A.G. Gancarski
While the Human Rights Ordinance expansion is the biggest item being considered Tuesday by the Jacksonville City Council, it’s not the only one.
Below, a preview of what to watch in Council Chambers.
***
Margin Call: On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council has a decision to make: will the city protect LGBT rights as other major metros do or not?
As discussed extensively on this site and elsewhere, the 19-person council will vote on expanding the city’s Human Rights Ordinance.
The expansion would add sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the list of protected categories under the ordinance, which ensures that people aren’t discriminated against in the workplace, the housing market, or public accommodations (restrooms, locker rooms, and so on).
If 10 vote for it, the law is subject to a potential veto or signing from Mayor Lenny Curry, putting the mayor on uncertain political sands no matter how he moves.
If 13 vote for it, it’s out of the mayor’s hands.
Thus far, five different council members have voted against the measure in committee. A sixth, Al Ferraro, almost certainly will join them Tuesday.
Thus, for advocates, there is a simple math: ensure that everyone who isn’t part of that group of six shows up and doesn’t get cowed into voting no.
Both HRO expansion advocates and opponents will demonstrate their positions outside the building in various ways. Advocates plan to congregate in Hemming Park. Opponents are expected to have prayer circles outside the building.
***
Northwest Passage: The Jacksonville City Council is expected to approve a revamp of the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund, via Ordinance 2016-779,
Among the policy changes: an emphasis on loans (backed by title liens) rather than grants; a limit on NWJEDF funding of no more than 25% of the total project cost.
One council person can speak with certainty to how things went wrong with the NWJEDF formula previously.
Councilwoman Katrina Brown‘s family businesses are currently being sued by the city for failing to create sustainable jobs via the NWJEDF; the Browns’ CoWealth LLC was granted money to create 56 jobs, and now the city is attempting to settle up in court, as the company created no jobs … falling just shy of the goal established two mayors ago for what was to be a bustling barbeque sauce plant.
Brown has not returned press calls on this or any subject, and disconnected her phone. So far, the council has managed to discuss reforming the program without discussing Brown’s issue — despite her being in one committee during discussion of this bill.
Expect no discussion of Brown’s situation during Tuesday evening’s meeting. After all, she’s a connected person in the city, and connected people play by different rules than the rest of us in One City, One Jacksonville.
***
Hemming Happenings: Ordinance 2017-1 will set up new rules for an old problem: issues with public comportment among the denizens of Jacksonville’s Hemming Park.
The solution this time around: to strengthen trespass orders, requiring that they be doled out in writing, with associated case numbers and a legal appeal process.
Hemming Park already has security on premises, but they typically are outmanned by the dozens of people in the park during normal business hours.
***
Access Granted: Ordinance 2017-16 will provide funding to a position intended to ensure equal employment opportunity on racial grounds in city hiring, including the independent authorities.
The position was established during the John Peyton administration, but was defunded and funding has yet to be restored.
Though one opponent in a committee said the measure was “discriminatory on its basis – what you’re dealing with is race and gender,” this bill will pass, and will be touted as a political victory by sponsor Garrett Dennis.
Time will tell if the bill fixes the problem of racial disparities in hiring and employment on the city level, however.
