Who really is running our City?

This email was received on Apr 14, 2006 from Mayor Peyton

From: John Peyton <JPeyton@coj.net>   
To: Bob Johnson <Support@jaxfountain.com>
Date: Apr 14, 2006 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: Demolition of Friendship Fountain?

Dear Mr. Johnson:
 
Thank you for taking the time to write to weigh in on the city's plans for the future of Friendship Fountain Park.  As part of my vision for downtown, the city's Department of Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation will oversee the master planning process for the refurbishing of Friendship Fountain Park. One of the goals of the master plan is to re-configure the fountain to encourage pedestrian traffic, creating a park that is more interactive and multi-dimensional, and will be an attraction for visitors.   Friendship Fountain will be refurbished, not demolished.
 
Citizen input will play a major role in the planning process, and I welcome feedback from the community.  Currently, we are requesting proposals from architectural/engineering firms to conduct the master planning process. Master planning is anticipated to begin later this year.  If you are interested in participating in the stakeholder discussions, please contact Phil Bruce at 904-630-3586 or at bruce@coj.net.
 
Thanks again for writing.  I appreciate your input about this important Jacksonville monument.
 
Sincerely,
John Peyton

So I guess Susie Wiles is who I should have asked based on this story posted on TV 4 New today...

The city said it's too late to fix the Friendship Fountain, which was the highest fountain in the southeast when it was built in 1965. They also said it would cost too much to restore it to its former glory.

"It can't be done at any kind of a reasonable cost," said Mayor's Office spokeswoman Susie Wiles.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/9771462/detail.html

Ok who is running this City, the Mayor that said "Friendship Fountain will be refurbished, not demolished." or the Mayor's spokeswoman...

If you care about Friendship Fountain then call, email, scream, beg, plead with the Mayor and City council to back up the Words of Mayor Peyton from just this past April...

-Bob

I am 11 years old and I can still remember the first day I went to Friendship Fountain I was 2. I was playing around the fountain and watching the birds. As I was growing up, I always looked for Friendship Fountain as we crossed the downtown bridges. I also enjoyed the beautiful fountain during the Super Bowl events. I'm appauld at who ever decided to do this?  !!!!!! I'm flabbergasted because taking away the Friendship Fountain will be taking a big chunk of my memories away and I bet you are taking a lot of other people’s memories away too. My mom has told me stories about her memories of the Friendship Fountain. I know she wants it to stay a part of our city. I'm sure when some people read this they will say “She is just a kid. Who cares what she says?" Well, who cares if I'm a kid, I still have a word in this!!!! Please keep the Friendship Fountain!

Well I see you people don't give up easily on trying to get everyone to support your stupid efforts in (our refurbishing in our fountain) well we people have spoken and if you big wigs weren't so queit and sneaky about how your conducting this i'd bet you'd have a hell of a lot more people b*tching at you. Also I have heard these so call "TO EXPENSIVE" remarks but I have also heard your plans on "REFURBISHING" the fountain will cost the same if not more then it would to (REPAIR IT) so why fight everyone who wants the fountain LEFT ALONE AND REPAIRED. Or the question here is what are your true intensions? Do you people even intend on leaving us a fountain? Or was the idea to demolish the park and everything else surounding it and build some waterfront condo's or officebuilding. I feel that the park should BE LEFT UNTOUCHED UNTAMPERED and not bothered with. Thanks for your time I as a resident DO NOT SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS IN THE SO CALLED !!!"REFURBISHMENT"!!! OF OUR BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAIN