Jax

A.G. GancarskiJune 8, 2017

In a month thus far full of Ws or low-dollar takes for Northeast Florida legislators, Rep. Clay Yarborough‘s $6,100 of May money stands out. That $6,100: the best month of 2017 for Yarborough, who now has over $14,000 on hand to defend a safe Republican seat on Jacksonville’s Southside. Of that money, $2,000 came via four […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 8, 2017

The rules of the Florida Senate are straightforward: no campaign contributions or solicitations thereof during Session. “During any regular legislative session, extended session, or special session, a Senator may not directly or indirectly solicit, cause to be solicited, or accept any contribution on behalf of either the Senator’s own campaign, any organization described under section […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2017

Councilman Danny Becton‘s bill (2017-348) obligating the city of Jacksonville to earmark 15 percent of all budget increases to paying down pension debt until 2031 has not met favor with Mayor Lenny Curry. It did no better in the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee … where it was panned by most members before the bill was “put out […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2017

In a meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee Wednesday, Council Auditor Kyle Billy presented a report on the local Police and Fire Pension Fund‘s bank account. That report revealed myriad governance issues with the fund throughout 2016, including dubious purchases and questionable accounting practices. Checks without signature, checks without documentation, delayed check endorsements, questionable […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2017

A question worth watching: is Jacksonville City Councilman Danny Becton on a collision course with Mayor Lenny Curry? Certainly, there is reason to question whether the first-term Councilor is on the same page with the priorities and agenda of the Mayor. Consider a bill that will be considered in Finance Wednesday morning: Becton’s 2017-348, which […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2017

Another veto dropped Tuesday from Gov. Rick Scott for Rep. Cord Byrd, as the Governor vetoed yet another priority request for the freshman Northeast Florida Republican. Tuesday saw proposed expansion of the purview of the Ocean Highway and Port Authority of Nassau County get the axe. Scott’s objection was that the bill authorized construction of infrastructure outside […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2017

Two Jacksonville “local bills” regarding alcohol sales and consumption were signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott. Both bills, carried by Rep. Tracie Davis at the request of the Jacksonville City Council, make it easier to drink in public places. One bill: near the stadium. The other: at smaller restaurants in older neighborhoods. HB 1291 waives open container […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee mulled a bill that the committee itself introduced on Tuesday, a measure requiring Jacksonville Ethics Commission nominees to be confirmed by the City Council before serving on the commission. Then the committee moved to withdraw its own bill, which itself was the result of a nomination that was pulled. […]

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 […]

Jax
Sen. Ashley Moody spoke before the Florida Small Business Development Center network Tuesday. Image via Ashley Moody's office.

$6,100 in May fundraising for Clay Yarborough

‘Nothing sinister’ about Audrey Gibson Special Session fundraising email

Jax Council committee downs extra pension payment bill; Lenny Curry wins again

Jax Council Auditor spotlights PFPF governance issues

Collision Course for Danny Becton, Lenny Curry?

Another day, another veto for Cord Byrd

Jax liquor bills signed into law

Jax Council panel withdraws its own bill reforming Ethics Commission appointment process

Jacksonville TRUE Commission sunset bill withdrawn

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