Jax

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

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For an indication of the seismic change in the office of 4th Circuit Public Defender Charlie Cofer, look no further than his just-announced appearance at a late April panel. The panel: “Better Justice Florida: A Forum on Criminal Justice Reform.” Among the focuses of the Apr. 29 event at the Florida Coastal School of Law: Florida’s […]

Phil AmmannApril 7, 2017

You may notice a running theme with this issue of Bold: much of it deals with crossroads situations (to borrow a phrase from 90s rappers Bone Thugs-N-Harmony). Will the city dredge JAXPORT? Or will years of deliberation and consternation lead — as they so often do — to nothing? Will Corrine Brown beat the rap […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2017

Thursday evening saw cable news broadcasts offering Strange New Respect for President Donald Trump after the bombing of a Syrian military base. The bombing, a response to the Syrian regime’s alleged use this week of Sarin gas in its ongoing civil war, was framed as a humanitarian measure by President Trump. “Assad choked out the lives […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 6, 2017

Jacksonville City Council members, upon hearing the details of the Lenny Curry pension reform plan, seemed optimistic upon first hearing. However, as they were not at the bargaining table, they questioned the parameters of collective bargaining agreements, and wanted more detail on the actuarial projections. ____ Councilman Bill Gulliford, instrumental in the 2015 pension reform deal, said […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 6, 2017

Mayor Lenny Curry offered his presentation of pension legislation on Thursday afternoon, leaving it to the Jacksonville City Council to hash out. They were helped along by CFO Mike Weinstein and Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa, who helped to explain the pension situation to the legislators. The short version: if pension reform passes, the city could see big […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 6, 2017

After weeks of speculation as to hard costs and real benefits of the Lenny Curry approach to Jacksonville’s pension reform, the first-term Republican Mayor talked it out with the Jacksonville City Council Wednesday afternoon. The Curry administration feels the fierce urgency of now. With pension costs, already $290M in the current fiscal year, slated to be […]

Jax

‘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

Charlie Cofer panel appearance signals real difference in Jax Public Defender office

Jacksonville Bold for 4.7.17 — See you at the crossroads

Jacksonville progressives plan Friday protest of Syrian military action

Jacksonville Councilors embrace, question details in Lenny Curry pension pitch

Lenny Curry’s team sells big pension savings to Jacksonville City Council

Lenny Curry frames pension-reform push as ‘new beginning for Jacksonville’