Peter Schorsch
One of the most undercovered, yet indispensable, parts of the fiscal year in Jacksonville: The Mayor’s Budget Review Committee, which is a misnomer, as one never actually sees the Mayor in the room.
If the posted schedule is correct, that committee wraps Wednesday, with a “clean up” session slated for next Tuesday afternoon to resolve any issues left hanging.
Who you see instead: CFO Mike Weinstein, Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart, and Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa, along with department heads and others making the case for their departments’ continued operation.
When Lenny Curry brought aboard that triumvirate a year ago, expectations were that business would return to the way it was conducted under the John Delaney and John Peyton administrations.
For the most part, that has been true. But the pressures on the current administration’s budget process are “sui generis.”
The issue the Curry budget team deals with is one of deferred maintenance and understaffing, in department after department.
The Sheriff’s Office, for example, will see a $17 million hike year over year … an exception to the “flat” budgets elsewhere, as city leaders wait for the resolution of the Aug. 30 pension tax referendum.
A caveat to that $17 million: $9.3 million related to pension costs. TASERs are end of life; so is the computer-aided dispatch system.
And, oh yeah, the JSO may have a helicopter dating back to the Vietnam era … or, to put it another way, around the time Sheriff Mike Williams was playing cops and robbers at recess.
One place to make hard choices: the Capital Improvement Projects budget, a priority of new Council President Lori Boyer, who wants the budget to be a meaningful five-year plan of staged commitments and not a year of hard commitments and speculative out years.
“It’s a decision about borrowing,” Boyer told FloridaPolitics.com last month, one predicated on questions of “debt affordability” and the greatest needs.
FY 2017, it turns out, will be a healthy commitment: $70.945 million at this writing, a sum boosted by a commitment of $15 million of JEA money, earmarked for projects to move Jacksonville homes away from septic tanks.
A big chunk of the CIP for this upcoming fiscal year — over $15.5 million — is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The ADA passed in the Bush administration (the first Bush, not W, to be clear).
For some time, Jacksonville has been a big city trying to run like a small town. And in doing so, solving particular big city problems have been delayed.
For example — roads, sidewalks, public safety, infrastructure: all those are bills coming due.
Even something as dull as court administration awaits a potential minefield.
Contract attorneys were requested for backlogs, including death penalty cases (which are now an issue with the Supreme Court). Eight-hundred motions are pending, with people saying they are being held illegally. The use of contract attorneys saves money, as they get jobbed out of benefits and pension, and are just there to do the work of addressing the substantial backlog in the system.
All year, the debate has been whether Jacksonville is on a “fiscal cliff” as Curry says, or if the situation is exaggerated.
Most of those looking at the debate aren’t focusing on this budgetary discussion. They see the status quo and think that it maintains itself. Instead, the status quo is a patchwork quilt of ad hoc solutions.
And, like so much of the equipment the JSO is stuck with, those solutions are at the end of life … which is precisely why city leaders back the pension tax with such urgency.
If it doesn’t pass, Jacksonville is in a world of hurt.
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“Lenny Curry talks first year in office, path forward” via Florida Politics – During his campaign for mayor in 2015, Curry‘s push from being slightly behind in the polls to winning the election coincided with concerted outreach to areas of Jacksonville for which the promise of consolidation was never fully delivered … to meet voters who were skeptical of Republican candidates in general … in that context, it was no accident that to discuss his first year as mayor — both the accomplishments and the path forward — Curry went to one of those communities left behind by consolidation, doing a neighborhood walk in District 8’s Grunthal Park … FloridaPolitics.com asked him about the mechanics of selling the pension tax, noting resistance, which manifested recently with Sen. Audrey Gibson noting at a town hall meeting that, unlike the administration reps on hand, she was not on the ‘selling the pension tax tour’ … Curry noted, in response to those worries, that the key was ‘securing the half-penny in the out years … as I’ve said before, it’s not a perfect plan’ … Curry took a question on citizen review boards, which Councilwoman Brown called a public notice meeting about this week … The mayor noted that while he has “great faith and confidence” in Sheriff Mike Williams, he is ‘willing to sit down and listen to concerns’ of those advocating for a CRB. When asked about recent police shootings, and if he’s concerned that one might be a tipping point for the kind of issues seen in other cities after police shootings, Curry noted that ‘the sheriff engaged the Department of Justice’ recently, and expressed confidence people are ‘going to continue to see him do the right thing.’
Curry, Jacksonville awarded U.S. Conference of Mayors, Wells Fargo 2016 Community WINS Grant – The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Wells Fargo recently announced mayors with top honors on behalf of nonprofits in their cities with the 2016 CommunityWINS® Grant Program funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. The awards recognize nonprofits and cities for leadership in promoting neighborhood revitalization, economic development and job creation efforts. An independent panel of judges selected six recipients of the Wells Fargo-funded grants from 250 applicants representing small, medium and large cities. A $75,000 grant was awarded to Curry and the City of Jacksonville on behalf of Family Foundations.
“Jacksonville designated as a U.S. clean city” via Jensen Werley of the Jacksonville Business Journal – Jacksonville has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as a designated member of the national Clean Cities initiative. The city, led by the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization and its Clean Fuels Coalition, was awarded the official designation … Jacksonville is one of 100 coalitions made official … the coalition has collected more than 100 stakeholder members and provided funding to several key projects, such as converting 130 trucks in the St. Johns County fleet to CNG fuel and providing nearly $3 million for a public access CNG station at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
Must-read — “New City Council president shows eye for details, earns respect for drilling down” via Nate Monroe of the Florida Times-Union – Years before she was a member of the City Council, [Lori] Boyer won major civic recognition for … her work on the creation of sweeping zoning rules protecting San Marco’s architectural integrity. Of course she did. “She is willing to do the stuff that many other elected officials are not willing to do. Read through thousands of pages of documents, ask the tough questions,” said Audrey Moran, JAX Chamber chairwoman and a senior vice president at Baptist Health. “She really is fearless and is not afraid to roll up her sleeves.” Her colleagues admire those qualities, even if that’s meant they’ve had to stay an extra minute or two — or 10 — in meetings. City Councilman John Crescimbeni — who has his own reputation for drilling down into intricate details — offered Boyer what might qualify as his highest praise: She “always gets to the bottom of things.” Boyer took over last week as the new City Council president — the first woman to hold the job in more than a decade — and the question now is whether this bespectacled, detail-oriented lawmaker who often likes the trees can step back and see the forest. For her part, Boyer said she is keenly aware the presidency requires taking the broad view. As a district council member often given special committee assignments requiring her lawyerly concentration, Boyer said her role was to dive deep into details. In her first speech as president Thursday, she pivoted to a big message: “Be Bold. And Dream Big.”
“Jax pension-tax pitch bullet points reveal limitations in pitch” via Florida Politics – A review of bullet points prepared inside the Curry administration reveal a pension-tax pitch designed for broad appeal that has room for refinement ahead of the Aug. 30 referendum. What’s being left out, however: how the deal actually works, in terms of the mechanics itself, via deferring the bulk of the obligation until the dedicated revenue, which will exceed $109 million by 2030 and be almost double that in 2060, flows in, thus creating room for operations that otherwise won’t be there … Despite a compelling case that the mechanics of the deal work out for city coffers, questions keep recurring from various groups … the groups who will decide the ultimate success or failure of the referendum measure. And part of that misunderstanding may rest in the pitch itself … questions seem rooted in a lack of understanding of how the finances of the deal work, and it is incumbent on the administration to find a way to convey that message before skeptics undermine it … A frequent refrain of public comment at Jacksonville City Council meetings is one of wondering what part of the money secured from the tax will go to initiatives for Northwest Jacksonville. Given the nature of the proposal, and the dedication of tax resources specifically to the $2.7 billion unfunded actuarial liability for the pension, bullet points can’t really address that with specificity without delving into a series of variables. However, what they can address (perhaps with Ross Perot style bar graphs) is the main point of the sales pitch: an argument that by extending the terms of the obligation, the combination of increased revenue, decreased purchasing power of the dollar in the upcoming decades, and an inevitable attrition of beneficiaries from the plans will ensure that as obligations from the unfunded liability increase, dedicated dollars will be available to pay them off. The Curry pitch hasn’t drilled down into detail to that degree yet, relying on a combination of public spirit and a big picture pitch.
“Yes for Jacksonville PC hits million-dollar mark” via Florida Politics – A blockbuster first 24 days of June brought the “Yes for Jacksonville” political committee’s total raised to over a million dollars raised. In total, June 1-24 brought in $476,700, of which less than $79,000 was spent. All told, the committee has roughly $913,000 on hand to make a case for the “yes” vote on the Aug. 30 referendum, designed to authorize extension of Jacksonville’s half-cent infrastructure tax after 2030 and repurpose it to the pension liability.
“Jacksonville seen as competition for Raleigh in quest for economic development projects” via Lauren Ohnesorge of the Jacksonville Business Journal – While General Electric Co.’s headquarters was a “long shot” for Raleigh, the IT division headquarters could have been a good fit, John Boyd, [who helps companies scout for locations through his New Jersey-based firm, the Boyd Company] expects the state to aggressively pursue technology projects going forward, as what’s typically the Triangle’s sweet spot, pharma and biotech, is in “consolidating mode these days” … “(It’s) nothing like the go-go days of the last couple of decades when the Triangle was the location of choice for growing pharma companies relocating out of states like New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts,” he said. Boyd says Atlanta isn’t Raleigh’s chief rival. He says he’s hearing increased interest from clients about Nashville, Tampa, Columbus, Indianapolis and Jacksonville. To him, the “big gorilla” in the room continues to be the contentious House Bill 2, a measure passed earlier this year that has already been blamed for PayPal’s Charlotte jobs pull out and Deutsche Bank’s expansion freeze in the Triangle. But it’s hard to track how that measure might be impacting economic recruitment, as no records have been released showcasing any project losses blamed on the bill in North Carolina.
Breaking — Mercedes to bring 50 more jobs to Jacksonville via Governor’s Office [press release] – Tuesday, Rick Scott announced that Mercedes-Benz USA will be relocating an engineering services division from New Jersey to Jacksonville. The company is adding the engineering services division to its Quality Evaluation Center (QEC) in Jacksonville. The 50 jobs will be a mix of employees relocating to Northeast Florida and new hires from the local market. Mercedes-Benz currently employs more than 100 Floridians at the Jacksonville facility … Scott said, ‘I am proud to announce that Mercedes-Benz USA has chosen Florida over New Jersey as the best place to grow their company and create jobs for Jacksonville families. With no income tax, a low business tax, and a focus on helping businesses succeed, it is clear why more companies are choosing to invest in our state. I look forward to seeing Mercedes-Benz USA’s continued success in Jacksonville as we continue to work each day to help Florida outcompete other states for new opportunities’ … Lenny Curry said, ‘Mercedes-Benz USA’s selection of our city is great news for Jacksonville. This further demonstrates that the momentum is with us as our local economy continues to grow, creating highly-skilled jobs and more opportunities for our citizens and their families’ … Greg Anderson, who was council president when the project was approved, said, ‘I appreciate the support from my colleagues on the City Council for approving this outstanding deal as Project Grace last month. This is another example of how we can strengthen our economy when local and state leaders are working together with a common goal of growing jobs in our community.’
Happening Wednesday – The Professional Women’s Council Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 10367 Midtown Parkway in Jacksonville. Cost: $20 for PWC members, $25 for non-members.
“Gate unveils ‘Durbin’ development for county officials” via Peter Guinta of the St. Augustine Record – Gate Petroleum Co. of Jacksonville revealed its plans to build a 1,637-acre “destination city” that will include office space, industry, retail, entertainment venues and 4,500 homes at Interstate 95 and Race Track Road. The complex could bring 15,000 jobs here, planners said. Anthony Robbins, a senior planner for Jacksonville-based engineering company Prosser Hallock, told St. Johns County planning officials that I-95 will divide the project, called “Durbin.” The project would be between Durbin Creek on the south and Race Track Road on the north. At that point, Race Track Road generally follows the Duval-St. Johns county line. Most of the dwelling units will be multi-family, town homes or apartments, Robbins said. No price tag was given for the project … Durbin is the fifth development of regional impact that Gate has initiated. The other four were in Duval County. Buildings in the project will be architecturally attractive and “interconnected.”
“Navy contracts for three Northeast Florida companies” via Jensen Werley of the Jacksonville Business Journal – Orion Solutions LLC and SGS Technologie LLC out of Jacksonville and Lexes Associates Inc. in St. Augustine were included in the deal. The contracts will be solicited by several Navy entities, including Sea Systems Command, Air Systems Command, Military Sealift Command and the Office of Naval Research, among others. The contracts cover 22 functional service areas, such as research and development, simulation support, software engineering and training support. The 600 contracts are added to about 4,500 existing contracts previously awarded under the SeaPort Enhanced acquisition program, where about $3.9 billion of services will be procured per year. The awards have a three-year performance period.
“Port turns to city to develop Mayport property” via Jensen Werley of the Jacksonville Business Journal – Jaxport picked up the property between Safe Harbor Seafood and Singleton’s Restaurant in 2008, when the authority was looking at building a cruise terminal at the site. But after pushback from the community, those plans were abandoned and the land was left vacant. Now, the port has given the city a five-year, non-exclusive option to find someone to lease or purchase the property. The Jaxport board would have to sign off on any deal. The city’s Office of Economic Development is looking to see what business opportunities might fit the property, which is a combination of plots adding up to about 6 acres along Ocean Street.
“Duval school board balks at near give-away of building, other costly proposals” via Denise Smith Amos of the Florida Times-Union – Dollars and cents concerns caused some members of Duval’s School Board to back away from several proposals Superintendent Nikolai Vitti broached for possible votes next month. For instance, Vitti proposed that the district lease the current James Weldon Johnson ACT building to nearby Edward Waters College. The building was set up for 814 students but the district had only 220 students there, in its over-age academy. The Board has already approved moving that academy to West Jacksonville Elementary this fall. Under the proposed deal, Edward Waters would lease the building for five years for $1 month, with an option to buy it for $10. The price sounds too low, said Board member Paula Wright, pointing out that JWJ -ACT was assessed at $2.2 million. “These are taxpayers’ dollars,” she said. “To give away a building… let’s say it’s not a sound practice.” Vitti said the deal helps the district, the college and the community.
“Duval Schools look to Legos to expand interest in science, spark imagination” via Denise Smith Amos of the Florida Times-Union – Duval students in 50 schools will be playing next year with Legos, with School Board approval. Along the way they’ll learn about math, computer coding, engineering, problem-solving and teamwork, organizers said. It’s part of a proposal Duval’s School Board is expected to vote on this month. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti has proposed spending $187,700 to set up Lego robotics teams in 50 schools, an increase from the 36 schools currently operating such clubs. The long-term vision … is to have robotics teams in all 161 Duval public schools. He said the mostly extra curricular activity will spark students’ engagement in technology fields and hopefully get them more involved in math, science and computers in class. Vitti said Duval’s investment will be unprecedented among large, urban school districts.
“2 new Zika virus cases in Duval, both travel-related” via Beth Cravey of the Florida Times-Union – Two more people have symptoms of the Zika virus in Duval County, which now has five reported cases, according to the Florida Department of Health. The new Duval cases of the mosquito-borne illness are travel-related, according to the department. So far in Florida, there are 209 cases not involving pregnant women. Symptoms associated with the Zika virus last
“Disabled services, railroad upgrades on JTA agenda” via Florida Politics – Internal emails from Jacksonville Transportation Authority officials to city officials point to more innovations from JTA to solve transportation issues. One such, ‘Accessible Transportation for All,’ proposes to enhance disabled services … The goal: “providing wheelchair accessible vehicles to registered drivers and offering incentives to make these vehicles available throughout the region’ … the project will ‘help ensure that passengers requiring wheelchair accessible vehicles are provided with multiple options to meet their transportation needs. Currently, accessible vehicles are available in taxi services, but not yet available through local TNC programs.”
Happening Thursday – The Health Council Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Deerwood Country Club, 10239 Golf Club Drive in Jacksonville. Cost: $20 for Health Council members with advance registration, $25 for non-members. $30 at the door. More information about JAX Health Council or register for the luncheon, visit www.jaxhealthcouncil.org.
“Heart and hypertension costs rise for Jax first responders” via Florida Politics – An interim AMI Risk Consultants actuarial review of the city of Jacksonville’s self-insurance program shows a seven-figure increase in the city’s outstanding claim liability (or loss reserve estimate) compared to six months prior. This indicates yet another pressure on Jacksonville’s budget process this year and in years to come. The report, submitted at the end of June for a period ending March 31, revealed a jump of $3.4 million (or 3.5 percent) compared to the estimate from Sept. 30, 2015. The old estimate: $98.95 million. The new number: $102.37 million. The escalators in the actuarial review are largely driven by costs associated with first responders, with heart and hypertension leading the way. Heart and hypertension costs estimates increased by 10 percent over six months for the sheriff’s office, from $20.84 million to $22.92 million, with a total jump of $2.085 million. Fire saw an increase of $808 thousand, with the revised estimate now at $27.52 million.
“State asked to OK nearly 20 percent rate hike for businesses” via The Associated Press – Florida regulators are being asked to approve a nearly 20 percent rate hike in insurance premiums paid by the state’s business owners to cover their employees. The organization that submits rate filings on behalf of insurance companies filed the request Friday in response to a recent state Supreme Court decision. The high court in June struck down a law that limited payments to injured workers to two years. The National Council on Compensation Insurance is asking that regulators approve a 19.6 percent rate hike beginning Oct. 1. NCCI was already asking for a 17.1 percent rate hike when the court ruling on payments came out. That earlier request was based on a separate Supreme Court decision that struck down a law that limited attorney fees in workers’ compensation cases. The Office of Insurance Regulation will decide whether to approve or deny the rate hike.
Top talker — “Paul Renner has support for speaker … in 2022” via Tia Mitchell of the Florida Times-Union – Renner isn’t just campaigning this summer to get re-elected to his seat in the Florida House. He is also waging a less visible crusade that, if successful, won’t pay off until 2022. Timing and luck have made Renner, 49, a top candidate to become House speaker, the second-most powerful position in state government. Even though the job he wants doesn’t open for six years, it requires Renner to lay the groundwork now. If he is successful, he will become the first speaker from Northeast Florida since John Thrasher served from 1998 to 2000. Renner has about a year to prove himself and get a majority of members of the House Republican class of 2016 to back him … Having served in the Legislature for just over a year, Renner is still eligible to serve eight years in the House starting in 2016 under the state’s term-limit guidelines. His colleagues refer to him as a redshirt freshman because of the extra time afforded him by the special election. Being a redshirt give him a leg up in the competition to become speaker.
Happening Wednesday – State Sen. Aaron Bean will tour facilities at Cecil Airport and speak to employees and management of LSI, Inc. at 2:30 p.m., 13365 Simpson Way in Jacksonville.
Spotted – At the retirement lunch celebration in honor of longtime state House legislative assistant Richard Pra: Judge Mark Mahon, state Reps. Lake Ray and Charles McBurney, and The Fiorentino Group’s Tom Griffin and Joe Mobley.
“Hans Tanzler amasses more than $550,000 in bid for Congress” – … with 92 percent of the campaign’s donors coming from inside Florida’s 4th Congressional District. According to his campaign, Tanzler, a first-time candidate, has quickly garnered the necessary financial support to make his pitch to voters that he is the right conservative to replace the retiring Ander Crenshaw in the U.S. House.
“No major surprises in NE state House money races” via Florida Politics – Sheri Treadwell maintains her cash on hand lead in HD 11; a $6,567 first 24 days of June brings her total raised to $128,791, leaving her over $102,000 cash on hand. Donnie Horner is still a competitive second in the HD 11 money race: over $5,100 raised in the period brings him to $123,275 raised; $80,000 of that is on hand … Clay Yarborough is still getting it done in HD 12; $10,984 in the period brings the money leader to $85,430 raised, with $71,000 of it on hand … There are two competitive primaries in HD 13; the first involves Democrat Reggie Fullwood and challengers acquired in the wake of his legal trouble … Fullwood has raised, in total, $5,600, with all but $100 in June. He’s ahead of Tracie Davis, who lost a race for supervisor of elections last year, who stumbled out of the gate with $3,175 raised in the period … On the Republican side of HD 13, pastor Mark Griffin raised $6,235 in his first reporting period, with most of the contributions from ministers; he has roughly $5,500 on hand … financial analyst Keith Walters also showed life in the June period, raising $6,200 in his first reporting period as a HD 13 Republican … Leslie Jean-Bart is the establishment choice in HD 14, and the Democrat has a bank account to reflect it. The trial lawyer brought in $13,750 in the June period, giving her over $85,000 raised and $60,000 on hand … In HD 16, Republican Jason Fischer is still winning the resource war over Dick Kravitz. $7,050 of new hard money in June’s first 24 days brought his total raised to $150,205; he has almost $132,000 on hand. Additionally, his PAC has raised $81,000, and has just under $26,000 on hand; its ad buys are in full swing already. Kravitz, a career politician looking for another bite of the Tallahassee apple, raised $11,645 in June’s first period; he has raised $110,750 in total, with almost $90,000 on hand.
Save the Date: HD 16 hopefuls Jason Fischer and Dick Kravitz tangle at a Wednesday debate hosted by the Southside Business Men’s Club. Debate starts at 12 p.m. and will be at the San Jose Country Club. Moderator: Kent Justice of WJXT, The Local Station.
“Melissa Nelson storms to lead in State Attorney money race” via Florida Politics – The 4th Circuit State Attorney race has been blown wide-open, with challenger Nelson holding a massive advantage in resources over incumbent Angela Corey. Money totaling $356,000 — more than $72,000 hard money, and more than $283,000 to her political committee, “First Coast Values” — will be reflected on the June report … Nelson has almost $270,000 in hard money on hand in her campaign account. The PC had a huge haul also. The $283,000 of new money brought the total raised up to $391,800, with $128,000 of it on hand. In other words, Nelson has almost $400,000 to message over the next two months … Nelson has over double the resources of Corey, who has just under $190,000 on hand as of her June filing. With a strong lead in the polls, the challenger is the frontrunner.
“How Angela Corey joined the millionaire’s club” via Florida Politics – In the eight years since Corey became state attorney, her net worth has increased by almost 250 percent, with the lion’s share of the increase in the last four years coming from $395,626.266 in the taxpayer-funded Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) program. In 2008, as a candidate for state attorney, Corey reported a net worth of $329,677 … In ’16 she reported $1,150,768.17 as her net worth, an increase of 87.85 percent over four years, and 249 percent over eight. The bulk of that increase over four years came from an increase in investments: from $100,347 in 2012 to $627,328 in 2016. That investment income was driven, in large part, from a new line item for 2016: $395,626.66 in her DROP retirement fund.
“Aaron Bowman backs Corey for re-election” via Florida Politics – Jacksonville City Councilman Bowman, fresh off getting his slots bill through the council and onto a November referendum said Veterans Treatment Court was a big factor in his decision. “Veterans Treatment Court is designed to help veterans who have been honorably discharged, but who are charged with non-violent felonies or misdemeanors, oftentimes stemming from substance abuse or mental health issues,” said the release, which quoted Bowman’s enthusiastic endorsement of the concept. “Sometimes, the men and women who have put their lives on the line to defend our freedom and our great nation come home with PTSD or other issues, and inadvertently land in the criminal justice system … Angela’s work in Veterans Court has been extraordinary. She’s a true friend to our veterans,” Bowman said.
“Former UNF star Beau Beech signs deal with NBA Summer league team” via the Florida Times-Union – The 6-foot-9 Beech signed an NBA Summer League deal with the Brooklyn Nets … He will play in the Las Vegas Summer League beginning in July. While the chances of Beech sticking with the Nets may be remote, the contract gives Beech a chance to go up against top competition in front of NBA execs and scouts. Beech, who played at Ponte Vedra High, averaged 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last year. He is the Ospreys’ second leading all-time scorer and the school leader in 3-pointers made. Guard Dallas Moore, who is the Ospreys’ all-time leading scorer, submitted his name for the NBA Draft but never signed with an agent and opted to return to UNF next season.
“How will Brexit impact the Jags games in London?” via Brittany Dionne of WTLV – Jacksonville has close ties with London due to the annual Jags game. The Jaguars original four-year commitment to playing one game per year in London was set to expire in 2016, but the agreement was extended through 2020. Jaguars President Mark Lamping said they are uncertain about the long-term effect on their commitment. “There’s probably going to be some uncertainty just because of the unknown … But, what happened yesterday (with Brexit) doesn’t change our commitment to play games in London.” Lamping said the Jags game scheduled in October against the Indianapolis Colts was already sold out as of June. “This isn’t something that’s, that all of a sudden from one day to the next you’re going to see a major change,” Lamping said. “It’s going to take a couple of years to sort this out.”
