Jax

A.G. GancarskiNovember 22, 2016

In Jacksonville, the TRUE Commission (Taxation, Revenue, and Utilization of Expenditures) advises the city on fiscal policy. A recent email to city leadership shows that, while you can take a commissioner off of the TRUE Commission, that doesn’t necessarily divest that person of vigilance. Patti Anania, a former TRUE Commission member and wife of a […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

The Duval County Democratic Party is seeking a new chair and the frontrunner is Sen. Audrey Gibson. Yet Gibson is facing one challenger who is calling her out for putting “politics over people.” Jimmy Deininger, Gibson’s opponent in the December election, notes that “our local party is in a state of dysfunction, and to overcome this […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

More transparency. More community engagement. More meetings. More body cameras. And higher millage rates. And that August pension reform referendum? Spoiler: that sales tax extension is not going to provide enough money to pay for what’s needed. Such insights abounded in the long-awaited final report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office‘s strategic initiative task forces. It […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

Jacksonville is wrestling with a pension crisis decades in the making. And national media and political pressure groups are taking notice. The venerable American Spectator magazine — a bible of movement conservatism — waded into the Jacksonville public pension debate last week, throwing sharp elbows at the Northeast Florida city’s pension crisis. The Spectator hit on Jacksonville is […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

With Gov. Rick Scott in Jacksonville announcing record-setting tourism numbers and attributing them to VISIT FLORIDA, it was only natural that Paul Astleford, who heads up Visit Jacksonville, would have his say on the “big numbers.” With Visit Jacksonville under scrutiny for travel expenses, and with its contract due for renewal in a year, Astleford took advantage of the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

Last March, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and members of the Duval delegation convened at Jacksonville’s City Hall, to discuss “what winning looks like.” The city got 90 percent of its appropriations goals. Jacksonville got money for public safety, such as the COPS program, and infrastructure needs, asking for $2 million and getting $1.8 million. And […]

Phil AmmannNovember 20, 2016

The blood tide was unleashed on Jacksonville just after the election. It has been coursing through our streets since. We’re in one of those cycles where it seems like every newscast leads off with a fresh body — a man shot at point-blank range in his house off St. Augustine Road; a group of kids […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Two heads of Jacksonville departments are being promoted from within, it was announced Friday by the office of Mayor Lenny Curry. Diane Moser, chief of Talent Management, has been promoted to serve as director of Employee Services. Stephanie Burch, chief of Real Estate, has been promoted to director of Neighborhoods. Curry described these roles as “critically important” […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Did 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk have a #FridayFeeling? He allowed his Jacksonville employees to leave early on Friday afternoon. Informed sources confirm people were allowed to leave at 2:45 p.m. Those same sources contend that wasn’t an coincidental time to have been chosen. PD-elect Charles Cofer was set to arrive at the PD’s office at 3 […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Over 500 families can count on having a better Thanksgiving this year, thanks to a group of Jacksonville politicians who will host a farm share event Saturday. The food giveaway is on a first come, first serve basis, and kicks off at 9 a.m. at parking lot 4 of Florida State College — Jacksonville’s downtown campus. The […]

Jax
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Former TRUE commissioner blasts Jacksonville for post-hurricane cleanup

In Duval Dems chair race, Audrey Gibson assailed for putting ‘politics over people’

Transparency, taxpayer money billed as solutions to Jacksonville police problems

Jacksonville’s pension reform efforts get national attention

Paul Astleford says Visit Jacksonville gets results

New Duval delegation members face a learning curve

Jacksonville Bold for 11.20.16 — November spawned a monster

New Jacksonville department heads are promoted from within

‘Early out’ from Matt Shirk’s office raises questions

Farm share giveaway to brighten Jacksonville Thanksgiving dinners