Jax

Melissa RossJanuary 4, 2016

History shows that a rebounding economy tends to favor the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election, say two North Florida economists, with the caveat that it’s a long way between now and Nov. 8. Forecasts for the coming year are all over the map, but economist Andres Gallo of the University of North Florida is on […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

Brunswick, Georgia pastor Kenneth Adkins had a busy holiday season, with a lot of time spent attacking Councilman Tommy Hazouri for desiring to expand Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance He started off the New Year calling out four other Council members: Garrett Dennis, Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, and Reggie Gaffney. Adkins’ language was typically florid. “These four African American Jacksonville City Council […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

In emails last week, Shawnti Lee, a personnel clerk for the Department of Employee and Labor Relations in Jacksonville, offered her resignation, using very specific criteria to make her case. Lee, who came aboard in February 2015, cited “varying differences in my realm of work ethics and professionalism that seem to still not be favorable with […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

There are light agendas, and then there’s the one that the Jacksonville City Council Transportation, Energy, and Utilities committee had on Monday. One uncontroversial bill was on it. It regarded a drainage easement in Mayport. During the agenda meeting, Chair Reggie Brown joked that the committee might be able to get through the agenda in one […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

Though it isn’t certain that Google Fiber will be coming to Jacksonville, Google has feelers out for a city manager for the project in Jacksonville. A job listing, posted seven days ago, lists these qualifications, a preference for 2nd person construction throughout: “The role of the City Team is to drive the overall business in […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

Bryceville Republican Barry Holloway had a slow December in terms of fundraising, according to his latest report. The HD 11 candidate raised just $125 in December. He spent $750 on a political ad. Holloway, a Nassau County Commissioner, has about $17,000 on hand, a number augmented by a personal loan of $10,000. The fundraising race thus […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

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Money never sleeps, not even for an incumbent Jacksonville state representative running in a safe district. The $4,000 raised in December by HD 15 Republican Jay Fant brings his total to $50,400. The Seminole Tribe and Old Republic National Title maxed out for Fant, with $500 donations coming from the AIF and AT&T Florida PAC accounts, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2016

The holiday break is officially over at Jacksonville’s City Council. The Monday Finance Committee meeting: highlighted by Jax Mayor Lenny Curry introducing his pension unfunded liability payoff plan, ahead of the Legislative Session in Tallahassee this month. Curry discussed his “proposed solution for funding unfunded pension liabilities,” one he said does not involve a new tax, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 31, 2015

In a memo, Jacksonville City Council’s Special Committee on Public Service Grants’ final recommendations were rendered. The Tuesday memo, from Committee Chairwoman Anna Brosche to Council President Greg Anderson, codifies recommendations arrived at through a series of meetings this fall. The recommendations are intended to address major problems with the public service grants project, including issues […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 31, 2015

Jacksonville Inspector General Thomas Cline has been pilloried by members of Jacksonville’s City Council for amorphous reportage of results in recent months. His year-end report seeks to change that impression. Cline offers “investigation highlights,” which include two reports of his division recommending 11 corrective actions. Specifically noted: the office’s efforts in the Access to Capital program. “The […]

Jax
Image via AP.

Improving economy slightly favors Democrats in 2016 (but anything can happen)

Pastor Ken Adkins calls out African-American Jacksonville City Council members

City of Jacksonville personnel clerk resigns, cites “hostile culture” in department

Jax Council TEU committee: blink and you missed it

Google Fiber seeks manager for possible expansion to Jacksonville

2nd slow fundraising month for HD 11’s Barry Holloway

Jay Fant hits $50K in HD 15 re-election bid

Lenny Curry unfunded liability payoff plan highlights Jax Finance committee meeting

Jax Special Committee on Public Service Grants makes final recommendations

Jax Inspector General report trumpets successes with OPP, Access to Capital