Local

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The one scheduled public notice meeting at Jacksonville’s City Council on Wednesday: Councilwoman Katrina Brown meeting at 3:00 p.m. with Councilman Tommy Hazouri on the subject of having the city’s annual budget bills considered by the whole Council for deliberation and vote. This would significantly alter the process, which involved seven day-long deliberations by the Finance […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry appointed the city’s first African American spokeswoman, in the form of the tireless Marsha Oliver. From the easy requests to the tough questions, Oliver handles them with promptness and aplomb, and as she settles into her role, she is moving into a leadership position herself. One example of such: her invitation […]

Melissa RossNovember 4, 2015

The operatives on the ground in tax-averse St. Johns County are celebrating sweet, sweet victory. For the first time in 40 years, the residents of this upscale area have approved a tax increase. Voting 61 percent to 39 percent, voters approved a 10-year, half-cent sales tax to pay for new and improved school construction. With […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The JEA Board is taking shape, and Lenny Curry is bringing two big time players to the game. One of them is a longtime Democratic City Councilman. A Tuesday morning email from Director of Appointments and Special Projects Jordan Elsbury signals the administration’s intention to advance Warren Jones and Ed Burr on an expedited emergency cycle […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

Not every Jacksonville City Council member could make it to Monday’s public notice meeting where Councilman Bill Gulliford faced down the Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees Chairman Larry Schmitt. With that in mind, the PFPF (courtesy of hourly consultant John Keane) sent an email to the previous City Council group email list […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The case of 507 missing debit cards from the Alvin Brown administration continues to be investigated in Jacksonville’s City Hall… and Mayor Lenny Curry wants action. In an email sent Tuesday afternoon, Curry directed his Inspector General, Thomas Cline, to “look into the debit card issue and to connect w State Attorney as appropriate,” also […]

Guest AuthorNovember 3, 2015

Marathon voters on Tuesday re-elected Mark Senmartin to the City Council and sent Michelle Coldiron into office, as well. Senmartin, owner of a gun shop and pawn shop, and Coldiron, owner of a medical supply business, were two of five candidates running for two at-large seats, meaning the two with the most votes won. “I […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 3, 2015

The cash strapped St. Johns County School Board can anticipate some relief coming in the very near future. St. Johns County’s half cent sales tax referendum, which was polling with 53 percent approval in September, toppled resistance to pass by a resounding margin. For the first time in more than a quarter century, St. Johns County […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 3, 2015

Jacksonville finally is on the verge of having a Charlotte’s Web bill, addressing cultivation, processing, and dispensing of low-THC cannabis. It comes after a tortuous process that spanned two classes of Jacksonville’s City Council, encompassed five months and two moratoriums, and took three joint workshops between Land Use and Zoning and the Planning Commission this fall. The […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2015

Shalimar Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz released a new ad Tuesday that trumpets his role in passing tougher penalties on sex offenders in 2014. “I’m Matt Gaetz, and I’ll always fight to protect our kids,” the Senate District 1 candidate said in the video. “The system was broken, so I led the fight to fix it,” […]

Local

Katrina Brown attempts to build momentum for Jax budget process reform

Lenny Curry spox Marsha Oliver to participate in workplace diversity panel

A Better St. Johns PAC savors victory: “We’re ecstatic”

Warren Jones, Ed Burr to JEA Board

Jax Police and Fire Pension Fund countermessages forensic audit

Lenny Curry enlists legal eagles on Alvin Brown era Debit-gate

Mark Senmartin re-elected to Marathon City Council; Michelle Coldiron gets nod for open seat

Ground game carries St. Johns Sales Tax referendum to resounding victory

Jacksonville holds final Charlotte’s Web workshop

Matt Gaetz ad boasts role in “fixing” penalties for sex offenders