Local

Scott PowersApril 21, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs may be looking for a way out of the corner she’s painted into involving the multi-faceted controversy over the county’s robust tourist tax. The mayor is calling a joint meeting of the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Orange County Tourist Development Council with the prospect she’ll be seeking a path […]

Drew WilsonApril 21, 2016

The political committee for LGBT rights organization Equality Florida announced Thursday it is endorsing Democrat Andrew Korge in the Senate District 39 race. “This a race where the contrast is crystal clear,” Equality Florida Action PAC Chair Stratton Pollitzer said. “For 10 years Anitere Flores has opposed LGBT equality at every turn and she has […]

Ryan RayApril 21, 2016

Republican congressional hopeful Neal Dunn didn’t wait long to stake his claim in the 2nd Congressional District. Following U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham‘s announcement Thursday morning the freshman Democrat would not seek re-election in her now-splintered CD 2, Dunn proclaimed he was the district’s best option to succeed her. “Florida Congressional District 2 needs a conservative leader to fight […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

Derek Igou, Jacksonville’s first choice for the new director of Neighborhoods, didn’t work out. The problem, we understand, was one of academic credentials. The Lenny Curry administration is back to the drawing board, and a Thursday email indicates a refinement of job description specs for Neighborhoods head. “Per our discussion and your directions,” wrote Mousa Thursday to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 21, 2016

The cost of hailing an Uber in the Tampa Bay area are going up, but the ride hailing company said the rates are still lower than they were at the end of 2015. In an email Thursday, Uber said the company is raising rates by 11 percent in Tampa Bay. The move comes just a […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

10999688_857653250970297_7531487358224600481_o-e1441897156706-1024x1024.jpg

Quashing days of will-he-or-won’t-he speculation, Jacksonville State Rep. Jay Fant said he would not run to replace Ander Crenshaw in CD 4. “I want to thank my backers who have pledged their dollars and their energy and have urged me to consider a Congressional bid, but I think it’s important to finish the work I was elected to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

Among Jacksonville’s many disparities that cut across barriers of race, class, and geography is the problem of food deserts. On Friday, Groundwork Jacksonville will announce a potential remedy on Jacksonville’s Eastside. The press release notes that in “the 2012 Quality of Life Plan developed by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Eastside community shared a vision […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

Washington-Heights-Apartments-Jacksonville-FL-photo-01-3500x5000.jpg

On Wednesday, Jacksonville city officials, including Mayor Lenny Curry and Councilman Tommy Hazouri, visited Washington Heights. The Global Ministries Foundation’s 200-unit HUD complex has many of the same issues as Eureka Gardens, say the electeds, including mold and public safety concerns. Curry told FloridaPolitics.com this was one of his many “neighborhood walks” in which he goes into […]

Scott PowersApril 21, 2016

Darren Soto‘s Democratic colleagues in the Florida Senate are coming to his aid for his run for Congress in Orlando-based Congressional District 9 The Senate Democratic Caucus and almost all of its 14 members individually are endorsing Soto, a Florida senator from Orlando, his congressional campaign announced Thursday. “We’ve worked with Darren and know him as […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

FloridaPolitics.com has learned that Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri made political contributions from his office account, violating Florida Statute 106.141. Hazouri had two expenditures that could be defined as “political contributions” in Q4 2015. The first expenditure: a $250 Nov. 5 donation to the Florida Democratic Party, itemized as a “donation to send Young Democrats to South […]

Local

Teresa Jacobs looking to reopen tourism tax discussions at special meeting

Equality Florida endorses Andrew Korge in SD 39 race

Neal Dunn after Gwen Graham CD 2 announcement: “I am ready to take on this role”

Next Jax Neighborhoods director to have law enforcement leadership background

Uber raising fares 11% in Tampa Bay

Jay Fant not running in CD 4, clears field for John Rutherford

Solution emerges to food desert problem on Jacksonville’s Eastside

Lenny Curry, Tommy Hazouri talk Washington Heights

Florida Senate Democrats endorse colleague Darren Soto in CD 9

Tommy Hazouri caught in contribution conundrum