Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2017

Promises made, promises kept. In Feb. 2013, Gov. Rick Scott said there would be an eastbound JTB flyover ramp at I-95. 48 months and $78 million later, that project is in place — and is expected to abate traffic at one of the most challenged traffic corridors in Northeast Florida, starting with its Sept. 6 opening to […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2017

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The eyes of the world are on the Gulf Coast right now, as Houston and surrounding areas begin the tortuous process of recovery from Harvey’s torrential rains. Though the federal government has deployed resources for immediate recovery efforts, long-term resources may — if Jacksonville’s recovery from Hurricane Matthew is any guide — be sometime away. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum may be facing fundraising problems and accountability problems in his bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor, but odds are they won’t be a topic of conversation in Jacksonville this week as he addresses friendly audiences. Gillum has at least two area appearances this week, on Tuesday and Thursday evening respectively. On Tuesday evening […]

Peter SchorschAugust 25, 2017

Over the weekend, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry took to Twitter, ruminating on youth football practice and game tape from last year. Curry coaches his son’s team and takes it very seriously. The mayor discussed repeating patterns of behavior shown on the field, adding a barb at the end: “People are predictable.” Preparing to coach & Watching youth […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 23, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry prioritized improving the city’s financial picture as a candidate in 2015, and in 2017 there was strong evidence that happened. The city has strong bond ratings — AA- — and the market’s confidence was reflected in $388 million of offers on $145M worth of bonds this week. Curry noted Wednesday that “demand […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2017

Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Eric Kazatsky offered some cautionary words about Jacksonville’s bonds this week, relevant as the city continues to attempt to improve its perception in the eyes of ratings agencies. “Despite stable fund and cash balances,” Kazatsky writes, “the city has been challenged by a steadily increasing fixed-cost ratio, which could put downward pressure on […]

Associated PressAugust 19, 2017

A police officer in Florida died from his injuries Saturday, a day after his colleague was killed when a suspect fired at them during a scuffle while they were on patrol. The suspect was later arrested at a bar. Sgt. Sam Howard died Saturday afternoon at a hospital where he had been taken following Friday […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2017

The slogan d’jour: One City, One Jacksonville. But the city’s boards and commissions are largely white and male. And it will take time and work to change that imbalance. Of 332 people currently serving, 65 percent are male — a number not substantially different between City Council appointees (64 percent male) and appointees from other […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2017

Early in the term of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Australian financial sector titans the Macquarie Group came to town. Jacksonville beat out other competitors in what was called a robust global search in 2015; in 2017, Macquarie doubled down with an expansion of its Southbank Riverwalk location. The incentive package driving that was rolled out in […]

Peter SchorschAugust 11, 2017

Those who work at Jacksonville City Hall have received a political education of late, demonstrated by a recent City Council bill on funding after-school programs. With apologies to Ric Flair, but his famous catchphrase “now we go to school” applies here … and not just because this bill was education-related. Finance Chair Garrett Dennis wanted […]

Tag: Jacksonville

Jacksonville I-95/JTB flyover ramp will save lives, cut commute times

Lenny Curry talks FEMA: ‘We’re going to get what’s owed to us’

Avoiding Tallahassee scrutiny, Andrew Gillum in Jacksonville this week

Jacksonville Bold for 8.25.17 — People are predictable

Lenny Curry: Jacksonville is ‘on good financial ground right now’

Bloomberg warns of ‘downward pressure’ on Jacksonville’s credit rating

Suspect in killings of 2 Fla. officers arrested at bar

Diversity presents recurring challenge for Jacksonville boards, commissions

‘Jacksonville is hot,’ says Lenny Curry at Macquarie ribbon cutting

Jacksonville Bold for 8.11.17 — Now we go to school

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.