Guest column: An open letter to Brian Kilmeade of 'Fox & Friends'

Dear Brian, 

We have not had the opportunity to be introduced. I am a Jacksonville native and four-term City Council member representing Jacksonville at-large. After returning from D.C., I read your critique of Jacksonville with great interest. 

To be sure, Jacksonville has progress to make, just like so many other cities. We’re a great city and in my humble opinion, any city that claims not to need improvement is far from great. First, you have overlooked many of Jacksonville’s best assets beginning with our people.

Jacksonville citizenry is welcoming, diverse, hardworking, talented, charitable and I could go on. We have a strong history of national figures such as James Weldon Johnson, A. Philip Randolph and others. Our city is home to an American Heritage River, the St. Johns. And I’m surprised that a resident of Ponte Vedra does not acknowledge that our region is also home to some of the finest beaches in the country. 

Our downtown is progressing steadily and continually welcomes new businesses. We also have several of the finest public and private schools in the nation. Jacksonville is a sports destination with a proud history of Olympians, college athletes, pro athletes, some of the finest golf courses and fishing opportunities in the world, AAA minor league baseball, professional soccer, a hockey team and our NFL franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars.  

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In addition to investing hundreds of millions of dollars in older, more vulnerable neighborhoods, we are investing in infrastructure at a rate faster than most cities our size and remain one of the fastest growing cities in the country. People are not moving here because of thoughtless criticism, like yours, even if it is broadcast nationally on Fox & Friends. People from around the nation and the world are moving here for quality of life and the many incredible amenities found here in Jacksonville.  

I could go on and on listing what makes this city unique, including a world class medical community, dining districts that continue to produce new franchises, universities attracting students from around the world and across the U.S., etc. I guess it doesn’t take much courage to sit behind a desk and heap criticism in front of a camera and to an audience that has little opportunity to respond.

Maybe that’s why I don’t watch Fox & Friends. I’ll close by saying that the truly courageous are those with their feet on the ground in Jacksonville who work hard every day to help this incredible city reach its great potential. 

Feel free to call, text or email me. I welcome a civil conversation with you about our great river city. 

Respectfully, Jacksonville City Council Member Matt Carlucci, At-Large, Group 4