Jax

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2015

Everyone wants good schools, but getting people (and politicians) to pay for them is a different matter. In St. Johns County, they may have found a way forward … despite the resistance of powerful politicians and “civic leaders” who stood in their way. In November, a referendum passed resoundingly in St. Johns County. It was […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2015

In late October, Jacksonville public officials trumpeted Google considering Jacksonville for Google Fiber implementation. In the past two months, meetings between public officials and Google representatives have laid out terms, point by point, and a review of city emails reveals a potential sticking point: the pole attachment agreement. Paul Cosgrave, PIO for JEA, lays out […]

Melissa RossDecember 29, 2015

The North and Central Florida nonprofit Ability Housing has received a $150,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to support The Solution That Saves, a statewide pilot providing Florida-specific data on the effects of providing permanent supportive housing to high users of crisis services. Examples of that include arrests and/or involuntary commitment to mental health facilities. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2015

One of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s priorities has been public safety. But it’s a new school approach to law and order, one predicated on the assumption that Jacksonville can’t police our way out of its problems, and one rooted in a revival of the Jacksonville Journey. “It’s the right thing to do,” Curry has said. Curry […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2015

Despite the handwringing in certain quarters about JEA’s annual bond ratings agency trip to New York earlier in December, JEA says it was “excellent.” An email from JEA CFO Melissa Dykes to Kerri Stewart, Chief of Staff of the Lenny Curry administration, credits the Jacksonville mayor. “The rating agency meetings were excellent. In particular, we have received […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2015

Capital is a finite thing in municipal budgets, and to that end an evaluation matrix for capital investments is floating around Jacksonville’s executive branch. What this will do, in its final form: codify a disciplined approach to capital investment, one rooted in ROI. The seven-page document from Kirk Wendland of the Office of Economic Development offers […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2015

Internal city of Jacksonville emails reveal that the Candy Apple Café, located across the street from City Hall, seeks to bag parking meters during peak hours. The issue, says Jennifer Earnest of the café, is one of capacity. “Is there any opportunity that we could bag the meters across from our building to create a space […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 24, 2015

Though talk is that a candidate still might jump into the House District 16 primary between Jason Fischer and Dick Kravitz, that candidate won’t get the support of the Northeast Florida Builders’ Association. NEFBA released a statement on Wednesday backing Fischer, who runs to replace termed-out Charles McBurney. “It is vital that we have strong leadership at both […]

Melissa RossDecember 23, 2015

The messaging war over expanding Jacksonville’s HRO, or human rights ordinance, is heating up as Christmas draws near, with District 3 City Councilman Aaron Bowman the latest to enter the fray Bowman’s email inbox is already drawing hate messages, advocates say, after his piece in support of updating the ordinance to cover LGBT residents appeared […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 22, 2015

The First District Court of Appeal on Tuesday ruled against a Nassau County man in a “stand your ground” case. On behalf Nicholas Rudin, 4th Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk‘s team contended that Rudin was immune from prosecution under state Statute 766.032 (the stand your ground law). Shirk’s external communications officer said the case was not […]

Jax

St. Johns County school tax referendum: the most overlooked NE Florida story of the year?

Could Jax Google Fiber deal fall through?

Florida Blue gives Ability Housing $150K to house homeless, study issue

Jax Journey revival showing successes already

JEA credits Lenny Curry on “excellent” ratings agency meetings

Details emerge about Jacksonville’s proposed capital investment scoring matrix

Candy Apple Cafe wants meters in bags

NEFBA backs Jason Fischer in HD 16

Councilan’s pro HRO op-ed generates hate mail, positive mail pushback

Matt Shirk’s office loses “stand your ground” case over father/son fracas