Phil Ammann
In an unusual political year, 2016 has been one that turned the confident predictions of last December into so much fodder to be walked back during the end-of-year story packages.
With that in mind, why not address one more surprise from Duval County before we wrap up this year altogether?
Both the Duval Democrats and Duval Republicans had leadership elections earlier this week.
Spoiler alert: it was the Republicans, who won local elections, who had the major shake-up from establishment principles. Karyn Morton upset the apple cart, beating incumbent chair and establishment darling Cindy Graves bigly.
And the Democrats? They maintained discipline throughout their process, getting the candidates they wanted in leadership slots. Sen. Audrey Gibson takes over as chair; rising star Darren Mason will serve as vice-chair, a particularly significant role given that there will be meetings Gibson can’t attend because of Tallahassee commitments.
Dysfunction is always more interesting, so let’s start with the GOP.
Graves supporters claim that Morton ran a negative campaign against the incumbent, manifesting the simmering discord that has been part of the Morton/Graves dynamic since Graves won the chair election earlier in the year.
Among the claims used to bury Graves: the GOP didn’t win by enough in Duval County in November; the margin between Trump and Clinton could have been bigger … if the party had done a better job.
Graves’ allies were outnumbered, with an influx of new people into the party overwhelming the wing that includes pragmatists like former chair Mike Hightower (who wasn’t allowed to vote, despite being a former chair).
Graves spun the defeat Wednesday in a brutal email that left it entirely clear how she felt about Morton and her group.
Graves said that it was just as well that she lost, as she would be “unable to lead this new group,” and that Morton “has no real record in my opinion and served as great hindrance to our team and staff during the election.”
Graves wasn’t alone in her thinking; many of her supporters supplied anecdotes to this outlet outlining details for that trope.
And Morton, said one well-informed person, knows she’s in over her head. Word on the street is that she reached out to Sam Newby, the former vice-chair of the party who refused to run as Morton’s vice-chair, asking him for help.
Newby, who said that he and Graves were a “package deal,” turned Morton down.
Regarding years that the local GOP could go with a grass roots pick for leadership, 2017 is fine.
There won’t be any elections this year. The GOP state House seats were just filled, so there’s no need to worry about any drama on that front until the early part of next decade. John Rutherford is safe in Congress, and no Republican could win in Congressional District 5. And local elections are in 2019.
However, what is clearly manifesting — again — is an attrition of the party’s best and brightest for less-known quantities.
Morton’s team claims that Donald Trump should have won Duval more bigly. But here’s a question worth considering: what if the close margin between Trump and Hillary Clinton had less to do with Cindy Graves as chair than it did with Duval County becoming more cosmopolitan, trending ever closer to a bluer shade of purple with each election cycle?
The Dixiecrats are dying out. And there are plenty of moderate Republicans from elsewhere who don’t identify with the Confederate Flag set that congregated at Trump rallies.
Now, the question: can Audrey Gibson and the Duval Dems take advantage of the chaos on the GOP side?
Gibson’s strengths are known.
Great on policy. Always a good quote. Knows the area’s issues and power brokers. Knows how to work a process (one of the best lines from the Democratic leadership vote was when she prodded the slow count to move faster because it was “wine time.”)
Gibson being a state senator could be a strength. But then again, it could be more complicated than that.
Consider the short tenure of Lake Ray as Duval GOP chair; Ray, buried in Tallahassee, was not as effective a fundraiser as many in the party had hoped he would be.
When Graves came in, she and her coterie prioritized getting the money right as a result.
Also worth watching: the role of Vice-Chair Darren Mason.
With Gibson in Tallahassee, it is quite likely that Mason will be running some meetings.
This is good experience for Mason, who apparently intends to have a long narrative arc in his political story.
Meanwhile, the Duval DEC will probably face pressure to take positions on certain issues.
One such issue: the collective bargaining negotiations between the city and its unions, as Mayor Lenny Curry attempts to sell defined contribution plans for new hires.
Time was when Democrats were the voice of organized labor.
Will Gibson be able to push on this one? How about Mason, whose day job involves being an aide to Councilwoman Joyce Morgan?
And the Human Rights Ordinance is due for another attempt at becoming more fully inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Gibson has already come out for that expansion. Mason will have to toe the line. And Joyce Morgan?
She was quiet — despite being a campaign supporter of HRO expansion — when it was in front of the council last time.
This time, she will have to take more of a leadership role to be consistent with the party … perhaps co-sponsoring the measure upon introduction.
#jaxpol may have expected a breather in 2017.
But what is clear: its two political parties are going to give locals something to watch.
***Southern Strategy Group is Florida’s powerhouse lobbying firm with a dedicated Jacksonville office, as well as locations in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee. Our nearly 25 lobbyists work daily to get our clients and their issues in front of key local and state elected officials. Whether in City Hall, the State Capitol or somewhere in between, we’ll work with you to create and execute a strategy that moves your agenda from the starting point through the finish line. Every industry. Every interest. Powerful advocacy begins here. Call us today at 904-425-8765 or visit www.sostrategy.com to learn more.***
“Prosecution motions delineate strategy against Corrine Brown” via Kent Justice of WJXT – Two motions filed this week by federal prosecutors in the corruption case against outgoing Brown offer a hint at the government’s trial strategy. The federal corruption trial won’t begin until April 2017 with jury selection slated for April 24. Brown’s attorney, James Smith, has said that he will ask the court to admit character evidence on Brown’s behalf, meaning he will want witnesses to testify to Brown’s character, and not directly to the case. The prosecution filed a motion to exclude “inadmissable character evidence” by both defendants. “The United States anticipates that Brown and Simmons will seek to introduce evidence addressing their character and purported good works, including while Brown was a member of the United States House of Representatives and Simmons was Brown’s chief of staff,” the filing said. Brown, in particular, has stated publicly and through her counsel in Court that she intends to present all of the ‘good’ she has done over the years as a member of Congress. Such evidence is not permissible, and is, in fact, irrelevant to the jury’s determination of guilt on the charged offenses in the indictment.” Prosecutors said they’ll go after Brown’s and Simmons’ characters, pointing out lies the government believes they’ve told.
“Attorney flip-flops on bid to try Brown’s aide separately” via Steve Patterson of the Florida Times-Union — The attorney for Brown‘s chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons … withdrew a motion he made Friday seeking a separate trial from Brown on fraud charges. Monday’s two-sentence court filing didn’t explain the turnaround or seek any other orders from U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan. z declined to say what triggered the reversal, except to say it was Simmons’ choice. “I take instructions from my client. He asked me to withdraw the motion,” he said.
“No votes for Brown since mid-November” via Jamie Dupree of WOKV – This is the time of year when I tend to take a longer look at the list of lawmakers in Congress who are “not voting,” as some members of the House and Senate sometimes check out a little early before their terms are finished, while others are more than happy to stick around to the last vote, thoroughly enjoying their final moments on Capitol Hill. … Brown’s final days as a member of Congress could not be any more different … After losing her primary election in a bid for a 13th term, and facing a federal trial on corruption charges, Brown is ending her 24 year career in the House – not by being there for every vote … but by staying away from the halls of the U.S. Capitol entirely. Brown returned to Capitol Hill for just two days of work after the November elections, voting in the House November 14 and 15. Since then, she has missed every single House vote.
“Al Lawson aide claims ‘identity theft’ in case of missing stimulus funds” via William Patrick of FloridaWatchdog.org – Questions relating to The Emperor Organization Inc., a defunct Tallahassee nonprofit that disappeared after being awarded $750,000 in federal stimulus grants, appear to be resolved. In 2013, Watchdog wrote a series of investigative stories about Emperor when it appeared as a “non-complier” on the government transparency website Recovery.gov. The organization failed to submit required documentation detailing and justifying the use of the federal handouts. Upon review, appropriate documents also had not been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Small Business Administration. Watchdog spoke with Derron M. Bennett, who remains listed as the inactive nonprofit’s president and registered agent according to the Florida Department of State. In the interview, Bennett said he had been the victim of identity theft and did not know what happened to the grant money. He said he was not involved with the organization in any way. Bennett said Alix Taylor, the organization’s director and his former girlfriend, had used his identity to obtain the funding. Court documents filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida show that Jan. 9, 2014, Taylor signed a guilty plea for wire fraud. The plea states that she used $394,000 of government funding to purchase a Tallahassee apartment building. The money was administered through the Small Business Administration’s microloan program. The Emperor Organization was supposed to use the money to issue loans to women, low-income individuals and minorities who were having difficulty obtaining business capital from banks during the Great Recession.
“John Rutherford, Val Demings settle in to new offices” via Lacey Herbert of Fox25Boston – Black and white numbered chips are placed into a wooden box and shaken. In alphabetical order, the House members walk up, grab a chip out of the box and hear their number called out loud. The lower the number, the better the place in line to pick an office; the higher the number, the louder the laughter sharing in the member’s disappointment. New members are seeking coveted features like proximity to the Capitol, a nice view, a quality cafeteria and elevator access. Lawmakers are able to peruse office layouts and visit the open office spaces, but their fate lies with the lottery pick. “A couple of days ago, we kind of got a head start and took a look at some offices that were becoming available,” Rep.-elect Val Demings said. Incumbent members of the House are able to choose new office space ahead of the lottery. Others also prayed, some stroked their eyebrows or struck a pose, and one kneeled before the sacred box. Only a few got lucky. As some of the best numbers were drawn, lawmakers whose last names fell later in the alphabet began to get nervous and were less likely to perform rituals. Rep. John Rutherford … pulled out a nine despite being one of the last called. “Even if I picked the No. 50, which I thank God I did not, it means that I will have an office here on the Hill to do the work that needs to be done for our nation and for the people back home,” Demings said.
“Antique Roadshow heads for cancellation” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Jacksonville, in addition to experiencing a sea change in its two parties as well as state and federal legislative delegations, is poised for a sea change in the 4th Circuit State Attorney’s office.
Headed out: Angela Corey, an incumbent previously considered unassailable.
Corey ran on a law and order platform, walking hand in hand with law enforcement, displaying the media relations skills and finesse of Enver Hoxha.
Corey was old-school.
A noted antique furniture collector, some have noted that her affinity for antiques spills over into how she functions in office.
Her rhetoric: a series of antique late-20th century “I’m tougher than anyone on crime” bromides that have not made the 4th Circuit actually safer (witness recent upticks in Jacksonville’s murder rate for a vivid example).
And her approach to the media: likewise antique. A “my way or the highway” approach, so outsized that she couldn’t think of anything she would have done differently in her eight years in office when asked about such in the campaign.
Corey, of course, got obliterated in the Republican primary in August … despite the best efforts of a current “special vice-chair” of the party, who drove to Tallahassee to file the paperwork for a write-in candidate seeking to close the primary.
He closed the primary. But Republican voters repudiated Corey, for former assistant state attorney Melissa Nelson.
Soon enough, the antique approach will be out of the state attorney’s office.
Melissa Nelson is new-school, and is precisely the person needed to bring Northeast Florida into the 21st century.
Fifteen years late, maybe.
But par for the course for this part of the world.
Nelson has committed to criminal justice reform, and has taken the unprecedented step of talking about such in an interview with Reason magazine this week [H/T Ben Conarck].
Her election was characterized as a “wave of backlash” against the tough-on-crime caricature.
“I don’t care if it’s a box of six jurors or twelve jurors or an electorate of thousands, people crave fair outcomes,” Nelson said. “We learn it on the ball field when we’re kids. People want to know that the system is fair, and that was the common denominator. This election wasn’t about me. I was a tool. This was my community’s repudiation of a system — and an office — they felt was unbalanced and no longer fair, that had lost its way.
Those who know Melissa Nelson know that she is the antithesis of an egomaniac. Nelson is witty, charming, spirited, and a great conversationalist.
Many politicians seem guarded in conversation. Nelson? She keeps it real. And that’s what the 4th circuit needs at this moment.
One of the real changes she will bring to office: a “conviction integrity” unit, which will be the first of its kind in the Sunshine State.
“I met with The Innocence Project on Friday, actually. We’re trying to put together a conviction integrity unit, which would be the first in Florida if I can do it. I’m very excited about the prospects. One of the things shared with me that I loved is the idea of rewarding young prosecutors for doing justice,” Nelson said.
“They told me an example of a prosecutor dropping a case. He understood that, because he had so much leverage, he could likely have obtained a plea, but he didn’t think it was the right thing to do, so he dropped the case. He was called in, and he thought he was going to be fired. The D.A. actually acknowledged him in front of the whole office,” Nelson added.
“Instead of the metric being how many cases you try, how many convictions you obtain, how many people you put in prison, the idea is: Did you do the right thing? I want to change the culture and thinking process to one of service. We’re tasked with protecting the public and seeking justice.”
Corey’s big pitch to voters was data driven; Nelson has said already that there is more to being a state attorney than conviction rates. Voters seem to have agreed.
“When I talk about trust in the community, all it takes is one case where it’s proven you fudged. You know, didn’t play fair. Then it affects every case and undermines every conviction. Do the right thing every day,” Nelson said to Reason.
Elsewhere in the Reason interview, Nelson pledged to make more judicious use of direct-file for juveniles, as a matter of last resort.
And she is going to take a more judicious approach to seeking capital punishment as well, in light of recent changes requiring unanimous death penalty jury rulings — which wasn’t the case a year ago.
“Whereas twelve months ago, prosecutors might pursue it if they thought it was appropriate, now you have to ask yourself if twelve people will also agree, which is a high standard. In my office, prosecutors had the unilateral ability to seek death. No longer. We’re going to do what Miami-Dade does, which is a review board. So if a prosecutor thinks it’s appropriate to seek death, they’re going to have to come before the review board and make their case. We’re going to invite the defense as well to bring their mitigation so that we get the decision right up front,” Nelson said.
We talked to Nelson, who mentioned that during the interview, she talked too much.
We disagree.
These comments and this perspective are much-needed disinfectants for the seamier side of what passes for justice historically in Duval County.
However, as some skeptics have said, “actions are louder than words.”
At some point in her term, Nelson will have to deal with situations like the Vernell Bing, Jr. murder — situations that see two intractable forces (the law enforcement community, with a very strong union in Duval, and community activists) at loggerheads over the incident.
And her response to those situations — big city situations — won’t please everyone.
Nelson knows this.
However, Nelson also knows that to do the job of state attorney, she’s going to be best served by having a clear philosophical orientation — which is toward justice, toward fairness, and toward transparency.
Whether she fully succeeds or not has yet to be determined.
However, given the positions of her predecessor, the effort will go a long way toward bringing Northeast Florida closer to the rest of the country in terms of understanding what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to providing justice for all.
Rob Bradley files bill to protect right to self-defense – The Fleming Island Republican filed Senate Bill 128, which corrects a misinterpretation of the “Stand Your Ground” law by the Florida Supreme Court in the 2015 Bretherick versus State decision. “The government has the burden of proof in a criminal case from the beginning of a case until the end,” Bradley said. “This fundamental premise is guaranteed in our Constitution and understood intuitively by all Floridians.” The legislation clarifies that the government, not the accused, has the burden of proof in a “Stand Your Ground” immunity hearing. In a 5-2 decision, the Florida Supreme Court ruled otherwise. “We have an obligation to zealously guard the protections granted us all in the Constitution,” Bradley continued. “It was uplifting last session to have the support of fellow conservatives around the state on this important issue.”
“Cord Byrd seeks voluntary workers’ comp” via Michael Moline of Florida Politics – Byrd of Neptune Beach filed legislation to make participation in the system optional. The bill also would take on attorney fees, a major bone of contention for business leaders in the state. It would allow lawyers to accept payment outside the now-mandatory fee schedule in workers’ compensation disputes, permitting them and clients to freely negotiate payment. Judges of compensation claims would no longer need to review attorney fees. And employers and carriers who failed to pay valid claims within 30 days would have to pay double the original amount. Byrd, a freshman Republican attorney who represented the business side in workers’ compensation cases before switching to the plaintiffs’ side, said business owners can’t afford double-digit premium increases. A 14.5 percent increase in those rates began to take effect Dec. 1 and will roll out as businesses sign new policies or renew old ones during the next 12 months … The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida formed separate task forces to seek a legislative fix. Those organizations have indicated they will unveil their own proposals later this month. The chamber issued a written statement indicating it would review Byrd’s ideas.
“The $44M ‘hiccup’ illustrates size of Jax pension liability” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics – In the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee … Mike Weinstein, the city’s CFO and Tim Johnson, the director of the Police and Fire Pension Fund, discussed a “waiver” in pension cost allocations that had been controversial in recent news cycles. Their joint appearance was notable for a unified message, in which Weinstein said the city and the PFPF were on a “solution path” and that the money involved in the waiver was a “hiccup” compared to the larger unfunded liability. However, countermessaging soon followed. Shortly after this was originally posted Wednesdayafternoon, the city’s chief administrative officer, Sam Mousa, took issue with our description of the unified messaging of Weinstein and Johnson as a “kumbaya moment” between the PFPF and the city. “There is no kumbaya on this pension issue. We are still livid over the issue and we still are of the position we did not know and the fund did not follow state law. They misrepresented the fund value for years and we are not happy,” Mousa wrote in a text and said on the phone. However, the ameliorating tenor of the Weinstein and Johnson messaging in Finance did not reflect Mousa’s concerns primarily. Weinstein and Johnson agreed on a more calming message: that so-called waiver, once expected to near an extra $45 million budgetary hit in the FY 17-18 budget, likely won’t be as dramatic or sudden a hit as expected … even as the city and the PFPF diverge on the legality of the waiver. No matter how the waiver is mitigated, the city will be on the hook for at least $200 million in pension costs in the next fiscal year.
“Systemic reform the narrative on Jacksonville bond rating trip” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics – Key Jacksonville officials [are in] New York … on a pivotal trip for meetings with various bond ratings agencies … [Yesterday saw] meetings with Fitch and Moody’s. [Today] offers some time with S&P. Curry, Mousa, Weinstein, and Treasurer Joey Greive will all be in the Big Apple. When Curry was asked how one of the year’s big challenges — Hurricane Matthew — will affect the pitch, he said it would be part of the narrative. “We will tell the story about Hurricane Matthew. It represents our competence in finance and operations. All financial opportunities will be a part of our discussion,” Curry noted. “I’m a reformer and will continue to do the work that leads to reform of the system,” Curry added. Among that reform work … renegotiating pension plans with the city’s public unions, and attempting to move at least some unions’ new hires to defined contribution pension plans.
“Neighborhood events bill also clears committees” via Florida Politics – A bill designed to give Jacksonville City Council members access to a pot of $70,000 for neighborhood events cleared its final committee … The measure cleared Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services with no opposition. And … the Rules Committee approved it 5 to 1. A number of amendments, intended to sharpen distinctions between political events and events for community enrichment and education, were attached to the bill in its previous committee stops before it hit Finance … Among them: third party donations are a gift to the city, not to the council member; “Neighborhood Community Events” may not be “promote[d]” by council members before given the go-ahead by relevant departments; council members are not allowed to “solicit donations”; the Neighborhoods Department must be part of the review of the event; and the council president has final approval. Bill sponsor Reggie Brown touted the bill as a measure to “bring the community together” and “reduce crime,” a new talking point in this committee that hadn’t surfaced prior. A sticking point in Finance: how the money is allocated. Councilman Matt Schellenberg proposed an even split of the $70,000 between council members.
“Ticket surcharge, temporary seat bills clear Finance Committee” via Florida Politics – Two bills related to sports and entertainment cleared the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee … The first bill would increase city-imposed ticket surcharges for the Veterans Memorial Arena, the Baseball Grounds of Jax, and the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, while adding surcharges for events at the under construction amphitheater and flex field at the stadium. The bill had its first hearing in Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services, where it was deferred because of objections by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra; they noted that since they are in the middle of the season, that would affect season subscriptions. Those concerns have been worked out, though Councilman Bill Gulliford noted that the symphony president has a $5 million laundry list of needed capital improvements to address the “deterioration” of the T-U Center. Other venues have their own needs. The money from this surcharge hike will go to infrastructural improvements, and is a necessary revenue stream especially in light of long-term debt-financed stadium improvements by the last two mayoral administrations. City CFO Mike Weinstein referred to a “comfort level” among stakeholders that the funds would be allocated as earmarked, with funds siloed for the venues in a “joint effort between the tenant and the city.”
“Jacksonville welcomes second rapid transit bus line” via Ryan Benk of WJCT — Passengers trickling in and out of First Coast Flyer buses at the Park-n-Ride station on Philips Highway served as the backdrop for a city celebration, welcoming a new rapid bus line … The “Blue Line,” which runs from the Avenues Mall to downtown, is the second to be completed in an ambitious, 57-mile project connecting all parts of Jacksonville with short-route, high-frequency buses. City leaders also welcoming to town Federal Transit Administration administrator Carolyn Flowers, whose department is responsible for the lion’s share of Flyer funds. “FTA is an investor in the project. The project was $23.9 million and 80 percent of the funding came from the federal government,” she said. The remaining funds came from city and state coffers. When it’s all done, four rapid transit bus lines will converge on a new transportation hub planned for downtown. It’s set to be the largest rapid transit bus system in the Southeast.
“Jacksonville ranked in Top 10 in U.S. for tourism ‘destinations on the rise’” via Drew Dixon of the Florida Times-Union – Jacksonville is among the hottest destinations in the U.S. for travelers, according to a new ranking issued this week by tourism planning website TripAdvisor. The travel planning and booking website named Jacksonville as the 10th most notable “destination on the rise.” Kihei, Hawaii; Park City, Utah; and Portland, Maine, topped the list, respectively. The recognition analyzed 43 tourist destinations around the world and based its rankings on “year-over-year increase in positive TripAdvisor traveler review ratings for accommodations, restaurants and attractions, and [an] increase in booking interest,” a TripAdvisor statement said … It’s the fifth year of the rankings.
“$100 million LNG production and storage facility about to be completed on Jacksonville’s Westside” via Drew Dixon of the Florida Times-Union — A million-gallon Liquefied Natural Gas storage facility that will also produce up to 200,000 gallons per day was opened for public view … highlighting that the Jacksonville area is becoming more prominent in the LNG industry. The facility is under construction off Normandy Boulevard about 13 miles west of Interstate 295 and is projected to become operational by the end of the first quarter in 2017. The complex, which is marked by a huge storage tank in between cranes and other construction equipment, is being built by Eagle LNG Partners and will produce LNG fuel for Crowley Maritime Inc., based in Jacksonville.
“Jacksonville’s Air National Guard is among 5 finalists for F-35 squadron” via Joe Daraskevich of the Florida Times-Union – The pool of potential landing spots for two squadrons of F-35 Lightning II fighters shrunk significantly Wednesday when the U.S. Air Force announced Jacksonville’s Air National Guard and four other bases as finalists in the running to house the new jets. “This announcement highlights what we in Florida have always known, that our Florida Air National Guard has the finest facilities, airspace and, most importantly, airmen in the world,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun, the adjutant general of Florida. “We are honored that the Air Force recognizes that Jacksonville would be an excellent home for the F-35.” Jacksonville will have to beat out at least three of the other bases in consideration since two of the five will ultimately receive F-35 squadrons.
“JTA planning pilot, future with automated vehicles” via Sebastian Kitchen of the Florida Times-Union — Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nathaniel Ford said JTA officials are in discussions with some autonomous vehicle manufacturers and he hopes to have one of them soon bring a vehicle to Jacksonville for a demonstration. He said their target is to have a pilot program in the next two years. “I would love to develop some sort of a pilot program, but that is in the early stages of how that will work,” said Brad Thoburn, vice president of planning, development and innovation for JTA. He said they must determine what is feasible for Jacksonville and a pilot would determine how a vehicle would work here. Some companies and cities are already exploring pilot programs to use autonomous shuttles for public transportation although those are in very early stages. Tesla already unveiled cars with autopilot and other companies including Google and BMW are years into testing, bringing closer the reality of self-driving cars becoming an integral part of public and personal transportation. Ford said JTA officials decided to maintain and extend the Skyway rail system. He said doing that with the current 27-year-old technology would be ill-advised, particularly with developing technology for autonomous vehicles. Ford said the original Skyway was expensive and never lived up to its potential, and his staff is doing its research to avoid that mistake. The Skyway, with design, construction and materials, cost $182 million for 2.5 miles of tracks and eight train stations. The driverless system was ahead of its time. The structure of the Skyway system is sound, but the vehicles are obsolete and expensive to maintain, according to JTA.
Cabinet approves purchase of rural land in Northeast Florida — Gov. Scott and the Cabinet voted unanimously to approve the purchase of 2,306 acres of environmentally sensitive agriculture land on the Clay Ranch during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. The cattle operation is in Putnam County, and has been operation for 160 years. According to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the land is located between two existing conservation areas — the Ordway-Swisher Biological Station and Etoniah Creek State Forest. “Florida’s farmers and ranchers are our state’s original conservationists, and partnering with them through conservation easements is a cost-effective way to preserve these invaluable pieces of our rural economy and environment for future generations,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in a statement … The purchase is part of the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The state agreed to pay $2.9 million for the property.
“Jax Beach imposes MMJ moratorium” via News4Jax – The one-year moratorium will apply to both medical marijuana treatment centers and dispensaries in the beach community. Supporters said the ordinance will allow city officials more time to analyze the potential impact of the medical marijuana business. “It’s going to be a concern to residents too. We had an almost 80 percent approval rating. We support that. We found a fair resolution — the one-year resolution is written specifically to end it sooner if we can make that happen,” said Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham. Latham said the city is waiting on guidance from the state before developing a plan for medical marijuana distribution. Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach are also both considering similar moratoriums.
“New terms for commissioners in oldest city” via Sheldon Gardner of the Florida Times-Union – The three St. Augustine commissioners who reclaimed their seats in November each took the oath of office again Monday, and chose Commissioner Todd Neville as the city’s vice mayor. The City Commission’s organizational meeting, held on a date and time spelled out in city code, also allowed the commission to pass a resolution with the mostly the same policies and procedures except for minor changes. Commissioners are facing major efforts ahead, including continuing recovery from Hurricane Matthew and moving forward on infrastructure and mobility upgrades. “I think we have a great commission,” Mayor Nancy Shaver said. “We have a lot of work to do, and we’re looking forward to it.” Before taking their oaths, commissioners held a shade meeting about litigation involving local artists and the city’s vending rules, but commissioners didn’t announce a settlement in the case when they ended the meeting in public. The organizational meeting drew city officials, residents and board members to the Lightner Museum lobby at City Hall. The typical meeting room still needs repairs because of damage from Hurricane Matthew. Judge Charles Tinlin, who serves in St. Johns County, administered the oath of office for Shaver, Commissioner Roxanne Horvath and Commissioner Leanna Freeman. They all took their oaths with someone beside them.
“Flagler schools workers get retroactive raise” via Shaun Ryan of the Daytona Beach News-Journal – The Flagler County School Board approved … A raise in pay for the school district’s non-instructional staff. This would include school nurses, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, paraprofessionals and more. Retroactive to July 1, non-instructional employees will receive an increase of 25 cents per hour across the board added to each step of the salary schedule. All professionals, adult education instructional personnel and non-school based administrators will also see a 25-cent per hour raise. Bus drivers will receive an increase of $2.08 per hour added to each step of the salary schedule. Nurses will see an increase of $3.65 per hour added to each step. “I think this was a good negotiation,” said board member Colleen Conklin. “Hopefully, it will help with some of the situations that we have in recruiting transportation.” Bus driver shortages plague school districts across the nation. One of the challenges districts face is retention of drivers who are able to find higher paying jobs once they earn their commercial driver’s licenses. The contract also makes a change to overtime configuration. Previously, an employee who worked more than eight hours in a day was eligible for overtime pay. Now, eligibility kicks in once an employee works more than 40 hours per week. The contract also mandates appropriate attire for the job being done and sets forth a social networking policy, essentially defining limitations an employee must observe when using social media.
“Corner Bakery spaces expected to fill quickly” via Karen Mathis of Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record – Discussions have begun for the Brooklyn Station on Riverside location, one of the area’s two Corner Bakery Cafes that closed [last week] …Regency Centers Corp. spokesman Eric Davidson said he did not know the identity of the potential tenants, but said the space would be leased “as quickly as possible while being responsible.” The Bonneval Road location near Southpoint, an area under significant road construction, also appears close to landing a new tenant. John Ergisi, director of leasing for Murphy Land and Retail Services Inc., said a letter of intent has been sent to the landlord for a high-end Mexican fusion restaurant. If that lease isn’t signed, he said other restaurants are interested. As soon as Corner Bakery Café closed its doors, calls and emails began, he said. Ergisi anticipates the space could be filled and opened in two to four months, depending on the concept.
“Conservative group raps city over TaxSlayer bowl, EverBank seats” via Christopher Hong of the Florida Times-Union – For the second time in a month, a conservative advocacy group with ties to the Koch brothers weighed in on a Jacksonville issue, this time criticizing City Hall’s plan to pay $415,000 to install temporary seats at the TaxSlayer Bowl college football game. The Florida branch of Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group that advocates free-market principles and has ties to the Koch Brothers, two prominent billionaire conservative political donors, came out swinging against the plan Monday. They say local governments shouldn’t pay for sports events and the city’s plan should enrage taxpayers. “Elected officials need to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars and rein in government’s misconstrued notion that it can be a better investor than hard working citizens can be,” said the group’s state director Chris Hudson in a prepared statement. Mayor Lenny Curry, a self-described conservative and former chairman of the state Republican Party, fired back at Americans for Prosperity and said the event produces economic benefits for the city by attracting tourists and boosting local business sales. “Annual events like this generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue for our city,” Curry said in his own prepared statement. “Outside special interests not knowing the facts doesn’t change this equation. It’s a good investment for our city and the taxpayers.”
“After terrible season, some say this may be worst Jags team ever” via Gary Shelton — As the disappointment ends, the Jacksonville Jaguars must measure its depth.
And whether it includes quarterback Blake Bortles.
Bortles has had a terrible season. At one point, he was thought to be the key to the Jags’ turnaround. Instead, he has 15 interceptions — and 50 for his career. In his three seasons, he has a total of 10 wins … and 11 interceptions returned for touchdowns. Against Denver, his rating was only 37.6.
“It’s the biggest nightmare possible, but what are you going to do about it? You can’t sit there in a corner and pout. You can’t blame people. You can’t feel sorry for yourself because I think all that’s going to do is affect the way I play. You can’t press. I think I was doing some of that early in the season and that didn’t go well. You’ve got to stay true to what we do and what we believe in and go through the process. For me, it’s obviously still trying to take care of the ball. All you can do is put your head down and continue to play as hard as you can and prepare each week.”
The Jaguars label any rushing play of at least 12 yards and any completion of at least 16 yards as an “explosive” play.
The Jaguars had only four explosive plays out of 83 snaps against Denver.
“If you look at the whole game, the things that stood out offensively: The ugly, and also the lack of explosive plays,” coach Gus Bradley said Monday. “You would like to have nine or 10 explosive plays.”
It has gotten to point where onlookers are questioning whether this might be the worst-ever Jags team. Only once before have the Jags won only two games.
Minnesota visits the 2-10 Jaguars Sunday.
Five most disappointing Jags of 2016
– Gus Bradley, coach: Bradley has now won only 14 of 60 NFL games, and most critics think it’s only a matter of time until he is replaced. Bradley already has fired offensive coordinator Greg Olson, a hint at the trouble the team is in. The Jags have lost several close games, true, but the NFL is a league where most teams are close. The good ones win.
– Bortles, quarterback: Bortles’ 15 interceptions lead the NFL. Even worse, he’s now thrown 11 pick-sixes while winning only 10 games for the Jags. His rating of 76.9 is 47th in the NFL, a 32-team league.
– Allen Robinson, wide receiver: A year ago, Robinson looked like a blossoming star with 80 catches for 1400. He’s fallen off, however. He’s 46th in the NFL in receiving yards, averaging only 11.1 yards per catch. He has 622 yards this season.
– Chris Ivory, running back: The Jags invested a lot of free agent dollars in Ivory, who gained more than 1,000 yards for the Jets last year. This year? He has 350 yards. His average (3.8) is a half a year less than a year ago.
– Allen Hurns, wide receiver: A lot of the critics have looked toward Robinson, but Hurns has had a falloff too. He caught 64 passes last year; he has 35 at the three-quarter mark. He gained 1,031 yards last year; he has 477 now. The passing attack of the Jags just hasn’t been there.
Season’s Beatings — There are layoffs. And then there’s what Morris Communications did to 15 Florida Times-Union employees Thursday, two weeks and change before Christmas
The mood in the newsroom: shocked and despondent, as copy editing and production, are being moved to Augusta, for the T-U and other Morris properties.
The rank and file, we are told, found out Thursday afternoon — in keeping with other T-U moves that have been published for public consumption contemporaneously with the employees finding out.
Morris has put itself at odds with its local staff of late, most recently with the endorsement of Donald Trump in the T-U.
“The change, planned for February, will mean the elimination of 15 jobs in Jacksonville. T-U copy editors and page designers are being urged to apply for 12 new positions in Augusta, as well as for two new night editor positions at the T-U,” the T-U report notes.
The content of the paper will remain local (unless corporate compels another endorsement). However, the feel of it will have more ”standardization” with the rest of the Morris portfolio.
For those who remember when Jacksonville had a thriving and very local two-paper culture, with the T-U in the mornings and the Jacksonville Journal in the afternoons, this is another reminder of how the ownership structure of local product is often divested from the community itself.
We are interested in hearing from those impacted by these layoffs.
