Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 27, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council passed a $1.18 billion budget that will add more and better-equipped police officers to city streets. However, the big talkers were swimming lessons, travel budgets, and special events allocations … adding up to a picayune $115,000 out of the council contingency budget. And another big talker: a failed but audacious […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 26, 2016

A controversial bill (2016-489) moving $70,000 from council contingency for special events for each of the fourteen district council members got hung up in committees last week. Monday, bill sponsor Reggie Brown held a public notice meeting with council colleagues. And after that meeting, there may be a conceptual way forward. Brown, who represents Northwest Jacksonville, noted […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2016

Despite the maelstrom regarding the future of Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, Jacksonville City Council President Lori Boyer vowed that the Wednesday meeting between the school board and the council would steer clear of Vitti’s employment controversy, addressing more ordinary topics like school concurrency, hazardous walking conditions, and charter school development. The meeting did avoid the Vitti […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2016

In the last Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting before the full council passes the budget Sept. 27, a packed agenda was considered. Among the more compelling bills: a controversial measure to appropriate $5,000 to each of the fourteen district council members for “special events” in public parks; a bill tightening up regulations on burglar […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 19, 2016

In the Jacksonville City Council Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services Committee Monday, a measure was approved to rename a local park as a memorial to the El Faro victims. The renaming of the Dames Point Park was described by bill sponsor Al Ferraro as “so much more than the renaming of a park.” Tote Maritime […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2016

The big news coming out of Jacksonville’s 24th annual mayor’s environmental luncheon was that Mayor Lenny Curry wasn’t present. The yearly event, designed to honor the area’s “finest and most creative environmental stewards,” saw representation from the mayor’s office, via Dr. Charles Moreland, who often serves as a proxy for such events. Many attendees were dismayed by […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 15, 2016

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A spirited discussion of the dispensation of surplus property in District 10 and Jacksonville’s lingering affordable housing issues highlighted Jacksonville’s NCIS committee Monday. The Real Estate Division requested authorization to declare 32 condo lots on Lane Avenue South in Common Elements, Brookewood A Condominium, as surplus tax reverted parcels after an investigation which determined the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 9, 2016

A historic Jacksonville landmark looks slated for preservation, and some long-delayed road and bridge projects are being prioritized, after Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. Meanwhile, a discussion of housing funds led to an exegesis on public housing related to the problem-plagued Fairway Oaks development, built by Habijax on bad foundations, leading to structural damages. The Council […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 18, 2016

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After a budget presentation that saw draconian cuts imposed on the Friends of Hemming Park, with $250,000 of new money allocated in Lenny Curry‘s new budget, the Jacksonville City Council took some whacks at the pinata. A new council auditor’s report on FOHP detailed lots of incidental spending, including on coffee and meals that members of […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2016

Jacksonville activists may want a citizen review board to review police shootings. Some members of Jacksonville’s City Council may agree. However, Councilman Reggie Brown, one of three council members at a fractious Wednesday public notice meeting that involved very outspoken advocates for a change in Jacksonville’s policy, said the struggle for a CRB was “uphill,” when […]

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

Jacksonville City Council passes big budget after robust discussion of small details

Jacksonville City Council members make progress on special events bill

With Nikolai Vitti’s future in question, Jacksonville City Council and school board meet

Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee addresses packed agenda

Jax poised to re-dedicate Dames Point Park to honor El Faro crew

Lenny Curry misses mayor’s environmental luncheon

Over district councilman’s objections, Jax surplus property bill moves through committee

Jax Council approves transportation plan, money for fort preservation

‘Frivolous’ Hemming Park spending raises Jax Council concerns

Councilman: ‘Uphill’ battle for Jax citizen review board