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A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee approved the expansion of the city’s Human Rights Ordinance on Wednesday morning. The measure was approved by a 4-3 vote, with Bill Gulliford, Sam Newby, and Matt Schellenberg opposing expansion. The expansion would add sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the list of protected categories under the ordinance, which ensures […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2017

A bill to attempt to ensure Jacksonville city government offers equal employment opportunity on racial grounds passed the city council’s Finance Committee Wednesday. But passage did not come without chippy discussion on the subject, including a description of the bill as a “race hunt” by one councilman. **** Ordinance 2017-16 calls for the following: annual reporting to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

Monday morning saw the first of three Jacksonville City Council committees approve the latest attempt to expand the Human Rights Ordinance. The vote was 4-2. The measure would extend protections in housing, public accommodations, and employment on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. As well, the bill offered in its original form […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 27, 2017

As in the movie “Groundhog Day,” in which a weatherman relives the same day until he gets it right, those following the Jacksonville City Council will notice a certain repetition this February 2. Despite there being no committee meetings for the council that week, one council member decided to call a public notice meeting to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 19, 2017

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee pushed through a series of bills ahead of approval next Tuesday by the full council. All of these bills were approved unanimously. **** Lien Scene: A bill adding “code enforcement liens” to the list of claims, bills and judgments that may be settled by the Finance Director, Office of General […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

An “equal opportunity” bill introduced to the Jacksonville City Council by Garrett Dennis picked up momentum Tuesday, with a half dozen councilmembers and stakeholders attending a public notice meeting to discuss it. Dennis framed this bill as an attempt to ensure city agencies and independent authorities to “cast a broader net” in their hiring process. “This […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 5, 2017

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The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee mulled reports from the council auditor, Kirk Sherman, in its Thursday morning meeting. Discussed: the summary for Fiscal Year 2016, a report which led to a move to boost the city’s emergency reserve to 6 percent. According to the Jacksonville City Council auditor’s report, FY 2016 was a good year for […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2017

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Council members and community leaders met in a packed conference room in city hall. The subject: expanding Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to include members of the city’s LGBT community. The bill is expected to be filed by 3 p.m. January 4, with an eye toward committees and a full council vote […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2017

Jacksonville’s homicide rate gets all the press. Yet the rate of deaths via drug overdose exceeds it. And a prominent city councilman wants action. An email from Duval County’s Medical Examiner’s office laid it out: from the beginning of January until mid-November, Jacksonville experienced 345 drug overdose deaths. In terms of casualties, whites and males […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 13, 2016

Tuesday night’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council was more notable for being the last one of 2016 than it was for any particular legislative achievement. Among the highlights: $70,000 was appropriated for “neighborhood events” for Jacksonville City Council members. And $415,000 appropriated for the installation of temporary seats for the TaxSlayer Bowl. “This is […]

Tag: Bill Gulliford
Image via AP.

Jacksonville HRO clears final city council committee

After heated debate, ‘Equal Opportunity’ bill heads to full Jacksonville City Council

Amended HRO expansion bill clears first Jacksonville City Council committee

Jacksonville HRO public notice meeting slated for Groundhog Day

Jacksonville council finance committee clears a series of bills

Jacksonville equal opportunity ordinance picks up momentum

Jacksonville City Council Finance committee moves to boost emergency reserve

Jacksonville human rights ordinance expansion push begins … again

Jacksonville councilman decries drug overdose ‘epidemic’

Jacksonville City Council wraps up 2016