Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2016

It’s hard not to like Jacksonville City Council President Greg Anderson. When the at-large councilman assumed the yearlong position of president last summer, one media headline lauded him as a “Southern Gentleman.” And despite the slings and arrows from people on and off the council, he has lived up to that designation. He came to the presidency […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2016

So who won the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections last week? The prima facie answer: President-designate Lori Boyer and Vice President-designate John Crescimbeni. Beyond those two obvious winners, some people’s stock went up, and some people’s went down. The pitch Crescimbeni made to Danny Becton, one of his supporters in his 10-to-9 victory, was illustrative. To paraphrase: […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

In the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections, the main event was anticlimactic. Everyone knew current Vice President Lori Boyer would be voted in as president-designate, offering meaningful continuity after the presidency of Greg Anderson. However, the VP-designate race between Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni offered considerably more drama, with both men deadlocked at eight pledges each ahead of the special […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

Passage of 2016-300, which authorizes the referendum to extend the half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax to address the city’s $2.7 billion unfunded pension liability, seemed to be a certainty before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. After public comment, hand wringing from some council members, and tub thumping from others, it was approved 19 to 0 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 9, 2016

On Monday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Vehicles for Hire subcommittee wrestled, yet again, with regulations for Uber and Lyft, making glacial progress on resolving the long-standing contretemps between the taxicab industry and transportation network companies. Progress had been made previously on insurance conditions, with the committee agreeing on terms. Drivers for transportation network companies […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 4, 2016

Mayor Lenny Curry and other Duval dignitaries kicked off the countdown to THE PLAYERS Championship at a Wednesday news conference. Last week, the Jax Chamber hosted a similar presser, extolling the good news about THE PLAYERS Championship. Wednesday was the politicians’ turn. Curry noted that before he was mayor and when he was a private sector accountant, the […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

A controversial bill, 2015-519, changing guidelines for city donation of vacant, buildable lots owned by the city after tax reversion for affordable housing inventory purposes, was passed by Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday. The bill doubles the permissible value of properties that can be dispensed to CHDOs and other affordable housing non-profits from $25,000 to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry addressed the City Council Tuesday evening, regarding 2016-300, the ordinance setting an August referendum for the pension tax. Curry noted that with Council support, “we now have the opportunity to save our city from financial ruin,” by extending the half cent sales tax, before speaking to “critics” who want a new sales tax, saying […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

One of the byproducts of Jacksonville’s unique consolidated government is that some parts of town do as well as anywhere, and other parts have issues that are rooted in poverty and unresolved historic inequities. One jarring example of those inequities: the issues in Health Zone 1, which are heartbreaking. Half of all children live in poverty. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2016

A Jacksonville City Council Special Committee comprised of the Finance and Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety (RCDPHS) committees tackled on Monday a controversial bill, 2015-519, which regulates property donation of the 436 parcels under city ownership. The bill, passed on Monday, will be on Tuesday’s Council agenda as an addendum item. 2015-519, which […]

Tag: Greg Anderson
Matt Gaetz. Image via AP.

Greg Anderson looks back on his Jacksonville City Council presidency

Who emerged as the winners & losers from Jacksonville’s City Council leadership elections?

Jax City Council elects Lori Boyer president, John Crescimbeni vice-president

Jacksonville City Council authorizes August pension tax referendum

Jax Vehicles for Hire committee considers regulatory framework, yet again

Jax pols gear up for The PLAYERS Championship

Jax Council finally passes property donation bill

Lenny Curry pitches August pension tax referendum to Council

GE commits $250K to health screenings in Jax

Jax Council special committee OKs property donation bill, 2015-519