Jax

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 27, 2016

While Jacksonville’s own Susie Wiles is Florida co-chair of the Trump campaign, and the grassroots have fallen in behind Marco Rubio, the establishment is still with Jeb Bush. Tuesday’s announcement of the Duval County Jeb Bush leadership team includes familiar names: Mike Hightower, Tom Petway, Peter Rummell, Ed Burr, and John Rood, to name three bigtime backers of Mayor Lenny Curry. The local GOP […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 27, 2016

Barring the unexpected, Lori Boyer will be Jacksonville City Council President. Wednesday meetings with Council members (Anna Brosche, Matt Schellenberg, and Tommy Hazouri) were intended to let her make her case, while finding out what her colleagues’ vision for Boyer’s presidential year might be. “We can change the face of this city,” Boyer said in the meeting with Brosche. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 27, 2016

Councilman Aaron Bowman has leadership credentials that most in public life in Jacksonville don’t. Running the Mayport Naval Base for a couple of years gives you that command presence. Yet after the HRO public hearing in Jacksonville’s City Council Tuesday, Bowman showed leadership of a different type. A type from the heart. “You probably saw me with […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

With two HRO expansion bills in public hearing at the end of the meeting, Jacksonville’s City Council steeled itself for another extended round of public comment. The legislative agenda? Light. But even the agenda meeting had allusions to the conflict to come, such as Bill Gulliford‘s quip about a city employee moving to the Beach, saying […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

Expectations going into Tuesday’s JEA Agreement meeting were that this process may be winding toward its conclusion. Winding is the operative word here. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And it’s being filmed in slow motion. The terms by and large had been agreed to in principle weeks before, regarding JEA’s contribution floor and other […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

The JAX Chamber of Commerce board of directors in a prepared statement Tuesday “reaffirmed its 1992 Declaration of Community Values and urged the Jacksonville City Council to pass an all-inclusive ordinance to ensure everyone in our community has equal protection against discrimination.” “The Chamber has a long history of leading on issues of equality in […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

The Jacksonville Vehicles for Hire subcommittee met Tuesday for the latest skirmish between the Uber/Lyft rideshare side and traditional taxicab companies. The agenda included “a discussion of the state legislation, a look at ordinances in other cities, a discussion on enforcement of city ordinances, and an open discussion on the issue.” The big takeaway was potentially […]

Melissa RossJanuary 26, 2016

Growing concerns about homeless residents camping near the Volusia County Administration Center the past two weeks have led to a proposal to close the building. It’s the place where residents pay taxes, get car tags, and take of other business. Homeless people have been using the location as a campsite since Daytona Beach closed a […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council VP race continued on Tuesday, with Matt Schellenberg courting supporters. Schellenberg’s meetings: with Scott Wilson, who hadn’t already committed, and Jim Love, who had pledged to frontrunner John Crescimbeni. Wilson, chair of Land Use and Zoning and previously an aide for Don Redman, would be a key pickup. Schellenberg noted that “I don’t know if we’re compatible” […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

Matt Schellenberg spent Monday afternoon courting support for an expected runoff scenario in the Jax Council VP race, including a scheduled meeting with Tommy Hazouri, who had already pledged to Aaron Bowman Schellenberg had already criticized Bowman, a fellow Republican, for a] running too early in his term and b] perhaps not having enough “independence” from the […]

Jax
Image via Governor's Rumble

Jeb Bush’s Duval County leadership team has establishment feel

Lori Boyer: “we can change the face of this city”

“Tears in my eyes”: Jax Council members talk HRO debate

HRO testimony rocks Jax City Council yet again

JEA Agreement inches closer to resolution

Jax Chamber backs all-inclusive HRO

Jax Vehicles for Hire panel considers stiffer penalties for rogue operators

Volusia County administration building to close because of homeless camp

Jax Council VP candidate Matt Schellenberg hustles for votes Tuesday

Matt Schellenberg asks Tommy Hazouri for VP support