Quote:We don't need another stadium downtown.  What we need is something that will draw people downtown every day, year round.  A casino, a theme park, restaurants, museums, a waterfront park. etc.  I'd hesitate to have a navy ship as a floating museum, because that would just block the view of the river. 

 

But it can't be just one thing.  If it's just one thing, it won't have broad enough appeal.  It needs to be a combination of many different things.  

 

Judging from the River Taxi fiasco, I would try to get the local government out of it as much as possible.  I'd sell the whole shipyards property to Shad Khan for $1 and let him develop it.   It would be an unusual thing to do, but with the way the government operates around here, I would take the risk and trust Khan to do the right thing. 

 

A casino isn't a good idea because it draws a narrow strata of people who are only intent on gambling and little else.  If Atlantic City is any indication of what Jacksonville could become, casinos should be avoided at all costs.

 

I agree about local government.  Never have I ever seen such a glaringly incompetent group of people in my life.  They are wholly incapable of making the simplest decision without conflict, turmoil, and unneeded expense.  I don't want to use the term idiots, but it would certainly be an easy association to make. 

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