Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 25, 2016

On Monday, an emphatic Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry pushed back against the untimely release of a draft version of a sheriff’s task force report saying County Referendum 1 — extending the current half-cent sales tax to address pension costs — wasn’t going far enough without a millage hike accompanying it. The genesis of the Monday morning presser […]

Guest AuthorApril 13, 2016

We need a growing economy that works for all Floridians, not just the wealthy and well connected. But all too often our state lawmakers put large campaign donors, corporate special interests and ideological extremism above the needs of everyday Floridians. Fortunately there are some silver linings among the dark clouds of big-money influence that hang […]

Melissa RossJune 30, 2015

Calling public safety and the city’s stretched finances his top priorities, new Jacksonville City Council president Greg Anderson says the city is heading into “an exciting time” as a new mayor and council are sworn in July 1. “If we can create an environment where the executive and legislative branches are working together, Jacksonville is […]

Guest AuthorJune 2, 2015

Put aside the politics of Florida’s healthcare reform debate for a minute, and you’ll recognize our uninsured crisis is as much a public safety problem as it is a public policy challenge. My entire professional life has been dedicated to public service and safety. Working my way up from patrolman to lieutenant over 26 years […]

Melissa RossMay 18, 2015

Public safety has emerged as a major issue in Jacksonville’s superclose mayor’s race, with incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown defending his approach to this core function of government, while challenger Lenny Curry has hammered Brown’s administration on the issue of violent crime. A recent school bus shooting incident reinforced the narrative. In particular, the Curry campaign has […]

Melissa RossApril 27, 2015

Calls from the Jacksonville faith community to impose a 9 p.m. curfew in the city’s high-crime areas are getting pushback from activists on the ground in the Northwest quadrant. “In studies of dozens of U.S. cities, our research shows overall, youth curfews have had ‘no effect’ … in other words they just don’t work!” writes […]

Melissa RossApril 15, 2015

Appearing in front of a fire station on the city’s Northwest Side, Mayor Alvin Brown touted the endorsements of the city’s Brotherhood of Police Officers and Firefighters, saying he’s got the better plan to improve Jacksonville’s public safety. The organizations primarily represent African-American police and fire personnel. As recently as December, their blessings were not […]

Melissa RossApril 1, 2015

Calling himself the most experienced candidate in the race, Republican Mike Williams says the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office “needs to do more” to reach out to communities in Jacksonville that don’t trust or cooperate with the police. Williams came in second in the March 24 First Election to Democrat Ken Jefferson, the agency’s former PIO. He’s […]

Tag: public safety

Lenny Curry describes leak of task force draft report panning pension tax as ‘purely political’

Mark Ferrulo: ‘Middle Class Champions’ stand tall in Tallahassee

Greg Anderson on new Jax mayor, council: “We’ve got a new day”

Robert Asencio: Healthcare expansion is a public safety issue

Public safety accusations fly on Election Eve in Jacksonville

Curfew controversy latest flap in Jax public safety concerns

Jacksonville’s black firefighters, police endorse Alvin Brown

Mike Williams: I have the track record to fight crime