What America thinks of Jacksonville Fl (Miami, Century: private school, voucher, living in)

[SFLrunner]

Well, i will add my 2 cents here...i lived in JAX for almost 6 years and now live in MIA. I would say most people in the US know very little if anything about JAX. There was a recent post on the Miami forum about JAX and most admitted they really didn't know anything about it. Numerous people i know that have been to JAX mostly noted how the downtown was overrun by homeless & that it did not really seem like part of Florida but rather more like South Georgia......

[jsimms3]

^^^I guess that's why between 3,500 and 5,000 SoFlas move to Jax metro every year. Hmmm

That was an argument back in the day, but that's a schoolgirl argument nowadays. The city is filled with former South Floridians, and more are joining them. Even more are flocking to other southern cities like Atl, Nashville, Charlotte, Chattanooga, and Raleigh. Aside from Atlanta, none of these cities were on the proverbial "map" until the 90s. The educated in Miami and the middle class families in Miami certainly know about Jax because they do business here or they move here for work or to escape Miami.

There is no reason for an uneducated big city dweller interested in parties and working an hourly job (a large percentage of City-Data) to even think about Jax unless they do Fantasy Football. Anyone doing business with trade/logistics, in the financial sector, the insurance sector, or the medical field knows about Jax. Also, many people of a higher caliber know about Ponte Vedra, but PVB is a little secret. No need to let that out.

[SFLrunner]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking JAX. I actually enjoyed my time there and have many friends there. My point was that in general most Americans know very little about JAX. It's not exactly a major tourist destination.... also, most people that came there to visit me always commented on how many homeless roamed downtown.....

[904jax]

"We aren't a socialist country, but we have policies that instigate these inequalities. People in this country (and Jax is no different) have to stand on their own two feet to make it (unlike in other Euro countries that are so socialist that when they raise the retirement age by just a year or two violent riots break out." jsimms3


The above provides an insight into how a private school educated person from Ortega might think, which it turn provides insight into Jax's culture. If you go to places like Colorado and many other places in the Western US, you'll find much a more dynamic economy than JAX, and you will see less income inequality. Investing in education, is not EURO zone socialist (we're not talking about entitlements here), it makes sense, because it developes a skilled workforce.

[jsimms3]

I am all for investing in education. I never said anything to the contrary. What did I say that was wrong? Also, I agree that the Rocky Mountain region has probably the least social/economic inequality in the country, and maybe the PacNW, but anywhere else and it is noticeable. Usually the bigger and "richer" the city, the more noticeable it is. Bigger, richer cities often have the biggest and most diverse adn robust economies, too (thinking NE and CA cities).

By the way, CA has probably invested a little "too much" into their education. I don't think I need to explain myself there as we can all see the end result.

Also, Denver demographics are quite different from eastern city demographics. Not to imply that all black people or Mexicans are poor or uneducated, but this is where the inequality lies and Denver metro has only 6.2% blacks. It does have a large Hispanic, mostly Mexican population of 21.4% (still far less percentage than our AA percentage in Jax metro). I wonder if they live like your average middle class white family and if they attend decent schools like residents of Cherry Creek do? Also, Denver's economy is based largely on securities, energy trading, oil, mining, and technology. People without college degrees don't move to Denver. It's not a blue collar town. It is the financial/business hub of the Rocky Mountains and it has a large WTO and a trading floor.

[912]

Originally Posted by 904jax

The above provides an insight into how a private school educated person from Ortega might think, which it turn provides insight into Jax's culture.

You still come off as arrogant. I think you should quit while you're just slightly ahead.

I've seen Colorado, it's people, it's workforce. It's not that much better.

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by jsimms3

Lee High School used to be good, but just a few years ago the school was on lockdown 70% of the year. Public schools, on average, are far inferior to private schools in Jacksonville, but it's that way in most parts of the country now. (Ever since the federal government got involved it seems)

I think the Jacksonville "culture" is more reflective of middle and upper middle class family value cultures of other metros. It's not unique to Jacksonville. Then again, I wasn't raised in the hood so I can't comment on the "culture" there. There are few if any cities I've been to that don't have social and economic inequalities. We aren't a socialist country, but we have policies that instigate these inequalities. People in this country (and Jax is no different) have to stand on their own two feet to make it (unlike in other Euro countries that are so socialist that when they raise the retirement age by just a year or two violent riots break out). Unfortunately our government sends mixed signals to certain groups of people, so everywhere in the country certain minority groups are subjected to these mixed signals and bad government influence. It's nothing unique to Jax.

If you think Jax is just rich white and poor black, you ain't seen nothing until you've lived in S FL or New Orleans or Baltimore or Detroit or Chicago. Actually, it seems people have more of an equal footing here than it does in most places where you're either super wealthy or just trying to get by. Where I live now has one of the wealthiest areas in the world (Buckhead...$350K average income and 20 other zips where average household income is $113-300K) north of the city, and one of the largest ghettoes in America south, east, and west of the city.

I keep combating your messages because while they are interesting and thoughtful, they're a display of a lack of knowledge of the rest of the country where things are basically the same.

PS: Robyn, I always love your insights into the Jewish community in Jax. I know little about the Jewish community (being not Jewish haha), but I am always interested in Jewish culture and community wherever I am because it/they wield so much influence. Keep informing us, please.

Good grief! What the hell do these people do for a living?

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by SFLrunner

Well, i will add my 2 cents here...i lived in JAX for almost 6 years and now live in MIA. I would say most people in the US know very little if anything about JAX. There was a recent post on the Miami forum about JAX and most admitted they really didn't know anything about it. Numerous people i know that have been to JAX mostly noted how the downtown was overrun by homeless & that it did not really seem like part of Florida but rather more like South Georgia......

Good!

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by jsimms3

^^^I guess that's why between 3,500 and 5,000 SoFlas move to Jax metro every year. Hmmm

That was an argument back in the day, but that's a schoolgirl argument nowadays. The city is filled with former South Floridians, and more are joining them. Even more are flocking to other southern cities like Atl, Nashville, Charlotte, Chattanooga, and Raleigh. Aside from Atlanta, none of these cities were on the proverbial "map" until the 90s. The educated in Miami and the middle class families in Miami certainly know about Jax because they do business here or they move here for work or to escape Miami.

There is no reason for an uneducated big city dweller interested in parties and working an hourly job (a large percentage of City-Data) to even think about Jax unless they do Fantasy Football. Anyone doing business with trade/logistics, in the financial sector, the insurance sector, or the medical field knows about Jax. Also, many people of a higher caliber know about Ponte Vedra, but PVB is a little secret. No need to let that out.

Uh-oh... Say it aint so!

[904jax]

912, judging from your other posts, calling me arrogant is the pot calling the keddle black.

jsimms3, it's hard for me to digest the income inequality in JAX, but that is a function of my upbringing. It seems like the education system is playing an indirect role in Jax's problems, such as crime and not being able to attract more 21st Century businesses. No offense about Ortega, I know lots of great people in that area.

I would much rather put my kids in public school, but short of moving to St. John's County, I can't do so and rest easy. This is not arrogance, but looking at the facts on the ground.

Fixing an education system is no easy task, and throwing money at a problem isn't always the solution; however, if we improve Jax's education system, we improve our city.