Jax

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2016

On Wednesday, the Finance Committee of the Jacksonville City Council became the third and final committee to approve revisions to the Tourist Development Council schematic. The bill was approved 5-1, with Aaron Bowman in dissent. A sticking point in committees in previous days was a provision in the bill that the current and most recent council […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

The major conflict in Jacksonville politics right now: negotiations between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and the heads of various public sector unions. Curry wants to move the unions beyond defined benefit “dinosaur” plans, offering raises for current workers, assurances that their plans won’t change, and bonuses for the current employees. The unions are reluctant to move […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

At a press availability Tuesday afternoon across the street from the Cleveland Arms apartment complex, a group of Jacksonville City Council members united to declare that enough is enough when it comes to gun violence. To that end, they are proposing solutions to an epidemic that has seen multiple people shot — most in Northwest Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

Criminal history has often disqualified reformed felons from large swaths of the job market. However, Jacksonville business leaders are looking to rectify that injustice. “Project Open Door,” announced Tuesday at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, asserts companies will not ask about a job applicant’s arrest record until the interview process. This, akin to the “Ban […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

Justice was delayed for an important member of Jacksonville’s city government. But on Monday, it was finally delivered, as one of the most honorable people in City Hall was cleared of what were ultimately spurious charges. Last year, a report from the Jacksonville City Council auditor’s office implied Kerri Stewart, the chief of staff for […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

A weekend of gunplay in Jacksonville, with multiple murders, found its sorriest lowlight with the killing of an infant near the Cleveland Arms apartment complex Sunday. On Tuesday morning, the Baptist Ministers Alliance held a presser at that complex, addressing the murders over the weekend. Cleveland Arms is no stranger to violence or community demonstrations after […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

The Jacksonville Journey is in line to receive almost a million dollars in federal money, via a bill winding its way through City Council committees. On Monday, the bill got through Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services. On Tuesday, it was Public Health and Safety’s turn. PHS approved the ordinance unanimously. As per the bill summary: “The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

Last Saturday, I checked out a protest against President-elect Donald Trump — the Jacksonville iteration of the #NotMyPresident movement. As protests go, it was as Shakespeare wrote: “sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Those in attendance – 150, maybe 200 – were peaceful, by and large. The signs and speakers were all earnest, in that young, leftish, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

Jacksonville’s epidemic of gun violence in 2016 (106 homicides thus far) has been bookended in 2016 by the deaths of two of the youngest, most innocent victims imaginable. In January on Jacksonville’s Eastside, 22-month-old Aiden McClendon was gunned down as the toddler sat in a car with relatives. Another car drove by, and bullets sprayed […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

The revival of the Jacksonville Journey was a signature campaign pledge of Mayor Lenny Curry. But over 16 months into his term, violent crime continues in Jacksonville, with a spree of shootings over the weekend. Though the Jacksonville Journey has never been represented as a quick fix for violent crime so much as a program to drive […]

Jax
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Duval County TDC tweaks clear final Jacksonville City Council committee

Americans for Prosperity issues call to action on Jacksonville pension debt

Jacksonville City Council members grapple with recent wave of gun violence

Jacksonville biz leaders kick off ‘Project Open Door’

Kerri Stewart cleared of ethics charges

Ministers talk weekend violence at Cleveland Arms presser

Second Jacksonville council panel OKs $1M Jax Journey grant

How Jacksonville can benefit from Donald Trump

Murder of Jacksonville infant illustrates a larger struggle

Jacksonville Journey discussion reveals fissures on council panel