I do know that what I’m about to say isn’t stunning. This matter occurs in each metropolis that builds an expert sports activities venue as we speak. Nevertheless it nonetheless bothers me every time I learn an article or opinion piece from an individual/group who has a predetermined agenda. As in, somebody, or some group who claims to help a brand new Enviornment/Ballpark/Stadium, solely to seek out out that the particular person or group is paid immediately or not directly by the group needing the brand new venue. Now we have seen this happen in so many cities.
At the moment, I noticed am opinion piece that declared how nice the brand new Jacksonville Jaguars proposal can be for the town and state of Florida. David Miller said within the Florida Occasions-Union that this deal would, the truth is, be a “catalyst” for “significant and lasting benefits to our community”. Miller goes on to say that this plan would additionally “revitalize” the stadium, be a “landmark investment” for the town, is “vital” to addressing the “most pressing issues” confronted by residents. What can this proposal not do, precisely? Miller factors out in the direction of the tip of his love letter that he’s only a “business leader and community advocate” who simply needs extra “community spirit”. He indicators off because the founding father of a neighborhood insurance coverage firm.
If you’re a standard particular person, you’d learn this and be below the belief that so-called enterprise leaders of the town had been additionally supporting the Jaguars deal. Besides, David Miller can also be somebody who is connected to the JAX Chamber. The JAX Chamber describes itself as a “business organization representing…businesses serving Northeast Florida.” Particularly, the Chamber helps the enterprise “members to make connections, grow their businesses and prosper in our community”.
You most likely marvel why this issues. It issues as a result of the group, JAX Chamber, is and has been placing on a constant PR tour for the brand new Jaguars plan. Final month, the group introduced that they deliberate to foyer Metropolis Council members to simply accept the $1.4 billion renovation proposal as a result of the group believes that it was “an incredibly important deal” for the town. This story at JaxToday.org also mentions that this help by the JAX Chamber comes proper after a neighborhood activist group had not too long ago come out in opposition to the Jaguars proposal. I learn this final assertion as if the writer had been implying that the JAX Chamber was equal to some common activist group.
Besides, they don’t seem to be some common group. The Jaguars give them cash. Doubtless, a number of it. Yow will discover the Jaguars openly talking about their help for the JAX Chamber on their group web site. Humorous, the JAX Chamber additionally mentions their support of the Jaguars on their web site. How related are the Jaguars to the JAX Chamber? The group itself is billed as a “member” of the Chamber. The JAX Chamber has a Jacksonville Jaguars Senior Vice President on their current Board of Directors. The JAX Chamber has the Jaguars President, COO, SVP, and Chief Neighborhood Influence Officer as “trustee members”. A number of years in the past, the Jaguars President, Mark Lamping, was billed as an “At Large” member of the Board of Administrators.
Again to David Miller. Humorous factor is that I can’t discover David Miller on the JAX Chamber web site in any respect. But, there are tons of articles that embrace David Miller being part of the JAX Chamber. Florida Politics wrote that Miller was on the Board of Directors at JAX Chamber in 2017. One charity claims he has held a “leadership position” on the JAX Chamber. First Coast News put out a story on a JAX Chamber listening occasion that concerned…David Miller. The Florida Occasions-Union published an article about one other JAX Chamber occasion that additionally concerned David Miller.
See a sample? Anyway, he clearly works for or with the chamber in some capability. Even for those who nonetheless consider that the Jaguars will not be telling this group what to do, the town certainly might. The JAX Chamber is actually paid to assist the town. Town’s Workplace of Sports activities & Leisure wanted assist bringing sports activities occasions to the realm just a few years in the past. Town partnered with three groups: JaxSports Council, Visit Jacksonville & JAX Chamber.
Perhaps you need some precise connection between the proprietor of the Jaguars and the group? In Jacksonville, a undertaking known as “Bay Street Innovation Corridor” has been making an attempt to get off the bottom for nearly two years. Nevertheless it continues to sputter because of fraud and mismanagement. After Florida Energy & Mild’s (“FLP”) failed privatization effort in 2022, the native media discovered spreadsheets from FLP displaying how they gave $50,000 for the innovation hall undertaking. The media additionally discovered spreadsheets displaying that Mayor Lenny Curry, JAX Chamber CEO Daniel Davis and Jaguars proprietor Shad Khan had been all deemed to be the “primary drivers” of this innovation hall undertaking.
How on earth might this group count on to exist if it didn’t help the Jaguars proposal?
