Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2017

February ended with Jacksonville City Council VP John Crescimbeni storming out of the gate in the race for the council presidency. A group of councilmen — Gulliford, Crescimbeni, Greg Anderson, Jim Love, and Tommy Hazouri — signed on very quickly, giving Crescimbeni a real leg up. Rhetoric was pitched in the councilmen’s conclave: lots of talk about “council tradition” dictating […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017

The city of Jacksonville’s municipal code has taken a gradualist approach to tobacco prohibition — and it’s not done yet, if a recently-filed bill is any indication. In 1973, the consolidated city passed an ordinance banning smoking in various places in the city. Then, a fortnight later, a second ordinance was passed clarifying that prohibition […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 14, 2017

On a Tuesday agenda largely bereft of drama, the Jacksonville City Council moved bills related to microlending for small businesses, jobs for ex-offenders, and a boost for the council’s travel budget. All approvals were unanimous. ____ Microfinance: 2016-486 revives the city’s Access to Capital program for Jacksonville’s Small and Emerging Business program, allowing microfinancing from $5,000 to […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 14, 2017

There is never a dull moment at a meeting of the Jacksonville City Council. On Tuesday, councilors mull microfinance, ex-offender jobs, and travel budgets. ____ Microfinance: 2016-486 revives the city’s Access to Capital program for Jacksonville’s Small and Emerging Business program, allowing microfinancing from $5,000 to $100,000 for Jacksonville’s small and emerging businesses. A sum of $932,032.65 […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

The city of Jacksonville has thus far been frustrated by its dealings with CoWealth, LLC, the family business of Councilwoman Katrina Brown. Frustrations continue this week, with a curious legal filing from CoWealth on Wednesday that led to a sharp response from the city on Thursday. CoWealth LLC, one of the Brown family’s group of nebulously named […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 8, 2017

Wednesday saw the Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee pass bills related to small business microfinancing, city contractor jobs for ex-offenders, and the council travel budget for groups like the Florida League of Cities. The full council will vote on these bills Tuesday night. ____ Microfinance: 2016-486 revives the city’s Access to Capital program for Jacksonville’s Small and […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 6, 2017

Perhaps the race for the Jacksonville City Council presidency isn’t a done deal just yet. Perhaps “tradition” won’t tell the tale after all. On Monday, Jacksonville City Councilwoman Anna Brosche met with fellow first-term Republicans Al Ferraro and Sam Newby to solicit his support for her bid for the council presidency. Brosche started the day with a […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 6, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council launches into committees this Monday. A number of bills merit tracking, including measures related to historic Hemming Park and the Ability Housing settlement. Hemming Happening: Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services kicks off Monday morning with a consideration of a historic designation of the Coquina Road and Confederate monument structures in Hemming […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 2, 2017

Jacksonville, like the rest of the country, is wrestling with a problem of increased opioid overdoses. In January, Councilman Bill Gulliford started sounding the alarm. Gulliford noted that “it is a scary number especially when you compare it to homicides which get all the media attention. And, how many of the homicides are drug related? My […]

Tag: jacksonville city council

Jacksonville housing discrimination settlement legislation stalls in council

Crunchtime for John Crescimbeni in Jax Council President race

Movement in Jacksonville begins to ban tobacco sales to those under 21

Jacksonville City Council moves microlending, ex-offender jobs, travel budget bills

Jacksonville City Council contemplates crowded agenda Tuesday

Jax councilor’s family business, Jacksonville spar over eco dev default

Access to Capital, ex-offender jobs, travel budget bills cleared for full Jacksonville City Council

Anna Brosche makes up ground in Jacksonville Council President race

Hemming landmarks, Ability Housing highlight Jax Council committee calendar

Jacksonville prepares to mobilize against opioid overdose crisis