Jax

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2017

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In 2016, State House candidate Leslie Jean-Bart pulled no punches when describing what she saw as a pre-ordained process of endorsement in her race from the local Fraternal Order of Police. “They knew weeks ahead of time that they were going to endorse Kim Daniels. They have a relationship with her … [maybe] someone in particular […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2017

Two major political questions in Florida right now are predicated on the eventual decision of Gov. Rick Scott. But he’s in no rush to provide answers. One such decision: will he, as is widely expected, challenge Sen. Bill Nelson next year. Nelson, already in campaign mode, is telling reporters he’s “scared as a jackrabbit” to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

Whatever public grousing there might have been from Jacksonville politicians about Mayor Lenny Curry‘s pension reform, it will be stifled after a dispositive internal poll from Curry’s political committee. The big number: 71 percent. That represents the number of Duval County residents who support Curry’s plan to close the old “dinosaur” defined benefit pension plans that have bled […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry got a political boost today when his allies at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce endorsed his pension reform package. “This is a collaborative solution that addresses a longstanding issue facing our city finances and balances the interests of taxpayers and our hard-working, dedicated city employees,” JAX Chamber Chair Darnell Smith said. Curry’s […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

The press releases promoting Jacksonville’s celebration of National Community Development Week are similar between 2015 and 2017. Both the 2015 and 2017 versions discuss how much money Duval County has derived from federal Community Development Block Grants. This year’s model says that the city has derived $393M from CDBGs since 1975; the 2015 iteration said it […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

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Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti may be taking his talents to the Motor City in a matter of weeks — but that’s not stopping him from issuing advice to the Florida Senate before he goes. Vitti’s specific recommendation: to reject during budget conference negotiations the “Schools of Hope” charter school measure embodied in HB 5103, which cleared […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford sounded the alarm about the city’s opioid overdose crisis a few months back, and has mobilized city and outside resources in a fight to stem the epidemic of avoidable deaths. In March and April, Gulliford scheduled well-publicized meetings to discuss what could be done to stem the tide. Now, the next […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 14, 2017

Corrine Brown faces charges in federal court this month — and the feds have a star studded witness list. Among the names reporters will track starting Apr. 26: Florida Democratic Party Chair Stephen Bittel, former Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover, current Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney, Jacksonville superdonors John Baker and Ed Burr, JEA Board member Husein Cumber, Jacksonville lawyer and one-time Democratic […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 14, 2017

If all goes as scheduled, the Jacksonville City Council will vote on whether to enact Mayor Lenny Curry‘s pension reform package later this month. Curry’s political committee wants to ensure the affirmative case for Curry’s audacious pension reform is heard. To that end, the first spots in what is expected to be a six-figure ad buy […]

Phil AmmannApril 14, 2017

Does Al Lawson ‘get’ Jacksonville? Questions still remain as to whether Congressman Lawson understands Jacksonville, as his visits to the Jacksonville City Council Tuesday, and town hall Wednesday indicate. On Tuesday, one could sense among certain council members (specifically, those representing districts that overlap Lawson’s) a grating irritation over Lawson’s constant use of Eureka Garden […]

Jax

Jax police union head, ethics commission nominee spar over police brutality

Rick Scott still mulls Senate race, CFO choice

Shock poll: Pension reform, Lenny Curry both top 70 percent with Jax voters

Jax Chamber backs Lenny Curry’s pension reform

With federal block grants in question, Lenny Curry admin watches and waits

Nikolai Vitti to Senators: Reject ‘Schools of Hope’

Jax Councilman to Governor: Declare ‘opioid emergency’ now!

Stephen Bittel among prosecution witnesses in Corrine Brown trial

Lenny Curry political committee makes closing pension argument

Jacksonville Bold for 4.14.17 — My city was gone