Pastor Al Barlow: Does Jacksonville need an amoral mayor who won't address homelessness?

This important question is before us as we elect the next mayor on May 16. It presented itself in the April 19 edition of the Times-Union in an article depicting how Jacksonville mayoral candidates differ on solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

A crisis is defined as a “condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.” Accordingly, the lack of affordable housing is very dangerous for the health, safety and welfare of our poorest citizens.

It was for this cause that our City Council president commissioned the Critical Quality of Life Issues Committee to study health care, affordable housing and homelessness to devise practical solutions to solve these chronic problems in our community. “Critical” and “crisis” are synonyms, which means many of Jacksonville’s poorest citizens are in danger of sickness, disease and death if our elected officials fail to address these issues.

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After having consulted subject matter experts from Miami to Washington, the committee made specific recommendations. Without question, homelessness is one of Jacksonville’s most pressing problems. The idea of “affordable” housing is generally for those who work but can’t afford a decent place to live. In contrast, homeless people can’t afford any housing at all, which has nothing to do with “affordable” or “workforce” housing.” These are completely different problems.

Working people who can’t afford decent housing can ultimately fall into homelessness.

According to the article, candidate Donna Deegan had read the report in its entirety, but her opponent, Daniel Davis, did not say whether he read it or not. This is what I call noodle-armed politics — he either read the report and was too afraid to articulate his true opinion or he didn’t read it at all. If not, could it be because he couldn’t care any less about helping the poor (as his track record of making the rich richer on the backs of taxpayers so plainly reveals)?

The definition of amoral is “having no moral standards, restraints or principles; unaware of or indifferent to questions of right or wrong.” Mr. Davis’ refusal to answer such an important question demonstrates he is an amoral person and therefore unqualified to serve as mayor. His campaign platform has absolutely nothing in it for the poor and homeless but is heavy on pork for wealthy people and corporations.

Despite polling that demonstrates the vast majority of Jacksonville voters and taxpayers want these issues resolved, Davis is apparently too cowardly to answer such a critically important question. This is the kind of political maneuvering we’re getting from someone who wants the public to trust him to lead a city of more than 1 million people that generates an annual budget of $1 billion to $2 billion.

Do we really want a weak, amoral mayor who doesn’t have the courage to tell voters his true position on how he would address health care, affordable housing and homelessness?

A. Wellington “Al” Barlow, Jacksonville

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Homelessness, health care among moral issues candidates must address