Jax

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

Monday morning saw the first of three Jacksonville City Council committees approve the latest attempt to expand the Human Rights Ordinance. The vote was 4-2. The measure would extend protections in housing, public accommodations, and employment on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. As well, the bill offered in its original form […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

In 2016, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry had a fractious meeting with the religious consortium ICARE. One unresolved topic: a homeless day resource center. The previous mayoral administration had one in the budget, which offered services three days a week. Curry cut it. ICARE wanted reinstatement, and voiced its concerns. The mayor was focused on the pension tax […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

As legislators begin filing appropriations bills in Tallahassee, we are starting to get an idea what success (or failure) will look like for Northeast Florida this Session. Two of the more compelling requests last week came from Jacksonville Rep. Clay Yarborough, who filed a pair of bills totaling $10 million for the University of North Florida. House […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2017

Pension negotiations resume for Jacksonville’s Fraternal Order of Police on Monday. And an interesting preliminary battle is being fought between the FOP head and a reporter for the Florida Times-Union on Twitter. While such pushback is an occupational hazard for reporters from political figures, the public nature of this dispute is unusual for the Jacksonville market. The […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 5, 2017

On April 15, 2016, Jacksonville state Rep. Reggie Fullwood was arrested and charged with 10 counts of wire fraud and four counts of failure to file federal tax returns on the money in question. Fullwood, who had diverted $60,000 of campaign funds into personal expenses, managed to work down the eventual plea deal to one count […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 4, 2017

In Houston for the Superbowl, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan broke with the city’s right wing on two hot-button issues. Khan, a Muslim immigrant from Pakistan, came out against the controversial Donald Trump immigration/travel ban from seven majority-Muslim countries. And, for good measure, he expressed — to a national publication — his support for the expansion of […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 3, 2017

A sign of the times in Jacksonville’s City Council as discussion of expanding the Human Rights Ordinance begins next week: requests for press passes to the February 14 meeting when the full vote is expected to occur are already being taken. The public hearing in January drew an overflow crowd to the council chambers, leading […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 3, 2017

February started off with a worrying story for parents and guardians of children in Duval County Public Schools. As News 4 Jax reports, students with guns were found at three Jacksonville schools on Wednesday. One of those schools: an elementary school. DCPS Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told “THE Local Station” that parents need to be more involved, and […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2017

On Thursday, opponents of Jacksonville’s proposed expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance had their say in the Council Chambers. Councilman Bill Gulliford, launching the meeting, noted the passion surrounding this issue, which is now in its fifth year of being debated citywide. “I decided to have this meeting for several reasons,” Gulliford said, including “objective discussion” of […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2017

With less than a week to go before 2017-15, the latest attempt to expand the Human Rights Ordinance, hits three Jacksonville City Council committees, advocates are rightly optimistic and proud of the progress they’ve made in educating the council. The HRO expansion bill would include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as categories in […]

Jax

Amended HRO expansion bill clears first Jacksonville City Council committee

Lenny Curry administration may re-open a homeless day resource center

UNF capital improvements among appropriations asks by northeast Florida lawmakers

Jacksonville police union head, beat reporter clash on Twitter

Reggie Fullwood faces light sentence, wants to avoid prison altogether

Shad Khan: No to Muslim Ban, Yes to HRO

HRO onslaught hits Jacksonville City Council committees starting Monday

Lenny Curry, Nikolai Vitti may collaborate against youth gun violence

Jacksonville LGBT rights opponents speak; Bill Gulliford talks HRO referendum

Jacksonville’s HRO expansion is in sight, but questions loom