Trip to China on taxpayer money, anyone?

[spidey]

Beijing, Shanghei, and Hong Kong? Yeah, I'd love to go there. Let's see at $5250 each, double occupancy, if you're a chamber member, that would mean the City is spending $31,500 of our taxpayer money to go to China, at the same time they are wondering how they will make the budget after the next round of state cuts to property taxes. Hmmmm...what's wrong with that picture? Or did the Chamber take up a collection to pay for them to go? Has that ethics legislation regarding gifts been passed yet?

Here's the folks scheduled to go in March:

Raul Alfonso — Jacksonville Port Authority; Ron and Hilah Autrey — Miller Electric; Bob Baldwin — the Chamber; Ron Barton, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission; Charles Berman — Berman Bros, Inc.; Ed Burr and Billie Jo Burr; Walter Dickinson — Colliers Dickinson; Leila Duncan — the Chamber.
Eloise Feather — Colliers Dickinson; City Council member Art Graham; Sandy Harbison — Travel Authority; Mike Hightower — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida; City Council member Stephen Joost; Alyson Lee — Jacksonville University; Wally Lee — Chamber president; Wei-Tieng Li and Robin Li — Pappas, Metcalf, Jenks & Miller; James Love and Robin Love — State Farm Insurance; Jerry Mallot — executive vice president, economic development of Cornerstone; Suzanne Montgomery — Montgomery, Copley & Associates; Bandele Onasanya — ONAS Corporation; Mayor John Peyton and Kathryn Peyton; Guy Preston — Colliers Dickinson; Kerry Romesburg — president, Jacksonville University; Adekunle Sogbesan — Twins Mortgage. Robin Sorensen — Firehouse Subs; Michael Stewart — Jacksonville Aviation Authority; Frank Ting — Colliers Dickinson; James Tyler and Kellie Tyler — Haskell; Anna Valent — the Chamber; Alan Vinson — James Taylor Vinson Co.; Denise Wallace — BCM Services, Inc.; Steven Wallace — president, Florida Community College at Jacksonville; and Amelia Wallace — FCCJ.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showst...Story_id=49137

[jbm32206]

So why is it that they went there? It didn't really seem clear, other than they take trips like this all the time, although it's usually within our country.

[Charles Hunter]

Originally Posted by spidey

Beijing, Shanghei, and Hong Kong? Yeah, I'd love to go there. Let's see at $5250 each, double occupancy, if you're a chamber member, that would mean the City is spending $31,500 of our taxpayer money to go to China, at the same time they are wondering how they will make the budget after the next round of state cuts to property taxes. Hmmmm...what's wrong with that picture? Or did the Chamber take up a collection to pay for them to go? Has that ethics legislation regarding gifts been passed yet?

Here's the folks scheduled to go in March:



http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showst...Story_id=49137

Kind of a darned if you don't, darned if you do situation. If the City and Authorities paid for the trip - is that a wise use of tax dollars? If the Chamber paid, the trip is a "gift", and a possible ethics issue.

Originally Posted by jbm32206

So why is it that they went there? It didn't really seem clear, other than they take trips like this all the time, although it's usually within our country.

I'm sure it is to "seek new business opportunities" and the colleges are seeking new students, or to assure businesses over there that we have educational facilities here.

I guess my invitation got lost in the mail. I'm sure I could have added value to the trip.

[spidey]

It's not too late to call them and check on your invitation, Charles. They are not going until March.

[pearlstone]

I hope our next mayor really cares about our city.

[jbm32206]

And you're talking about when hell freezes over, right? :devil: Actually, it would be nice to get someone into that position who would be sincere and earnest in wanting what's best for the city and the residents.

[CS Foltz]

Just one more example of the waste of taxpayers monies without a second thought......Johnny and his boys and girls need to pack their bag's!

[Jimmy]

It looks like a lot of spouses are going. Are we on the hook for their costs too? Boy, those ethical perks just keep getting better and better!

[spidey]

Would you be surprised if you found out there were spouses who went on these trips in the past that were paid for by the City?

[Jimmy]

Not in the least. I just thought in our new spirit of ethical conduct by Jacksonville officials that such a wasteful and unethical practice would be suspended by now!