I HAVE SEEN THE DISPARITIES. WE NEED TO ATTACK THOSE DISPARITIES, MAKE SURE WE MAKE EQUAL EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, AND ALSO IN THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT; CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM THROUGH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE. I'M WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPROVING IT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. PEYTON. MIKE WEINSTEIN.
Weinstein: THE JCCI STUDY YOU MENTIONED, THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION WAS WHETHER THE MAYOR WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RACE RELATIONS. NOT ONLY AM I WILLING, I WANT IT, BUT I ALSO WANT IT WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER. YOU CAN'T SEPARATE THEM.
WE HAVE TO EDUCATE EVERYBODY EQUALLY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ECONOMY THAT'S COMING TO JACKSONVILLE IS SHARED BY ALL THAT LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE. THEY ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER. SEPARATING THEM MEANS THAT YOU LOSE THE POSSIBILITY OF ASSISTING AND MOVING RACE RELATIONS FORWARD.
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. MAYOR DELANEY HAS DONE A LOT AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE STRIDES THAT WE'VE MADE. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. I THINK THE MAYOR'S ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CONVINCE EVERYONE IN JACKSONVILLE THAT WE ARE ALL DIRECTLY RELATED TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE ALL CONNECTED. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE ALL VERY MUCH CONNECTED. WE CAN'T LEAVE ANY PART OF THE TOWN BACK. WE CAN'T HAVE FAILING SCHOOLS. WE CANNOT EXIST IF WE HAVE A WEAK LINK.
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY THAT LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. KEITH MYERS.
Myers: THIS ISSUE IS SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN TRULY LEARN FROM OUR CHILDREN. CHILDREN DON'T HAVE RACIAL DISPARITY PROBLEMS. CHILDREN PLAY WITH CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TAUGHT YET HOW NOT TO PLAY WITH CHILDREN.
THAT'S KIND OF AN OVERSIMPLISTIC WAY OF SAYING IT, BUT IT'S TRUE. THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN RACE RELATIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS TAUGHT BY YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CHURCH, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHATEVER. WE NEED TO BE UNITED TOGETHER AND MAKE THE DISPARITY OF RACE RELATIONS DISAPPEAR.
WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN DO THAT ALL BY OUR SELF. WE DON'T NEED ANYBODY ELSE TO HELP US, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF OUR CHILDREN. HELPING IN UNITING THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE AND MAKE THE BARRIERS GO AWAY.
THANK YOU.
Gianoulis:: THANK YOU, MR. MYERS. BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Holzendorf: I'VE BEEN BOTH THE VICTIM OF RACISM AND THE RECIPIENT OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OF PEOPLE FELT RACISM.
THE MAYOR IN THIS CITY HAS TO TAKE A LOOK AT HIS ENTIRE CITY AND DECIDE WHERE THAT DIVIDE IS. I'VE BEEN READING THAT THE MAYOR HAD A SUMMIT ON THE RIVER, AND THEY HAD A SUMMIT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF SUMMIT ON RACE RELATIONS, AND A TRUE ONE, WHERE YOU BRING IN REAL PEOPLE WHO WILL SIT DOWN, TALK ABOUT THE REAL PROBLEM, NOT PUT A FACE ON IT, AND THEN WORK TOWARDS RESOLVING IT.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP RACISM AS LONG AS IT IS SYSTEMIC IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. YOU ONLY HAVE TO GO TO THE VARIOUS SIDES OF TOWN TO KNOW THE BLACKS LIVE, WHERE THE WHITES LIVE. UNLESS YOU GO TO SOME OF THE NEW SUBDIVISIONS WHERE THERE'S TRUE INTEGRATION AND HOUSING, YOU WON'T KNOW.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. NAT GLOVER.
Glover: LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY. FIRST THING, THE MAYOR SHOULD TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THAT. I WELCOME TAKING THAT ROLE.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS, CALLED A RACE PROBLEM IN THE CITY, IS A LACK OF TRUST. AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PAST. WE STILL HAVE A GENERATION HERE WHO WILL NOT LET GO OF THE PAST.
NOW, THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER. THINGS ARE NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, BUT THANK GOD, THEY ARE NOT WHERE THEY WERE AT ONE TIME. WE NEED TO CONTINUE COMMUNICATION. WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.
AND I THINK WE'VE HAD A MAYOR WHO CLOSED THAT GAP SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. AND I'M JUST PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE THAT GOODWILL. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MAYOR WITH THE COURAGE AND A DESIRE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OF RACISM, AND I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AT IT. AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING JUST THAT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. MATT CARLUCCI.
Carlucci: THANK YOU.
WE ARE A BIG CITY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS AND PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. WE'RE TURNING A CORNER IN JACKSONVILLE. WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING, BUT THE NEXT MAYOR CANNOT GOVERN THIS COMMUNITY UNLESS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS TURNING THAT CORNER TOGETHER.
I CAN'T SAY THAT I DISAGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID TONIGHT. TRUST, IT'S MISUNDERSTANDING. WE ARE NOT TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT IT. BUT THE NEXT MAYOR HAS TO GO BEYOND THE TALKING, THAT'S A GOOD THING, AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT THE NEXT MAYOR HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT CREATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY. EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BETTER SCHOOLS, OF GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS, INVESTING IN THE OLDER REVITALIZED OLDER AREAS THAT NEED TO BE REVITALIZED.
EVERYBODY IN JACKSONVILLE IS A STAKE HOLDER AND THE MAYOR NEEDS TO TAKE THE LEAD IN PULLING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND KEEPING THE CITY UNIFIED, BUT TALKING ABOUT THESE DIFFERENCES.-
Gianoulis: THANK YOU.
QUESTION SIX: DO YOU THINK INCENTIVES ARE NECESSARY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO JACKSONSONVILLE? AND IF YOU DO, DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THOSE AREAS OF OUR CITY WHERE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN MOST RELUCTANT TO GO?
AS YOU KNOW, THE DELANEY ADMINISTRATION HAS IN FACT LIMITED THE AREAS WHERE INCENTIVES ARE OFFERED. JOHN PEYTON.
Peyton: I THINK WE SHOULD USE INCENTIVES. I THINK WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL WITH HOW WE USE THEM. I LOOK AT THEM THE WAY I WOULD LOOK AT AN INVESTMENT IN MY OWN BUSINESS. THAT IS, IF I MAKE THIS INVESTMENT, WHAT IS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT GOING TO BE? AND WHAT DO WE GET BACK?
WE CAN MEASURE THAT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN DIFFERENT WAYS. ARE WE INCREASING THE WAGE? ARE WE PUTTING JOBS WHERE WE NEED THEM MOST? ABLE TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE? ARE WE ABLE TO MAYBE BUILD A TRAINING CENTER THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE THERE. THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE TO ASK. WE HAVE TO MEASURE THOSE CAREFULLY.
WHAT I WILL NOT DO, IS I WILL NOT CREATE INCENTIVES AND OFFER INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES THAT COME HERE AND CANIBALIZE EXISTING BUSINESS. BUT I WILL MANAGE EVERY INCENTIVE DOLLAR CAREFULLY.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ARBITRATORY GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES. WE NEED TO PUT THE INCENTIVE DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST. I THINK THERE ARE INJURIESOUT SIDE OF THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT THAT ARE JUST AS MUCH IN NEED AS THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT IS. I WOULD TARGET THOSE AREAS WHERE THE NEEDS ARE GREATEST.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. PEYTON. MIKE WEINSTEIN.
Weinstein: INCENTIVES ARE INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE, AND INVESTMENTS MUST BE TIED TO SOCIAL GOALS. WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY A DESIRE TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE FUTURE. THAT SOMETIMES TAKES THE REQUIREMENT OF INVESTMENTS.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS A LARGE DOWNTOWN HOTEL. IF WE DIDN'T HELP ADAMS MARK COME TO TOWN, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE RESIDENTIALS THAT HAVE COME SINCE THEN. WE HAVE A HALF DOZEN RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE.
BEFORE ADAMS MARK CAME, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY. THEY COULD HAVE BUILT IN SO MANY OTHER CITIES. WE HAD TO MAKE A LOGISTICAL DECISION: DO WE WANT TO INVEST IN DOWNTOWN? SOME INVESTMENTS ARE GOOD, AND SOME ARE BAD.
BUT THE IDEA OF INVESTING IN THE FUTURE, YOU DO IT IN YOUR HOMES, YOU DO IT IN YOUR BUSINESSES. WE AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD DO IT. I'M PROUD OF THE RECORD THAT WE'VE DONE. WE TRIED TO ATTRACT COMPANIES TO AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND -- THAT'S ALWAYS THE GOAL. BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR US TO REALLY COMPETE WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES TO GET SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES HERE, AND WE'VE GOT TO STEP UP AND BE WILLING TO INVEST.
THE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IS AN INVESTMENT. WE ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. WEINSTEIN. KEITH MYERS.
Myers: NO, NO, NO.
THE INCENTIVE MONEY IS $231 MILLION. IT WAS GIVEN TO 103 BUSINESSES. THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN INCENTIVE THAT CREATES A DISPARITY. THERE IS MORE THAN 103 BUSINESSES IN THIS CITY. THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN. WHEN IT DIDN'T REACH THE GOALS THEY HAD SET, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE CITY COUNCIL. CITY COUNCIL SAID, 'HECK, THEY TRIED.' SO THEY GOT TO KEEP THE MONEY ANY HOW.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO FIRST IS TAKE CARE OF THOSE GOALS: MAKE SURE WE OFFER OUR CHILDREN THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EDUCATION FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY THAT THEY ENTER THEIR VERY FIRST SCHOOL, UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO GRADUATE AT WHATEVER LEVEL. THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
WE NEED TO TAKE THAT $231 MILLION AND PUT IT INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND GET A GOOD RETURN ON THE DOLLAR. THANK YOU.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. MYERS. BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Holzendorf: DEBORAH, I THINK INCENTIVES ARE GOOD, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET AN AREA DEVELOPED. I THINK THE INCENTIVES GOING TO THE NEW BUSINESSES TO RECRUIT THEM INTO OUR AREAS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US ALSO SET UP FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.
AND ALONG WITH INCENTIVES, WE HAVE TO BRING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS SO THAT WE PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS. WE HAVE URBAN-JOB TAX-CREDIT PROGRAMS. WE HAVE EMPOWERMENT-ZONE DOLLAR PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE ENTERPRIZE ZONE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THE INCENTIVES IT SHOULD BE PACKAGED SO THAT WHEN YOU PUT THE INCENTIVE OUT THERE THAT YOU HAVE A COMPLETE PACKAGE THAT CAN DO THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THAT THE BUSINESSES WON'T COME IN, GET THE INCENTIVE DOLLARS, AND NOT STAY IN THE AREA OR TURN THEM DOWN, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO COME IN AN AREA.
IF THEY HAVE A PACKAGE AND IT'S SHOWN THAT THAT PACKAGE WOULD DO WHAT THEY NEED DONE, THEN IT WORKS.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS HOLZENDORF. NAT GLOVER.
Glover: DEBORAH, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WE NEED INCENTIVES BECAUSE OTHER CITIES ARE OFFERING THEM. SO WE'RE GOING TO COMPETE FOR NEW BUSINESSES -- AND WE NEED JOBS IN HERE -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY SOME INCENTIVES.
THE PLAN WE HAVE IN PLACE MAKES SENSE TO ME. IT'S BEEN DEBATED. IT'S BEEN TESTED. AND IT'S WORKING. IF WE ARE GOING TO PAY INCENTIVES TO SOMEONE TO COME IN HERE, WHY NOT DIRECT THE GROWTH TO THE AREA WHERE YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH? AND I CAN TELL YOU IT'S WORKING.
NOW, THE SOUTHSIDE -- CERTAINLY CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EXPANSION -- BUT IT'S ALREADY ATTRACTIVE. YOU GOT THE POPULATION OVER THERE, AND YOU GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCOMMODATE BUSINESSES COMING IN HERE. SO YOU DON'T REALLY NEED INCENTIVES. YOU'VE GOT NATURAL GROWTH OVER THERE, AND SO WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE GROWTH OCCUR.
AS SIMPLE AS THAT. IT IS A FUNCTIONAL PROCESS.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. MATT CARLUCCI.
Carlucci: THANK YOU.
I SUPPORT THE CURRENT INCENTIVE PLAN THAT WE HAVE. I SUPPORT THE INCENTIVES FOR THE NORTH AND THE WEST SIDES OF TOWN.
BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE TROUBLED POCKET ON THE SOUTHSIDE AND THE OTHER SIDES OF TOWN THAT DO NEED HELP AND DO SUFFER FROM SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT OTHER AREAS OF TOWN ON THE NORTH AND WEST SIDE SUFFER FROM. SO I THINK THERE'S ROOM TO CHANGE THAT JUST A LITTLE.
NOW, WHAT ARE COMPANIES LOOKING FOR? INCENTIVES? ARE THEY NEEDED? YES, THEY ARE NEEDED. BUT WHAT COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN THEY COME TO JACKSONVILLE -- THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING AT HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM OR HOW MANY TAX BREAKS WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM. THAT'S A PART OF IT. I REALIZE THAT. YOU HAVE TO COMPETE. BUT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT IS OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM LIKE. WHAT ABOUT YOUR DOWNTOWN? WHAT ABOUT THE ARTS? HOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS?
AS WE MAKE -- AS WE IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN JACKSONVILLE, THAT'S HOW YOU RECREW APT THE ENVIRONMENT FOR GOOD, SOLID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. GINGER SOUD.
Soud: INCENTIVES AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING THEM I BELIEVE WERE NECESSARY IN THE PAST. THEY GOT US FROM A POINT WHERE WE WERE WITH A DETERIORATING DOWNTOWN TO DEVELOPING THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT.
THAT HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE. WE HAVE BROUGHT JOBS INTO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE WERE NO JOBS. AND I AM GLAD THAT I'VE SUPPORTED THAT. I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT.
HOWEVER, WITH THAT GOAL IN MIND, I WOULD NOT ALLOW JACKSONVILLE TO LOSE A OMPANY COMING TO THIS CITY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT. WE HAVE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALL OUR CITIES THAT NEED TO BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED AND CARED FOR.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, THE GREATEST INCENTIVE THAT WE, THE CITY, CAN GIVE TO ANY COMPANY, IS AN EDUCATED WORK FORCE. WE MUST DO MORE THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO DEVELOP OUR WORK FORCE. AND THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN THAT I WILL BE BRINGING FORTH FRIDAY.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS SOUD. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE CANDIDATES FOR SHOWING REMARKABLE DISCIPLINE IN STICKING TO THAT ONE-MINUTE TIME FRAME WE GAVE YOU FOR THE ANSWERS.
WE ARE NEARLY AT THE END OF OUR PROGRAM. WE JUST HAVE TIME NOW FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS OF JUST 30 SECONDS. NOW WE'LL SEE HOW DISCIPLINED YOU ALL ARE.
AND WE BEGIN WITH JOHN PEYTON.
Peyton: THANK YOU, DEBORAH.
AS YOUR MAYOR, NO ONE WILL BE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT THE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE SPEND IN GOVERNMENT. AS YOUR MAYOR, NO ONE WILL PASS A TAX INCREASE ON MY WATCH. AND AS YOUR MAYOR, YOUR GOVERNMENT WILL BE DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, DEDICATED TO JOB GROWTH, IT WILL BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. IT WILL BE DEDICATED TO EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN BETTER. AND EVERY PERSON AND EVERY DOLLAR THAT PASSES THROUGH OUR GOVERNMENT WILL BE DEDICATED TO THESE THINGS.
JACKSONVILLE IS IN AN EXCITING TIME IN IT'S HISTORY. I THINK THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MORE EXCITING TIME. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BE BEING YOUR MAYOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VOTE ON APRIL 15th.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. GINGER SOUD.
Soud: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHANNEL 4 FOR THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE THE ISSUES OF OUR FUTURE TONIGHT.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT EDUCATION WILL BE MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS YOUR MAYOR. I AM A CONSERVATIVE WITH A CONSERVATIVE RECORD AND A CONSERVATIVE HEART -- ONE WHO WILL LEAD THE CITY TO ITS GREATEST FUTURE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WILL PLEDGE ALL MY ENERGY AND ALL OF MY EFFORT TO SEE THAT EVERY KID IN JACKSONVILLE, WHO IS IN FACT A JACKSONVILLE TREASURE, RECEIVES AN EDUCATION FOR THEIR FUTURE.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. MATT CARLUCCI.
Carlucci: THANK YOU, DEBORAH. IT'S BEEN A GREAT TIME TONIGHT.
THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO ELECT A MAYOR THAT WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. THAT WILL LEAD THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. WILL BRING UNITY.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, BUT IF WE DON'T WORK THIS THROUGH TOGETHER, IF THE MAYOR DOESN'T TAKE THE LEAD IN PULLING THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GOVERN.
I ASK EACH AND EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TONIGHT AND WATCHING ON TV, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, I ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU. NAT GLOVER.
Glover: DEBORAH, I'VE WALKED EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS CITY. I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE ACROSS THEIR FENCES, ON THEIR LAWNS, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS. AND THE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME WHAT THEY WANT. I'VE TALKED THE -- TOUCHED THE PEOPLE. I FEEL THE PEOPLE. I KNOW WHAT THEY WANT. I'LL DO THE SAME THING AS MAYOR. I WILL TAKE GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE. I DO WANT THIS COMMUNITY'S VOTE. I WANT THEIR HELP, BUT MOST OF ALL, I WANT THEIR PRAYERS.
Gianoulis:: THANK YOU MR. GLOVER. BETTY HOLZENDORF.
Holzendorf: THANK YOU, DEBORAH. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS FORUM.
I WANT TO BE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. I WANT TO BE THE MAYOR BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRAINED TO BE THE MAYOR. I HAVE PROVEN LEADERSHIP IN THIS COMMUNITY. I WORKED WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THIS COMMUNITY. I HAVE LIVED IN EVERY PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. I MARRIED HERE. I RAISED MY FAMILY HERE. MY CHILDREN ARE HERE. MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE HERE. AND I GUESS I'LL HAVE MY GRATE GRANDCHILDREN HERE.
AND I WANT TO BE THAT MAYOR THAT -- MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN HERE. I WANT TO LEAD THE CITY INTO THE FUTURE. I HAVE A VISION FOR THAT.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MISS HOLZENDORF. KEITH MYERS.
Myers: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
JACKSONVILLE HAS NOTHING ON ITS HORIZON BUT GROWTH. WE CAN DO THAT TOGETHER. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS FROM ONE END OF THIS TOWN TO THE OTHER. THE DISPARITY YOU SEE WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH JACKSONVILLE IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. YOU AND I CAN DO THAT, OKAY?
WE HAVE 36 DAYS UNTIL THE FIRST ELECTION. WOULD I APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
Gianoulis: THANK YOU, MR. MYERS. MIKE WEINSTEIN.
Weinstein: THANK YOU.
I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WORKING WITH JOHN DELANEY. WE HAVEN'T DONE EVERYTHING PERFECTLY. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AND I'M VERY< VERY PLEASED. I WOULD PUT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT UP AGAINST ANYONE'S. WE'RE DOING WELL. WE HAVE TO KEEP ON DOING WELL.
WHOEVER IS THE NEXT MAYOR, THEY HAVE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. NO LEARNING CURVE. WE CAN'T AFFORD PROBATIONARY PERIODS. WE CAN'T AFFORD LEARNING CURVES. WE HAVE GOT LOTS TO DO.
WE ARE ON A ROLL AND WE HAVE TO KEEP ON ROLLING. I AM JUST SO PLEASED TO HEAR SO MANY OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. I'M PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF IT. AND I'LL NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE MOVING IT FORWARD. THANK YOU.
Gianouils: THANK YOU, MR. WEINSTEIN. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE CANDIDATES FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT. WE ALSO WANT TO, OF COURSE, THANK THE UNIVERSITY CLUB FOR HOSTING THIS FORUM TONIGHT.
A REMINDER: THE FIRST ELECTION WHEN YOU GET TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE SEVEN PEOPLE ON THIS PODIUM TONIGHT IS APRIL 15th. YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION. YOU CAN COUNT ON CHANNEL 4 TO BRING YOU CONTINUED COVERAGE THUGHOUT THE MAYORAL ELECTION. WE WILL HOST ANOTHER DEBATE ON MONDAY, APRIL 7th AT THE CHANNEL 4 STUDIOS.
I'M DEBORAH GIANOULIS. WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. REMEMBER TO VOTE.
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