Jacksonville's
quality of life remains steady, according to an annual report
released today that gauges how the city functions.
The Jacksonville Community Council Inc.'s annual study reports no
serious dips or swings among the 82 indicators measured. The
organization has done the report since 1987, using statistics and
polling.
The public is feeling at least slightly safer, the report said.
The percentage of people who felt safe in their neighborhood rose
three points to 65 percent. That comes as the total crime rate in
2000 held steady near historic lows, and a lesser share of the
community told JCCI they were crime victims.
Schools remained a trouble spot. A year after the Duval County
School Board received a 42 percent approval rating, support dropped
to 23 percent this year following the fight over contracting school
bus service. The graduation rate dipped slightly for 1999-00 (the
most recent available year).
Mayor John Delaney called the report generally good, but said it
offered a "mixed bag" for the community.
After last fall's raucous fight over the presidential election,
more people -- 55 percent -- felt racism is a problem here, up six
points from 2000. The infant mortality rate hit blacks much harder
than whites, remaining a problem.
The economy remained bright. But many of the statistics from job
creation to unemployment rate were from 2000, leaving the cobwebs of
the recession and the Sept. 11 attacks on the analysis.
David DeCamp can be reached at (904) 359-4699 or at ddecamp.
