Jax

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

They say that First Baptist Church runs Jacksonville. And a good litmus test: the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance debate. They oppose expansion. They issued a call to pastors for a Thursday lunch before the Committee of the Whole meets at Jacksonville’s City Hall, to discuss the “direct threat to their church” posed by HRO expansion. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

The Jax City Council ban on the use of cellphones during meeting is under siege, with a threat from Bill Gulliford that boiled down to pass my bill fixing it or face a rules challenge. The Bill Gulliford bill included a measure prohibiting “electronic communications” from or to Council members related to legislation on the agenda […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

The funding crisis for UF Health, Jacksonville’s only Level 1 trauma hospital and safety net hospital, continues. And Jacksonville is looking to Tallahassee to resolve it. After a meeting to discuss Consolidation Task Force recommendations where much of it focused on UF Health and other public health issues, Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart noted that talks between […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

Votes have consequences. The decision during September’s budget night vote to move $330,799 from stormwater budgets to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department to fund safety officers had big consequences. A lawsuit from the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County resulted in a settlement, which required cure legislation to affirm the budget night decision. The wrinkle in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

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An interesting development out of Jacksonville’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety committee: Reggie Brown going off on the Public Service Grants council criteria, and then (more interestingly) addressing the removal of people from volunteer boards, which was a big part of the early days of the Lenny Curry administration as he removed Alvin Brown appointees and […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

One of the more interesting results of the 2011 Jacksonville City Council elections: Matt Schellenberg beating Jack Webb. Schellenberg, in his second term, is pushing legislation for a referendum to extend consecutive terms for Council members, constitutional officers, and the mayor to three terms. This would, as the bill now stands, allow Schellenberg to stand for re-election. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

In an email to supporters, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality claims that Lenny Curry opposes a referendum on the expansion of the HRO. “The Mayor also made clear to JCE leadership that he is opposed to a ballot measure on this issue. No one wants to see the City roiled by months of divisive advertisements and hours-long […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2016

Jon McGowan, former owner of McGowan Firearms, should’ve had his Kevlar handy when The Florida Times-Union took aim Monday. Their charge is that overdue sales taxes should have blocked McGowan from getting a $150,000 grant from the Jacksonville Tourist Development Council to promote his Shooting and Outdoor Convention. The TDC guidelines require being current in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott admitted two Jacksonville civil rights legends, Earl M. Johnson and Rutledge Pearson, to the Civil Rights Hall of Fame on Monday. Johnson was the first African-American member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, and during Consolidation, was secretary on the Local Government Study Commission. As a lawyer, Johnson was instrumental in the desegregation of schools, parks, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2016

One of the most hot-button issues before Jacksonville’s City Council is the decision whether to increase the number of terms city officials can serve. On Monday, it cleared its fourth and final committee. The Matt Schellenberg bill seeks to boost consecutive terms for the Jacksonville mayor, City Council, and Duval County constitutional officers from two to […]

Jax
Now it's time for Florida to start cleaning up.

Ahead of First Baptist anti-HRO lunch, Mac Brunson speaks on Jax bill

Cellphone ban vexes Bill Gulliford, yet Rules defers his bill

Funding talks between UF Health, city of Jax on hiatus

Safety officer cure legislation spurs spirited Jax Council committee budget debate

Reggie Brown attacks removal of people from Jacksonville volunteer boards

Is Jack Webb looking for a rematch against Matt Schellenberg?

Jax Coalition for Equality claims Lenny Curry opposes HRO ballot measure

Jon McGowan: “I know I’m an easy target”

Rick Scott admits 2 Jax legends to Civil Rights Hall of Fame

Jax term limit extension bill clears final committee