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A.G. GancarskiJune 5, 2015

Other than FloridaPolitics.com, there was no media at the initial nighttime “First Thursday” event held by the Jacksonville Urban League. And that’s a shame. In terms of productive, candid, no holds barred conversation among civic leaders and the dozen or so residents who were in attendance, the First Thursday event had no rival. As the headline suggests, […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 4, 2015

The Florida Times-Union reports that there may be renewed trouble on the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund front, in the form of a new legal challenge from the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. The group has asked for an injunction against the pension deal that cleared the Rules Committee on Monday and the Finance Committee on […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 3, 2015

There are, to be sure, a few secrets that are closely guarded in Duval County politics. However, the new Jacksonville City Council president and vice-president were not among them. Councilmembers-elect were confirming even last week that the new president would be Greg Anderson and Lori Boyer would be the next vice-president. So it was written. And […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2015

On Tuesday morning, the Finance Committee of the Jacksonville City Council met and deliberated a number of key bills, including the Police and Fire Pension Deal and the funding for the much-advertised “90 Day Audit” that Mayor-elect Lenny Curry promised during the campaign. The pension deal was the main event, of course, and it passed through committee […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 1, 2015

The big news out of the first Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee meeting of June is that 2015-304, an iteration of the Police and Fire Pension Deal (one which is in many respects similar to the deal that was spiked by the full council 9-9 in March) passed 5 to 2, and will hit the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 29, 2015

Back in the days when soap operas dominated the daytime television landscape, casual viewers knew that the Friday episode was the one to watch, in terms of climactic plot resolutions. If only that were true for Jacksonville’s Police and Fire Pension Fund negotiations. On Friday morning in a conference room at city hall, PFPF Chief […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2015

The Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Deal has been in negotiations for close to eight years now, but it seems that an end is close at hand, if Wednesday afternoon’s meeting between Councilmen Bill Gulliford, Stephen Joost, John Crescimbeni and Police and Fire Pension Chief John Keane is any indication. The men were the very definition of cordial as they […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council’s Blight Committee, chaired by E. Denise Lee, is technically an ad hoc committee. For the last couple of years, though, it has done some of the most essential work of any city council committee, serving as a clearinghouse to address quality of life issues that affect older and newer neighborhoods alike. Wednesday […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 27, 2015

Before Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, there was a scene that was curiously touching. Former District 7 Councilman Johnny Gaffney showed his brother, just-elected Councilman Reggie Gaffney, where he’d be sitting. You probably wouldn’t have seen that had George Spencer beaten Reggie in the election. In that moment, you could see how Johnny might have taught […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 5, 2015

As discussion swirls about Kim Daniels, including issues related to her actual residency in Jacksonville, the issue is on the radar of the Rules Committee. However, it doesn’t seem likely that action will be taken in time to affect the May 19 election, Committee Chairman William Gulliford said Tuesday. “I discussed this issue with the General Counsel […]

Tag: Bill Gulliford

Jacksonville Urban League “First Thursdays”: real talk about sustainable solutions

7-year itch: Is latest Jax Pension deal in trouble?

Greg Anderson, Lori Boyer elected as Jax Council officers

Jax Police and Fire Pension deal moves through Finance Committee

Bill Gulliford police, fire pension bill clears Jax Rules Committee

The Friday episode of “As the Jax Pension Deal Turns”

Jacksonville Police and Fire pension deal one step closer to resolution

Jax Council Blight Committee addresses causes of crime, zombie properties

Tale of 2 cities, 2 parks: Jacksonville City Council considers public safety

Will Jacksonville City Council investigate Kim Daniels?