Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 29, 2016

On Thursday, the Jax Journey Oversight Committee met for the first time since July and had some good news regarding new federal money for Journey initiatives. City grant administrator Damien Cook noted the Department of Justice awarded the city of Jacksonville $1 million for data analysis regarding the best way of going forward related to at-risk youth. This […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 29, 2016

When running for office in 2015, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry vowed to bring back the Jacksonville Journey. Under previous mayor Alvin Brown, many Journey programs had been moved to the purview of other organizations, such as the Jacksonville Children’s Commission. Funding levels for the Journey were cut. Curry’s vows to reinstate the Journey coincided, especially during […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 26, 2016

“Our agenda is pretty much set. Our budget is pretty much set for this year,” said W.C. Gentry at the front of the Jax Journey oversight committee meeting Thursday. However, there were still some issues to discuss, including the future of Alternatives to Out of School Suspension (ATOSS) and neighborhood accountability funding next year, the budget […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 3, 2016

The Thursday meeting of the Jax Journey Oversight Committee outlined the sheriff’s office “violence reduction plan,” presented by Undersheriff Pat Ivey. This plan, at least in the concept outlined Thursday, moves away from the tried and true zero tolerance model to a more targeted (and arguably more pragmatic) approach. On Tuesday, the JSO will get an […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 1, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee approved $500,000 in overtime funding for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office from the Jax Journey account. The funding will alleviate pressure on the JSO’s overtime budget so it can focus on crime “hot spots” as Jacksonville deals with an upsurge in violent […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 27, 2016

A review of City of Jacksonville internal documents reveals what the future of the Jax Journey looks like. A “Funding Recommendations” two-page includes $1,780,074 in monies for 10 ZIP codes: 32202, 32205, 32206, 32208, 32209, 32210, 32211, 32218, 32244 and 32254. A few of the recommendations will be of interest. A particularly progressive measure: $50,000 devoted to increasing ex-offender […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2016

On Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will lead a crew in a building demolition effort. But it’s for a good reason: the eradication of blight, and renewal. A release from the mayor’s office asserts that “a Jacksonville neighborhood, once ridden with crime, will soon experience a “groundbreaking” effort unlike any other.” “In preparation of the development of Payne […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

Though the HRO Committee of the Whole fireworks will heat up Council Chambers Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will be walking a Westside neighborhood instead of being on hand for the procedural drama. Curry’s spokeswoman, Marsha Oliver, said this is part of the mayor’s weekly commitment to “engage with citizens,” by visiting neighborhoods, meeting residents, and hearing […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 28, 2016

At Thursday’s Jax Journey meeting, Lenny Curry called for a resumption of Operation Safe Streets, a John Peyton-era initiative that focuses on murder reduction and gun abatement in hot spots of violent crime. New Board Chairman W.C. Gentry called for $500,000 to be moved to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for that budget. The Jacksonville mayor has, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 29, 2015

One of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s priorities has been public safety. But it’s a new school approach to law and order, one predicated on the assumption that Jacksonville can’t police our way out of its problems, and one rooted in a revival of the Jacksonville Journey. “It’s the right thing to do,” Curry has said. Curry […]

Tag: Jax Journey

Jacksonville scores $1M grant from Justice Department for youth services

A year into the reboot, the honeymoon is over for Jax Journey

Jax Journey shuffles priorities in new budget; ATOSS to be cut

Jax Sheriff’s “violence reduction plan” moves away from “zero tolerance” police work

Another Jax Council committee OKs more police funding from Jax Journey account

Jax Journey funding recommendations include money for ex-offender employment

Lenny Curry to lead demolition exercise Friday

Lenny Curry takes neighborhood stabilization walk Thursday

Lenny Curry on Jax killings: “My heart is breaking every day”

Jax Journey revival showing successes already