Local

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

The “Community Conversations” on the HRO are over. But Lenny Curry’s inbox brims with communiqués from opponents of HRO expansion. The majority of emails received lately oppose legislation and support a referendum. [Note: all grammatical/spelling errors hail from the original documents being quoted.] “I still cannot believe that what is going on is for real… […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality said it was “dismayed” by Bill Gulliford‘s proposed referendum on the HRO (Human Rights Ordinance) expansion. Using rhetoric similar to that employed by former GOP Councilman Jack Webb at Tuesday’s Community Conversation, the JCE wrote that “we can strike a balance between protecting gay and transgender […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 17, 2015

With capital improvement deals such as Jacksonville’s $90 million package of Capital Improvements for EverBank Field, the devil is in the details. Even as the legislation is passed, a few questions remained (at least from this writer) about certain language in the bill. To that end, we reached out to the office of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny […]

Melissa RossDecember 17, 2015

It’s nearly a year to go till Election Day, but State Attorney Angela Corey is messaging hard and pushing back against criticism that she’s been too punitive a prosecutor, especially when it comes to juvenile offenders. Corey presented on the concept of “smart justice” at Monday’s Justice Summit in Sarasota. The three-day event was organized by the […]

Ryan RayDecember 16, 2015

The Pensacola Police Department announced they have begun using an upgraded radio communications system Tuesday. The new Motorola Solutions ASTRO 25 platform allows for greater interoperability or connection between different divisions and systems, the department said in a release. Pensacola law enforcement also joined forces with Motorola and vendor CES Team One to update their dispatch […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2015

In the wake of Councilman Bill Gulliford calling for a referendum on expansion of the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance, one thing is clear. On the HRO, there is no clarity, with business community members, Council members, and the mayor’s office all singing from different hymnals. FloridaPolitics.com caught up with various Jacksonville VIPs today, and notable was […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2015

Jacksonville’s unfunded pension liability: the crisis of our time. Mayor Lenny Curry has a plan to solve it. But it will need buy-in from Tallahassee, Curry said on Wednesday at the JAX USA quarterly luncheon. Telling the pro-business crowd at the Hyatt Regency that on issues like “job creation, it’s exciting and encouraging to see how […]

Mitch PerryDecember 16, 2015

They’re not using general revenue tax dollars! That was the message that six of the seven members of the Hillsborough County Commission emphasized on Wednesday in voting to approve a deal that will send $29 million in taxpayer money to the Tampa Sports Authority to make improvements on an estimated $87 million plan for Raymond […]

Melissa RossDecember 16, 2015

Following on the heels of Tuesday’s third, packed and final “community conversation” on expanding Jacksonville’s human rights ordinance to cover LGBT residents from discrimination, Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford has emailed media outlets saying he’s filed the same ordinance that was voted on in 2012 “with one addition — a provision for a referendum by […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2015

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Council members Lori Boyer and Bill Gulliford met with members of the Lenny Curry administration, including Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and Chief Financial Officer Mike Weinstein, to discuss issues related to recommendations related to the Task Force on Consolidated Government. At least a few of the reforms discussed may find their way into the 2016 […]

Local

Anti-HRO emails continue to flood Lenny Curry’s inbox

Jax Coalition for Equality: “dismayed” by HRO referendum

One final look at the Jacksonville Sports Complex improvements legislation

Angela Corey talks “smart justice”

Pensacola Police Dept. announces upgraded communications system

Legislative approaches diverge on Jax HRO

Lenny Curry calls for JAX USA crowd to press Tallahassee on pension solution

Hillsborough BOCC approves stadium improvement deal with Tampa Bay Bucs

Email insights: Jax City Council’s Bill Gulliford calls for HRO referendum

Jax Council members, administration members discuss potential government reforms