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Public commenters press JEDO on spending priorities and AI readiness
Summary
Two public commenters criticized JEDO’s spending priorities — one objected to public support for Link — and another urged revisiting past economic plans, expanding minority/women business support and commissioning an AI readiness assessment.
Two members of the public addressed the JEDO board during public comment on Dec. 10, raising concerns about priorities and future planning.
Henry McClure criticized what he described as JEDO’s shift toward chamber-backed projects and said taxpayers should not finance certain projects. In his remarks McClure said: "You just give a 9,500,000.0 to link. Are you kidding me?" He also asserted, without corroboration in the meeting record, that "You've spent 125,000,000." Those figures were raised as public opinion and were not documented or confirmed by staff during the meeting.
A second speaker (unnamed in the transcript) urged the board to review historical economic-development plans and called for stronger emphasis on minority and women business development and trades training. That commenter recommended JEDO and local partners consider an AI readiness assessment to coordinate training, partners and needs across public and private stakeholders.
The board did not take action on either public comment during the meeting; both comments were recorded as part of the public-record minutes.
