Why would anyone move to Jacksonville?

[LoveBoating]

From, parks71: Seriously, my main complaints, crime, schools and how the cost of living went up. You really dont have concerns for any 3 of these?

To, parks71: Listen, So Calif. has these same problems, but there are still many, many people moving there and millions (literally) who love living there. You can keep complaining about Jacksonville all you want (and obviously you will), but that just isn't going to make others hate it! People here haven't got their "head in the sand", they just know that the problems you complain about are all in other cities as well. Just what do you suggest the city do about YOUR problems concerning Jacksonville???
And, by the way..........you haven't left yet???????

[riveree]

Originally Posted by parks71

So when the paper writes about how the crime is terrible and one of the worst in the nation, do you write them and say stop bashing your city while you stick your head in the sand?

Seriously, my main complaints, crime, schools and how the cost of living went up. You really dont have concerns for any 3 of these?

You guys seem to like to argue that the crime is EVERYWHERE, so its ok. There are magnet schools! We dont need the rest of them to be ok! WTF is wrong with you people, get your head out of the sand.

We have "great" beaches? Which one is "great". Any beach on the golf coast is better. Any beach south of jacksonville is better. Maybe your one of these thugs making Jacksonville beach THE HIGHEST CRIME AREA IN THE UNITED STATES PER CAPITA so you like to convince people to move here to take advantage of them? Sure, if your a crook, its a "great" beach because you can do what you want and get away with it.

The weather, ok, you can say it has "great" weather but once again I disagree. The weather is good, not great. Great weather would be san diego or somewhere out west because I cant think of anyone that says, "I hope its humid as hell tomorrow so I can sweat like a pig".

Sure, a lot of places are humid but GREAT weather would not include HIGH humidity. There are lots of states and places with the same weather of florida and some with much better but jacksonville alone does not have GREAT weather.

CRIME: It's a problem in our city for sure, but you have to keep it in perspective. A large percentage of the crime is localized in a few areas. Not ALL the crime, but A LOT of it is localized. You CAN avoid much of it, you CAN have the odds in your favor. I have encountered zero crime in the appx decade I've lived in Jax - no personal or property crime - I've been fine, my house has been fine, my car has been fine. I do not dodge bullets all day. Conversely, I had 2 crimes occur to me when I lived in NYC - 2 personal crimes where I had to deal with my attacker face-to-face . If you have dealt with crime on a regular basis in the time you've lived in Jacksonville, I'm sorry, it is very unfortunate and I'm sure it's colored your perspective, how could it not?

SCHOOLS: Schools are in bad shape across the country. Bill and Melinda Gates have even started a foundation for it, it's that bad. Oprah Winfrey does features on the decline of our school systems across the country...and on and on. It would be wonderful if Jacksonville was the exception to the rule, but sadly that isn't the case. When someone comes along and makes a blanket statement that ALL of Duval's schools are awful, its only fair for someone to state a different viewpoint. Why should it be wonderful when a Saint John's Country school makes the "best in the country" list but if a Duval school makes that list (and 2 or 3 Duval schools regularly do), Duval should take no credit? It's not just the Magnet schools that rate well, we have plenty of non-magnet schools with good or great FCAT ratings.

By the way, a word on "Magnet".......

If you live in a neighborhood where your local school is a Magnet school, your kid gets to go to that school - it IS your local public school. For example, if you live in San Marco, your kid goes to Hendricks Elementary. Hendricks happens to have a Magnet program, and your child may be able to be on the Magnet track, but if not, your kid still goes to Hendricks if you live within the boundary line for that school. Hendricks is a public school that consistently gets an A-rating on FCAT. So it has a Magnet program! Big deal! Are we going to discount the fact that it's a wonderful public school just because it has a Magnet program???

Back to your complaints....

COST OF LIVING: I agree, the cost of living has gone up in Jacksonville and the rate of pay has not kept up. Again, a national problem. It's the shrinking of the middle class. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. If you find a city where you can escape this, please let us know .

BEACHES: Guana? Hanna? Have you been to these beaches? These are beautiful subtropical beaches. And yes, Guana is in Duval . It straddles both Duval and St. John's county so it "counts" as a Jacksonville Beach.



So that's my take on what you wrote, Parks. I see it differently, but my experiences will be as unique to me as yours have been to you. I wish you well, Parks. It sounds like you and Jacksonville are not a good mix. If that's all it is, then a move to another city should brighten your outlook. Not everyone is going to love living here, you tried it and it's not for you so you're moving on. Life is too short, you need to do what you can to make yourself happy. Don't dwell on it, just look towards your future and stay positive about the possibilities .

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by Calculon

It has a small town feel because its basically a bunch of small towns stiched together and slapped with the label Jacksonville. There is absolutely no reason for Jacksonville to be as large as it is and this makes getting around a huge pain in the ass.

Aww finally some topics that heat up and don't bore.

Ok I will agree without a workable car, getting around Jax is a pain in the ass! And people it is ok to dislike Jacksonville, I mean really it is. It is also ok to love it. There is a really good reason the city was consolidated with the county. It makes sense to me for them to be one in the same. Jacksonville needs to focus its attention to the people who live near downtown not the people in the out skirts, that is one of my biggest irritations with the leaders of Jacksonville, they don't take care of the areas around the city. They would rather make Baymeadows and Bayard nice instead of Springfield or San Marco. Times have changed and the intown people are more important. Its good people can post a negative opinion and it not being locked. Progress.

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Does the comment "open Forum" mean that anyone can say anything they want to??? There is "spell check" on each Reply area, so if you don't want someone to comment on your spelling......USE IT!!!
For anyone who hates the city/area they live in, please DON'T bore all of the other Forum posters with how much you hate the city/are........just MOVE somewhere else!!!!!! This thing about "trash talking" the city you are living in (and it is "trash talking") just isn't good for people who want to move to the city you hate living in.
I'm sure there are lots of CD posters out there that will agree with me!

Actually Loveboat its not boring at all. Moving....right now could be a challenge for some, but you shouldn't worry, more people are moving to Jacksonville then moving from it. Jacksonville has many needs, as a fan of Jacksonville Id like to see them get some of the needs....the rest are basically "personal wants", but I think we all have those. Here is an idea...you love boating right? Cool, don't you want to share what you love with others? The river. Only the well off get to enjoy the river. Why is there no place to rent a canon or paddle boat or jet ski downtown? lack of options and activities is a big issue in Jax. Everything is ok for the people that own boats, but what about those that don't, should they move or complain for the option? Regardless of some believes the best thing to get things down is COMPLAIN. Many people don't complain, because they think it will not change anything. Its kinda like voting. People say they won't vote because their vote will not count. Examples

Enough people complained about the bad smell of jax, they complained about the tolls, they complained about the river being polluted, and these things are either fixed or being fixed as I type, so yea complaining works Jacksonville. We never know who is on these forums are who is reading. Some Yuppie in Mandarin who plans to run for mayor could be reading this right now....you never know. Im all for complaining, debating even arguing to a certain extent to get all the ideas out in the air.