A.G. Gancarski
A temporary setback for the movement to expand the Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville was revealed Saturday, when Tommy Hazouri announced his decision to withdraw his bill… for now.
Hazouri confirmed, in a conversation Saturday, that the bill will be back sooner than later.
Hazouri’s decision, according to those familiar with his thinking, was driven by a number of factors.
One of which being that Council simply wasn’t ready to consider the bill as it actually was; many seemed to see it as a “bathroom bill,” and notable in its absence was open support from those on Council who campaigned as in favor of HRO expansion.
Another factor: the strong rumors that another withdrawal motion was to happen at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Whereas Council President in waiting Lori Boyer attempted to withdraw the bill at the previous meeting, there was thought that another Council member (perhaps a district Councilman or woman looking to get in good with leadership), would make the motion on Thursday.
Still another factor: the tepid reaction from the business community, including the Chamber and the Civic Council, in response to the procedural drama that characterized the previous Committee of the Whole meeting.
The extent to which such moves are in concert with the desires of the mayor’s office on this bill is an open question. Boyer said she arrived at the withdrawal position without any urging from the mayor’s office, though she did communicate her intent to do such to them ahead of the committee of the whole.
The bill could resurface this spring, after the deadline to move forth for a ballot measure on HRO expansion, something the religious right has expressed interest in doing to “send a message” and tank the HRO expansion for the foreseeable future. Or it could resurface after the November elections, when the partisan cauldron will be turned from full boil to slow simmer.
In the meantime, Hazouri hopes that Council will become better educated on the issues the bill is trying to address, say sources close to him.
Below, a statement from Hazouri:
Today, I requested that Council President Greg Anderson give me the opportunity at the next Committee of the Whole Meeting on Thursday, February 16th to withdraw Bill 2016-002 that would expand our current Human Rights Ordinance to include the LGBT community.
Over the past few months, I have held several sunshine meetings with my colleagues, heard from hundreds of concerns citizens, and tirelessly studied this very important issue. As a result, I have come to the decision that at this time, the City Council and many citizens of Jacksonville still have sincere questions and are not ready to move forward on this issue.
Since my campaign for election to the City Council, I have vigorously supported amending our current Human Rights Ordinance to include all of Jacksonville’s citizens. I believe that passing this legislation, 2016-002, is imperative if we are truly to be One City—One Jacksonville. It defines who we are as a city—a city that is inclusive and competitive. Today, we are stuck in the past, frozen in time, when it comes to human rights.
Mayor Curry should be commended for wanting to move forward on this issue by ordering a departmental directive—an Executive Order, to make certain that we have a nondiscrimination policy including the LGBT community for all City employees, and vendors who do business with the city. Clearly, however, this directive, while a step forward, does not go far enough
Passing Bill 2016-002 is vital if we are to move our city forward.
This bill and this issue is coming back.
I plan to take the next several months to continue working with the office of the General Counsel, further addressing the bill’s effect on small businesses, religious organizations and public accommodations. It is also critical that we make certain that the public understands that this is not a “bathroom bill.”
I want to thank my fellow co-sponsors Aaron Bowman and Jim Love, for their courageous leadership on this issue. It is my hope and expectation that when we do re-introduce this bill, that other Council Members, too, will lead on this issue that is holding Jacksonville back from being the great city we all know it can be.
We reached out to Council President Greg Anderson; Anderson supported Boyer’s withdrawal motion in committee, but he told us that he was “surprised” by the news, and his plan had been “to carry forward with the HRO meetings, and was going to release an agenda” on Tuesday.
The mayor’s office, Anderson said, has been “kind of quiet” about the process and the bills and did not lobby him on it.
Anderson “will afford Councilman Hazouri the opportunity to share his thoughts,” and is interested in finding out more about why Hazouri decided as he did.
We have reached out to Council VP Boyer and Mayor Lenny Curry for thoughts on this also. Check back for updates.
We know this: Bill Gulliford will withdraw his referendum bill, as Nate Monroe of the T-U tweeted.
If things go as they’re looking, this issue hangs in suspended animation for the time being.
