A.G. Gancarski
NFL teams in Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City and everywhere else with stadium issues might wish they had Jacksonville’s government and leadership, as momentum continues for the renovations to the Jaguars’ home lair.
At large City Council member Matt Carlucci is the latest political figurey to fall in behind Mayor Donna Deegan’s renovation project, slated to cost Duval County taxpayers $925 million, between $625 million for the renovation, $150 million for deferred maintenance and $150 million for a “community benefit agreement.”
“I strongly believe this proposal is not just about renovating a stadium; it’s about investing in the future of Jacksonville,” Carlucci said.
If we are to make such a significant investment in our stadium, it would be a missed opportunity not to include a package that positively impacts our entire community county-wide, funding homelessness solutions, public parks and youth sports programming, affordable housing, and workforce development; in addition to lifting up the Eastside neighborhood to the north of the stadium district. This comprehensive approach makes the proposal not only more complete but also more fair, more compassionate, and a visionary proposal.”
The goal is something holistic for the city at large, Carlucci added.
“These agreements should not be viewed as separate parts, but rather a cohesive deal that is inextricably linked to make sure that this historic investment is good for all rather than a select few,” he said.
“This community benefits agreement turns this from a standard stadium renovation into a visionary win-win for all of Jacksonville. It ensures that our investment transcends the boundaries of the stadium, creating something larger and more impactful for our city and all those within it.”
Carlucci, who backed Mayor Deegan during the 2023 campaign, is not a surprising advocate for the deal, but he joins others, including some who have not supported Deegan.
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, which is helmed by Deegan’s opponent in the 2023 General Election, is also supporting the proposal.
4 comments
the Truth
May 20, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Sorry Matt, I disagree with you. The Jaguars are just entertainment, period. The police and firefighters pension fund, the septic tank phase out, a new jail, just to name a few items are much much more important, Just fix the stadium if it need fixing, which is a question anyway.. Its only 30 years old, it has alot more life in it.. Jacksonville will go broke and Deegan will be a one term mayor. I wish the people, the taxpayers of jacksonville, could vote on this, but , of course they cant.
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Idiocracy
May 20, 2024 at 4:43 pm
20 years ago Carlucci had something to say. Sort of. Unless it was Tuesday or a holiday or about anything of substance and he’d of course have to take a poll. Now? What is the point, exactly? It’s a corrupt deal that steals taxpayer money to line the private pockets of the town bajillionaire and the corrupt and greedy NFL, for 10 days of entertainment per year, if that, most of which will end in disappointment. It will bankrupt the city and actively sabotage the city’s ability to get through some current near impossible financial situations that would tank a smart city with good governance, which Jax just ain’t. Not to mention the city can’t even pay its current debt obligations without borrowing money and it’s about to get a whole lot worse. They WILL raise taxes to pay for private profit to the big Con, while most people’s equity will drop because no one wants to buy a home in Duval (news flash: Highest taxes in the state of Florida plus collapsing school system, not a good marketing scheme, meanwhile neighbouring counties with lower taxes. better schools, better infrastructure, lower crime, are booming. Duval tax base is shrinking while its debt is imploding at an exponential rate. The stadium will force more taxpayers and potential taxpayers away from Duval, not to it. The city will continue to hollow out and there won’t be a healthy middle class to tax to death anymore. They are basing all their fanciful justifications on pie in the sky wishful thinking, an artificial assumption that new stadium = new growth which will offset debt. Newsflash #2–they can’t sell tickets now or fill the current stadium. A new one will not make a better team or better city or money to spend on tickets which profit only the big Con and the NFL, NOT the city. NONE OF THIS PAYS JAX BILLS. IT JUST COSTS TAXPAYERS MONEY AND ROBS THE CITY OF WHAT IT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO SURVIVE. IT’S REALLY SIMPLE MATH. ) Why is everybody lying?
MH/Duuuval
May 20, 2024 at 11:50 pm
Is Matt going to run again — for some elected office? Appears so.
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