Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2016

On Friday, the Jacksonville City Council Economic Development Special Committee discussed a wide range of issues related to public investment, ranging from the Downtown Investment Authority to economically distressed areas. The highlights: A discussion of films revealed that the Film and Television office is getting calls “weekly” related to potential film and television projects, including […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2016

A bill has been filed in Jacksonville to increase regulation of sexual predators and to clarify prohibited activities for that criminal subset. 2016-233, filed by Council President Greg Anderson at the request of the General Counsel, would change ordinance code to clarify the types of events and decorations from which sexual predators and offenders are barred. The […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 18, 2016

A Jacksonville LGBT activist claims there was a backroom deal to spike the Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) in exchange for Sen. Aaron Bean supporting the pension tax referendum in Tallahassee. Meanwhile, local leaders, including Mayor Lenny Curry and Councilman Tommy Hazouri (sponsor of the HRO bill that was pulled), refute the claim. Hazouri said that his decision to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2016

Expectations that a controversial bill on increasing the value of property the city may donate to developers from $25,000 to $50,000, would be discharged for discussion came to pass, at the urging of Councilman Bill Gulliford, during Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. Council had already promised further discussion on 2015-519 in the Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 24, 2016

The big Project Star jobs announcement in Jacksonville came Thursday: City Refrigeration Holdings will establish its North American HQ in Jacksonville, bringing 100 jobs to the area at an average wage of $67,000. The subtext, however, is that these jobs wouldn’t have come to Jacksonville if it weren’t for the Jaguars’ yearly games in London. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 23, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Council President Greg Anderson, and Jax Chamber Chair Audrey Moran have occasion for more positive talk about Jacksonville’s jobs market Thursday, as the Project Star deal will be officially announced. Legislation authorizing this passed Tuesday night. It is a a QTI project with Local Financial Support of $30,600 & a State Match of $122,400, for a total […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2016

In an attempt to put a “stronger focus on neighborhoods” and to impose “cost controls,” the Jacksonville City Council passed 17-0 comprehensive reorganization legislation Tuesday night that created a Neighborhoods Department. The legislation has been a priority of the Curry administration from before the inauguration, and would mitigate the effects of a reorganization in the previous […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2016

Monday saw Greg Anderson and Lori Boyer, president and vice president of the Jacksonville City Council respectively, again have convened to discuss communications tracking software options. Central to the Monday meeting was a product demonstration from Smarsh, a private vendor that archives communications already for Tallahassee and Panama City. Smarsh, over the phone, demonstrated how their software […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 17, 2016

On the campaign trail, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said the city wasn’t getting what it deserved from Tallahassee. In the 2016 Legislative Session, Curry delivered. He made frequent trips out west to lobby lawmakers and the Governor regarding the pension tax and other local priorities. And he enlisted Marty Fiorentino to helm a concerted lobbying […]

Tag: Greg Anderson

Jacksonville Economic Development committee tackles downtown investment, distressed areas

Jacksonville poised to amend sexual predator regs in ordinance code

Did Aaron Bean kill the Jacksonville HRO?

Jacksonville City Council discusses controversial property donation bill, defers action

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

Project Star validates Jacksonville/London ties, says Lenny Curry

Lenny Curry, Greg Anderson to announce Project Star deal Thursday

Jacksonville City Council passes Neighborhoods bill

“Us guys don’t carry pocketbooks”: Jax City Council revisits communications tracking software

Lenny Curry, other Jax pols, trumpet 2016 budget as what “winning looks like”