Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

A controversial bill, 2015-519, changing guidelines for city donation of vacant, buildable lots owned by the city after tax reversion for affordable housing inventory purposes, was passed by Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday. The bill doubles the permissible value of properties that can be dispensed to CHDOs and other affordable housing non-profits from $25,000 to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry addressed the City Council Tuesday evening, regarding 2016-300, the ordinance setting an August referendum for the pension tax. Curry noted that with Council support, “we now have the opportunity to save our city from financial ruin,” by extending the half cent sales tax, before speaking to “critics” who want a new sales tax, saying […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 25, 2016

A Jacksonville City Council Special Committee comprised of the Finance and Recreation, Community Development, Public Health, and Safety (RCDPHS) committees tackled on Monday a controversial bill, 2015-519, which regulates property donation of the 436 parcels under city ownership. The bill, passed on Monday, will be on Tuesday’s Council agenda as an addendum item. 2015-519, which […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2016

On Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry made an audacious move. He ordered that former Police and Fire Pension Fund (PFPF) head John Keane’s pension be cut. In doing so, as readers will see, the mayor reasserted the primacy of the executive branch over the PFPF, in a quest to protect taxpayer dollars, and to finally bring closure to this ongoing […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

Derek Igou, Jacksonville’s first choice for the new director of Neighborhoods, didn’t work out. The problem, we understand, was one of academic credentials. The Lenny Curry administration is back to the drawing board, and a Thursday email indicates a refinement of job description specs for Neighborhoods head. “Per our discussion and your directions,” wrote Mousa Thursday to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 12, 2016

Expectations that a controversial bill on increasing the value of property the city may donate to developers from $25,000 to $50,000, would be discharged for discussion came to pass, at the urging of Councilman Bill Gulliford, during Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. Council had already promised further discussion on 2015-519 in the Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 11, 2016

The enigmatic HD 12 campaign of Republican Richard Clark, a JTA Governmental Affairs Officer, resumed fundraising in March after five months of dormancy. A $9,500 March brought Clark up to $60,000 even, leaving him just over $50,000 on hand. Clark, a former Jacksonville City Councilman, raised money from luminaries, including Susie Wiles, the co-chair of the Florida […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2016

March fundraising reports are starting to trickle in, and House District 12 Republican Don Redman has an interesting donor on his: Sam Mousa, Jacksonville CAO. Mousa maxed out for Redman, as part of a $8,340 haul (that included $1,900 of money from the Redmans, but still). Also maxing out: Best Bet’s Jamie Shelton, the husband of Ali Korman Shelton, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 2, 2016

Interim Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Executive Director Beth McCague said when she took the job that she didn’t want to be there indefinitely. A year was the longest commitment that she wanted to offer. And she may be done sooner than that. An internal email from McCague to Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa notes that […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2016

In an attempt to put a “stronger focus on neighborhoods” and to impose “cost controls,” the Jacksonville City Council passed 17-0 comprehensive reorganization legislation Tuesday night that created a Neighborhoods Department. The legislation has been a priority of the Curry administration from before the inauguration, and would mitigate the effects of a reorganization in the previous […]

Tag: Sam Mousa

Jax Council finally passes property donation bill

Lenny Curry pitches August pension tax referendum to Council

Jax Council special committee OKs property donation bill, 2015-519

Lenny Curry orders John Keane’s pension cut, litigation dismissed

Next Jax Neighborhoods director to have law enforcement leadership background

Jacksonville City Council discusses controversial property donation bill, defers action

Richard Clark and Clay Yarborough lead the HD 12 money race through March

Jacksonville CAO Sam Mousa highlights Don Redman HD 12 March donor list

Jax pension fund preps for post-Beth McCague era

Jacksonville City Council passes Neighborhoods bill