Jax

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2015

Earlier this summer, the Jacksonville City Council passed, without any significant debate or public notice, a emergency moratorium on the dispensing and cultivation of Charlotte’s Web. The bill was rushed through Land Use and Zoning, and presented as an addendum item at the end of a packed Council meeting. The media, rushing to file stories […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee battled Friday morning with officials over the perpetually embattled Jacksonville Public Library budget. The budget increases by 0.4% this year, yet the Council’s asks go well beyond that modest uptick. Discussions included whether or not “merit pay” or “equity pay” was part of the proposed budget increases. Councilman John Crescimbeni […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2015

Finance Committee Chair Bill Gulliford removed his prop bottle of Advil from his desk before the Friday session. Perhaps that was too optimistic a move. The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee budget hearings on Friday morning started off with interesting exchanges between Sam Mousa and John Crescimbeni about Fire and Rescue structural issues, before going into a discussion of […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2015

On Tuesday, the St. Johns Riverkeeper filed a notice of intent to sue the Army Corps of Engineers over the proposed St. Johns River harbor deepening project. The grievances are fourfold. There is, the Riverkeeper contends, “a failure to provide appropriate in-kind mitigation for the environmental damage that will result from the dredging,” as well […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 13, 2015

The saga of Zakee Furqan, the so-called “business leader” and “job creator” who may be the only person convicted of second-degree murder to be touted as an endorser in a mayoral race in Jacksonville history, continues. Furqan, whose endorsement of then-Mayor Alvin Brown was touted by the campaign as a coup before it was unceremoniously […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 13, 2015

Two budget reviews from the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee to go on Thursday. The firs, and the most important: the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. 2:39 p.m.: John Crescimbeni mentions that more than 15 COPS Grant employees not being part of the General Fund as not being “transparent” in terms of budgeting. Bill Gulliford predicts that after three years, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 13, 2015

The Thursday afternoon Jacksonville City Council Budget Review began, as the council auditor presentation continued with a lively discussion of public service grants. The morning session is here. 1:20: Councilman Tommy Hazouri is annoyed by a lack of clarity on these from Rashanda Jackson, chairwoman of the Public Service Grant Council. John Crescimbeni goes on to outline a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 13, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee Budget Hearing Day One commenced with the administration overview, then a bracing 165-minute romp through capital improvement projects with Council Auditor Kirk Sherman. As the old song goes, “Let’s get this party started right; let’s get this party started quickly.” Overall, it was a very smooth session, with minor […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 12, 2015

What a difference two weeks makes for the St. Johns River Ferry Commission. Their last meeting, late in July, was fractious. Chairman John Crescimbeni was, at various points, extremely critical of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. Regarding JTA, the cantankerous Crescimbeni said at one point, “I feel like we’re completely out of the loop. We keep trying […]

Melissa RossAugust 12, 2015

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Many Americans are familiar with the famed pioneers of racial integration in sports: Jackie Robinson with the Dodgers, or Althea Gibson at Wimbledon. But after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, many lesser-known African-American athletes also became firsts in their sport, and faced a lonely and sometimes terrifying road. One of them was […]

Jax
Image via Desantis X account

Charlotte’s Web workshop on Tuesday in Jax

Jax Council debates library budget, hours

Fireworks at Friday morning Jax Council budget hearings

Why St Johns Riverkeeper decided to sue Army Corps of Engineers

Arrest warrant issued for Zakee Furqan

Jax City Council Budget Review: Sheriff’s Office

Jacksonville Council budget review: Public Service Grants

Jax Council budget review morning session addresses UF Health, other issues

JTA and COJ back on track for ferry transfer

“Strong Inside” takes compelling look at race, college sports in 1960s South