More cool things the city’s working on right now: between Friendship Fountain, the Emerald Trail LaVilla Link, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park and more under construction, 2024 is the hottest year for Downtown parks and public spaces in recent history.

With at least three new or restored Downtown public spaces opening by fall & more under construction, 2024 is the biggest year for Downtown parks in recent history. Here’s a dive into what’s here & what’s coming in the year of the Downtown public space. jaxtoday.org/2024/05/08/the…

Don’t like soaring housing prices? Build more. If it can work in one of the world’s largest metropolises, it can work anywhere.

Urban revitalization is not about finding a silver bullet. Strategic planning, long-term followthrough and delivery on attainable incremental steps makes good things happen.

Another urban Jax amenity is here! The opening of the LaVilla Link represents the first new stretch of the Emerald Trail, a 30-mile network of trails, parks and bike/bed paths connecting 14 Urban Core neighborhoods. It’s a good time to be Duval, y’all!

After years of planning, the first link of the Emerald Trail is open. buff.ly/3WtZG0e

Proud, honored and humbled to be part of this team, y’all.

20 years ago, considerable work was done on plans to bring an intercity rail station back to Downtown Jax’s Prime Osborn building. These plans show what may be needed to bring rail services back to Downtown — without starting from scratch.

thejaxsonmag.com/article/amtrak…

Next week the Emerald Trail LaVilla Link opens. With Friendship Fountain in Feb & Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing Park this summer, that’s 3 significant Downtown spaces open in Mayor Donna Deegan’s first year. Onward and forward y’all!

Plus in many fields the education is often far superior at the schools that focus more on, well, education than research. Hard to teach English in a 40+ student classroom taught by an overworked grad student, regardless of how good their boss’s research is.

There have been so many days during this journey when I have felt my ancestors. Today was definitely one of them as we recognized Arab American Heritage Month in City Hall. 

Growing up in an Arab American family, I view the diversity of our city as our greatest strength.…

“Those who try to control, who use force to protect their power, go against the direction of the Tao. They take from those who don’t have enough and give to those who have far too much.

The sage can keep giving because there is no end to her wealth.” — Tao Te Ching verse 77

The housing crisis is one of the biggest issues facing Jacksonville today. This plan complements other things the administration, our City Council colleagues and the private sector have been working on for the last few years.

Every now and then I fall apart.

A great article about a really cool topic that's thankfully starting to get some appreciation: Northside Jacksonville's collection of unusual houses built by Marvel and King Solomon Rathel. thejaxsonmag.com/article/womens…

'We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.' –C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

Let’s do this. DUUUVAL!

Let’s make this happen! Duval, do what you do.

City staff have recommended not approving the exemptions necessary for the Southbank self-storage facility. Here’s why they’re right: thejaxsonmag.com/article/opinio…

Important work happening this week. We need more missing middle housing and housing of different sizes to get out from under the housing crisis.