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A.G. GancarskiSeptember 12, 2017

Daring rescues from floodwaters and a general co-branding of the media and the government characterized Monday, as Irma churned away from Jacksonville at long last. But attention turned to more quotidian details Wednesday — namely the large swathes of town still out of power. Southside neighborhoods, from Brierwood to Mandarin, along with large swathes of […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 7, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry briefed the City Council on Irma preparation — and an interesting question regarded JEA. In 2016, JEA was criticized for power restoration that took nearly a week in some parts of the city. And in 2017, a repeat performance was a concern. “They have mutual aid agreements. We have assured they are […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 7, 2017

One of the many discussions that enlivened Jacksonville City Council budget hearings in August was the city’s surfeit of minority engineers. Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa noted that some categories — such as “African-American engineers” — are “difficult to find.” “Most African-American engineers graduate from Northeastern universities and stay in the [Northeast],” Mousa added, explaining a shortfall […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2017

Friday morning saw the Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee review the Mayor’s proposed capital budgets for JEA. The discussion sprawled close to 90 minutes — double the allotted time — and was one in which budget line items were often directly related to equity in services throughout the city. ____ JEA was up first. The […]

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

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 17, 2017

Coal may be coming back as a power source, if President Donald Trump is to be believed. However, as of early 2018, there will be one fewer coal power plant in Florida. As a JEA press release indicates, the Jacksonville utility and Florida Power and Light intend to decommission the St. Johns River Power Park, located on […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council starts off 2017 with an agenda light on controversial legislation, which presumably gives the body more time for HRO-related public comment. That said, the agenda Tuesday evening in Council Chambers is highlighted by notable board nominees and local bills to be pushed in Tallahassee. **** One interesting moment that likely will […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2016

Subpoenas with a side of sauce. That’s one way to sum up the year. In Jacksonville politics, 2016 started with subpoenas being delivered to Rep. Corrine Brown and her clique at a barbecue place on the Northside. And it ended with a raid on Councilwoman Katrina Brown’s familial barbecue sauce plant on the Westside. Katrina […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 2, 2016

A pastor who was vocal in his opposition to expanding LGBT rights in Jacksonville is poised to become a member of the JEA Board, via recently filed legislation at the request of the mayor’s office. And in doing so, that pastor will fill the vacancy of a councilman who introduced a bill for an expanded […]

Tag: JEA

With 163K still in the dark, Jax slogs out of Irma

JEA issues loom over Jacksonville Irma prep

Garrett Dennis wants answers on Jacksonville’s minority engineer shortage

Jax City Councilors mull JEA budget, ‘broken promises’ of Consolidation

Jacksonville City Council panel OKs JEA Board plan for fewer meetings

Friends with benefits: Committee week for Jacksonville City Council

JEA, FPL to decommission coal-fired power plant next year

Jacksonville City Council to push local bills, notable board nominees Tuesday

Subpoenas with a side of sauce: The 10 biggest #JaxPol stories of 2016

Anti-HRO pastor Fred Newbill to replace Warren Jones on JEA Board