In this post I want to talk about the top five issues in Jacksonville Alabama before the Municipal elections. These five issues I feel like are the top problems facing Jacksonville currently in 2025.
1: Jacksonville’s Hospital Problem
It’s disturbing that Jacksonville still does not have a hospital that is open. Several years ago the current hospital in Jacksonville was sold off to RMC and then they closed it down. And for a city of 14,000 people, not having a hospital is very concerning.
It’s also very concerning for the students that go to Jacksonville State University. Let’s say a football player gets severely injured during the game. Not having a nearby hospital means life or death for that player. Or for anyone who has a serious medical emergency. You currently have to go to either Anniston or Gadsden for emergency care. And that takes 15 to 30 minutes, meaning that a medical emergency could result in someone’s death.
Jacksonville must have a hospital or emergency care facility. I cannot imagine someone suffering a major medical emergency and passing away because Jacksonville Alabama still does not have a hospital in 2025. And sadly, I am sure several people have passed away since the hospital in Jacksonville closed down because they could not get to emergency care fast enough.
2: Jacksonville’s Old Mill Problem
On the west side of Jacksonville next to the community center is the Old Profile Cotton Mill. The city council in Jacksonville recently voted to tear down the entire facility. And this decision has angered quite a few people. I know of several people who were planning to renovate The Old Mill using tax credits to create housing in Jacksonville that is desperately needed for the growing university population.
But nope, let’s just tear it down and do nothing I guess. The old cotton mill would have created much needed housing in Jacksonville with a lot of character. And I think this was a short-sighted move by the Jacksonville City Council. If you have noticed, old facilities and buildings are all the rage right now.
You see communities all throughout the world who preserve and upkeep old buildings and facilities. But it seems like the City of Jacksonville only cares about new stuff and not preserving historical facilities. Is that also why the City of Jacksonville does not care about the old Eastwood school? I would think so!
3: Jacksonville’s Jobs Problem
It seems like the City of Jacksonville only cares about attracting jobs that are low-wage. From low-wage retail and restaurant jobs, to outrageously low-wage jobs inside the Jacksonville State University campus. Jacksonville does not have much industry inside the city. And the city has lost several industry jobs in the past few years.
Any city cannot survive on just low-wage jobs. There are many people who live in Jacksonville and have to commute to Anniston or Gadsden for better paying jobs. Would it be nice if Jacksonville would have a lot of the higher paying jobs that you see in Anniston or Gadsden? It would be very nice! But it seems like the City of Jacksonville officials just don’t care. Am I right?
4: Jacksonville’s Public Square Problem
The City of Jacksonville has a crown jewel, the downtown Public Square. It’s a beautiful place in Jacksonville. But if you go to the Public Square today, you will be let down by the numerous empty buildings all throughout the area.
I could go into detail about why the Public Square is struggling like it is right now. But let’s get one thing straight, every city must have a vibrant downtown where mostly every building is occupied with a local business. And Jacksonville cannot say that right now.
The City of Jacksonville needs to do a better job to make the Public Square a more vibrant place. And step one is to get every empty building occupied with a local small business. We have seen several restaurants and shops close down in the Public Square lately. What that tells you is people are not coming to the Public Square to shop or eat.
Jacksonville needs to do a better job in marketing the Public Square and the businesses that occupy it. It does not make much sense because you have many people that live in Jacksonville or are attending school at Jacksonville State University. It seems like city of Jacksonville officials are throwing up their hands up in the air like Beyoncé and just not caring.
5: Jacksonville’s Retail Problem
I find this weird for Jacksonville. For a city of 14,000 people, plus the surrounding area, ]and the students that attend Jacksonville State University. Why are there only two grocery stores in Jacksonville? Just up the road in Piedmont, they also have two grocery stores. But their population is way smaller than Jacksonville.
It seems like Jacksonville has built much of their city offices around Walmart. And yes I’m saying it. It seems like the City of Jacksonville officials are on their knees and hailing Walmart as their King. I find it very short-sighted that Jacksonville has built their most important city facilities in one small area around Walmart.
Because let’s face it, a weather disaster could happen like a tornado like it did recently. And that tornado could wipe out all the city facilities in Jacksonville, and Jacksonville would be screwed.
Jacksonville needs a better variety of retail and restaurants than it has now. I find it odd that Jacksonville has not tried to recruit another grocery store to the city, especially an Aldi. A store like Aldi would do very well in Jacksonville given the student university population nearby.
But it’s not just grocery stores, it feels like Jacksonville is only caring about dollar stores, because there are a lot of dollar stores in Jacksonville.
People living in Jacksonville or attending the University pretty much have to go to either Oxford or Gadsden to do much of their shopping. Would it be nice if some of those shopping options were in Jacksonville instead? Giving Jacksonville much needed tax revenue for the city? That would be nice!
But I guess city officials in Jacksonville have given up and only care about Walmart and Dollar Stores. And fast food joints for eating out mostly.
Jacksonville Alabama will be electing a new mayor in the 2025 Municipal elections. I hope the new mayor of Jacksonville will do a great job. Because Jacksonville needs better leadership!
Categories: Politics Talk Stuff
