Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 2, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown has became a point man on Mayor Lenny Curry‘s push to boost after-school program funding this year. However, Brown’s 2016 financial disclosure form reveals that he has received secondary income of almost $10,000 from one of those organizations tasked with running after-school programs. Brown says there is no conflict of interest because the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 2, 2017

On Monday, the Jacksonville City Council Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee mulled a local bill requiring the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to station crossing guards at elementary and middle schools. But a lack of specifics and data led to a motion for deferral. The bill, to be carried in Tallahassee by Rep. Kim Daniels, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 31, 2017

Wednesday afternoon saw Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and City Councilman Reggie Brown slated to visit an after-school program. Brown, in the end, did not go — even as he gave us a quote after the fact as if he had. Brown and Curry collaborated earlier this month on a measure to boost after-school funding, a measure that undercut […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee put Sheriff Mike Williams through the wringer during this year’s budget process. They pushed back against budget asks two weeks ago, compelling the Sheriff to return Friday morning, where he spent roughly an hour answering questions related to a poll his political committee ran. Among the items in suspension: 100 […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2017

Friday saw the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee move toward wrapping up budget deliberations. However, there was still some unfinished business with various departments. And the most interesting bit of business was political business — not budgetary. — The big enchilada: the 100 new police officers and other proposals from JSO, which were not approved […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 24, 2017

Thursday morning’s Jacksonville City Council budget review included a deep dive into improving workforce diversity in city employment. Council members discussed ways to fulfill the letter of the equal opportunity/equal access law, relative to ensuring that Jacksonville’s labor force reflects the city’s demographics. “It’s about priorities. Whatever the Mayor wants to do in that fashion, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2017

Friday morning saw the Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee review the Mayor’s proposed capital budgets for JEA. The discussion sprawled close to 90 minutes — double the allotted time — and was one in which budget line items were often directly related to equity in services throughout the city. ____ JEA was up first. The […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2017

The first day of Jacksonville City Council review of Mayor Lenny Curry‘s proposed budget was highlighted by a deep dive into the Sheriff’s budget: 35 percent of the general fund. Among the highlights of the proposed budget: 100 more cops, which would bring force levels within a few dozen of the peak of 1,800 officers years back. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 10, 2017

The August ritual began anew Thursday morning in Jacksonville’s City Hall, with the City Council Finance Committee beginning its review of the Mayor’s proposed budget. The day began with a romp through a presentation from the Curry administration, followed by the Council Auditor’s review of the budget. The proposed $1.27B budget is up from the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 8, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and City Councilman Garrett Dennis agree that more money is needed for Duval County’s after-school programs. However, they are on what Dennis called “different pages” regarding how much is needed. A need for resolution looms and will be provided at Council Tuesday night. And that resolution looks likely to come out of one-time, […]

Tag: Reggie Brown

Reggie Brown rejects conflict of interest charge

More crossing guards for Jacksonville schools, if local bill passes Tallahassee

Political context looms over Jacksonville Mayor’s after-school program visit

After venting about poll, Jax Council panel gives Sheriff 100 new cops

Jax Councilors feel ‘targeted’ by Sheriff’s poll pushing 100 new cops

Jax commitment to workforce diversity: just ‘words on paper’?

Jax City Councilors mull JEA budget, ‘broken promises’ of Consolidation

Jax Councilors hammer Sheriff Mike Williams on policy, procedure

Jax City Council begins mulling Lenny Curry’s budget

After-school funding showdown looms in Jax City Council