Local

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

The penultimate Jacksonville City Council meeting of the year, on “getaway day” before Thanksgiving break unofficially begins, had, in theory, a light agenda with expected heavy public comment on the HRO and related issues. In practice, though the agenda was light and the public comment was robust, the HRO commentary was surprisingly muted. The agenda […]

Melissa RossNovember 24, 2015

As NATO’s chief calls for calm and “de-escalation” after news that Turkey shot down a Russian warplane at the Syrian border, Florida Coastal School of Law took the issue local with a Tuesday panel discussion on the Syrian refugee crisis and the legal issues around refugee resettlement. Also on the agenda, the recent U.S. House bill blocking refugee resettlement […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

The JEA Agreement Committee meeting last week brimmed with optimism over getting close to an accord on the contribution proposal. Would Tuesday’s meeting brim with similar good feeling and bonhomie? Not so much. JEA CEO Paul McElroy noted that “given where we are with our governance structure,” it would be necessary to have the board consider […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

On Tuesday at high noon, a conference room in Jacksonville City Council’s offices had a Vehicles for Hire committee meeting, including Councilmen Bill Gulliford, Matt Schellenberg, Garrett Dennis, Jim Love, Anna Brosche, Reggie Gaffney, and Council President Greg Anderson. The Tuesday meeting’s main event: a phone-in presentation from Broward County Assistant County Attorney Annika Ashton regarding Broward’s Transportation Networking Company regulations, recently imposed […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

Public safety is a shared priority of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is going to help advance public safety in Jacksonville, with a Justice Assistance Grant of $96,607 for a Public Safety Analyst Project, according to a letter from the FDLE This money, according to the application […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

The Jacksonville Young Democrats are going to make their presence known at Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, addressing a variety of issues, including Mayor Lenny Curry‘s opposition to the Syrian refugee admission process, and the recent spate of threats and intimidation spurred by possible expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. The JYDs assert that interested parties […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

An interesting career move may be in the offing for Republican political operative Raymond Johnson, if a recent Facebook post is any indication. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is looking for new community service officers, and Johnson has declared an intent to apply. “I’m applying for this CSO position to make a real steady life for myself,” […]

Melissa RossNovember 24, 2015

In the wake of bomb threats and racist KKK flyers being distributed around town, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality is sending a message of unity and strength as the city continues its “community conversations” on whether to expand the local human rights ordinance to cover LGBT residents. In an email to supporters and media outlets, […]

Associated PressNovember 24, 2015

The mayor of Miami-Dade County wants to waive about half of the fines Uber currently owes the county. The Miami Herald reports Mayor Carlos Gimenez is pressing commissioners to take up his proposal to legalize the ride-sharing service. County regulators have been fining Uber’s drivers since 2014. They currently owe about $3.2 million. Uber has said […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2015

Jeff Brandes is taking another shot at the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, this time because it hired a lobbyist. The St. Petersburg-based state senator has been calling for the agency’s demise for several years now, in part because it has tried to regulate ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft. Now he wants Attorney General Pam […]

Local
Jennifer Adams. Image via campaign.

Jax City Council light on agenda, heavy on public comment

Syrian refugee crisis up for discussion at Florida Coastal School of Law

JEA Agreement contribution negotiations snag because of board turnover

Broward County Assistant Attorney presents to Jax Vehicles for Hire Committee

FDLE grants Jax $96,607 for “public safety analyst project”

Jax Young Dems at Jacksonville City Council meeting Tuesday

Raymond Johnson applying for Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office post

Email insights: Jax Coalition for Equality “united against threats and fear”

Miami-Dade county mayor wants to cut Uber’s fines in half

Jeff Brandes wants legal opinion about Hillsborough PTC’s lobbying efforts