Lot J did not pass tonight. Mayor Curry tweeted after the vote…

“A majority of the Council voted in support of Lot J. However, the rules on this vote required a super majority of 13 votes. The vote was 12 in favor and 7 against. The legislative body spoke and unfortunately Lot J will not move forward.”

President George Washington is very proud of Danny Becton, Matt Carlucci, Randy DeFoor, Garrett Dennis, Al Ferraro, Tommy Hazouri, and Joyce Morgan. The remaining city council members would have been sent a Stink Eye by old George himself.

How did George get involved in this vote?

Earlier this evening before the vote, Lenny Curry tweeted…

“The time for workshops and speeches about our downtown’s potential has reached its precipice tonight. It’s time for vision to become reality. Believe in our future. It’s time to act. It’s time to vote. #LotJ @jaguars”

I saw his statement and was the first to comment. I simply posted this comment – a quote from George Washington…

“In his Farewell Address (1796), George Washington cautioned, “As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible.”

A few minutes later, I noticed others commenting and realized my comment had been deleted. In shock I could not believe our Mayor had just censored America’s first President — George Washington!

With all the censorship going on this week, it seems our Mayor took his lead from big tech to shut down voices of opposition. The outrage against censorship is huge and it should be because it has never been a good thing. Censorship is a tactic used throughout history. During Nazi Germany, books were burned to shut down opposing viewpoints. The burning book has now been replaced by the deleted posts of those who challenge or debate ideas.

We believe those who lead a state, a nation or a city should be mature enough to debate ideas and then sell them without shutting down voices or deleting comments who oppose them. Don’t you?

Additionally, it is illegal for elected officials to block people, hide or delete anything. Mayor Curry skirted this illegal activity by posting on his personal page — even though it was about the work he performs for the city. Nonetheless, we will not pursue legal action on behalf of our beloved first President.

George would want us to move on and let the defeat of Lot J be our win. He would however want us to keep an eye on those who hold political office and demand the first amendment remain in tact. Otherwise George reminds us that,“…if Men are to be precluded from offering their Sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of Mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of Speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter.”