JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Coast News is taking a closer look at where $150 million of taxpayer money could go in Jacksonville with the goal of improving lives.
Mayor Donna Deegan wants to invest in areas of the city where, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy is about 10 years lower. This includes parts of Jacksonville's Northside and Westside in Districts 8, 9 and 10.
“People want a better quality of life," said Nicole Hamm, executive director of Blue Zones Project Jacksonville.
Blue Zones Project is an organization working on some of the same goals Deegan announced in her budget proposal Monday.
“We have long struggled to keep the promises of consolidation,” Deegan said Monday.
First Coast News met with Hamm on the Westside at the community center for the organization Inspire to Rise.
“We realize 32210, which is where we're at, this is our Westside campus, there's a lot of overdoses,” said Inspire to Rise Founder Aida Seeraj.
Inspire to Rise is an example of the work people are doing to identify community needs and address them.
“There are more people making healthier choices,” Seeraj said.
Blue Zones Project is also helping create access to healthier food in these areas and food deserts. Blue Zones Project Public Policy Lead Marlo Zarka said investments addressing the danger of heat are needed.
“Where we're seeing that happening is actually in our historically under-invested communities," Zarka said. "These are communities that have less street tree cover, more concrete, wider streets. So, it's less safe for pedestrians and it's less healthy for everyone because of that, what's created that dangerous heat island index."
A heat island index refers to urban areas that are hotter than other areas.
These organizers say focusing on projects where the quality of life could use a boost will create a better quality of life for everyone in Duval County.