Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 3, 2016

On Thursday, the Florida Times-Union reported on a setback for a family business of Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown. Councilwoman Brown’s CoWealth LLC was found to be in default for $590,000 in loans and grants, related to Jerome Brown BBQ Sauce, a barbecue sauce manufacturing company that hasn’t ramped up as quickly as was intended when Brown’s family […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2016

So who won the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections last week? The prima facie answer: President-designate Lori Boyer and Vice President-designate John Crescimbeni. Beyond those two obvious winners, some people’s stock went up, and some people’s went down. The pitch Crescimbeni made to Danny Becton, one of his supporters in his 10-to-9 victory, was illustrative. To paraphrase: […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2016

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An ordinance appropriating $250,000 from Jacksonville City Council contingency funds to construct a stage at downtown’s Hemming Park was approved Tuesday by the Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety (RCDPHS) committee, the second of two committees to mull the measure before the full council considers it Tuesday. The allocation was approved Monday by a 6-to-1 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 5, 2016

Is this the endgame for Mincy Pollock? Action News Jax reported Wednesday that the former City Council candidate-turned Corrine Brown employee is accused of money laundering and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Pollock is being accused of laundering money through a bogus charity closely tied to Brown. Those accusations are coming from Pollock’s former business […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

A controversial bill, 2015-519, changing guidelines for city donation of vacant, buildable lots owned by the city after tax reversion for affordable housing inventory purposes, was passed by Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday. The bill doubles the permissible value of properties that can be dispensed to CHDOs and other affordable housing non-profits from $25,000 to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry addressed the City Council Tuesday evening, regarding 2016-300, the ordinance setting an August referendum for the pension tax. Curry noted that with Council support, “we now have the opportunity to save our city from financial ruin,” by extending the half cent sales tax, before speaking to “critics” who want a new sales tax, saying […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2016

A Jacksonville City Council Special Committee comprised of the Finance and Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety (RCDPHS) committees tackled on Monday a controversial bill, 2015-519, which regulates property donation of the 436 parcels under city ownership. The bill, passed on Monday, will be on Tuesday’s Council agenda as an addendum item. 2015-519, which […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2016

On Friday, the Jacksonville City Council Economic Development Special Committee discussed a wide range of issues related to public investment, ranging from the Downtown Investment Authority to economically distressed areas. The highlights: A discussion of films revealed that the Film and Television office is getting calls “weekly” related to potential film and television projects, including […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 19, 2016

Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee mulled one controversial item on the agenda: 2015-519, the property donation bill. And passed it – with amendments. 2015-519 would raise to $50,000 the value of properties the city can donate to Community Housing Development Organizations (CHODOs) or to for-profits looking to create affordable housing on these vacant lots. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2016

Ten Council members, going into Tuesday, had made pledges in the Jacksonville City Council VP race: six for John Crescimbeni, and four for Doyle Carter. This left nine pledges to be fought over by the veteran Councilmen. After Tuesday, there were eight left. And Crescimbeni is closer to victory than he was at the beginning of the […]

Tag: Katrina Brown
Uloma Ekpete Kama. Image via campaign site.

A brief interview with Jax Councilwoman Katrina Brown

Who emerged as the winners & losers from Jacksonville’s City Council leadership elections?

Second Jax Council committee approves $250K for Hemming Park stage

The political education of Mincy Pollock

Jax Council finally passes property donation bill

Lenny Curry pitches August pension tax referendum to Council

Jax Council special committee OKs property donation bill, 2015-519

Jacksonville Economic Development committee tackles downtown investment, distressed areas

Jax Rules passes controversial property donation bill with amendments

Joyce Morgan backs John Crescimbeni in Jax Council VP race