Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

A resolution of council support for the local J-1 bill, which would relax requirements for restaurants to serve liquor in the Riverside and Avondale areas, is expected to pass. A potential sticking point: A sponsor for the bill must be named before City Council. That sponsor was Reggie Fullwood, which is notable because it’ss Jay […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2015

A resolution of support for Local Bill J-1 to be considered by the Duval County Legislative Delegation was the principal item of legislative interest in Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Rules and Land Use and Zoning committee meetings. The goal of the bill is to provide allowances for space and seating requirements in a specialized zone called […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2015

The Jacksonville Public Library has had a rough decade. Ten years of budget cuts have taken the beleaguered JPL past the point of efficiency into the realm of austerity. However, of late there has been hope, says Barbara Gubbin, JPL director. In welcoming Mayor Lenny Curry, Gubbin mentioned that she and her staff have been on “tenterhooks,” […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2015

The highlight of the agenda meeting before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting: a discussion of a potential appeal of the Property Appraiser budget (2015-616). “The success of this” sort of action is “nominal at best,” said Matt Schellenberg, referring to exchanges that he had with the Florida League of Cities. Schellenberg, of course, was not driving […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

The last Rules Committee meeting of the Jacksonville City Council in August had an appointment-heavy agenda, yet there was room also to address two major issues. Included on the agenda: 2015-508, which increases fines on unlicensed contractors to bring it in line with state recommendations; and 2015-522, a bill addressing emergency roadway clearance and post-disaster […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2015

As the new Jacksonville City Council settles in and bills wend their way through committees, Jacksonville City Council meetings haven’t truly heated up as they will during September’s budget deliberations. However, Jacksonville’s City Council is always a hotbed of entertainment and public interest, and Tuesday evening’s Council conclave was no exception. The Hemming Park funding […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 7, 2015

“The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past.” — William Faulkner The “Celebrating 50 Years: Voting Rights Act 1965-2015” event, held Thursday afternoon at the Jacksonville Public Library, proved interesting for reasons other than those intended. It was notable to see who made the long walk across Hemming Plaza toward City Hall. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 4, 2015

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The Tuesday afternoon meeting of the Jacksonville City Council’s Rules Committee didn’t exactly promise fireworks, but with the Hemming Park emergency authorization on the table, it was worth checking out. After a series of unanimous appointments, the Little Van Wert Avenue river access bill withdrawal, and a deferment of the Charlotte’s Web moratorium, the first bill […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 3, 2015

At the Monday meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Transportation, Energy, and Utilities committee, the group voted 7-0 to withdraw 2015-360, a controversial bill that would have closed a river access “pocket park” on Little Van Wert Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood. The bill, introduced in the spring by then-Councilman Richard Clark, was supported by local […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 30, 2015

The sun shone brightly outside the Jax Chamber building, and inside the dispositions were no less sunny, as Jacksonville welcomed the Australian Macquarie Group to town. The company, in choosing Jacksonville for its southeastern operations, says it will bring 123 financial sector jobs to the Bold New City of the South. Saying he wished there […]

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Image via AP.

Jax Council backs J-1 Bill; more Riverside and Avondale diners will be able to drink up

Local Bill J-1 backed by two Jax Council committees

For Lenny Curry and Jax Public Library, JAXREADS embodies 1C1J

Property appraiser budget emergency appeal falls at Jax Council meeting

Contractors, disaster prep on agenda in Jax Rules committee

Jax City Council approves Hemming Park deal 18-1

Corrine Brown, William Faulkner, and the VRA

Jax Council Rules committee approves Hemming Park contract

Jax TEU committee votes to withdraw Van Wert river access bill

Jacksonville welcomes Macquarie Group