20260623 CM Carlucci & CM Johnson Noticed Meeting on Renaming Opportunities

20260623 CM Carlucci & CM Johnson Noticed Meeting on Renaming Opportunities — Jun 23, 2026

all right. We all start. And so, Liz, it's a 2.35. And it's a Tuesday June 23rd and it's just a sunshine meeting. We have a high school student here with us today. >> And the measure and Corey measure it. >> Wilson High School. She was one of those that came up during the meeting. We had fighting for the AP and IB courses and they thought maybe it is the first and then we came back in the them in the 6. So use minute gavel and you call us toward Earth. So let's go around the thing here and introduce each other. >> Thank you, Councilmember and thanks for indulging meals Over K J says a few minutes behind schedule wreck on Johnson District, 14 coupon District 6. >> And Matt Carlucci had large crew for and anybody ends with city out there that we need to introduce if you stand up. >> And the 2. >> The the West section of. Okay. Okay. So I would sign off on your thing today. Is that what you can? >> It's a a. >> Thank you. Jeremy. Thank you. To the work is done. Thanks for being here in the midst of. >> And so it's it's a issues to come to use. Ebitda doesn't like this anymore at all. You see are you with us? You with the city u N do it. Okay. All right. Let's move out. >> And then was that we have some nice EAS. I have my CA here. Corey. There's Andrew back there and is that not Bakri on a gray and yeah, okay. Yeah. I don't see is good. Distance wise is a is to other 23 years ago had that we call that surgery that for your eyes glaze or and lasik surgery. So I can see good distance. And I was the eye doctor. And she said you're going back to your old statement is and where you can see that good and at length. But you can see better up front now. So I'm like well, to put a moat reading glasses and they don't really work. So good anymore. Trust me when I had. >> Even though I'm not your number, my my little higher number. Those things that have to be to counting up there, Bill. Yeah, it's amazing, Bill. Come on. Come on up here. We have to enter. He's in the back and that won't you. Come on up here, Joe. That's here. Invited you up here to the day come all ye. Feels like I don't need to be a furious you that we like seeing you guys are not used to be invited. >> Yeah. >> We'll have Bill Delaney, right, right. >> And have you okay. And so into the guests that are here. Thank you for coming. And so I have a list of priorities here. But really the. >> The one that I want to talk about is my friend Warren Jones. And and then in the reason I wanted you here was because of that and I had gone over a number of thoughts about what to do with with Warren and for those of you who don't know, Warren Jones who are facing talk about, well, rock to not know Warren Jones for a long, long time. >> I say Rockman Council movies that you've known me since I was a child. You I'm Lourdes start. You know, Doctor vision of a on on that, Sir, Santa. All I am is just, you know, how some cars and the just a lowly, humble, lovable State Farm agent. But. >> But Warren Jones has been a dear friend of mine and I I served with him going back to when he and I we're 30 under 30 Eason back in 1987. He has served on the council longer than anybody else in the history of consolidated and the total of 28 years he was council president 2 times. I have seen him city business under the most intense struggles situations and with such grace and dignity did lose his temper like a candidate is a Senate tie in coming out in the b***. The is just it's just one of the great statesman in Jacksonville. He's one humanitarian award and he went on to serve for the school board. Only cause got recruited. He served there 8 years, one years, chairman. So I I am want to name something after him. So has Rockland County Council member and Johnson and so we did we we named a baseball come we will enable park after him. But but anyway, he didn't want to park in the afternoon. So but there's a baseball complex that is within the park and Hammond part that we named after him. We're fixin to. But I got to thinking I first I had thought maybe the chamber. I would be a good place to today, Matt for warm. But I tried that one time before with another council member and it stirred up a lot of controversy. A lot of Councilmembers felt there should be no body ever named after the chant. The chamber should never be named after anybody. And. >> Well, Bob of love. >> And then he came to me that. >> Wall of the chambers as a wall with all these pictures check there and the but >> I'm sure some people figure out that's council president's, but it doesn't say anything about this where the council president's are, who they are. So I thought we should name that back wall by ordinance, the warning Jones Wall of Council presidents and that there should be a plaque in the end. That should be his name to warn a Jones Wall Council president should be on top of all the names. And then on the left side. So some sort of a that gives a good bit of history on him. And I'll so I I have a just a tentative ordinance is being put together because I didn't know whether the idea would go would would would be exceptions or not. But I will say I had a meeting with the council president and I asked him if he would join me and that legislation and I was very happy to say the city would. It's a well. So this is one of the person that I can't go forward with the with this legislation into law have another meeting with Councilman Johnson because and he's he's very, very close. And I would never allow myself to do that. And so this is part of this meeting is for you. And and also I asked council member Michael Boylan to be here because I know you're close to Councilman Gems that you might we're going to be a coincidence or a bit. And and so I just I would and then also in the legislation, the legislation also have in there and in the event that the wall was ever moved or if city the city hall ever became out of my lifetime. But some other the time 2 small it is or the it got moved to a different location that there would always be a wall of presidents and it would always be called Warren Jones Wall of Council presidents so that it would be a wall in perpetuity. And so I would hope that up to my friends here on the council and the for discussion the sea, which I think about him. >> I'll start first of all. Thank you. I am it. Does my heart good? I have to say from the beginning, I think you you may or may not remember this. Warren Jones and my mother kindergarten classmates together. They so I've never really known him for ever. And when it came to my life, I remember cool Uncle Warren is it? His parents and my grandparents were social together is well. So our families were intergenerational, the connected and the reason just to add some context as well, the baseball complex was named after him. Warren is probably besides Joe injuries and I say that jokingly but Ward is probably one of the most statistically factual individuals when it comes to comes to baseball that I've ever known, he can rattle off facts and statistics about baseball from, you know, because you've been around him bill from forever ago and and you can Google it and Warren is right, not it's uncanny how well he knows it. And he also coached his son into the major leagues. So this is certainly an honor that is befitting of him. And I must say he is the only person to have served to back-to-back consecutive terms full consecutive terms as council president. There was one that was to turn the heat and finished a second term. Warren is the only one that has been to terms consecutively unfinished both terms and he's the only member that will ever be unless term limits change. And I know that's not going to happen. But unless that changes, there will never be another a member of council that serves as long as Warren Jones. So I have to say, and in that same voice when I talked to him, I am so honored to be able to count him and Denise Lee amongst family friends and people in toward me. And I hope that Denise is looking down and Betty and all those others. But and I'm doing at least what they think is a good job. But I'm able to hear it from Warren and and Vanessa it by proxy. And when I'm not doing a good job, my phone will ring in my text messages will fly. So I'm thankful for that. Someone put that out there. Let me say I think it's a great idea. And I will certainly I think, well, I do want to support it. Let me tell you, my hesitation. As I said earlier, there's never been a council president from any party race, an individual that will serve as long as Warren Jones. There has never been a person, as I said, that he's had 2 consecutive presidencies and I hope maybe someone will break the record has not happened yet. I believe that there is a grander bigger thing like the chamber. That's and I obviously I was not on the council at the time. But like any curious Jackson billion. I watched the debate as they tried to rename the chamber for a man who I've known since I was about 10 years old. Pictures in my office is a 10 year-old on the 14th Floor Bay Street. And that was time, Missouri, who I counted as a friend, a mentor to the day he died. I think it's a little bit different. Tommy does not did not Councilmember Summer Council. You know, president and school board chair a school board member has or II did not have the same large S as did Warren. So there may have been some trepidation, especially with the while. We do still want to honor his memory. I'm there. He was a a recent serving member, a cut. In fact, we passed away. He was a current elected member of this council. I think because of that, there may have been some trepidation because it was a too soon thing. I'm glad we did mean something for him. But I think while I do appreciate the wall, I believe that Warren's largess is even greater than just the wall. I believe that the chamber itself, the others who I believe, you know, I'm I'm honored to have minute hilly. Well, you everybody has their thoughts about her, but I knew her well, I'm honored to have her park in my district. I want something to be named for Dennis who you served with. I want something they're, you know, find these things so we can placemaking let people know who are the people that made Jacksonville great. But I believe if we're going to name something while the wall is powerful in such a symbolic moment, there will never be another person in modern recorded history that will do the things that warranted. I think we can do better and that's why I hope I would be willing to take another stab at the chamber. While I do understand having to waive the rules and obviously with someone that is still with us and we're thankful want to keep him here as long as we can. I just don't want to lose the opportunity to name something for him that is befitting of his stature and purpose on this body. And I think the wall is amazing. And if I need to, I will support it. But I hope we can find something that's even that is can grew it with his largess. Leave it there. Okay. So that you hear. >> The other thing that a lot of those live like that, that you share the times and fight that. I know that the Michael go just said about. >> I wanted you to be here because you are the other person I wanted to be here because I know how much you look up to Councilmember Warren Jones as a mentor and how close you are to him in a neighbor. >> And a neighbor. And by the way, I had to fight. I had to force this upon Warren Jones. I mean, I just can't force it on him. But what I was talking about, the idea of the back wall in the chambers, you got all the pictures of the council presidence, but maybe not everybody would pick up on those people are, you know, my idea was to name that wall, Warren Jones, Wall of council presidents, and that would be letters above the pictures. And then there would be a plaque on that side talking about just who or nay Jones was or is that, you know? Yeah. And so I wanted to get your thoughts on that. And so, Michael, you had your hand up. I just want to explain to tired of us are a little or a council member. Mary, what we were if the time, OK, you know, let me just take it. >> An off-road just for a quick second. Very first Bill. I introduced as a rookie councilmember. That's the renaming of a park. An orange picker road to the Walter and his memorial Park. Well to his son was a postal employee who owned a piece of property. The park was named after a prominent citizens of our community. But it was Walter who purchased this property. So young black males in our community had a place to play baseball because it could put up or 2. And so on councilmember cooker it, you might recall the night that was a very first Bill I introduced. And so I was proud as a peacock. One that flew through the council pretty pretty comfortably until a constituent called me and told me to put my zipper up. But the >> the noble a time when they get us and like the place trying to make. I think it's great that we have an opportunity to recognize prominent folks like war and particularly people of color in our community, not clever or you miss Denise Lee and the countless others who thinks I agree. But I have to respectfully disagree with counsel or Johnson. With respect to the conversation about naming the chamber. I'm a firm believer as we talked about this and it really wasn't about it was cut because it was for Tommy. I think the most compelling comments that I've heard and I and I shared was that the chamber belongs to the citizens. It belongs to the people into putting a name on. It didn't seemed appropriate to me. And I don't think I could I would not support that just so that, you know, the idea of naming the wall because of his history because of what he has contributed beyond his time as a service on council to have the only council member whose name is prominently in permanently mounted in the chamber, I think serves tourism well and serves his history and his contribution. Well, and I would limit it to that. So with all due respect, I'd love the opportunity. Midland Lee Co introduced this bill but could not support something that changed the name of the chamber that belongs to the citizens of Jacksonville. >> Before I have a question councilmember and this may be procedures, we have anybody from AJC here. You know, I know you see folks. So councilmember, nobody. Okay. A quick question for you. Is it necessary? And I understand we're Senate obviously disagree. And I have my rationale for wind up think it is rooted in the reality of where we are now, but certainly get to that. My question, however, is, does this take legislation, couldn't this couldn't council president just an act that because one of the reasons that I do that I have a problem with that is before I go to call a thing of thing before there was humor. Could Lynwood Roberts all the names of these rooms. There was nothing in this building named for any black people. I'll be honest. I had a problem with that as an African-American person who knew the sacrifices and struggles, everybody from Sally Mathis, Mary Singleton, obvious people were there. There was nothing when I walked in this that I saw anything for anybody that looked like me. I didn't feel good. Fortunately, I was able to go to the mayor's office. Thank you, Madam Aaron, to the team that was there and we were able to name the conference room in the mayor's office for Naomi Glover, which was a part of that. That was an idea I had. And I'm so glad that we were able to get that done back to this. Similarly to that, that did not require legislation just like I don't think Bob Greene or these rooms required to do we need. That's my question. Well, the rooms did require legislation and they require to do we do it. That's my question because I know we did. It didn't require. That's my question. So maybe maybe a legal question. And my answer to that, I believe the required it. >> And I and I'm saying is that you feel about? We've got 3 conference rooms named after council members and I did one of them that was going to cook it, which is not the reason that I'm colleagues do warn Joneses. >> On the wall. >> But I do believe it is. It is a nice contrast to have warned on that back wall in a way that I think it will be the way that more people will see it. I believe this important it will be important part of history at City Hall. That was the back there. Also to have a narrative, Warren Jones on that back wall. And that's why I put into the just the very beginnings of a bill new city hall there ever is. That will have a wall of the council. Presidence will always be named it want Jones. Well, council presence his 4th and I want to go Tyrone and get your thoughts if you if you would like, OK, thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Matt. I appreciate that. I really thought rather than you need about the bill that you that's going to be introduced to council to to date. So I am blind sided by this, which bill introduced the couple that the street name King and recent and distant. And that's what I thought, you know that. >> I see. So that was it. >> Got smacked by this. So I really don't. And just taking it all in. Okay. And I'm sure I will advise this and have an opinion and then only do that. >> The the one thing that don't want and that is any bill naming Warne after anything, Tommy, whoever that would generate in an unanimous vote, any kind of a the controversy. And I and I don't want really a competing bill. So so I think what I'd like to do is of prepare this bill to be introduced after the holiday in July. And that would give you both a chance to decide if you want to because sponsor. And if you all, if you want to schedule some sunshine meetings with some that, you know, want to talk about the chambers. Listen, I I would never make a fuss over that either. But I've been down that road. I heard everything and the other. And the other thing that I have to say, I was good cause. I really thought about that in that direction. And so I called the hosiery family the thought. Well, there may be some hope that they had. That may be one day. Somebody will return to that idea as so. I doubt Lee spoke with the Missouri family about that. And anyway, I just and they were okay with it going for with with Warren's name. But I I just felt there was maybe some it. There were some hurt over that. I'm still say like that there was some hurt him in the way that that was handled in a V a hey, you know, I I charged into that with me because I wanted Tommy to still be with us with that with past, perhaps and the opposition from some council members of I never would have believed what would have opposed in the way they oppose that. I I you know, I just was astounded and it but there were other people who opposed it for the reasons that Mr. A council member board posed. I just did more to launch into that. And what I thought of this, it just sounded like it just felt right. And I felt it's so I told Warren when I was talking to warn about and trying to talk him into it. I said Warren, I said, look, put yourself aside for this for a second. This is important to Jackson's history because years down the road people need to know there was a gentleman named Warren Jones's served 28 years on the city council. He was a black man. He at the time was a trailblazing black man and he was the first black man to serve a full term as council president. And then he wound up serving consecutive second term. And I have a great story to tell about that one day for anybody that wants to hear. But but I said if this is history, it's an important piece of history that needs to be remembered needs be told. We got 3 conference rooms of which I contributed to. One of them that are named after some very distinguished why council members. And but I said, I think this is bigger than that. It's just the way I feel about it. So look, you all take the next weeks and I will get with tell you turned 70. This is awful. And I we looked like you returns. There will be. All right. We'll talk with. Thank you. God bless you, counsel. We'll talk with the yeah. And I will ask her to put the bill together with new names before I can post introducing. I mean, I really would like, you know, for the 2 of you all have a opportunity and in the calendar, by the way, you were here when I mention this. But I met with Nick Allen on it. I want to make sure I had his support and then I wouldn't get any objection, you know, doing this one. And I have to tell you, he was it was very quick to say that he want to be a part of that offered to put his name as a coincidence or met. I thank you for this and thank you for honoring him. I just want you to think about this. Not everybody goes into the chamber. >> So if using the ring that you've given that you want people to know 100 years from now that Warren Jones served in a black man was, you know, you've been in my office, you know, I keep World Johnson's or that the first black man to be the president of the Jackson City Council Johnson, who is no relation, by the way, which she was. But his pictures up in my office as was a picture that was given to me about one of the most brilliant council members on the council. Matt Carlucci with the first Jacksonville City Council include Saleem at this very Singleton and Austin Taylor and Earl Johnson. If no one enters the chamber, no one sees one Anthony Jones on the law. >> And I just wanted you to just think about if the the that hablo of walking into this building because sometimes people need to walk in for veteran services things or for things that may not concern legislation and they may never go into the people's chamber. It is the people's chamber. But what I kind of push back against what was said earlier is dead. Warren Anthony Jones is one of the people he is in belongs to the people fully having to sacrifice times with Michael, his son and Vanessa, his wife to give to Jacksonville before we had the technology to do today. Warren is why learn from it? He would be in his office to 3 o'clock in the morning working on legislation without the aid of the technology we have today. And while I certainly I'm going to give every bit of effort I can to to champion whatever we do to honor him anytime I get a chance to speak his name just like Matt Glover. I'm going to do it. But I also want to make sure that when we do it, it is done in a way and I use the word largest, not lightly, but it is done in a way that can grow it with what he brings to the table and I get a wall get accent. It's a wall of honor, but I think he is the statue of what he did. We can do more. >> Y'all think it over sure. And and let me just say, if we do want to go on in this direction, you will love the plans for the wall that I have. And people won't business OK? Just a little that looks. >> We're not finished with the meeting at can we funds for the meantime? >> We we this other stuff to the unlikely to. We don't like to speak to us. I have of the stuff on here by a question. I had some I want to share to and it's only but after 3. So I don't really need to talk about any more than 6. I will say if you want to ask me some questions about the Goble, we can talk about that now because we're not restricting the night of this. Yes, thank you. So I have simply. >> But the summary want to give you a little more insight into. I'm not saying this, doctor. >> One side. So the Goethals some of the sweetest people there are and the sons and a daughter and stuff I would consider naming a section of street where there's no addresses, you know, on the street name that go full way. Their father Dr Goebbels event. Myriad in on the West Side 30 some odd years long time. He also I'm not sure if he was no limp in or if the he he had some pretty large achieves Korey dean of the the achievements that he had. >> So I see Dr Johnson shaking his head. He must know some of the history