Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee tackled two unusual bills. The first bill requires “public awareness signs for human trafficking” to be displayed in “adult entertainment and massage/bodywork establishments.” The bill had gotten workshopped in a couple of public notice meetings, before making its way to committees […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2016

12419170_530911230421286_7375527292676355205_o-1024x1024.jpg

A bill (2016-198) designed to appropriate a quarter million dollars of contingency money to a Hemming Park stage, got pushback in a Jacksonville City Council special committee Monday. Councilman John Crescimbeni said “the bill’s not ready for prime time,” while Finance Chair Bill Gulliford noted that it might be time to have a look at the long-range, five-year plan […]

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 13, 2016

11053582_1039259299422275_7515458863071550036_n-1024x1024.jpg

In a recent interview with FloridaPolitics.com, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg took issue with former mayor John Delaney’s handling of the pension issue during his time in office. The real question, Schellenberg said, is that the deal that Delaney authorized “was illegal” and that the former Jacksonville Mayor from 1995 to 2003 “caused the problem.” […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 6, 2016

In Wednesday’s Jacksonville City Council Vehicles for Hire Committee, representatives for Transportation Network Companies had their say. Speakers such as a Senior Public Affairs Associate from Uber, Cesar Fernandez, spoke to clarify the ridesharing industry’s position. Fernandez noted the industry commitment to background checks, vehicle inspections, and other safeguards that have assured local jurisdictions, such as […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 5, 2016

Mayor Lenny Curry is going to have 19 versions of the same conversation in the coming days and weeks, as Council members ready budgetary requests. Curry spokeswoman Marsha Oliver said it plainly: “It’s budget prep time. They are discussing the budget and the city’s financial future.” Tuesday afternoon’s schedule for Curry tells the tale: Meetings abound, with […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 3, 2016

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown, in what some will frame as a response to a Florida Times-Union article delineating the slow progress at her family’s city-subsidized barbeque sauce company, notes that “we are currently still hiring” in a Sunday morning Facebook post. Resumes are to be sent to [email protected] and there will be live interviews […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 24, 2016

The race for Jacksonville City Council Vice President is moving, commitment by commitment, toward coalescing behind John Crescimbeni. A conservative, budget hawk Democrat closer to the Charlie Bennett tradition than any other politician in the local party, Crescimbeni has been on Council off and on (mostly on) since 1991. To get the vice presidency (usually, but not […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville Vehicles for Hire committee resumed operation after a hiatus. An email from one of the cab company lobbyists, Josh Cockrell, to Council members expressed a sense of urgency. “Now that the legislative session is over and Uber and Lyft has failed to take advantage of our state lawmakers once again, we look forward […]

Tag: Matt Schellenberg
Image via AP.

Jax Council committee tackles human trafficking, sexual predator bills

Hemming Park stage money hits snag in Jax Council committee

Jax Rules passes controversial property donation bill with amendments

John Delaney responds to Matt Schellenberg’s “Teflon John” attack on Jax pension issue

Jax Vehicles for Hire Committee hears from Uber, Lyft reps

Budget meetings begin between Jax mayor, council members

Jax Councilwoman’s BBQ sauce plant is hiring… finally

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

Slowly but surely, Jax Council VP race being decided

Insurance concerns animate Jax Vehicles for Hire committee