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Guest AuthorJune 18, 2015

Marco Rubio must be smiling. The baby-faced U.S. senator and presidential hopeful is having the best two weeks of his life. Not only did he get needlessly razed by the arch-liberal New York Times in two attack pieces, he’s also receiving the cold shoulder by everybody’s who’s somebody in Florida’s Republican establishment. According to CNN, […]

Daniel TilsonJune 18, 2015

Hey, you! Yeah, you, the one who didn’t vote in 2014. If you gag when you see your electric bill, wonder why the Sunshine State barely uses solar power, or frown at the idea of unidentified toxic chemicals being pumped into the ground under you… Well hey, this is a story about why voting really […]

Bob SparksJune 18, 2015

Recently, New York Times columnist David Brooks described the group of Democrats blocking President Obama’s expanded trade authority as the “Democrats’ Tea Party.” By their rigid stance in obstructing the president from negotiating a fast-track trade agreement with Asian countries, Democrats are violating their own principles. By taking Big Labor’s lead in opposing such agreements, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2015

To borrow a phrase, “here’s what we know (and don’t know) about the Lenny Curry administration.” What we know: Sam Mousa is the new Chief Administrative Officer. What can Jacksonville expect? Well, I’ve spent the last four days listening to the man talk as real with me in the room typing every word as he would if […]

Florence SnyderJune 18, 2015

“We take that very seriously,” is quite possibly the biggest of the big lies they tell in Tallahassee. There’s a ribbon and a 5K walk and a proclamation for everything, but precious little cash on the barrel head for families collapsing under the weight of caring for a loved one whose needs exceed the family’s […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2015

Thursday’s slate of Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa’s Jacksonville Transition Team budget reviews continues with a romp through intragovernmental services with Paul Martinez, director, and a cavalcade of others, including Undersheriff Pat Ivey. A ton of cops here. Mousa: “They brought the heat! Whatever you want, it’s approved!” As if. 3:51: A look at IT’s 5 […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 18, 2015

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Embattled South Pasadena Mayor Dan Calabria is suing the city he works for as well as a fellow city commissioner and an private lawyer who issued a scathing investigation of Calabria’s behavior as mayor. Calabria wants a judge to bar the city or city commissioners from taking any further action to remove him from office. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2015

Preface: It amazes me, again, how the “media” isn’t covering these events. Here’s a good reason why. A quote from Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa, before this session started: “We keep hearing rumors that Lori Boyer is pushing bills through” to “show product” from her CIP Committee. “Everyone’s running around like a chicken with its […]

Melissa RossJune 18, 2015

With some calling the killings “domestic terrorism,” and others sharply disagreeing, callers to WJCT’s First Coast Connect were sharply divided in reactions to Wednesday’s mass church shooting in Charleston, S.C., that left nine people dead. “It is fair to call it domestic terrorism,” said JeffriAnne Wilder, professor of sociology at the University of North Florida. Wilder […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2015

The afternoon begins in the Lenny Curry Transition Team Budget marathon, as Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa leads a review of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority budget. It’s more of a holistic overview with Henry Li from the JTA. 1:17: This is different from the budget reviews, as the JTA Board has authority over the budget. 1:18: Budget […]

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Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

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Bob Sparks: Progressive extremism, Florida style

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Florence Snyder: Postcard from Alzheimer’s

Jax transition budget meetings: Intragovernmental Services

South Pasadena mayor files lawsuit asking not to be fired

Jax transition budget meeting: Public Works, take 2

Argument follows labeling of Charleston church slayings “domestic terrorism”

Jax transition budget meeting: Jacksonville Transportation Authority