Jacksonville has seen improvements in crime rates, high school graduation rates and the economy, but the percentage of children living in poverty continues to increase and the suicide rate is the highest in decades.Those are some of the statistics released Friday in the 29th Annual Quality of Life Survey by Jacksonville Community Council Inc.
According to the survey, more than one quarter of Jacksonville children are living in poverty, a two-percent increase from 2012. And while the graduation rate is up, the percentage of graduates continuing on to college is down.
Quality of Life Review Committee Chair and Mayo Clinic CEO William Rupp said the community can get together to work on the red flags raised in the report.
“We need to craft projects, programs and policies to tackle poverty, housing equity, suicide and safe passage. Now is the time to act,” he said.
The survey also noted a sharp increase in the number of serious bicycle accidents and a decrease in the number of people using public transportation.
The study also showed water quality in St. Johns River’s tributaries continues to decline.
You can follow Kevin Meerschaert on Twitter @KMeerschaertJax.
