Jax

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

On Tuesday morning, a Jacksonville City Council committee mulled the impact of auto repair shops, internet cafes, nightclubs, and liquor stores in certain neighborhoods. Such questionable businesses exacerbate the city’s pervasive blight issues, legislators agree. The fix, it turns out, may be in zoning. But there is no clear consensus on what that fix may […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford has no plans for an official town hall while in his Jacksonville-centered district this week. Yet those interested in catching the first-term Republican have an opportunity Tuesday evening, when Rutherford addresses the Young Catholic Professionals at St. Joseph’s Church in Mandarin. The event, which will be held at the “Cody Family Enrichment Center” on […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council will enter a week of committee meetings on Tuesday morning. Below, some of the bills we are watching work through the process. Ex-offender employment: The most compelling legislation starts cycling through the committees on Wednesday morning, beginning with Councilman Garrett Dennis’ bill strengthening requirements that companies doing business with the city […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 20, 2017

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson visited Eureka Garden in Jacksonville on Presidents’ Day, and expressed optimism for the building’s current ownership, while suggesting that more comprehensive reform of HUD is needed. Speaking to tenants in the 400-unit Section 8 complex’s community center, Rep. Lawson addressed the need for federal help allowing tenants to “make a different […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 20, 2017

Democratic Rep. Al Lawson will begin the week in Jacksonville, ascertaining the priorities of the eastern flank of Florida’s far-flung Congressional District 5. Lawson plans to spend Monday through Wednesday working in town, with the following tentative itinerary. Monday will see Lawson working out of his new Jacksonville office on N. Davis Street in LaVilla. He will […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2017

The phones were lit up Friday morning when FloridaPolitics.com visited the office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. The subject: Curry allowing the city’s Human Rights Ordinance to become law, albeit without his signature. When asked Wednesday about not signing the HRO into law, the mayor cited his position that he did “not believe that legislation was necessary” […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2017

On Friday, the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund held its monthly meeting of trustees. It was the first such meeting since the city agreed to tentative pension deals with the police and fire unions last weekend. As part of that deal, the city will no longer be obligated to the terms of the 2015 […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 17, 2017

LOVE WINS: The big story of the week — Jacksonville finally, after five years of debate and false starts, ratified an expansion of the city’s Human Rights Ordinance. The HRO expansion protects the city’s LGBT community in the workplace, the housing market, and regarding public accommodations (read: the right to use the bathroom in a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2017

During the five-year debate ahead of Jacksonville codifying LGBT rights in its Human Rights Ordinance this week, opponents often couched their rhetoric in the Christian gospels. However, with the bill having passed, the gospel of love has morphed into the rhetoric of hate. Getting the worst of it: Mayor Lenny Curry, who respected the supermajority of the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2017

While it’s uncertain as to whether or not the United Nations Security Council seeks advice from the Florida House, it’s being provided nonetheless. Rep. Jason Fischer joined an ever-growing list of sponsors of House Bill 231, a bill filed in January objecting to a 2016 United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. The Florida House […]

Jax

Jacksonville council panel weighs blight impacts of sketchy businesses

John Rutherford to meet constituents at Jacksonville Catholic Church on Tuesday

Jacksonville City Council tackles body camera cost, ex-offender jobs

Al Lawson talks HUD reform at Jacksonville’s Eureka Garden

Al Lawson begins week in Jacksonville, will visit Eureka Garden

Religious right to Lenny Curry: ‘keep your promise’ on HRO

Jacksonville PFPF trustees throw cold water on Lenny Curry’s pension deal

Jacksonville Bold for 2.17.17 — Finally

After HRO expansion passes, opponents vent their rage at Lenny Curry

Jason Fischer co-sponsors bill objecting to UN condemnation of Israeli settlements