Jax

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 6, 2017

Hurricane Irma’s catastrophic path almost guarantees some impacts in Northeast Florida, and Jacksonville is readying for the worst. Wednesday morning saw Mayor Lenny Curry lead a tour of a city warehouse in an undisclosed location that has supplies that may prove necessary for the recovery period that seems all but unavoidable. The Mayor’s message: The city […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 6, 2017

As Irma bears down on Florida, Jacksonville still awaits monies from FEMA for Hurricane Matthew recovery. That money isn’t coming anytime soon. An internal email from Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Todd Smith reveals that the cash-strapped federal relief agency has a priority list — and the roughly $26 million Jacksonville awaits is not […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 6, 2017

Even as Jacksonville’s Mayor and City Council President stand shoulder to shoulder during storm prep pressers, they diverge on another storm of a different matter. That storm is a Category 5, but of a different type: namely, the future of the city’s Confederate monuments. Council President Anna Brosche was provided an inventory by Jacksonville’s Parks […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2017

Not even a year ago, the city of Jacksonville was sideswiped by Hurricane Matthew: a mega storm that clipped Florida’s East Coast. Power was out in some parts of town for close to a week, and even today, Jacksonville still awaits a big chunk of reimbursements from FEMA. Of $50M in damage from the big […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2017

There are two types of Jacksonville City Council candidates currently filed for the Spring 2019 elections. One type is the populist; their fundraising is minimal and their rhetoric brims with assurances that he or she will bring new voters to the polls by dint of charisma and word of mouth. The other type is the […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2017

A potential change in health insurance for Jacksonville city employees and retirees could be in the offing, via a bill that cleared the first of three City Council committees Tuesday. Ordinance 2017-20 would authorize Jacksonville’s employee services department to offer the option to workers and retirees to enroll in the UF Health plan starting on Jan. […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry unveiled his proposal for the Kids Hope Alliance, a board that he wants to replace the Jax Journey and Jacksonville Children’s Commission, as August began. At the high-profile presser unveiling the concept, this reporter asked the 14 City Councilors on hand if they would co-sponsor the measure. 14 hands went up. Since […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2017

Last week, Jacksonville City Councilman Danny Becton started sales pitches with Council colleagues on a priority bill for him: 2017-348, which seeks an accelerated paydown of the city’s $3.2B unfunded actuarial liability on the city’s pension debt. Becton had filed the bill earlier in the year, and put it on ice at the request of the Lenny Curry […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2017

The race to succeed outgoing Rep. Jay Fant in Jacksonville’s House District 15 has its first Democratic entrant as of Friday. That candidate: Dr. Tracye Polson. Polson, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist by trade, has mulled a run since the spring. Her goal in running is to “give people in this district a real choice.” “I […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 31, 2017

Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche requested an inventory of the city’s Confederate monuments from the Parks Department, and it was provided this week. What it reveals: three monuments, put in place between 1898 and 1926; and eight historic markers. The monuments include the Confederate Monument in Hemming Park, the ‘Monument to the Women of the […]

Jax

Jacksonville in pre-Irma ‘state of emergency’

In FEMA cash crunch, Jacksonville gets short shrift

As Irma looms, Confederate monument debate gets pushback in Jax City Hall

Lenny Curry: Jacksonville has ‘adequate reserves’ for Matthew-level impact from Irma

Randy DeFoor: Instant frontrunner in race for District 14 seat on Jacksonville City Council?

Health plan changes could be ahead for Jax city workers, retirees

Jax children’s program reform bill deferred in committee

Danny Becton is selling Jacksonville pension savings. Who’s buying?

Democrat Tracye Polson files to run in HD 15

Jax Confederate controversy simmers, City Council President dithers