Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossJanuary 15, 2016

In Jacksonville, Peter Rummell giveth, and Peter Rummell taketh away. That was a lesson very publicly learned by former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. Now, ousted One Spark founder Elton Rivas is the latest to get his walking papers after the powerful money man behind the popular (but financially struggling) crowdfunding festival decided the spark was […]

Melissa RossDecember 1, 2015

For a couple of years now, Jacksonville megadeveloper Peter Rummell would cringe a bit when people would ask what was up “with that new development of yours, Healthy Town.” “That’s not going to be the name!” he’d say. Now, “Healthy Town” is out and “The District” is in. Actually, the planned community on Jacksonville’s Southbank will […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

One Spark is one of Jacksonville’s cornerstone events, and the man behind it, Peter Rummell, is also one of the key behind-the-scenes supporters of the Lenny Curry administration, as has been amply documented. With that convergence in mind, it’s perhaps inevitable that Curry’s City Hall would be considered as a platform for art at the 2016 One Spark […]

Melissa RossApril 8, 2015

For the hundreds of thousands of visitors flocking this week to Jacksonville’s One Spark, the five-day crowdfunding festival is a glorious love-in, a happening, a blissful paean to the millennial generation’s long-awaited 21st century triumph over the city’s stodgy Old Guard. One Spark is the Change They Have Been Waiting For. Closed streets, open containers, live […]

Melissa RossApril 7, 2015

A certain city in Texas is known by three simple words: “Keep Austin Weird.” Chicago is the Second City. New Orleans, post-Katrina, is still music and fun and good times. Even little ol’ Chattanooga, Tennessee is making strides in creating a definable brand. In other words, cities across the country know the value of branding (just as […]

Melissa RossApril 6, 2015

It’s perhaps a fitting metaphor for the world’s largest crowdfunding festival. Just hours before Tuesday’s opening ceremony begins for One Spark in downtown Jacksonville, a giant shark will splash its way into the fountain at Hemming Park. For the third year in a row, the Enlivened Spaces class at UNF has created a massive sculpture in […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 1, 2015

One of the most significant events in Jacksonville’s public sphere is the One Spark festival, now in its third year. The event takes place this year from April 7-12, and is a draw locally and across the region. It is one of the events that the Alvin Brown administration is most closely identified with, and today’s event […]

Melissa RossJanuary 29, 2015

It’s long been viewed as something of an irony in the River City. Jacksonville belies Florida’s reputation as the nation’s haven for gray-haired 70+ snowbirds. Is is actually the youngest city in the state, with a median age of 35. But the Jax millennials, despite their large numbers, haven’t been much of a force, as […]

Tag: One Spark

Elton Rivas on leaving One Spark: “A leader serves as a privilege, not as a divine right”

Jacksonville developer Peter Rummell debuts “The District”

Jax City Hall to be One Spark art gallery?

How One Spark lays bare Florida’s political divide

One Spark: Jacksonville’s big branding opportunity

Swimming with sharks: Politicians to press flesh at One Spark

Alvin Brown highlights partnerships ahead of One Spark

Jax Young Voters Coalition aims to fight apathy among Millennials