Local

A.G. GancarskiOctober 6, 2015

The first Charlotte’s Web workshop, held jointly by the Planning Commission and the Land Use and Zoning committee of the Jacksonville City Council in August, was less than auspicious. Discussion of “grass stations” and facile comparisons of children who need medicine to recovering heroin addicts waiting for their methadone fixes were the highlights. This time […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 6, 2015

Whispers prior to Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee meeting predicted a council member or two might say something about the wave of board and commission replacement appointments that dominated the agenda. Planning Commission Chairwoman Lisa King, whose replacement by Donald Adkison was on the agenda for the second reading, was in the house. So was […]

Mitch PerryOctober 6, 2015

Unlike some of her contemporaries, Tampa House Republican Dana Young isn’t looking to eliminate the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. But she’s less than pleased with the agency upon learning that they recently purchased space in the Tampa Bay Business Journal for an advertorial spread explaining how the agency works. “WHY is the Hillsborough PTC advertising in […]

Frank TorresOctober 6, 2015

On Tuesday morning, the Orange County Commission opened discussions on possible ordinances to fight human trafficking in the region. Commissioner Pete Clarke introduced the concept after a recent two-year surveillance operation named “Papa Smurf” concluded with eight women rescued from a prostitution trafficking ring and a seizure of drug and guns, which resulted in the arrest of […]

Melissa RossOctober 6, 2015

One month, one city, two panels looking at the future of energy, with two very different tones. This October, Jacksonville will host the Florida Energy Summit. The event, sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the JAX Chamber, is billed as “convening energy leaders from across the state and around the nation to share ideas on […]

Frank TorresOctober 6, 2015

Mayors Buddy Dyer of Orlando and Teresa Jacobs of Orange County are heading to Washington D.C on Wednesday to promote the region as part of the “Orlando. You don’t know the the half of it.” initiative. Both mayors will meet with members of Florida’s congressional delegation, as well as other federal officials, to discuss the region’s growing modeling and simulation […]

Frank TorresOctober 6, 2015

During public comment at the Orange County Commission meeting on Tuesday Morning Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs slammed a proposed bill that would expand the Central Florida Transportation Authority Board and privatize the LYNX bus system. “I am vehemently against privatizing,” Jacobs said. “This board is against it. Buddy Dyer is against it. Osceola county […]

Staff ReportsOctober 6, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday made two appointments in North Florida. First, Rick Watson will replace Pinki Jackel on the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners. Jackel was previously appointed the county’s Elections Supervisor. Watson, 68, of Saint George Island, owns and operates Richard Watson LLC and is a Realtor with Century 21 Collins Realty Inc., […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 6, 2015

The slogan of the Jacksonville Block by Block event, put on by the Jessie Ball Dupont Fund and the Reinvestment Fund, is a simple six word declaration. Our homes. Our neighborhoods. Our opportunities. On Tuesday morning, a cavalcade of Jacksonville civic leaders converged at the Jessie Ball Dupont Center (formerly the Haydon Burns Library) in […]

Peter SchorschOctober 6, 2015

The increasingly contentious race for the District 7 seat on the St. Petersburg City Council is too close to call according to the latest poll of city voters. Lisa Wheeler-Brown, who emerged from the primary as the top vote-getter, commands 36 percent support, while her opponent, Will Newton, is at 34 percent, according to a survey […]

Local

Jacksonville’s second MMJ workshop leads to draft ordinance for Charlotte’s Web

Tommy Hazouri: Lenny Curry board moves “emasculate” consolidated government

Dana Young not happy about PTC advertorial in Tampa Bay Business Journal

Orange County to examine possible human trafficking ordinance

Jax climate and energy panels: a tale of two conferences

Buddy Dyer and Teresa Jacobs head to D.C. to promote Orlando

Teresa Jacobs slams LYNX privatization at Orange County Commission meeting

Rick Scott makes North Florida appointments

Jacksonville Block by Block validates city housing, neighborhoods policy approach

Contentious St. Pete City Council race going down to the wire, new poll says