Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2017

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officers have been under a media microscope of late, with a number of adverse stories about them in the local press. From DUI arrests to groping incidents in local bars and civil suits for shots in the line of duty, the news cycles have been brutal of late. And even in the JSO […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 9, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilors made the long walk from the Council suite to the Mayor’s Office Wednesday afternoon, for promised “refreshments” with Lenny Curry. In a period of transition for the Council, the public notice meeting was worthy of notice; it was a conscious forging of camaraderie and unity, and one well-timed, with the Finance Committee taking […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 8, 2017

Have the promises made when the city of Jacksonville consolidated with Duval County half a century ago been fulfilled? That’s an open question, and one with a spectrum of answers ranging from “nope” to “things have actually gotten better for most of the city.” On Tuesday, members of the Jacksonville City Council convened to discuss […]

Phil AmmannAugust 4, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is all about loyalty, and much of this edition comes back to the idea of one’s squad as a result. For example, there’s Curry’s candidate in the House District 15 race to succeed Jay Fant, who is running for Attorney General instead of pursuing re-election. And then there’s the push to […]

Associated PressAugust 3, 2017

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says lawmakers have authorized seven new medical facilities for veterans in Florida. Nelson said in a news release Wednesday that the new Veterans Affairs facilities will be located in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa and Lakeland, with two in Gainesville. A total of 28 around the country were approved. Some are […]

Tag: Jacksonville
Image via AP.

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

Jax Sheriff discusses stressed officers making bad decisions

Lenny Curry, Jax City Council have ‘feelgood discussion’ ahead of budget review

Did Jacksonville’s Consolidation work? Or is it a work in progress?

Jacksonville Bold for 8.4.17 — Squad goals

Legislation calls for 7 new VA medical clinics in Florida