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A.G. GancarskiFebruary 29, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee joined Finance in approving the JEA Agreement on Monday. The JEA Agreement bill will apply to the accord between the city and the utility through 2021, with the current JEA contribution set at about $114.2 million, with minimum annual increases of 1 percent. It also allocates […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 29, 2016

Standing in front of the Alachua County Court House Monday former state Sen. Rod Smith teased a “major announcement” for Tuesday morning, almost certainly his entry into the race for the newly redrawn Senate District 8. The Gainesville lawyer and former Florida Democratic Party chairman would be the second candidate in the contest, joining Gainesville Republican […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 29, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee mulled on Monday an agenda including bills on the Bob Hayes Track Meet, JEA Agreement, increased money for JSO, and stolen property. • 2015-764, the JEA Agreement ordinance, passed Finance 6-0. Included: a floor amendment from Lori Boyer. One such sticking point: revenue from future utility businesses in which JEA […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2016

Michel Foucault, in a long essay in Discipline and Punish about the “panopticon” concept first outlined by 18th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham, noted that one of the benefits of the panopticon are that “there are no disorders, no theft, no coalitions, none of those distractions that slow down the rate of work, make it less perfect or […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2016

When it comes to former Jax PFPF head John Keane, City Council is ready to “lawyer up,” and a March 7 “litigation shade meeting” will address strategy. The guidelines were laid forth by Council President Greg Anderson in a memo Friday. Attendance is “urgent” for all members of Council, as they discuss legal strategy in the wake […]

Bill RuftyFebruary 28, 2016

Twenty-three years ago a young House member introduced a bill to replace the statue of Confederate Gen. Kirby Smith in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol with one of Gen. James A. Van Fleet. It passed the House, but the Senate sponsor got cold feet after receiving phone calls from several Confederate memorial groups. That […]

Bill RuftyFebruary 27, 2016

Want the boss’ job? For Susannah Randolph, you run for it. Randolph, 41, an Orlando Democrat, has been the district director for U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson … both times. Now that Grayson, an Orlando Democrat, is running for the U.S. Senate, Randolph is running for his seat from Florida’s 9th Congressional District. Democrats actually have […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 27, 2016

Fleming Island Republican Sen. Rob Bradley has moved his re-election campaign into the newly redrawn Senate District 5 and is, so far, the only candidate in the race. Bradley represents District 7, which is made up of Alachua, Clay and Bradford counties, but new maps approved by Florida Courts at the end of 2015 shifted the first term senator […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 27, 2016

A review of City of Jacksonville internal documents reveals what the future of the Jax Journey looks like. A “Funding Recommendations” two-page includes $1,780,074 in monies for 10 ZIP codes: 32202, 32205, 32206, 32208, 32209, 32210, 32211, 32218, 32244 and 32254. A few of the recommendations will be of interest. A particularly progressive measure: $50,000 devoted to increasing ex-offender […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 27, 2016

Marc Little, who lost the 1994 general election to Corrine Brown, then resurfaced a few years later to do PR for Brown, looked poised for a turn in Jacksonville government on a volunteer board. However, at Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Agenda meeting, it was announced 2016-194 (confirming appointment of Marc Little as a member of the Renew […]

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Girls at a Boys & Girls Club in Rhode Island. Image via AP.

2nd Jax Council committee OKs JEA Agreement

Rod Smith teases “major announcement”; likely entering SD 8 race

Jax City Council Finance Committee OKs Bob Hayes, JEA, inventory control bills

Jax City Council to look into “communications tracking software”

Jax City Council plans closed meeting on John Keane dispute

Polk County’s 4-star hero could replace Confederate general in U.S. Capitol

Susannah Randolph takes on congressional run with deep knowledge

Rob Bradley running in newly drawn SD 5

Jax Journey funding recommendations include money for ex-offender employment

Marc Little will not resurface in Jax politics after all