Grand Jury Report Unsealed Today - Download It Here

[Diane Melendez]

As I had posted a few days back, the Grand Jury findings will be unsealed at the Duval County Courthouse today February 4th at 4:30. The findings while not containing indictments do in fact find wrongdoing on the part of several city officials. I am wondering if the sudden appearance by the new "Ethics" official Carla Miller on this site does not directly relate to the Grand Jury findings? I am thinking it does.

[jbm32206]

I was hoping it would've been unsealed by now.....although why are they waiting until 4:30?

[Diane Melendez]

So they can present the findings with all the media and interested parties in one place and then have the thing broadcast on the 5:00 news. That would be my guess.

[rpschutt]

My guess would be so that no one could offer any alternative opinions to the media in time for the 5:00 news.

[jbm32206]

Although I've not had the chance to download and read it...it would seem that the grand jury didn't do a very good job...it's not, IMO, to worry more about wanting to give warnings as to how to follow rules and the law, as it was to act on what they found.

[Jimmy]

It's available on the web now. I'm going to dig into it for a while.

http://www.news4jax.com/download/2008/0204/15215550.pdf

[Diane Melendez]

The Grand Jury proceedings and subsequent report HAS DONE NOTHING TO INCREASE PUBLIC TRUST IN THIS GOVERNMENT OR THE PROCESS OF THE GRAND JURY ITSELF The entire thing is tantamount to a farce!

The results of the report do not come close to what would be expected after an extended Grand Jury investigation. Clearly the foreman of the jury seems predisposed to "FORGIVING AS ERROR, OUTRIGHT DECEPTIONS ON THE PART OF THIS CITIES OFFICIALS" Certainly the political connections and personal associations of the foreman have had an overt affect upon his ability to treat this situation with the gravity it was and is due. Even in the situations where violations (termed technical) were admitted, the grand jury decided not to impose so much as a $500.00 fine on the offenders.

Harry, this investigation and the resulting suggestions for better behavior is not acceptable and a slap in the face to the citizens of Jacksonville. You have recently stated that the Grand Jury is the conscience of the citizens. I beg to differ sir, the Grand Jury has infact shown itself to be at a total disconnect with the conscience of any honest man or woman.

THE ACTIONS SUGGESTED BY THE REPORT ARE NOTHING SHORT OF PANDERING AND PETTING THOSE ENGAGED IN DECEIT. NOT SO MUCH AS A TWO DOLLAR FINE. A COMPLETE INSULT. I AM ASHAMED FOR THIS CITY!!!!

[rpschutt]

Harry Shorestein is part of the power structure that has run this city for decades. He never intended to "turn on" his fellow "good ole boys." He made a dramatic announcement about the Grand Jury, arranged a PR showdown with Rick Mullaney--all the while knowing that he never intended to do a damn thing about corruption within this city. He simply needed it to look "good."

I, for one, am glad this traitorous farce of a State Attorney is on his way out. If only he'd take his friends with him.

I bet ole W.D. Childers wishes he'd settled in Duval County. Hell, he'd be eating at the River Club with the boys every day instead of serving time in the slammer.

[Diane Melendez]

I for one am furious rp. Tonight Harry was quoted as saying an indictment against someone is a very serious thing. Breaking the law and then lying about your actions is also a very serious thing to the citizens of Jacksonville. Giving our money away to buddies of other buddies outside of proper procedure is also a serious infraction. The entire tone of the report was so soft as to be laughable and sickening all at once. It was nothing short of legal drivel.

I certainly understand the burden of proof issue, however there is no reason what-so-ever that some fines should not have been levied in the cases where they felt violations were proved. The mere suggestion that these people police themselves is a joke. At the very least, some sort of outside monitoring should have been put into place to safeguard the rights of the citizens of Jacksonville. The entire thing is unseemly.

[jbm32206]

Words can't express how disappointing it is, even though it doesn't come as a surprise....all they've done is blow smoke up our you know what, and their horse and pony show is still playing!