Media Clips March 2012
Outlet: WJGR Mike Lewis Radio Show Date: March 1, 2012 Re: Stephen Rankin on Public Pensions Link to online: Not Available Value: $3000 Copy: Not Available
Headline: Leadership Jacksonville unveils video series Date: March 5, 2012 Re: Mention of Frederick Schultz and Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Link to online story: Not Available Value: $120 Copy:
Outlet: WJGR Mike Lewis Radio Show Date: March 5, 2012
Re: Ben Warner Link to online: Not Available Value: $6000 Copy: Not Available
Headline: Jacksonville Public Library looks for answers for the future Date: March 7, 2012 Re: Mention of Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online story: http://bit.ly/x4gyLq Value: $546.76 Copy:
By The Times-Union The budget process for the Jacksonville Public Library is “dysfunctional,” says Library Board Chairman Jim Selzer.
In recent years, it has involved negotiating cuts in the budget, putting off maintenance, cutting back on employees and making it impossible to follow through on any meaningful long-range planning. Since 2005, library staffing has been cut by one-fourth and investment in materials has been cut by onethird, while facilities have expanded and demand has surged. Since budgets indicate priorities, one of Jacksonville’s assets in its quality of life is in danger of going to pot. This issue is going to receive a great deal of discussion in the coming weeks as Jacksonville Community Council Inc. conducts a study into the advisability of creating an independent funding stream for the public libraries. The study was funded by several groups with a stake in the future of the libraries: The Friends of the Library, the Library Foundation and JCCI donors. During information sessions, participants will hear from leaders of other libraries, from city government and library experts and from public officials locally. Guaranteed funding was recommended by a consulting firm last year. At first glance, it would seem inconsistent with consolidated government. Issues with funding Doesn’t every government entity want its own funding stream? Take the parks, for instance, where advocates want dedicated revenues. Yet the library doesn’t even keep its fines, instead turning them over to the city’s general fund. But funding is only part of the equation. Library leaders are in a no-man’s land of accountability without true freedom to make tough choices. The Mayor’s Office and City Council intervene on the big issues. The library board is only semi-independent. Its governing structure could be an issue, too. Have library leaders been quick enough to react to a changing world? The JCCI study is looking at the revenue side of the ledger. But there are other possibilities on the expense side. While Borders goes into bankruptcy, Barnes & Noble survives through its Nook electronic reader. So the timing wasn’t exactly fortunate for the Jacksonville library system to have expanded its brick and mortar. Due to the Better Jacksonville Plan, the library system went from 15 branches to 21 and kept a few that need major maintenance. Even the showplace Main Library needs repairs. Total square feet more than doubled following the Better Jacksonville Plan. Usage has surged, which backs up Selzer’s contention that the library is Jacksonville’s most popular government service. But libraries are about more than books. Libraries provide public meeting space as well as computers for citizens to undertake job searches. Fewer libraries? Do the libraries need so many buildings? Could a smaller collection of newer books be provided at many low-cost locations? It’s easy to order books online and have them delivered to the library of your choice.
Couldn’t city community centers be converted to mini-libraries? There are community centers within walking distance of some libraries. And why couldn’t public schools be used as dual public libraries and meeting centers? There are public schools within walking distances of libraries. For a city that made consolidation work, there still are too many silos among government agencies. It’s clear that the library is stuck in a destructive cycle of funding cuts. Major changes need to made. Selzer is right that the current cycle of cut-cut-cut will only lead to destruction of one of Jacksonville’s great civic assets. The JCCI study is a good way to push the conversation forward. But it’s just a start.
Headline: Impact and Community Partners (Pininterest) Date: March 12, 2012 Re: Mention of Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Link to online story: http://bit.ly/H8z5cO Value: $100 Copy: Every day #Jacksonville #Community Council Inc. is driven by the bold idea that together we can build a better community. We bring people together to learn about our community, engage in problem solving, and act to make positive change. #Florida #Donate #Volunteer
Headline: Other libraries seek stable funding Date: March 13, 2012 Re: Mention of Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online story: http://bit.ly/GSZKK5 Value: $100 Copy: By The Times-Union
The votes have been in for years. The public library system in Jacksonville is its most popular government service. Ever since the Better Jacksonville Plan included major improvements in the library system, the libraries have been one of the city’s gems — along with the urban parks system. However, in recent years, the library system has been hit with a double whammy: annual cuts in its budget forced by the recession, combined with a historic change in the economy from print to electronic books. No more than newspapers, libraries are faced with juggling a massive print collection while society is moving quickly away from it. How do you juggle declining revenues with changing customer tastes? It’s difficult enough in any case, but the Jacksonville library system has two additional complications: - A governing board that is independent in name only. Big decisions are made by the Mayor’s Office or the City Council or both. - Without predictable funding, long-term decisions can’t be made. So without resolving these multiple issues, the library system is left with inevitable cuts in quality: fewer resources, buildings in bad need of repair and cuts in operating hours. What’s to be done? That’s the focus of the study being conducted by Jacksonville Community Council Inc. and funded by the Friends of the Library, the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation and individual donors. The second meeting of the study last Friday focused on what two major library systems did to solidify funding. A failure still worked The Louisville library system sought to become a separate taxing district but lost a vote in 2007 just as the recession hit. “The community has to be ready to vote for new taxes, and we never really were,” said Craig Buthod, the Louisville director. Nevertheless, the campaign itself produced a wave of positive activity, he said. “One success after another,” he said. What would it have taken to win over the public? Perhaps a more focused campaign. You have to be able to sell the community on excellence. “You can’t win by whining,” Buthod said. “Nobody wants to join failure, they want to join a success story.” A comparable situation in Jacksonville would be the failed vote to fund a children’s commission. It led Jacksonville mayors to fund a commission anyway. You don’t want to get into a battle with police and fire over funding, Buthod said. Police and fire can appeal to fear, while libraries appeal to optimism.
The Los Angeles idea One way to stabilize funding was used in Los Angeles where the voters approved a stable share of the city’s general fund. It included an increase in the library’s share, meaning it came out of the rest of the city budget. But this did not amount to a tax increase, simply the setting of priorities in the budget. The increase, however, was phased in over a period of four years. Martin Gomez, director of the LA library system, said the public vote on a charter amendment was successful because it had a few important champions, such as the current and previous police chiefs. And since the library system barely represented 2 percent of the overall revenue, it shouldn’t have been a hard sell. It was resisted, however, in some surprising quarters. Major newspapers and respected groups like the League of Women Voters objected to the principle of setting budget priorities by vote, thus tying the hands of elected officials. It also was opposed by the firefighters union, which absurdly stated, “If your house is on fire, are you going to call a librarian?” In total funding, that’s like comparing a pocket of change to a roll of big bills. Compared to the funding difference, that is an unfair comparison. In LA, the libraries represented just 2 percent of the city budget. The LA charter amendment also increased the library’s responsibility for direct and indirect costs. In Jacksonville, for instance, a consultant said the library system could save millions by handling its computer services itself. The library system also has little control over maintenance. The LA vote also allowed the resumption of six-day and seven-day library service. In any case, something needs to be done to fix the dysfunctional budgeting and governance of the library system locally, or a great civic asset is in danger of dying on the vine.
Headline: "Cutting the tail off the dog an inch at a time” Date: March 14, 2012 Re: Mention of Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online story: http://bit.ly/d8csFO Value: $100 Copy: In my previous post, I introduced the new study of independent library funding which is being run by Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI). JCCI's blog Check It Out makes an important point in a recent post:
Budget cuts continue, and so far they have led to 17 fewer full-time positions, and service hours have dropped from 1,154 hours per week in 2008 to1,130 hours in FY2012.... Acquisitions are also hit hard by the cuts.... The “cutting the tail off the dog an inch at a time” situation begs the question: How relevant to the community can the Jacksonville Public Library remain if things continue as they are? It’s not a matter of whether the City should afford to provide residents with materials, because a free and public library is part of the City’s charter. And it’s not a matter of the library determining between what customers want and need. Whether it’s an early childhood education program in a low-income neighborhood, the latest DVD your friends are recommending, or the space for a civic group to meet, the library needs to be able to provide materials and services for the varied needs of the community, and materials, staff, and even roofs cost money. Can the library remain relevant unless that money comes from a sustainable and reliable source? This remains to be seen, and this study seeks to answer whether or not a dedicated millage or an independent tax district may be such a source. [emphasis added] Please join JCCI in this ongoing project. They meet every Friday from March 2 through June 1 at 11:30 a.m. at JCCI. Sign up online, or call JCCI today at 396-3052 to participate. Thanks, Mike
Outlet: WJCT Melissa Ross Radio Show Date: March 15, 2012 Re: Laura Lane on Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online: Not Available Value: $3000 Copy: Not Available
Headline: Jacksonville Ethics Officer Carla Miller Date: March 15, 2012 Re: Mention of Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online story: http://bit.ly/GKM0wK Value: $100 Copy: For the first time in Jacksonville history, a truly independent ethics office is up and running in city hall. This week the City Council approved Carla Miller to oversee efforts to root out waste, fraud and corruption. Miller will head the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight with jurisdiction over all of the city’s government agencies. Carla Miller joined us in the studio to talk about her new role, and to answer your calls.
Child development experts know that the time frame of birth through the age of 3 is critical. The right environment can foster rapid brain development and set a child on the path to success. Negative factors like poverty and abuse can cripple a baby’s chances in life. New findings in this area are guiding child advocacy groups across the city to try to do a better job of supporting and nurturing our youngest citizens. Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) is in the midst of a study looking the importance of early childhood. We spoke to Dr. Laura Lane, vice president and chief operating officer at JCCI, about their Children 1-2-3: Early Learning for Future Success study. Habijax, the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, is kicking off a building blitz in one Jacksonville neighborhood that can really use the help. They’ll be building 12 homes in just 6 days in New Town. Mary Kay O’Rourke, president and CEO of Habijax, told us how they’re going to pull it off. And we found out what’s going on around town this weekend with the Jacksonville Magazine‘s Kerry Speckman. Visit her website for a full rundown of events. If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts. You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.
Headline: List Makers Date: March 16, 2012 Re: Mention of Jacksonville Community Council Inc. and John Hirabayashi Link to online story: Not Available Value: $30 Copy:
Headline: First Advisory Board Meeting Date: March 16, 2012 Re: Mention of Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Link to online story: http://bit.ly/GJYT0N Value: $100 Copy: As a respected and distinguished advisory board sat before him for the first time Feb. 28, 2012, at the Davis College of Business, new Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute Director Rick Mullaney wasted no time issuing a strong challenge: “Through this Institute, you have the opportunity to make as significant a contribution to this city as anything you’ve ever done,” he said. “We are limited only by the thinking of the people in this room.” JU President Kerry D. Romesburg agreed as he welcomed the advisory board to its first meeting to help lay the framework and set the course for the new Institute. “We need your help with making this a vital part of the community and region, so the Iinstitute can among other things provide the research and expertise needed on problems that focus on this area.” The study of public policy is on a significant upswing nationwide, said Mullaney, a former General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville and recent mayoral candidate. Public policy is the most popular
undergraduate liberal arts major at Duke University, for example, with more than 200 entering freshman majoring in Public Policy this year. It’s the fastest-growing program at George Mason University, and more than 1,200 students applied to Georgetown University’s MPP program last year. “Public policy programs are growing dramatically around the country,” he told the board. In addition to educating, training and preparing students to be future leaders, the benefits to the community of the Institute will be many, Mullaney said. Not only will institutional knowledge, scholarship and expertise be brought to local issues, but talent will be brought to local organizations. “Picture JU graduate students, seeking their MPP degrees, working on a policy issues with the Jacksonville Community Council Inc., the Jacksonville Civic Council, JEA, the Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund,” he said. “My hope is that the Institute will we become the institution of choice for groups in Jacksonville on public policy issues.” Mullaney gave an example of the local importance of getting out ahead on public policy: “If this Institute were in place 10 years ago, and had a policy conference on health care and economic development, maybe Jacksonville would have been at the table when Florida was deciding where to place four new medical schools. It’s an economic tragedy to have not been on that list. And who knows what issue will be out there in the future?” Advisory board members agreed the Institute can play a crucial role for Jacksonville. “There’s a lot of banter about whittling down government involvement,” said former Mayor John Peyton. “But it’s very hard to move the needle on major progress without good public policy.” Jacksonville badly needs a repository of institutional knowledge of government, history, public policy and structure, Peyton said. He ticked off important local developments of the past in which good public policy played a huge role: consolidating government, improving infrastructure and getting an NFL team. Ben Warner, President and CEO of JCCI, hailed the Institute for helping confront the challenge of bringing many constituencies together to upgrade public policy locally. “Jacksonville has been missing the academic research around local public policy,” he said. “We have a few passionate individuals, like Rick, but we need the shared emphasis and research of an academic institution and local professionals to add to the body of knowledge we have.” Local business leader Robert T. Shircliff, former chair of the Jacksonville University Board of Trustees, said the timing was right for the Institute. “Good public policy: we aren’t seeing it enough today. There is too much self-interest and not enough public interest,” he said. “But when you look at the condition of the country, state and city, it’s created an interest in public policy for many young people. They want to be a part of it.” Yank D. Coble, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy at the University of North Florida, said the Institute can help lead the way on specific issues that affect the tax-paying public. “For example, we’ve seen how public policy is fundamental to our medical system and to education,” he said. “Hopefully with good policy we make decisions not out of competing interests and emotions, but by being objective and analytical. We see how the right investment and research decisions can affect outcomes and create better-quality jobs.” The non-partisan Board, made up of Republicans and Democrats with diverse expertise and public policy interests, is made up of respected community leaders. It includes Fernando Acosta-Rua, Ronald R. Austin, Dr. Yank D. Coble, Gary R. Chartrand, Robert M. Clements, Joseph N. Debs, G. Ray Driver, Brenda B. Ezell, Steve T. Halverson, Preston H. Haskell, Cyrus M. Jollivette, Kelly Madden, Douglas M. Miller,
Honorable John S. Peyton, C. Daniel Rice, Ambassador John D. Rood (Ret.), Robert T. Shircliff, Richard L. Sisisky, Jay Stein, William H. Walton, Ben Warner and Nina Waters.
Headline: Editorial: Readers generally love the libraries Date: March 17, 2012 Re: Mention of Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online story: http://bit.ly/FOS0K5 Value: $595.30 Copy:
The financial stability of the Jacksonville Public Library system is being studied now by Jacksonville Community Council Inc. So it seems a good time to take a reality check from some of the people who love books the most, members of the Times-Union’s Book Blog, the book club that was spun off from the Email Interactive Group.
These readers can be relied upon to be informed and candid. In an unscientific sample, the negative comments were few and far between. If you would like to join our Email Group or the Book Club, send an email to: mike.clark@jacksonville.com. The comments were edited for space. Focus on digital changes Bricks and mortar libraries are things of the past. Instead of continuing to build them, we should be focusing on digitizing our historical records like old newspapers, out-of-print books and maps, and making them text-searchable. Then we can access them over the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I’m not running down the role of real books, but with the ready availability of used books that can be shipped anywhere in the country for $3.99, why burn the gas to drive to a library and borrow books? Rod Sullivan, Jacksonville
Much to enjoy The Jacksonville Library is excellent. Every time I go in the South Mandarin Branch every computer is in use. A story hour for children is a regular feature. One practice I really dislike is the offering of almost pornographic books disguised as romance books. The loaning of rooms for meetings and tutoring is commendable. I just wish I could more easily get to the downtown library as it is beautiful and inspiring. Georgia MacLean, Jacksonville
It's for getting smarter I love our libraries here in Jacksonville. I go to my library several times a week and it is usually full. With people studying, using the computers and lots of kids around, the library is the place you go to become smarter.
People who read and teach their children to read early in life seem, to me, have much better lives. Children do better in school who have a love of reading. I know this from my niece and nephews who are all voracious readers and high-achieving students. I like to hold a book that I’m reading. I like the feel and smell of it, and if I fall asleep and it falls on the floor, it won’t break. When I think about the library, I think about the Twilight Zone episode where the world has blown up and Burgess Meredith is the last one standing and he’s so upset but then he thinks “now I have all the time in the world to read” and then he breaks his glasses. Thank God, I don’t need glasses to read. Cilla Whitcher, Jacksonville
A prime service I think Jacksonville has an excellent library system. Insofar as funding goes, while I am a fiscal conservative, I don’t necessarily believe a library or post office should make money or even pay its own way. They are services to citizens, some of whom are lower income but asked to fight most of our wars. After all, the highway departments and defense spending do not make money nor come close to paying their own way. But they generate huge profits to captains of industry. It’s not like a library or post office is the only governmental entity hemorrhaging money. Jack Knee, Nocatee
Simply excellent I find the Jacksonville library system to be excellent. I have been using it more often in the last several months and am impressed by the usefulness of the librarians, the easy system to hold, check out and return books, plus I love the new e-book integration. The downtown library is especially beautiful and well stocked to cover a variety of interests. I have no complaints! Maureen Tinnesz, Jacksonville
Need more materials I use the Argyle library about twice a week, so at least 100 times a year, I visit this facility. My only complaint is the lack of stock of current bestselling books and DVDs.
The computer area is always full of people and there is always some type of activity going on. Jacksonville should be known as having the best library system in the U.S. I would be willing to support a half-cent sales tax to expand our library system, as long as the money is only used for this purpose, to update our inventory and remodel the interiors of our current buildings. The library needs our support, so let us do our part to help. Jerry Dugger, Argyle
Great treasure To me the Jacksonville public libraries are the best bargain in town. I have used the library on a regular basis for the past 15 years and have noticed no decline in use of the library — in fact, quite the opposite. I have regularly checked out books for leisurely reading, have used the computers when mine was in the shop, have checked out DVDs for entertainment and educational purposes and have used the magazine section. The library has used IT applications to everyone’s advantage, such as notifying me by e-mail a few days in advance of when my books are due. The libraries are one of Jacksonville’s treasures. Joanna Thompson, Jacksonville
Appreciate convenience Certainly in terms of convenience, I would say that the quality of service at libraries has improved. My wife frequently orders books and is given a notification when her selections are in. We simply pick them up. The books may come from any branch, increasing the chances of finding what we want. Jerold Tabbott, Jacksonville
Outlet: WJCT Melissa Ross Radio Show Date: March 18, 2012 Re: Stephen Rankin on the Recap of City Finance Implementations
Link to online: Not Available Value: $6000 Copy: Not Available
Headline: A great library or just a mediocre one? (Print and Online) Date: March 25, 2012 Re: Mention of Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online story: http://bit.ly/H7OZCx Value: $655.36 Copy:
By all rights, the Jacksonville Public Library should be one of the premier systems in the United States. There is a batch of new and renovated facilities, thanks to the Better Jacksonville Plan, crowned by a showplace Main Library that is as much a tourist attraction as a repository of books.
So what’s wrong? ■ No money for capital improvements or renovations, not even money budgeted for furniture. ■ No consistent funding plan, rather an annual series of cuts that threaten the quality of the system. ■ No maintenance budget despite some old buildings that desperately need it. Even the showplace Main Library needs repairs for its roof. ■ No control over computer maintenance despite strong indications from a library consultant that the system was being overcharged for those services by several million dollars. Is it still? Members of a Jacksonville Community Council Inc.’s study team would like to know but haven’t been able to convince a city budget official to speak to them so far. GETTING TO THE BOTTOM That’s the mystery being investigated by JCCI, funded by the Friends of the Library, the library’s foundation and interested individuals. There is no better illustration of the mystery than a comparison with the library system in Columbus, Ohio. The similarities are eerie. This is not a peer city, it’s a twin of Jacksonville based on 2010 statistics. ■ Almost identical in population — both about 850,000. ■ Same number of branches — both 21. ■ But clearly a gap in resources and governance. So why did Columbus have 150 more full-time equivalent staff positions? And most important, how come Columbus was named the No. 1 library in the nation in 2010 by Library Journal? So the similarities between Jacksonville and Columbus appear to be an illusion. The Columbus library has control of its budget. The citizens there have voted for property taxes that go to the libraries in 1986, 2000 and 2010. And though the library board members in Columbus are appointed by public officials, the board acts independently. Why not Jacksonville? The reason has a lot to do with all the aspects that are out of the control of the Jacksonville Public Library. As Library Director Barbara Gubbin told the JCCI study team recently, the system is handicapped by: ■ Buildings leak and too many are simply ugly. ■ Hours have been cut continuously. ■ A steadily declining collection of materials. The budget for materials has declined from 17 percent of the library budget in 2005 to 8 percent in 2012. If this continues, the library will not be able to deliver the services its patrons expect.
■ Computer technology that is so old, it’s as outdated as a dial phone. Most of the system’s computers were six years old until last year. Meanwhile, library officials wait for an app that users can use on their smartphones. They would like to be able to provide customers the ability to pay fines online. But the library is not in control of those technical improvements. So the library system is getting overcharged for poor service, it appears. Add it all up and the library system is becoming “increasingly irrelevant,” Gubbin said. And that’s a shame, because Jacksonville citizens, like many around the nation, are passionately loyal to the library. More important, Jacksonville has a literacy crisis both among its youth and its adults. Cities of the future must have the attitude commonly found in college towns like Columbus where lifelong education is simply in the air. How can Jacksonville develop a college town persona? The University of North Florida is growing in both size and quality and doing its part. Jacksonville University, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Edward Waters College have key roles. But a first-class library is essential. The library board does not control either its budget, its future or its fate. This needs to be faced, and JCCI is trying to do its part. Until major changes are made, one of Jacksonville’s proud assets will continue to degenerate. YOU CAN’T GUESS What is the most crucial service provided by the library? Job-seeking services. WHAT’S GOING ON ■ The library still mostly loans books: 9 million last year. ■ Last year, about 36,000 meetings were held at Jacksonville libraries. ■ There were 200,000 programs and classes last year ■ Almost 1 million questions were answered by library staff last year.
Headline: Jacksonville to get even more diverse in coming years, says UF study Date: March 26, 2012 Re: Mention of JCCI and Race Relations Report Link to online story: http://bit.ly/GYm5mP Value: $1025.60 Copy:
At some point in the near future — by 2024, perhaps — the number of white non-Hispanics in Duval County could slip below 50 percent, according to a University of Florida report. When that day comes, will anyone even notice? “Give it another decade and it’s really hard to see it being a big deal,” said Ben Warner, head of Jacksonville Community Council Inc., a nonprofit that gives an annual report on race relations in the city. “I know though that there are people out there, the Pat Buchanans out there, saying we’re losing something intrinsic about our culture, worried about population and family size and what can we do to stave off this onslaught.” Warner, who is white, instead sees the area’s growing diversity as a plus, as a sign the city is maturing into an international trade city. “It turns out this isn’t the challenge we’re facing,” he said. “Instead what we’re seeing is a remarkable blending of ideas and vitality, while still maintaining our traditions.” The UF projections, from the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, show non-Hispanic white growth in Duval County practically stalling, from 488,826 in 2010 to just 491,661 in 2040. That group made up 56.6 percent of Duval’s population in the 2010 census. The UF study, which uses historical trends, birth rates, death rates and migration rates, projects that to be 44.9 percent by 2040. The non-Hispanic black population is expected to go up by almost 123,000 from its current 250,063. The Hispanic population, meanwhile, is projected to more than double, from 65,398 to almost 140,000. Newer residents, though, are coming from all over. “International migration has been steadily increasing over the last four decades,” said Stanley K. Smith, director of the Population Program at UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. To Jessica Castleberry, 21, a waitress at Hola Mexican Restaurant in Springfield, that’s nothing unexpected. She’s white and already sees the diversity in the downtown nightclubs and restaurants she frequents; few think much of it, she said. “Everybody comes together,” said Castleberry, a Lee High grad. “It’s half-and-half. Everybody’s so fun and friendly.” Jacksonville is hardly alone in this trend: Other Northeast Florida counties have and will continue to get more diverse as well. “It’s a trend that’s clearly our country’s future,” said Margery Austin Turner, vice president for research at the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan research group in Washington, It’s driven by an increase in immigration, she said, much of it from South and Central America, that began in the 1980s. “The young people in our country today are dramatically more diverse than those of the baby boomer generation,” Turner said. In many cities, the young population would have dropped had it not been for young immigrants, she said. And the suburbs — once thought as largely white — have become much more diverse.
“This new diversity is a source of future dynamism, of opportunity, and not a threat,” Turner said. Breaking barriers When Ryan Sinclair moved to Jacksonville in 1976, the city, he says, seemed black and white. Not any more. He’s black, 57, and plays percussion with younger white guys in Tropic of Cancer, a world music band featuring music from Cuba to Africa to Afghanistan and beyond. They play at the jazz festival, at vegan festivals, at running events. He’s taught drumming to people from Ukraine, played with a gospel singer and heads an African-American drum troupe. “The more you’re exposed to stuff, the more you find out what you do like and what you don’t like. You get a lot more tolerant. I find it breaks a lot of barriers, when before you were all boxed and separated,” Sinclair said. That’s good for children, said Nene Buckner, an African-American who was eating at Hola, the Mexican restaurant, with her son Nasir, 5. She smiled. “It’s good for restaurants too.” At Hola, ESPN Desportes is on the TV, and it gets many Hispanic customers from those who work at nearby Shands Jacksonville and Florida State College at Jacksonville. But all types of people come in to eat, said owner Marco Marchegiani, 45. He was born in Venezuela. His father was Italian. He came to the U.S. to study English at Forsyth Technical Community College in North Carolina. It was there he met his Mexican-born wife, Carmen, who had U.S. citizenship. They have three children, the oldest a student at Florida State University. They speak Spanish — “a little,” Marchegiani said with a grin — though their English is flawless. Many Hispanics, defined as those whose ancestry is tied to Spanish-speaking countries, are moving north from more crowded southern Florida, demographers say. Arien Peppers, 16, a student at Ridgeview High, said a Hispanic friend at school recently invited her to her birthday party. She’s white, one of three non-Hispanics at the party, and she admits she was uncomfortable — not necessarily because most people were speaking Spanish, but because she knew that when they switched to English they were doing it for her benefit. “I was like, this is cool. I never felt like a minority before,” Peppers said. “My friend turned to me and said, ‘Arien, we’re the gringos here.’ ” Her friend, Samantha Ilana, who’s also 16 and also at Ridgeview, is of Filipino descent. She said she’s never had anyone making an issue of that. “Most are comfortable over it. And others see it as …” She struggled for the right word. “Exotic. That’s it.” Defining 'race' Even the old categories can be tough for demographers to quantify: The number of people who define themselves as mixed-race is growing, and a recent Pew Research Center report showed that one in 12 married couples in the U.S. were interracial couples. That’s up from one in 30 in 1980.
In Jacksonville’s 2003 mayoral election, when Nat Glover, the city’s first African-American sheriff, was a candidate, there were several ugly incidents, Warner notes. But when Alvin Brown became the city’s first black mayor, that wasn’t an issue. “Instead it became about different policies and different visions for the city. That’s what we were having our debates around,” he said. Non-Hispanic whites will continue to be Jacksonville’s largest group for decades, even after they slip below 50 percent of the total population. And the city’s power structure will continue to be predominantly white, said Jim Crooks, a professor emeritus of history at the University of North Florida and author of the book, “Jacksonville: The Consolidation Story, from Civil Rights to the Jaguars.” Crooks, who is white, worries that there will still be disenfranchised minority populations, even in a much more diverse city. Brown’s election, though, is a “forerunner” of change, of African-Americans moving into the mainstream in what remains a relatively conservative city, he said. “Jacksonville accepts mainstream African-Americans and it will accept mainstream Latinos very readily, I think,” Crooks said. Warner is among those who say that racial issues — while far from dead — aren’t as big a deal for younger Americans. Lindsey Hargrove, 18, a student at Clay High School, agrees. “As the coming generation, we’ve been exposed to it our whole lives,” she said. “It’s like the difference in generations, the opinions of the past.” matt.soergel@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4082
Headline: Racial profiling to blame in Trayvon Martin case? Date: March 27, 2012 Re: Mention of JCCI and Ben Warner Link to online story: http://bit.ly/Hk5DPa Value: $100 Copy: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Viewers have been sending us emails with questions about what really happened in the Trayvon Martin case and whether racial profiling is be to blame for the teen's death and police not making an arrest yet. Action News is committed to getting your questions answered. Thousands across the country are rallying
to send a message. They want an arrest for the death of a young African American teen at the hands of a white-Hispanic neighborhood watchman. It's not just African American's calling for George Zimmerman's arrest. People from all walks of life are joining in the fight. Dr. Marcella Washington is a political science professor at FSCJ. She says this case highlights a problem many thought didn't exist anymore, racism. We asked why she thinks there's a racial divide. "I don't think we know each other. We're still segregated in many ways. Action News obtained the latest race relations report by local group JCCI. People locally were asked if they think race is a problem. Forty-one percent of white people said yes compared to 69 percent of black people. Even with that finding, the CEO of JCCI believes Trayvon's case is not about race. "I'm not sure I'm seeing a divide. I think I see a lot of people with significant emotional responses. People who see a tragedy, a young man is dead. It hits close to home. I have teenage sons," said Ben Warner. But the professor disagrees, saying racial profiling happens everyday, and thinks there's only one way to stop it. "Bringing people together to understand each other. We're all Americans but it's hard to deal with when race is still a factor," said Dr. Washington. JCCI does an annual race relations report. If you would like to read all of the findings, just click on the link below. http://www.jcci.org/jcciwebsite/pages/racerelations.html
Headline: How much do we value our libraries? Date: March 29, 2012 Re: Mention of Check It Out: Independent Library Funding Link to online story: http://bit.ly/GZzcFw Value: $546.76 Copy:
By The Times-Union Public libraries are the most important city government service after public safety. But it sure doesn’t appear that way in Jacksonville. That becomes apparent while listening to library executives from peer public libraries. Many of these library systems have emerged from tough economic times in better shape than Jacksonville. They were able to plan for the tough times, building reserves. Peer libraries actually have budgets for making capital improvements and maintaining their facilities. Yet Jacksonville needs a library in the Northeast/Oceanway sector of the county but has no funds to build one. There are several inadequate small facilities in Northwest Jacksonville but no funds to build an adequate one. Peer libraries are able to carry over unused funds to the next budget year. Yet in Jacksonville, the library system can’t even keep its revenue from library fines. It goes to the general fund. Peer libraries, through a variety of devices, have been able to protect their systems against raids from elected officials. The way this is done depends on the political climate of the cities involved. In Los Angeles, it involved a public vote that guaranteed the library system a certain share of city funds.
In Hillsborough County (Tampa) and Palm Beach County, it involves a certain guaranteed millage rate. So though the revenue may rise and fall with property values, it still allows library officials to make plans. In Alachua County (Gainesville), it involves an independent library board with control of its own property tax rate. Priorities are evident This high priority for libraries is typical of college towns where education is valued such as Gainesville or Columbus, Ohio. How does one develop the traits of a college town? Supporting a first-class library is one way. In Jacksonville, in contrast, library officials go through an annual gauntlet of budget cuts, emerging with less money for materials and no money for construction, maintenance or even furniture. That was the subject of the latest meeting of the study group convened by Jacksonville Community Council Inc., funded by Friends of the Library, the Library Foundation and interested individuals. Despite the grand showplace of the Main Library downtown and a group of new or renovated libraries, the system still has some serious capital needs. One of the needs is sadly ironic. No sooner was the Main Library opened in late 2005 than a key part was outdated. There is a grand wooden checkout desk near the main entrance that encourages people to stand in line and have a librarian check out materials. Library Director Barbara Gubbin said that the trend even then was to encourage library users to check out by themselves and save precious library positions for more skilled activities. So if the design were current, it would be reversed: a large self-checkout area and a smaller librarian checkout area. Another trend is to install machines that automate the return of materials, freeing librarians once again. But Jacksonville has only one library, San Pablo, with the sorting machine. Finally, the people of Jacksonville will have to answer these questions: - Do they want an outstanding library system or one that is deteriorating? - Do the people want declining numbers of materials, which mean longer waits for them, with insufficient staff to help them and with facilities that are falling apart? - Does Jacksonville want the library to be able to plan for the future? The system can’t do that now, Gubbin said. Frankly, with the major literacy issues in Jacksonville, the city can’t afford to let the library system slip. Too many adults are functionally illiterate. Too many students can’t read at grade level. The libraries are equipped to deal with these issues.
To let the library system deteriorate is to let Jacksonville’s future slip, as well.
Headline: Brown launches young professionals’ roundtable Date: March 30, 2012 Re: Mention of Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Forward and Ben Warner Link to online story: http://bit.ly/HyPwwS Value: $100 Copy: by Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor Mayor Alvin Brown announced the Mayor’s Quarterly Young Professional Roundtable Thursday at the annual ImpactJAX mayoral address. The initiative is a joint effort among the mayor’s office and three young professional organizations — the JAX Chamber’s ImpactJAX program, the United Way Atlantic Circle and Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Forward. An estimated 80-100 members and guests of the groups met at The Carling Downtown for the presentation. The roundtable will include 10-12 members of the young professional organizations. The groups focus on members in an age range from 21 into their 40s. The meetings are designed for Brown to hear from the group about ideas to make Northeast Florida attractive for young professionals, according to a JAX Chamber news release. Potential topics include cost of living, transportation and commuting, employment earnings, parks and other natural amenities, educational opportunities, social and cultural opportunities, diversity and community life. Membership in the roundtable will be determined by a written application and interview process, according to the chamber. Those chosen will be required to help with projects developed through the discussions. “I want you to know you can make it in this city,” Brown told the group. “I want to work with you.” Brown called on the young professionals to become active in the community. “You need to serve on boards and commissions,” he said. “I want you to put some skin in the game.” kmathis@baileypub.com 356-2466