A.G. Gancarski, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council is currently mulling a raft of bills that could change the way the city handles pensions forever. 2017-257 creates a new ordinance section: Chapter 776 (Pension Liability Surtax). Bill 2017-258 affects the general employees and correctional worker plans, closing the extant defined benefit plans to those hired after Oct. 1, 2017, and […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2017

What happens when the Americans for Disabilities Act meets a Jacksonville zoning overlay? A headache, some litigation, and, eventually, attempts by all parties to arrive at a workable compromise. Emphasis on the word “attempts,” as seemingly everyone outside of the lawyers who reached the compromise found something at which to balk. A bill that would […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2017

Rep. Al Lawson will spend some of this week in Jacksonville, with plans to speak at the Tuesday evening meeting of the City Council. The meeting, which begins at 5:00 p.m., will offer the Tallahassee Democrat his first opportunity to address Jacksonville’s 19 legislators. Lawson, replacing Rep. Corrine Brown (who was noted for her ability to “deliver” […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2017

Prologue: A Monday meeting of the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund centered around the ultimate actuarial impact of Lenny Curry‘s pension reform package, with presented actuarial analysis from the board proving to be more pessimistic than that of the city about rates of tax revenue growth, payroll growth, and amortization schedule. Ultimately, not much of that mattered […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 10, 2017

Thursday saw FloridaPolitics.com offer up three stories on discussions of Jacksonville’s pension reform pitch to the Jacksonville City Council. If you are looking to read reportage of Mayor Lenny Curry‘s remarks, long-form presentation of Curry’s chief lieutenants, reaction of the Jacksonville City Council, use the helpful hypertext links below. However, if you’re looking to read analysis of […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 9, 2017

Until Friday, most people outside the circles of regular protesters and Duval County Republican Party activists didn’t know the name “Gary Snow.” Bet they know it now. Snow, who recently came to Jacksonville by way of Chicago, has a unique shtick. Under the aegis of supporting President Donald Trump, Snow makes a habit of showing up […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2017

As Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry prepares to sell his package of pension-reform bills to the City Council, his political committee has been busy fundraising in case it is needed to help close the deal. March saw Curry’s “Build Something That Lasts” raise $68,000, a figure spurred by $25,000 donations from Shad Khan and Florida Blue. Curry’s committee spent $29,729 […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2017

In an unsurprising move, the influential Jacksonville Civic Council gave its seal of approval to Mayor Lenny Curry‘s pension reform package on Friday. The Jacksonville City Council spent much of Thursday in a workshop, where they had the bills explained to them. The bills — fourteen in all — would implement collective bargaining agreements, establish defined […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2017

Compounding questions and attendant uncertainty about the dredging of the St. Johns River to deepen the channel for JaxPort was a legal challenge filed Friday in federal court. The St. Johns Riverkeeper filed for declaratory and injunctive relief against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, attempting to stop the 7 foot deepening of the 13 […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2017

Taking an unusual step of weighing in on a foreign military incursion, Florida Gov. Rick Scott released a statement Friday morning supporting Thursday night’s U.S. military airstrikes on Syria. “President Trump took the right action and acted decisively. The Assad regime is responsible for the horrendous killings of innocent men, women and children. These chemical attacks against innocent […]

A.G. Gancarski

Jax City Council auditor’s office raises pension questions

Springfield Overlay zoning change legislation draws scrutiny in public notice meeting

Al Lawson to address Jacksonville City Council Tuesday

Jax PFPF questions payroll growth assumptions in city pension plan

Critics ‘chirp’, while Lenny Curry surges to the end zone

‘Snow job’ for Jacksonville protesters was only a matter of time

Lenny Curry political committee hauls in $68K in March; Shad Khan among donors

Jacksonville Civic Council urges passage of Lenny Curry pension plan

St. Johns Riverkeeper challenges JaxPort dredge in court

Rick Scott: ‘About time’ for Syria strike