Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 24, 2016

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After a fractious public notice meeting between Jacksonville City Council members and Friends of Hemming Park earlier on Tuesday, council Vice President Lori Boyer proposed that an appropriation approved by the Finance Committee for $250,000 for the construction of a new stage be changed to an appropriation granting Friends of Hemming Park $100,000 to cover operating […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 23, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Vehicles for Hire special committee met on Monday, progressing on vehicle inspections and stalling out on background checks. Any optimism the committee might be headed toward disbanding anytime soon was quickly squelched, as advocates for the taxicab and transportation network company sectors, and council members, settled in to rehearse well-worn arguments […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 20, 2016

On Friday, the Jacksonville City Council’s Special Economic Development Incentives Committee finalized a draft version of the city’s public investment policy, which has been discussed at previous meetings, finishing two years of dedicated work spanning two mayoral administrations. Included: countywide programs; state programs, such as qualified targeted industries; programs for economically distressed areas; programs for […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2016

In welcome news for media tasked with covering the Jacksonville City Council’s Vehicles for Hire committee, it appears that special panel may be nearing its end. Rules Committee chair Matt Schellenberg, who also chairs Vehicles for Hire, noted in the Rules agenda meeting Tuesday afternoon that Vehicles for Hire hadn’t been making the progress he’d hoped […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2016

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 9, 2016

On Monday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Vehicles for Hire subcommittee wrestled, yet again, with regulations for Uber and Lyft, making glacial progress on resolving the long-standing contretemps between the taxicab industry and transportation network companies. Progress had been made previously on insurance conditions, with the committee agreeing on terms. Drivers for transportation network companies […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 6, 2016

On Friday morning, Jacksonville City Council members and Kirk Wendland of the Office of Economic Development again turned their attention to driving economic development incentives to distressed areas of the city. This discussion, which started two weeks ago in the previous meeting of the Economic Development Incentives Committee, was intended to address the “real challenge” of bringing […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2016

Going into Tuesday, John Crescimbeni led Doyle Carter in the pledge race to be Jacksonville City Council vice president seven-to-five. Both candidates had scheduled meetings with pledges on Tuesday. Crescimbeni with Reggie Gaffney. And, later in the day, Carter with Matt Schellenberg. Some describe these meetings as “kabuki theater.” However, with the pledge count surprisingly close, these have become must-see […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2016

During discussion of housing bond issues, former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown was taken to task by the Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee. The issue, as it was in Monday’s Finance Committee meeting, was Brown’s decision to circumvent the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority by authorizing irregular financing for Global Ministries Foundation properties. “In over […]

Tag: Matt Schellenberg

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

After extended inquisition, Jax Council approves more Hemming Park funding

Jax Vehicles for Hire committee agrees to yearly rideshare vehicle inspections

Jax economic development incentives committee firms up public investment policy

Jax vehicles for hire committee nears its end

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

Jax Vehicles for Hire committee considers regulatory framework, yet again

Jax Council committee tackles economic incentives for distressed areas

Jax Council VP race tightens up three weeks ahead of vote

Alvin Brown lambasted in Jax Council Committee