Melissa Ross, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossMarch 30, 2016

News that problems still persist at Jacksonville’s troubled Eureka Garden public housing complex has local activists such as Denise Hunt steaming. “I’m disgusted. I was assured these problems would be solved, and I even offered a case management plan of action to help solve some of the inequities out there. I feel like I got […]

Melissa RossMarch 29, 2016

Placing the blame on everything from “media misinformation” to the tortured legacy of the Jim Crow era, a high-powered panel of Jacksonville officials held forth on racial tensions in the city at a conference sponsored by the Jacksonville Bar Association and Florida Coastal Law School. Unsurprisingly, the most frank comments came from Edward Waters College […]

Melissa RossMarch 28, 2016

Expanding Medicaid would greatly help the nearly 1 million uninsured Floridians who have a substance abuse or mental health issue. That according to a policy brief released Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report examines how Medicaid expansion would affect people with a substance-use disorder or mental illness. In particular, […]

Melissa RossMarch 25, 2016

Among the 68 bills Governor Rick Scott just signed into law, perhaps the most attention-getting is HB1411, a bill that “revises regulations for licensed abortion clinics.” The controversial measure imposes new restrictions on clinics where abortions are performed, by requiring that physicians who work at them hold admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The new law also […]

Melissa RossMarch 23, 2016

After a vocal campaign urging the Jacksonville City Council to observe a landmark decision on public prayer, history of sorts was made last night when the Council allowed its first-ever secular invocation to be delivered. Doing the honors was Earl Coggins of the First Coast Freethought Society, an atheist. According to the Society, the campaign […]

Melissa RossMarch 23, 2016

Advocates for the health of the St. Johns River are heading out on the waterway for a 13-day tour. According to the St. Johns Riverkeeper, which is leading the “Save the St. Johns River” event, the Tuesday launch coincided with World Water Day, an international day of awareness for water issues. The event features a team […]

Melissa RossMarch 22, 2016

In the wake of President Barack Obama‘s historic visit to Cuba, the retired Floridian who once represented the U.S. in Havana says it’s time for Florida cities to wade into the travel and business opportunities now on the horizon. While some Florida cities have rushed to do business in Cuba, others, particularly conservative Jacksonville, have […]

Melissa RossMarch 21, 2016

There’s been a string of Democratic victories, keeping the White House firmly out of GOP hands. Much of the country feels disenfranchised. Then, a federal ban on handguns is approved. It’s the final straw. Discontent swells into armed rebellion. Texas secedes from the Union, followed by most other Southern states, and a bloody civil war […]

Melissa RossMarch 18, 2016

Four new cases of the Zika virus were reported in Florida this week, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 66. To help prevent the disease from spreading further, late Thursday night the U.S. Senate approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson and others to speed development of vaccines and treatments for the disease. […]

Melissa RossMarch 17, 2016

Pressing hard on issues ranging from homelessness to what to do about ex-offenders leaving prison, ICARE Jax, or the Interfaith Coalition for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment, is unveiling its 2016 action plan this week at a major rally. “A new initiative we’ll talk about is that we want to engage a process to help more […]

Melissa Ross
Laurel Lee seeks to block the prison contraband pipeline.

Persistent problems at Eureka Garden complex outrage Jax activists

Jax officials discuss easing racial tensions, building community trust

Report says Medicaid expansion would help Florida patients with mental problems, substance abuse disorders

Gov. Scott signs restrictive abortion measure into law

Jacksonville City Council allows first-ever secular invocation

The “Save the St. Johns River” tour kicks off

Retired Cuba mission chief: Florida cities should “prepare themselves for the changes coming”

A second Civil War? Florida author Sean Smith envisions the worst in “Tears of Abraham”

U.S. Senate approves Bill Nelson bill to speed search for Zika virus cure

ICARE pushes on “systemic” Jacksonville issues of crime, homelessness, poverty