Those involved with the JAX2025 project say it won’t take more money to make residents’ visions a reality. The initiative looking at Jacksonville’s future was the topic of discussion in WJCT’s First Coast Forum on Thursday.
After a months long visioning process, JAX2025 has released a report with strategies for improving the city over the next 13 years. Some have criticized the initiative because it doesn’t identify ways to pay for the improvements.
Ben Warner, President and CEO of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc, who is heading up the project says the plans don’t involve any new projects or programs.
Another panelist, City Councilman Bill Bishop, agreed that additional funding wouldn’t be needed.
“One of the biggest excuses that we have for not doing anything is that we don’t have enough money," he said. "It’s an attitudinal issue that we have. When we have an attitude that we can get it done, people find a way to do things realigning the resources that we do have.”
The implementation phase of JAX2025 is now underway. More information about how to get involved is on the JAX2025 website.
WJCT's First Coast Forum is a quarterly series of interactive community forums designed to address critical challenges facing Florida's First Coast and to engage the community in resolving them. Each program brings First Coast business and community leaders together for discussion, and gives community members an opportunity to weigh in.and radio.
