Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 27, 2017

A Monday “lunch and learn” of the Jacksonville City Council involved members getting educated on the finer points of collective bargaining. Not a moment too soon for that, as the council will have to vote later this spring on whether or not to ratify the latest pension reform package from the mayor’s office via 11 […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 23, 2017

A Thursday public notice meeting between Jacksonville City Council President Lori Boyer and VP John Crescimbeni attracted media attention because of the subject line: dredging. However, the subject was not the proposed channel deepening for JAXPORT purposes, but a so-called “zoo dredge.” The problem? Navigation issues from the water taxi and other recreational boats at the dock by […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2017

Block parties are not a concern in most of Jacksonville, yet in what the sheriff’s office calls Zone 5, the gatherings predominate … and are becoming more popular year over year. In FY 2015, there were 135 of these events in the city. In FY 2016, there were 171. According to Chief Deloris Patterson, the commander for […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 6, 2017

The major bill discussed in the Jacksonville City Council’s Neighborhoods, Community Investments, & Services Committee Monday ended up being withdrawn. 2016-559 sought a historic designation of the Coquina Road and Confederate monument structures in Hemming Park as “landmarks”. Council President Lori Boyer described the bill as a “can of worms,” likening council confusion on it to where the […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 19, 2017

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee pushed through a series of bills ahead of approval next Tuesday by the full council. All of these bills were approved unanimously. **** Lien Scene: A bill adding “code enforcement liens” to the list of claims, bills and judgments that may be settled by the Finance Director, Office of General […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 13, 2017

Close Call: On Wednesday evening, the reports trickled in from Washington, D.C. Rep. John Rutherford had suffered a medical episode in the U.S. House of Representatives, one which led him to require hospitalization through Thursday. The fear expressed by many: a massive heart attack. That speculation went out on Twitter, and the hours between the incident […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 10, 2017

An “equal opportunity” bill introduced to the Jacksonville City Council by Garrett Dennis picked up momentum Tuesday, with a half dozen councilmembers and stakeholders attending a public notice meeting to discuss it. Dennis framed this bill as an attempt to ensure city agencies and independent authorities to “cast a broader net” in their hiring process. “This […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 4, 2017

On Wednesday, Jacksonville City Council members and community leaders met in a packed conference room in city hall. The subject: expanding Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to include members of the city’s LGBT community. The bill is expected to be filed by 3 p.m. January 4, with an eye toward committees and a full council vote […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 3, 2017

Will the third time be the charm for expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to include the LGBT community? Wednesday may tell the tale. Councilman Aaron Bowman, one of the co-sponsors of the 2016 HRO expansion bill, has scheduled a public notice meeting for 11:30 Wednesday morning at Jacksonville’s city hall. Expected to be in attendance: […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 13, 2016

Tuesday night’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council was more notable for being the last one of 2016 than it was for any particular legislative achievement. Among the highlights: $70,000 was appropriated for “neighborhood events” for Jacksonville City Council members. And $415,000 appropriated for the installation of temporary seats for the TaxSlayer Bowl. “This is […]

Tag: Lori Boyer

Ahead of ratifying pension reform, Jacksonville City Council looks backward

Dredging issues remain complex in Jacksonville

Jacksonville City Council attempts to hash out block parties … again

Jacksonville City Council President withdraws Hemming Park landmark bill

Jacksonville council finance committee clears a series of bills

Jacksonville Bold for 1.13.17 — Close call

Jacksonville equal opportunity ordinance picks up momentum

Jacksonville human rights ordinance expansion push begins … again

Jacksonville HRO expansion bill topic of Wednesday meeting

Jacksonville City Council wraps up 2016