Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2017

The normally sedate Jacksonville City Council Rules committee was popping on Tuesday afternoon, with a controversial board appointment highlighting the agenda — with resistance from Democrats and party-line adherence from Republicans. While it looked like the vote was going to go in favor of that nominee … a “hard stop” of the meeting at 3:15 […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Whatever Tom Petway wants, Tom Petway gets. On Monday, the Jacksonville City Council Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee approved an ordinance (2016-764) allowing JEA to meet at least every other month. This idea was hatched some weeks back in the catacombs of council committees. “At a Rules Special Meeting, JEA’s Chairman of the Board, Tom Petway, requested that […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Jacksonville prepares for its yearly Funk Fest this May, with headliners including Too $hort, Bell Biv Devoe, En Vogue, and SWV. But before those artists emerge from the catacombs of history to reprise their hits of yesteryear, questions remain about itemized labor costs. Councilman Reggie Gaffney, in whose district the May festival will happen, noted concerns about expenses from organizers […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

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The rappers Whodini posed the question way back: “Friends … how many of us have them?” When it comes to a downtown Jacksonville plaza, the once-controversial Friends of Hemming Park look poised to get a six-month extension to its contract — and some money for material improvements to the “front door to city hall” — […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2017

Friendship on the installment plan. Golf carts at the county line. A date with Joe Camel? You’d better be 21. A “bully” on a commission. A gag rule for the public. And incentives for the donor class. These are just a few of the concepts and bills the Jacksonville City Council mulls in committees this week. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2017

The future of CRAs, or Community Redevelopment Agencies, is in flux on the state level, with CS/HB 13 and SB 1770 both proposing substantial alterations to the process. Meanwhile, on the local level, a robust debate has occurred related to whether or not the JIA CRA should be phased out. District 7 Councilman Reggie Gaffney, as reported in […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2017

Back in January, former Jacksonville City Council candidate Mike Anania seemed like a sure thing to be appointed to the Jacksonville “Taxation, Revenues, and Utilization of Expenditures” Commission. However, assurances that the Arlington Republican is a sure thing for the TRUE Commission have been proven false by events since his nomination was put forth late in January. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 28, 2017

It’s an interesting political week in Jacksonville. And on Tuesday, Mayor Lenny Curry discussed a potpourri of current topics. At Monday evening’s ICARE event, a consortium of local pastors upbraided Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry for not showing up to commit to a homeless day resource center. And on Tuesday evening, expectations from the city council were that Curry’s administration would introduce […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 27, 2017

A Monday “lunch and learn” of the Jacksonville City Council involved members getting educated on the finer points of collective bargaining. Not a moment too soon for that, as the council will have to vote later this spring on whether or not to ratify the latest pension reform package from the mayor’s office via 11 […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2017

Thus far, there’s been slow progress on Jacksonville City Council bills (2017-68 and 2017-69) that may close the book on an issue that first emerged during the Alvin Brown administration. To recap: in 2014, Ability Housing set out to renovate an apartment building in Springfield to create 12 units of housing for the chronically homeless and […]

Tag: jacksonville city council
Kamala Harris. Image via AP.

Controversial board pick roils Jax City Council panel

Jacksonville City Council panel OKs JEA Board plan for fewer meetings

Jax Funk Fest organizers question high local labor costs

Hemming Park money clears first Jacksonville council panel

Friends with benefits: Committee week for Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville councilors fight proposed JIA CRA sunset

‘Combative’ Mike Anania no sure thing for Jacksonville TRUE Commission

Lenny Curry talks ICARE, pension reform, Nikolai Vitti

Ahead of ratifying pension reform, Jacksonville City Council looks backward

Jacksonville housing discrimination settlement legislation stalls in council