Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is a city located in Duval County, Florida, USA. It is the county seat of Duval County {{GR|6}}. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 777,704 .

Current issues

Some issues the city deals with today include how to fix the school system (including violence on school buses), solving transportation problems create by the explosive growth Jacksonville has undergone since the 1990s, and certain realities that come with having pond scum for neighbors. An intiative called The Better Jacksonville Plan was developed and approved by voters to address issues brought about by this rapid growth, and drive to host the Super Bowl. Jacksonville also faces a double-edged sword of development. While the population increases, the city is forced to deal with maintaining an infrastructure that keeps up with this growth. Roads are increasingly clogged with more cars and public schools are crowded with more students. The city is struggling to keep a balance between traditionally lower taxes and accommodating its rising population.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Also, Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 presented a host of problems and challenges for the Jacksonville area. Many of the current transportation issues revolved around this event, and many services, such as the Jacksonville monorail system known as the Skyway, have been underutilized for many years. The Skyway, specifically, has been criticized in that it goes from "nowhere to nowhere" in its limited route.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~