Favoritism: Will you be one of the chosen?

[FCTP]

In June of this year, our outgoing Mayor was pushing through a special deal for Everbank.  The local tea party did not think it was right to use taxpayer dollars to move a bank from the south side of town to downtown at a cost of $2.75 million in incentives.  

In June, Ron Littlepage, a Commentary for the Florida Times Union, made a statement “Those who were urging the council to "slow down" and leave decisions to the incoming council were off base.”  (Note:  “Those” means the tea party.)  You can read the full commentary here:

http://m.jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2011-0...

The final approved deal gave Everbank more than $2-million in tax rebates in exchange for 200 new jobs and $2.75 million for relocation expenses.  See the facts here:

http://www.wokv.com/news/news/local/city-council-approves-everbank-...

 

Move forward to today. 

 

In Ron Littlepage’s Commentary about JP Morgan Chase asking for help to add 250 jobs in Jacksonville, he quoted Kris Barnes, a former Duval County School Board Leader.  She noted why the Occupy movement was upset.  You can read the full commentary here: 

 

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/ron-littlepage/2011-10-...

 

If this ordinance is approved, it would give JPMorgan Chase $250,000 in city money and another $1 million in state money to add 250 jobs in Jacksonville. 

 

So, let’s take a look at both of these “incentives:”

 

 

 

Who	Amount	Jobs Created
Everbank	$2 MM tax rebates $2.75 Million relocation expenses	200
JP Morgan Chase	$250,000 city dollars (taxpayers?) $1 MM State dollars (taxpayers?)	250

 

In looking at this chart, why would Everbank be okay to fund and JP Morgan Chase not okay to fund? 

 

Is it because JP Morgan Chase took money from the government in a bailout?

 

Is Everbank’s incentive plan considered “bailout” money to help them move?

 

Are the dollars that are being spent on these banks, taxpayer dollars?

 

Why would one institution be favored over another institution?

 

Is this “upper class warfare” – where city councils or mayors decide which “bank” is their buddy and which isn’t?

 

Before everyone starts ranting and raving about me standing up for J P Morgan Chase – let it be known – “I personally do not approve of either of these deals. “

 

I just find it interesting that Mr. Littlepage has chosen to ridicule us for standing against the Everbank deal but now stands with Kris Barnes against the JP Morgan deal.  Is that “media class warfare?”

 

On a side note that should not go unnoticed and plays well into this discussion --  Steve Lerner has a lot to say about JP Morgan Chase.  Who is Steve Lerner?  In a March edition of the Washington Post, Ezra Klein stated, “Lerner is one of the more radical thinkers in the labor movement.” 

 

In his article noted here, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/steve-lerners-p...

you will see where Steve Lerner, a friend of President Obama’s has visited the White House off and on since Obama took office.  It is apparent President Obama supports the labor movement and he does not apologize for doing so.

 

In this article and in the youtube noted here, you will hear where Steve Lerner planned an attack against JP Morgan Chase. Video of that planned attack starts at 5:54 on the timer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQQiFW2YDLM&feature=youtu.be

 

This strategy was planned in May of this year.  He also stated that the labor movement could not start it.  It had to be “started” by others and it needed to appear to be a grassroots-type movement. 

 

Now we see the truth.   The tea party is ridiculed by the media for opposing the Everbank deal and the local media stands opposing the JP Morgan deal and supports the Occupy movement which was started by one of the most radical leaders in the labor movement.

 

This past Tuesday, the White House stood with the Occupy movement.  See article here:   http://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-ties-obama-to-occupy-wal...

 

Last year he ridiculed the tea party movement - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjnJzNBka8o 

 

He and the media have chosen one group over another. 

 

It all boils down to this.   The Occupy movement was planned.  It’s astroturf.  The people who are sleeping in the streets and parks across this nation are being used by the labor and the media to take down our country.  When that happens, ladies & gentlemen, you will personally feel the affects of the downfall.  Your finances will be gone.  The government will have no way to pay your EBT, welfare, or social security and your own money will be useless.  The many other social programs the government pays for will disappear. 

 

The game will be up and We the People will lose.

 

This planned attack is nothing less than terrorism and NO ONE in the government or the media is talking about it.  Instead, they are supporting it.

 

We encourage you to educate yourselves.  Educate others.  Turn off the media outlets that decide the winners and the losers.  Don’t be fooled or used by others who will laugh at your demise as they count their personal treasures (see article about union boss pensions here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44872639/ns/us_news-life/#.TpbTnuvgJdg).

 

As they sleep well in their big houses paid for by the hard working union employees, those who are occupying the streets and parks will pick up their sleeping bags and back packs to find a safe place to lay their heads. 

 

They will wonder what happened.  They took down the banks and here they are still sleeping in the streets and no one gives a damn. 

 

We all agree that term limits would change the game in DC.  I tend to think term limits on the media is in order too.  

 

These are dangerous games and the White House, progressives in Congress, the labor unions and the leftist media are on the same team.  

 

We the People along with our blessed contracts given to us by the blood of our founding fathers – the Constitution and Bill of Rights  -- will stand against them for the sake of liberty.

 

God bless you today and always.  May you rest knowing that good wins in the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DURWIN WALTER DAVIS]

UPDATE:  THE LATEST ABUSE OF DUVAL COUNTY TAXPAYER ABUSES

Read what the Tyson sub has to say about moving here from Chicago -- "Tony Cericola, vice president and general manager of Bruss ... told the JEDC that Bruss’ other potential sites were in small towns where the cost of living is less expensive but distribution costs are greater. Cericola said the decision is a done deal, pending city council approval and the due diligence." So I ask you -- why do we pay a $1.2 M subsidy on their $7.2 M moving costs when the competition is SMALL TOWNS who have NO MONEY for "incentives" and we are the ONLY economically logical place for Tyson to go?  WHY??  They are going into the empowerment zone, too, so they get state and federal credits and breaks as well, so it is going to happen even without hitting us up -- so WHY do it?  And this is the kind of thing the Mayor wants to have done from a slush fund without Council oversight. WHY? http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2011/10/13/bruss-co-mo... You know, a million here, a million there -- pretty soon you are talking real money.

[amanda choate]

Amen Joanna,

If JP Morgan wants to foreclose on Floridians, they can pay their own way. No state help to throw people out of their homes. And if they are goingto hire people, it should be people who can keep their homes by getting a good paying job, that should be incentive enough, the avoidance of foreclosure.

[Joanna B McDermott]

BOHICA - two more companies are asking for millions of tax incentives to move to Jacksonville, where does it end?

[CJ]

Not to take you off track but please be aware they are trying to change city elections too. What ever ones thoughts are this is a city issue and should not be left to council alone and one of the biggest reasons they should be following through with their promises of Town Hall meetings. These are not happening and it was mentioned at this last Tuesday's Council Meeting

ORDINANCE 2011-654

AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE TERMS AND ELECTIONS OF CITY OF JACKSONVILLE COUNTY OFFICIALS AND SETTING A PUBLIC REFERENDUM; AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, CHAPTER 92-341, LAWS OF FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; CHANGING THE DATE OF ASSUMING THE OFFICES OF THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE SHERIFF, SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, PROPERTY APPRAISER, AND TAX COLLECTOR TO JANUARY 1ST FOLLOWING FALL EVEN-YEAR GUBERATORIAL ELECTIONS COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2019, AND EVERY 4 YEARS THEREAFTER; PROVIDING FOR TRANSITION; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND REQUIRING THE ENACTMENT OF NEW IMPLEMENTATION ORDINANCES; REVISING THE LENGTHS OF THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, SHERIFF, SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, PROPERTY APPRAISER, AND TAX COLLECTOR ASSUMING OFFICE ON JULY 1, 2015, TO TERMS OF JULY 1, 2015 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2018; PROVIDING FOR NO CHANGE IN TERM LIMITS; PROVIDING FOR REFERENDUM APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR A FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT TO BE DEVELOPED AND PLACED ON THE BALLOT; DIRECTING THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO PLACE THE REFERENDUM QUESTION ON THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 6, 2012; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE D

[tamara stephenson]

both of those deals stink of welfare to the banks.  Does Chase really need incentive money to move anywhere?  give me a break.  this stuff is ridiculous.  the Everbank deal is even more ludicrous.  instead of focusing on who the media loves, shouldn't we be focusing on both of these sweetheart deals that cost lots of money and don't bring in that many jobs?  I could see it if either one of the companies actually built something, but for 450 jobs, couldn't we spend that $4 million on bringing technology or industry to this city?

[JL Gawlik]

We clearly have a big problem in Jacksonville with politicians getting away with what amounts to picking winners and losers, crony capitalism with great support and backing from the press/media. Change is going to have to come from the ground up, local elections are just as important, if not more important than the federal and state elections. 

The people in Jacksonville, should of been more involved than they were this past spring. The GOP headquarters blamed the local people for lack of volunteering. I know i did my part in my neighborhood and it showed in the high vote count. People can not do everything, it is going to take a group effort of very concerned citizens. We must keep a eye on what is going on at city hall. 

The above money takes away from the city period. Thanks for posting this Billie.

[CJ]

Thats not all look at this for 30 jobs- approved!

011-0528

ORD Auth Economic Dev Agreemt bet City, JEDC & KCI Enterprises, Inc to Support Establishmt of an Aircraft Maint, Repair & Overhaul Facility; Recommend Apv by Fla Dept of Economic Opportunity as a QTI Business with a Brownfield Bonus; Evidence Local Financial Support of $33,000 under QTI Tax Refund Prog with State Match of $132,000 (Including Brownfield Sector Bonus of $2,500 per Job) for Total of $165,000 for 30 Jobs; Provide Oversight by JEDC; Timeline for Execution of Agreemt by KCI. (Rowland) (Req of JEDC) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 8/23/11