Jax

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2017

A case could be made that Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has lost control of the pension reform narrative at the worst possible time. In recent days, both the Florida Times-Union and FloridaPolitics.com have run stories questioning the lack of substantive detail provided by the mayor’s office regarding the pension reform package introduced last week to the Jacksonville City […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2017

When it comes to Gov. Rick Scott and Northeast Florida, is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? For the fourth time since the beginning of March, Gov. Scott was in Jacksonville Tuesday, as Scott held another “business roundtable” with Mayor Lenny Curry and other Jacksonville notables, including former mayor and UNF President […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford has turned considerable attention in recent months to combating the city’s opioid overdose crisis. Fatal overdoses in 2016: four times as these as homicides. After a successful meeting with councilors, the mayor, and other stakeholders in March, Gulliford convened the second public meeting on the topic on Monday. However, the precise […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Whatever Tom Petway wants, Tom Petway gets. On Monday, the Jacksonville City Council Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee approved an ordinance (2016-764) allowing JEA to meet at least every other month. This idea was hatched some weeks back in the catacombs of council committees. “At a Rules Special Meeting, JEA’s Chairman of the Board, Tom Petway, requested that […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Those in Florida’s Congressional District 5 who seek face time with Rep. Al Lawson will be in luck this month, should they be in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, or Quincy. Rep. Lawson, a first-term Democrat, has three town halls slated for April. Jacksonville Wednesday, April 12, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Florida State College at Jacksonville Downtown […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Jacksonville prepares for its yearly Funk Fest this May, with headliners including Too $hort, Bell Biv Devoe, En Vogue, and SWV. But before those artists emerge from the catacombs of history to reprise their hits of yesteryear, questions remain about itemized labor costs. Councilman Reggie Gaffney, in whose district the May festival will happen, noted concerns about expenses from organizers […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

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The rappers Whodini posed the question way back: “Friends … how many of us have them?” When it comes to a downtown Jacksonville plaza, the once-controversial Friends of Hemming Park look poised to get a six-month extension to its contract — and some money for material improvements to the “front door to city hall” — […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Friendship on the installment plan. Golf carts at the county line. A date with Joe Camel? You’d better be 21. A “bully” on a commission. A gag rule for the public. And incentives for the donor class. These are just a few of the concepts and bills the Jacksonville City Council mulls in committees this week. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 31, 2017

Jacksonville’s long road toward the latest round of pension reform – the Lenny Curry edition – is finally entering the home stretch this week. While last week saw the introduction of 14 total bills related to the various agreements struck with the city’s bargaining units after months of negotiations, this week sees council attempting to […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 31, 2017

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The search for a new CEO for JaxPort has commenced, reads a letter from Jim Citrano, chairman of the board of directors, to various stakeholders. The previous CEO, Brian Taylor, resigned with little forewarning earlier in the month. Taylor had irked board member John Falconetti for, among other reasons, not attending two board meetings in […]

Jax
Sen. Ashley Moody (right) fields questiosn about the space program during a town hall in Melbourne. Image via Ashley Moody.

Lenny Curry to pension plan critics: ‘Let them chirp’

Encore performance: Rick Scott messages economic incentives in Jacksonville

Jacksonville mulls pilot response to opioid crisis

Jacksonville City Council panel OKs JEA Board plan for fewer meetings

Al Lawson plans Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Quincy town halls

Jax Funk Fest organizers question high local labor costs

Hemming Park money clears first Jacksonville council panel

Friends with benefits: Committee week for Jacksonville City Council

Will Lenny Curry’s pension reform save Jacksonville money?

JaxPort begins CEO search, though details and timeframe are hazy