Jax

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2017

Rumors of the Jacksonville TRUE Commission’s demise were overstated after all, with a proposed sunset of the oversight body withdrawn in Tuesday’s City Council Rules Committee meeting. Councilman Tommy Hazouri has been unhappy with the Taxation, Revenue Utilization and Expenditures Committee for much of his term – and Hazouri filed a measure to slash the membership of the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2017

A Tuesday morning Jacksonville City Council committee saw an update on the city’s ShotSpotter program from Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Homeland Security Chief Robert Connor. This much-ballyhooed anti-crime tool does what its name suggests: it identifies, via sound, where a bullet’s origin might be. For law enforcement, this provides an important tool; for those married to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2017

A bill proposing a ban on Jacksonville city sidewalks in downtown Jacksonville was withdrawn Tuesday by Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford. Gulliford, since filing the bill in 2016, has engaged with skateboarding enthusiasts in recent months over perhaps getting dedicated areas downtown for skaters. Gulliford noted that “laws in the books” address the issues of property […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 5, 2017

Extra payments for Jacksonville’s $2.8B unfunded pension liability? Councilman Danny Becton wants them. But he doesn’t have support in the Mayor’s Office. Despite a pension reform bill becoming law earlier this year, at least one city councilman, who on Monday likened the pension reform package that was the signature legislative achievement of the Lenny Curry Administration to […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 5, 2017

In Florida’s 4th Congressional District, where Jacksonville Republican John Rutherford holds serve, a primary challenge has emerged from Palatka’s Rob Ficker. “I live there,” Ficker said of Palatka, “because it’s cheaper than St. Augustine.” Ficker, a 39-year-old NPA registrant who filed in CD 4 because he “works in the district,” described himself as “working in […]

Phil AmmannJune 4, 2017

It’s June, finally. And despite the Jacksonville City Council taking a week off, the political scene in Northeast Florida is heating up. One congressional incumbent launched his re-election campaign, while a former Clintonista is mulling her own run in a district just south of Duval County. Sen. Bill Nelson came through the region to talk […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott’s budget veto list is out, and Northeast Florida was not spared the axe. Some education, health, and infrastructure projects will have to wait until next year. Crosswalk safety didn’t make the cut, as a $1.231M ask for signal installation, carried by Rep. Clay Yarborough, fell to the floor. As did University of […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2017

An issue among Jacksonville City Council members in recent weeks: how to get the funding needed for summer camps for at-risk youth? A “major announcement” was delivered by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry Friday on that subject, with 24 more sites being funded (bringing the total to 72 citywide, down from 98 previously), $958,000 more being allocated, and […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2017

Breaking with most big city mayors that have thus far opined on President Donald Trump withdrawing from the Paris Accord: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. “@realDonaldTrump @POTUS campaigned on American jobs, cutting regs that killed those jobs &he won.He’s doing what he said he would do. #jobs,” Curry Tweeted Thursday evening. Curry, during a press conference Friday morning […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 1, 2017

When it comes to body cameras for police in Jacksonville, nothing has come easy. And Sheriff Mike Williams has evolved on the matter. “There are just too many issues related to body cameras for JSO officers at this time. More discussion is necessary,” Williams said in 2015 on the campaign trail. Activists persevered, however, and by […]

Jax

Jacksonville TRUE Commission sunset bill withdrawn

Jacksonville’s ShotSpotter identifies ‘when, where, and what’ of gunshots

Bill Gulliford pulls Downtown Jacksonville skateboarding ban legislation

Jax Councilman wants extra pension payment; Mayor’s Office not sold

Petition collector mounts primary challenge to ‘vulnerable’ John Rutherford

Jacksonville Bold for 6.2.17 — Summer Slam

Rick Scott budget vetoes impact Northeast Florida needs

More summer camp money provided for ‘at-hope’ Jacksonville kids

Lenny Curry: Paris Accord ‘has no teeth to it’

Jax Sheriff rolls out body camera pilot program for July launch