Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 6, 2016

A bill allocating $70,000 t0 Jacksonville City Council members for internal costs on “neighborhood events” had gotten some pushback when introduced by Councilman Reggie Brown earlier this year. However, in the current round of committee hearings, the measure is getting traction. The measure cleared Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services on Monday. And on Tuesday, the Rules Committee […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 5, 2016

Sports and entertainment legislation took center stage Monday morning in a Jacksonville City Council committee, with three significant bills considered. The first was the biggest talker. A bill increasing city-imposed ticket surcharges for the Veterans Memorial Arena, the Baseball Grounds of Jax, and the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, while adding surcharges for events […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 5, 2016

Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown encountered some resistance the first time his bill to allocate $5,000 to each district council member for community events was in committee. On Monday in Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services, the bill was back, in amended form. The amendment consisted of “friendly suggestions” from the ethics office, said the general counsel […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 2, 2016

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown renewed her push for citizen review boards for police shootings on Friday morning. It’s a heavy lift, as charter precludes such a board; however, a sheriff’s office reform task force last month suggested that such a mechanism may be a worthwhile reform, even as the police union opposed it. Brown has prioritized […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Over 500 families can count on having a better Thanksgiving this year, thanks to a group of Jacksonville politicians who will host a farm share event Saturday. The food giveaway is on a first come, first serve basis, and kicks off at 9 a.m. at parking lot 4 of Florida State College — Jacksonville’s downtown campus. The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

At a press availability Tuesday afternoon across the street from the Cleveland Arms apartment complex, a group of Jacksonville City Council members united to declare that enough is enough when it comes to gun violence. To that end, they are proposing solutions to an epidemic that has seen multiple people shot — most in Northwest Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

Justice was delayed for an important member of Jacksonville’s city government. But on Monday, it was finally delivered, as one of the most honorable people in City Hall was cleared of what were ultimately spurious charges. Last year, a report from the Jacksonville City Council auditor’s office implied Kerri Stewart, the chief of staff for […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

Jacksonville’s epidemic of gun violence in 2016 (106 homicides thus far) has been bookended in 2016 by the deaths of two of the youngest, most innocent victims imaginable. In January on Jacksonville’s Eastside, 22-month-old Aiden McClendon was gunned down as the toddler sat in a car with relatives. Another car drove by, and bullets sprayed […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

The revival of the Jacksonville Journey was a signature campaign pledge of Mayor Lenny Curry. But over 16 months into his term, violent crime continues in Jacksonville, with a spree of shootings over the weekend. Though the Jacksonville Journey has never been represented as a quick fix for violent crime so much as a program to drive […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

Jacksonville has changed a lot since the late 1970s. But the city’s tourist development plan remains as it was when originally implemented almost 40 years ago. With that in mind, Council President Lori Boyer brought forth a bill Monday morning to the Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services Committee with some revisions to charter language regarding the […]

Tag: Reggie Brown
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Neighborhood events bill clears second Jacksonville council panel

Jacksonville City Council prepares to increase ticket surcharges

‘Neighborhood events’ bill gets second life in Jacksonville City Council

For citizen review board in Jacksonville, a charter change is necessary

Farm share giveaway to brighten Jacksonville Thanksgiving dinners

Jacksonville City Council members grapple with recent wave of gun violence

Kerri Stewart cleared of ethics charges

Murder of Jacksonville infant illustrates a larger struggle

Jacksonville Journey discussion reveals fissures on council panel

Jacksonville council panel OKs revision of tourist development plan