So you want to know how to justify putting the taxpayer on the hook for $200,000 ($125,000 loan and $75,000 grant) to a business to expand its truck washing facilities?  Tell everyone that it reduces crime!

Yes, it’s true!  According to the City Council analysis of bill 2009-185, more than half of the 18 new full time jobs created by this expansion will be available to assist the re-entry of felons back into society.  Jacksonville businesses apparently have caught on to the fact that if you want to get money from the city government, it helps to have a crime prevention angle going for you.  It is not only absurd to use economic development money to do crime reduction, but also expensive since we are spending over $11,000 per job.

According to a recent poll, only 33% of Jacksonville residents think that Jacksonville is heading in the right direction.  Less than half (48%) think that Mayor John Peyton is doing a good job and even less (35%) think that the City Council is doing any better.   Compare these numbers with 71% for Peyton and 54% for the City Council nearly two years ago.  For Jacksonville politicians, this is not a good way to start the day!

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