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Date Submitted July 23, 2025
Submitted by: Gail DaParma
This is an email I sent to the Jacksonville Mayor, Chief Wood, and each City Council member. Id like for the community to see it as well:
I am writing today to respectfully urge you to reconsider allocating an additional $100,000 to the T-Mobile grant project secured by Marcus. While I applaud Marcus’s initiative in pursuing this opportunity, the truth is that this project has fallen outside the usual scope of his responsibilities, and he has received little to no support since securing the grant which is grossly overdue. In my opinion this project is floundering. While a gazebo at $50,000 is a worthy and ‘nice to have’ project, the same project at $150,000 should not move forward. Just not enough bang for the hard to come by dollars. There’s certainly is no shame in walking back from this and returning the grant funds if the project no longer serves our city’s broader interests. In fact, doing so could allow us to refocus on more pressing community needs. For example, the Eastwood School which is an important and historic part of Jacksonville is in serious need of a new roof. NOW. It’s a beloved landmark that deserves our attention. Additionally, we could consider investing in practical infrastructure like covered pavilions in our city parks, which would directly benefit the many young families who use them regularly. These are just a couple of examples of projects that offer more lasting impact and broader use than a gazebo at the Public Safety Center. Another possibility would be dividing those funds among our city’s hardworking nonprofits, organizations that serve daily on the front lines of community support. I appreciate your time and your ongoing dedication to doing what’s best for Jacksonville. Thank you for considering this perspective as you move forward.
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