What would you change about jacksonville (Miami, Tampa: violent crime, neighborhoods, living in)

[madcapmagishion]

If you could change just one thing about/in Jacksonville what would it be?
Just one thing, whats your priority? What would it be?
Lets see where our imagination can take us, and remember theres an election
comming up maybe some of the candidates can read.

[bativac]

I would change the literacy rate. Of course the fact that it is abysmally low (53% I believe) is probably a symptom of a larger problem: the low value that the people of Jacksonville place on education and culture. (I say this as a 3rd generation native Jacksonville resident, born-and-bred.)

But if I was magic, that's where I'd start. I'd go from there. No sense in creating a beautiful new museum or a vibrant downtown when half the city can't read, and don't care that they can't read.

[Northside904]

Even though crime has steadily decreased in Jacksonville for several consecutive years, I would still concentrate on strategic initiatives to continue the decline in our crime rate. And like the poster above me stated, definitely focus on the literacy rate because that's an issue that contributes to the violent crime problem. If some residents have little to no hope of a future, they turn to crime so I would focus on improving the lives of residents in Jacksonville's inner-city neighborhoods. Then I'd revitalize inner Northside/NW Jax which will give residents pride in where they're from. There's too many abandoned businesses/structures on the Northside and NW Jax that it's ridiculous

[Dappleganger]

I would enhance our medical offerings by connecting the hospitals with direct transportation with the airport and make Jacksonville a medical mecca of the south.

[mississippimagnolia]

We are really enjoying living in Jacksonville. But the drivers....oh my! We've lived all over this country and overseas. I've never lived anyplace with worse drivers.

[Winter2010]

What's the racial demographic like in Jacksonville area? Does it have a large hispanic/Cuban population like the rest of Florida?

[Dappleganger]

Having grown up and lived in Hampton Roads most of my life, I find the drivers here to be of equal stupidity.

Originally Posted by mississippimagnolia

We are really enjoying living in Jacksonville. But the drivers....oh my! We've lived all over this country and overseas. I've never lived anyplace with worse drivers.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by Winter2010

What's the racial demographic like in Jacksonville area? Does it have a large hispanic/Cuban population like the rest of Florida?

the latest figures I could locate

• White alone - 464,262 (57.1%)
• Black alone - 244,909 (30.1%)
• Hispanic - 53,711 (6.6%)
• Asian alone - 32,036 (3.9%)
• Two or more races - 15,047 (1.8%)
• American alone - 2,271 (0.3%)
• Other race alone - 1,164 (0.1%)
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone - 118 (0.01%)

data.com/city/Jacksonville-Florida.html#ixzz1CHyrEI8D

[jsimms3]

Can't wait for the new Census numbers, though. I can almost guarantee a Hispanic population close to 10%. Tampa is at about 15%, Orlando at 20%, and South Florida at I believe over 35% (with city of Miami being around 65-70%).

Regarding the medical industry, I agree! We have two mayoral candidates, Mullaney and Moran, who have both touched on this subject. Mullaney has a specific plan to bring more medical offices to the Northbank up to Shands to create a centralized hub. I think it's a brilliant plan.

I want to see more dense infill in our urban neighborhoods. That's my priority. We need to build up Brooklyn, LaVilla, Springfield, and Riverside. Young people prefer safe, clean inner city infill where they can walk to parks, coffee shops, the grocery store, nightlife, and be near each other. Until we have vibrant areas that cater to young people, we will not be able to attract so many to our fine city and there go a lot of jobs.

[projectmaximus]

I'm with jsimms. Urban infill to create a denser environment and complement real streetcars. Or an extended monorail system, but the costs are much more sensible with streetcar. Unless we're just sharing dreams on here, in which case I would stick with the skyway and extend it into the Brooklyn area, out to the stadium, and down to San Marco.