Columnist Nate Monroe on Mayor Lenny Curry and downtown development, social media, hiring choices, JEA and the two-term mayor's success as well as 'his greatest sin.'
Most importantly, the economy had turned in Curry's favor. Brown faced unusually lean years during which city finances shrank, requiring painful cuts and paltry infrastructure budgets. Curry, by dint of pure luck, would never know that austerity.
And in those early, heady days, Curry was intoxicated. Ever excitable, Curry seemed to genuinely marvel at the trappings of office — free tickets, the security detail, rides on theto away games — a thirst that never ebbed during his eight years in office.
Eight years hence and back here on Earth, downtown Jacksonville remains utterly recognizable, save for a few more fallow lots than when he’d started. Curry the builder turned out to be Curry the demolition man. Curry the decider turned out to be Curry the ditherer. This was not for a lack of spending. City Hall has poured enormous sums into downtown.
Under the self-assured Curry, the city squandered its most precious resource — time — and so downtown emerged from one of the most prolonged periods of economic prosperity in history with tragically little to show for it.
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