Standing in front of a room full of seniors, former mayor Jake Godbold said he's angry at the City Council's latest recommendations for the budget.
"How in the world can a city councilman eliminate the senior citizens who have paid their dues?" Councilman Jake Godbold said. "I'm mad as hell, and I am not going to take it anymore."
Godbold's angry at recommendations by the council for threatening seniors by taking alway beloved programs like the Mayor's Older Buddies and the senior prom.
"I could not believe that I would live long enough to see a president of the City Council of Jacksonville, Florida turn his cheeks against the senior citizens and the veterans of the country," Godbold said.
As Channel 4 first reported Thursday, the finance committee did try to stop funding for the Veterans Day parade, but the council president did an about face and now said he got so many calls that private groups like the Fraternal Order of Police will pick up that funding for the popular event.
On Friday, the Allied Veterans of the World, Inc. offered to donate $40,000, then entire cost of the Veteran's Day parade, to the city of Jacksonville.
The city said earlier Friday that even if it didn't get enough money, it would pitch in.
"If it comes down to it and push comes to shove and we were short when it came up, we will absolutely help," council president Richard Clark said, "but from the outcry of the community, the business community saying, 'What can I do to help?' it is going to be fabulous."
But other events, particularly those geared to seniors, like fish fries and holiday celebrations, are still on the block.
"Those are just feel-good things," Clark said.
But if the seniors have anything say, it's going to be tough for the council president.
"People need to have these things going in their lives, and now that they don't, what are they going to do?" senior citizen Lawrence Witherspoon said. "They want us to go away and die. That's what it seems like."
Some council members are already feeling the pressure and some said there will be changes.
"It's going to take you and me to stop this kind of foolishness," Godbold said.