Argyle Area Civic Council

Jacksonville City Council Redistricting Controversy 6-28-2001

Argyle Forest and Chimney Lakes originally part of Northside 11

June 28, 2001 - Well, City Council has done it again. Argyle Forest has been "graciously" included with the Northside of Jacksonville in the recently approved Proposed Redistricting Plan for the City of Jacksonville. There will be 3 public hearings and a district Town Hall meeting held before this is voted on in the Fall of 2001 by the entire city council. These meetings will be our chance to protest and change this latest insult to the residents of Argyle Forest and let City Council know that the Argyle Forest neighborhood is in Duval County, NOT Clay County! (People who are unfamiliar with the Argyle Forest Neighborhood, think it is part of Clay County.) Under the plan, Alvarez's district would begin north of Atlantic Beach and make a nearly two-thirds ring north and west around the city. It would run into southwest Duval County, including the Argyle Forest area.

Ron Littlepage - Words such as logical mean nothing in city redi

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071301/opl_6669423.html
Words such as logical mean nothing in city redistricting

Last Wednesday afternoon. Hot. Humid. Thunderstorms beginning to pop up.

I'm at the entrance to the Argyle Forest subdivision near Orange Park.

This area -- loaded with homes and with many more on the way -- is at one end of what the City Council is proposing to call District 11 when council district lines are redrawn to take into account the latest population figures from the U.S. census.

On the opposite end of this new District 11 would be the fishing village of Mayport, situated where the St. Johns River meets the Atlantic Ocean, the home of shrimp boats, not row after row of cookie-cutter houses.

The City Charter requires that council districts be "logical" and "compact." All of my journalist instincts, honed by three decades in the business, cry out that District 11 won't meet that test.

At 1:45 p.m., I leave Argyle Forest and ease my truck into the traffic on Blanding Boulevard. Right ahead of me is what would be the edge of District 14 on the council's new map. Argyle Forest won't be a part of that. Instead it will be linked with Mayport.

My mind focuses on the word "logical" found in the City Charter. I laugh.

Let's find out if the new District 11 will be "compact."

At 1:50 p.m., I'm on Interstate 295 heading north. I listen to several songs on the radio. My fuel gauge begins moving toward empty. I reach the intersection of I-295 and Interstate 95. I'm now on Florida 9A. I listen to several more songs on the radio.

Now I turn onto Heckscher Drive. The police have a speed trap set up. I'm not speeding.

I drive past several fish camps. Hey, there's the site for the kingfish tournament. I cross the Intracoastal Waterway.

At 2:33 p.m., I see Mayport. It's on the other side of the St. Johns River. I wait for the ferry Jean Ribault.

Vehicles begin loading onto the ferry at 2:43 p.m. The ferry departs at 2:50 p.m. It arrives at Mayport at 2:54 p.m. Vehicles disembark at 2:58 p.m.

Mayport has been reached. I've traveled 41.9 miles by truck. The last mile is by ferry. The trip has taken 1 hour and 13 minutes. The ferry cost $2.75.

My journalistic instincts were correct. The new District 11 would not be "compact." It's more like a hard day's drive.

And there's that word "logical" popping into my mind again. On my journey to get from one end of the new District 11 to the other, I've passed through District 12, District 10, District 8, District 7 and District 13.

Go figure.

Of course, one has to get back. Another ferry ride. More miles on the truck. It's still hot and humid.

I thank my lucky stars that I live in Avondale. Now there's a "logical" and "compact" district.

Oops.

It seems the new lines for District 14 have been redrawn to take in the Beauclerc and Scott Mill neighborhoods in Mandarin, many miles and more than one culture away from Avondale.

Short on gas money and time, I turn to the Internet to find out how long it would take to get from my house to the new part of District 14.

The answer comes back: The travel time is 37 minutes. The distance is 17 miles.

Compact.

Logical.

Yeah, right.

Email us
ArgyleACC@joimail.com

Maps and News Articles

Original Proposed Redistricting Plan 6-28-2001 Map T
Second Proposed Redistricting Map 7-18-2001 Map X
Approved Jacksonville City Council Districts 11-13-2001 FINAL
Jax City Charter - Select Frames - Search for REAPPORTIONMENT
Current Jacksonville City Council Map 1999 - 2003 Term
Times Union Articles on Redistricting - Learning Center
Bill Lewis, of the AACC, challenged the map's compactness.
David Rix of CLOA said. We would rather be in District 12 or 14.
Ron Littlepage - Words such as logical mean nothing in city redi
Ed Gamble Cartoon-