Small Tea Party Turnout in Jacksonville

If anyone needs prove that the tea party's popularity is dying then look no further than the number of people that showed up for an Americans for Prosperity's protest outside of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Jacksonville.

AFP State Director Slade O'Brien said about 15 others joined him for the hour protest outside the headquarters because the company is "using a nonprofit 501C3 to market their product.

/P> The tea party ranks grow thinner. That doesn't stop local and national Republicans from fearing the tea party's wraith.

President Obama Economic Speech At JAXPORT Tomorrow

Mark Knoller of CBS News tweets that President Barack Obama will deliver an economic speech tomorrow at the Jacksonville Port Authority.

Actually, Pres Obama delivers his next economy speech tomorrow afternoon at the Jacksonville Port (JAXPORT), FL.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 24, 2013

Obama will propose raising the more infrastructure spending to create jobs and raising the minimum. These are policies I supported. It appears that Obama has finally given up on the fantasy of a grand bargain and is taking his message to the people.

“Over the last six months, this gridlock has gotten worse,” said Obama. "I am laying out my ideas to give the middle class a better shot. Now it’s time for you to lay out yours.”

I'm glad that Obama is using the bully pulpit.

A Little Wisconsin in Jacksonville

The Wisconsin rallies have galvanized teachers, parents and students in Jacksonville. Protesters gathered in Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville to voice their disapproval of Gov. Rick Scott's proposed education cuts.

School Board Chairman W.C. Gentry got the crowd going by telling them education cuts would go to benefit wealthy businesses.

"Can you explain to me how it is that we should give tax cuts to the most profitable corporations in this state on the backs of our school children?"

The crowd applauded in agreement.

It was only a matter of time before Floridians would react negative to Rick Scott's desire to eliminate corporate taxes. The class-size amendment passed against Jeb Bush's wishes. Scott was politically tone deaf to think Floridians weren't going to be angry about education cuts. Whether Republicans like or not, voters support public education.

Meek Courting Jacksonville Black Vote

Senate candidate Kendrick Meek's poll numbers are bad. Meek is making a GOTV push in Jacksonville.

Greene's top competitor in the Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, has placed a heavy emphasis on Jacksonville in his campaign. He called Jacksonville "a city of true commerce" because of its port and transportation grid during a meeting with The Times-Union's editorial board last week.

He said it's unfortunate a lot of candidates don't see the same value.

"A lot of folks, politically - especially the Democrats - said 'Jacksonville is a nice place, you'll get X amount of votes there, but it's not necessarily someplace you'd go when you're running for the Senate,'" Meek said.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 29 percent of Jacksonville's population is African-American. It is essential for Meek to get out the black vote. I think Meek still needs to make a harder push in the I-4 corridor. Time is essential and Meek is wasting time campaigning in the Panhandle. Jeff Greene will win the Panhandle in the primary. Marco Rubio will probably win the Panhandle in the general election. Meek needs to work his voting base before it is too late.

Obama in Jacksonville

President Barack Obama visited the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. The President spoke to pilots and sailors about Afghanistan. Obama did not reveal what his plans are for General Stanley A. McChrystal request for 40,000 more troops.

But Obama did not tip his hand on how he might decide.

"I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way," he said.

Obama promised military personal would not be forgotten and given the social service care they need.

Obama Combatting Homelessness

President Barack Obama will use $10 billion of HUD money "to create green jobs, to revive housing markets with high rates of foreclosure, and curb homelessness." The money will come from the Promoting Stable Communities and Helping Families Hardest Hit by the Economic Crisis.

These investments will help communities and families that have experienced the brunt of the economic downturn. Resources will be used to stabilize and revive local neighborhoods and housing markets with heavy concentrations of foreclosed properties. Funds will also assist the vulnerable families and individuals who are on the brink of homelessness or have recently become homeless.

HUD has also set up the Homelessness Prevention Fund.

HUD is allocating nearly $1.5 billion to state and local governments to help rapidly re-house homeless persons and families who enter shelters. In addition, HUD's Homelessness Prevention Fund will significantly expand efforts to prevent homelessness among those facing a sudden economic crisis.

Florida will get $74 million for homeless-assistance programs.

Orlando has been granted $6 million to stop the growing homeless population.

"Millions for the homeless? Let me see it. I pray to God that there's an honest bookkeeper," homeless man Charles Theus said.

The Coalition for the Homeless will use the money to place homeless people in apartments. I'm interested in what Jackie Dowd has to say about this. Dowd is an Orlando homeless advocate attorney.

In Tampa, the United Way is asking for $1.3 million. The Tampa United Way's fundraiing fell by $2 million in 2008. Marc Sutherland of America's Second Harvest of Tampa said, "The need is going up and it's getting harder and harder to get food for these programs." America's Second Harvest of Tampa provides food to 350 agencies that feed the homeless.

Miami-Dade county will receive $25.6 million. Mayor Carlos Alvarez gave the right message about the grant money.

Member of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Board, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez declared, "This record level of funding represents a continued commitment on behalf of U.S. HUD to help communities that have helped themselves. We are fortunate to have these additional funds to help these needy families and individuals; and grateful to HUD for their collaboration in addressing those most in need."

Jacksonville received a meager $2 million.

Obama In Jacksonville

A Barack Obama campaign rally in Jacksonville was packed. 10 thousand people packed Metropolitan Park. Another 6 thousand couldn't get in. The Obama grassroots support makes me wonder how Obama will fair in Duval County.

The overflow crowd at Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park -- capacity 13,000 -- ate it up. The energy was notable because though Democrats outnumber Republicans in Duval County, it is a reliable area for the GOP. George Bush got nearly 1 ½ times more votes than John Kerry in 2004. McCain could barely muster 3,000 when he spoke nearby on Monday.

Obama used the rally to talk about his tax cuts. A graph by the Tax Policy Center show that Obama would cut taxes for the middle and lower classes.McCain's two biggest tax cuts are for the top earners.

Coming On Before Spinal Tap, It's John McCain

Via Pam Spaulding: John McCain is not a hot ticket without Sarah Palin. The Maverick got only 3,000 supporters into a 16,000 capacity venue. A double bill of Journey and Night Ranger could have got a better crowd.

The Florida Democratic Party is sending out this picture to show the lackluster attendance at the Jacksonville Memorial Arena. The McCain rally reminds me of a classic scene from This Is Spinal Tap.

Tax Cuts Hit Social Programs

The Florida Times-Union has a good brswak down of how Jacksonville nonprofits will be affected by tax cuts.

First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce

Budget: $300,000

Alzheimer's Association

Budget: $1,335,763

Compassionate Families

Budget: $200,000

These agencies are not rolling in pork. Jacksonville is cutting $10 million from public grant funds. These cuts will hit these agencies hard. If people were polled, I'm sure they would have no problem paying tax dollars for caregivers of Alzheimer patients. I'm always amazed at how conservatives view social programs as fiscally irresponsible, but sports arenas as a postive use of tax dollars.

HabiJax

There have been complaints from homeowners of Fairway Oaks community in Jacksonville, Florida. Residents have complained about cracks in the foundation and mildew. The community was founded by Habitat for Humanity and is run by HabiJax. Legal Aid has stepped in and has received resistance from HabiJax.

April Charney is with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. She's gathering information from homeowners in the Fairway Oaks community hoping to get answers for them.

"HabiJax is basically taking a 'catch us catch can' approach. The city really isn't stepping up to the plate at this point and offer their resources to get in control of these issues," says April Charney with Jacksonville Legal Aid.

Residents have complained about a mysterious rash that has broken out.

"The dead skin just dries up and it looks like this. It itches, and it hurts," says Johnson as she extends her left wrist to show a dry flaky rash.

That's another problem many have had to cope with. This is also the same area where the mysterious rashes broke out. So far, the Health Department has not found a link between all the cases.

Johnson says her children are also experiencing headaches. Fairway Oaks was built over a former waste site. Community members have asked the Mayor's office to investigate the cause of the rash outbreak.

Legal Aid found that the problems are widespread. Their survey showed neglect from HabiJax.

The Fairway Oaks owners took their complaints to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, and of 56 who answered a survey for Legal Aid, 41 reported cracked concrete slabs, 22 had cracked walls and 48 said their houses were infested with insects or rodents, presumably because of the cracks. Others reported mold or mildew, nails popping out of plasterboard and other problems. The Habitat for Humanity local affiliate, HabiJax, maintains that the land at Fairway Oaks is stable and that most problems there are housekeeping issues, not structural. City inspectors this month examined six houses and found no violations. But in a vulnerable population, the perceptions have a life of their own. A project built with sweat equity and good will has had unintended consequences, and costs.

Now that the story has made the New York Times website; it will be interesting to see how HabiJax reacts.