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A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2017

As we reported last week, the city of Jacksonville is working toward creating a “central receiving facility” for mental health issues. The good news: the city has secured a $15 million grant from the state of Florida. The bad news: the $7.5 million needed, as a local match has been slow in coming. All told, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2017

Friday saw Jacksonville’s stakeholders convene at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday breakfast. The second of these breakfasts for Mayor Lenny Curry, his prepared remarks were focused on service. However, the city is working through a number of active civil rights issues. Among them: expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance to include LGBT people, and a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 13, 2017

A letter from the city of Jacksonville’s Office of Economic Development to the family business of Councilwoman Katrina Brown demanded repayment for economic incentive money that didn’t create jobs. On Jan. 5, a Certified Letter was sent from OED to CoWealth, LLC, noting that the city received the “required annual surveys” for 2012 to 2015, in which […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 12, 2017

A former Northeast Florida state legislator and his wife who failed in running to succeed him face state ethics commission hearings on Jan 27. Former Rep. Charles Van Zant and his wife Katherine each face separate hearings covering the same material. The ethics complaints against the former state representative and his wife involve failure to […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 12, 2017

Northeast Florida lawmakers continue to make their push for bringing F-35 jets to Jacksonville, reports the Jacksonville Business Journal. The laudatory comments about the fighter jets, which would be housed at the National Guard hangar at the Jacksonville International Airport, were made in the Florida Senate’s Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2017

On Wednesday morning, the city of Jacksonville enhanced its pension/benefits offer to the police union. Wednesday afternoon saw a similar conversation with the fire union. Just as with the police union negotiations, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry was on hand at the fire union. The tone was more genial, with Curry and Wyse joking about some matters ahead […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2017

The city of Jacksonville and its police union resumed collective bargaining for the first time since November on Tuesday, with the sides starting far apart. The daylight between labor and management was significant as last year closed. There’s less daylight after the Wednesday session. The city made an improved offer, one which offers a bigger city […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

After an agenda full of bills that met little opposition in committees, the Jacksonville City Council turned its attention Tuesday evening to a familiar question: the HRO, which was up on first read with a planned vote on Valentine’s Day. For the third time in five years, Jacksonville legislators heard pros and cons of expanding […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

United States Rep. Al Lawson announced Tuesday his appointment to the Agriculture Committee, a key assignment for his largely rural North Florida district. “Agriculture is a more than $120 billion industry in Florida and one of the strongest pillars of our state’s economy supporting more than 2 million jobs,” said Lawson. “I am pleased to serve on […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

An “equal opportunity” bill introduced to the Jacksonville City Council by Garrett Dennis picked up momentum Tuesday, with a half dozen councilmembers and stakeholders attending a public notice meeting to discuss it. Dennis framed this bill as an attempt to ensure city agencies and independent authorities to “cast a broader net” in their hiring process. “This […]

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SeaWorld Orlando faces millions in overdue licensing fees.

More details emerge on Jacksonville ‘central receiving center’ proposal for mental health

The “long game” of the civil rights struggle looms over Jacksonville MLK breakfast

City of Jacksonville to council woman’s business: pay up the $210K you owe us

Former Rep. Charles Van Zant and wife to face state ethics commission in January

Northeast Florida lawmakers continue to advocate for F-35s in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, fire union make conceptual progress in pension reform talks

Lenny Curry sweetens pension offer to Jacksonville police, gives 30 days to respond

HRO reboot dominates Jacksonville City Council meeting

Al Lawson appointed to Agriculture committee

Jacksonville equal opportunity ordinance picks up momentum