by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
New leadership was a theme at Wednesday’s meeting of The Jacksonville Bar Association as new President Michael Freed welcomed Mayor-elect Alvin Brown as the guest speaker.
Brown recognized the contributions of the legal community to Jacksonville and the part it will play in the development of Downtown.
“One of the things I believe in is Downtown. I believe we should have a vibrant Downtown,” said Brown.
Legal offices represent a sizable amount of office space Downtown, and the presence of the community will grow as the new Duval County Courthouse nears completion.
“(Today) I will be talking to the young lawyers at your ‘Noon in June’ event. It is designed to introduce law students working in Jacksonville for the summer to the Downtown area,” said Brown.
“I’m going to ask them for their help, just like I need your help. Your law offices are Downtown. You work Downtown. You believe in Downtown. Our new courthouse is Downtown,” he said.
“We deserve to have a vibrant Downtown that is thriving, that would have the best restaurants Downtown, the best movie theater Downtown, a state-of-the-art grocery store Downtown,” he said, repeating a reference to a former employer. “And I hope it’s Winn-Dixie.”
Brown also recognized the role the legal community will play in Downtown development.
He appointed several lawyers to his transition team, including Audrey Moran, Bob Spohrer, state Rep. Mike Weinstein, Neil Henrichsen and Paul Perez.
“Many thanks to the legal community for all that you do in our great city. You have been a very prominent fixture in our community over the years, investing in our community, particularly on justice,” said Brown.
“I am not talking about criminal justice. You’ve been fighting for economic justice. That says you believe in opportunity for all, no matter what side of town you live on, that if you work hard, and play by the rules, that you too will reach your God-given potential,” he said.
“You fought for social justice. That says it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, but the content of your character,” he said.
Brown explained that it will take the Jacksonville community working together to bring Downtown to “the next level.”
“Can you envision a state-of-the-art convention center Downtown? Can you envision young people working Downtown, living Downtown? We can do it. Our history says we can do it,” said Brown.
He said that in 1986, Downtown produced 17 percent of the City’s tax revenue and 65,000 people worked Downtown.
“Right now, the Downtown area generates only 3 percent of our tax revenue. Downtown needs to be a destination and you can play a major role in that,” said Brown.
Brown has talked about creat-ing a Downtown development authority.
“I want to call it the Downtown Community Empowerment corporation, having a president and CEO that would focus on Downtown,” said Brown.
He referred to “building that coalition of business leaders and civic leaders to marshal that support by working with the City Council and all the stakeholders to invest in Downtown.”
He said the coalition would spread the value about Downtown.
“Can you imagine, four years from now, all around the country, no matter where you go, the message is going to be very simple. If you want to be that great entrepreneur, Jacksonville is the place to be and you should be Downtown. If you want to be that great lawyer, Jacksonville is the place to be and you should be Downtown,” said Brown.
He talked about how a thriving Downtown would be able to keep generations of Jacksonville natives in their hometown and not leave for other cities.
“We have an opportunity to create hope and opportunity for your kids and your grandkids, so that when they graduate from the best law schools they won’t go to New York to practice law or Miami or Charlotte or D.C. They’ll come right back here. Back home to Jacksonville and a vibrant Downtown where they can practice law and grow their business,” said Brown.
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