Jax

Melissa RossMarch 29, 2016

Placing the blame on everything from “media misinformation” to the tortured legacy of the Jim Crow era, a high-powered panel of Jacksonville officials held forth on racial tensions in the city at a conference sponsored by the Jacksonville Bar Association and Florida Coastal Law School. Unsurprisingly, the most frank comments came from Edward Waters College […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2016

Good news: Rick Scott signed the “pension tax” bill, allowing a referendum on extending the 1/2 cent BJP tax until 2060 to deal with the unfunded pension liability. Now, the question: how to sell it to the people? Selling a sales tax referendum has been done in Jacksonville before. In fact, selling a ½ cent sales […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2016

On Friday, Governor Scott signed HB 655 into law, revising alcoholic beverage requirements for restaurants in the Riverside-Avondale Commercial Character Areas. The goal of the bill is to provide allowances for space and seating requirements in a specialized zone called the Riverside Avondale Commercial Character Areas. The bill would reduce requirements to 100 seats (down […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2016

As part of a raft of bills signed Friday, Gov. Rick Scott signed into law the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill that passed the House and Senate by wide margins during the Legislative Session. The bill facilitates a referendum in August or November to extend the half-cent sales tax, currently earmarked for Better Jacksonville Plan project […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry calls Rick Scott the Jobs Governor. And more evidence of that came through Friday, as Scott trumpeted 20,700 new Jacksonville jobs in the past year. Governor Scott said, “Jacksonville businesses have added 20,700 new jobs and the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.5 percent, which is exciting news for families. Every job created […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2016

Watchers of the HD 12 race have waited to see whether establishment money would swing toward Terrance Freeman. His fundraiser at Jacksonville’s SunTrust Building next Tuesday offers clues. An all-star host committee includes names Duval Republicans know, including Charlie Appleby, Bruce Barcelo, Lindsey Brock, Councilman Aaron Bowman, Mel Clark, Rose Conry, Rory Diamond, W.C. Gentry, Dane Grey, Deno Hicks, Charles Moreland, Karyn Morton, Michael Munz, Alexander Pantinakis, Kara Tucker, and Scott Wiley. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 24, 2016

University of North Florida Board of Trustees meetings will look more like a City Council reunion going forward. On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott announced three appointments to the board. Two of the three are former presidents of the Jacksonville City Council. Stephen Joost, a two-term Republican councilman who notably endorsed Alvin Brown in the mayoral election, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 24, 2016

The speculation swirls in Jacksonville, but Corrine Brown affirmed, via her spokesman, that she does intend to run for re-election. “Rep. Corrine Brown does intend to run for re-election,” wrote David Simon to FloridaPolitics.com Thursday. The comment aligns with what she told News4Jax Thursday. Yet, from a member of her inner circle, we hear a variation on […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 24, 2016

The big Project Star jobs announcement in Jacksonville came Thursday: City Refrigeration Holdings will establish its North American HQ in Jacksonville, bringing 100 jobs to the area at an average wage of $67,000. The subtext, however, is that these jobs wouldn’t have come to Jacksonville if it weren’t for the Jaguars’ yearly games in London. […]

Jax
Dr. Leak Roberts. Image via AP.

Jax officials discuss easing racial tensions, building community trust

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

How to sell a sales tax referendum in Jacksonville

Gov. Scott signs local bill easing liquor requirements in Riverside-Avondale restaurants

Governor signs Jax Pension Tax bill; Now Lenny Curry has to sell it

Rick Scott says Jacksonville up more than 20,000 jobs in past year

Terrance Freeman HD 12 fundraiser has impressive host committee

Kevin Hyde, Stephen Joost appointed to UNF Board of Trustees

Corrine Brown does intend to run for re-election, spokesman says. Yet plans could change.

Project Star validates Jacksonville/London ties, says Lenny Curry