Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2016

When it comes to former Jax PFPF head John Keane, City Council is ready to “lawyer up,” and a March 7 “litigation shade meeting” will address strategy. The guidelines were laid forth by Council President Greg Anderson in a memo Friday. Attendance is “urgent” for all members of Council, as they discuss legal strategy in the wake […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 25, 2016

On Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will lead a crew in a building demolition effort. But it’s for a good reason: the eradication of blight, and renewal. A release from the mayor’s office asserts that “a Jacksonville neighborhood, once ridden with crime, will soon experience a “groundbreaking” effort unlike any other.” “In preparation of the development of Payne […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s big bill involved attempting to finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane with a settlement agreement. Instead, they “postponed indefinitely,” after a long and tortuous process of discussion and amendments. The goal is to get answers to questions and, seemingly, to show Keane […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

Parking downtown may get more expensive for Jacksonville’s city employees in the upcoming fiscal year, if a 2014 ordinance is allowed to sunset. In an email to CAO Sam Mousa, OED head Kirk Wendland notes that “Ordinance 2014-438-E gave all City employees who are monthly parkers at municipal owned parking garages operated by Public Parking a 50% […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council met for its Committee of the Whole meeting regarding expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. The expectation going in was that both the Tommy Hazouri and Bill Gulliford iterations of the legislation would be withdrawn. In the hours leading up to the meeting, an intriguing narrative surfaced: whether Hazouri’s withdrawal motion […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

The Republican-friendly Northeast Florida chapter of NAIOP, a Trade association for developers, owners and investors in industrial, office and related commercial real estate, intends to honor Jacksonville CAO Sam Mousa with an award. Mousa will receive the Community Service award in a March 10 ceremony to be held at the Garden Club of Jacksonville. The award will be […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

Discussed toward the end of Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Finance meeting, the Council Auditor’s quarterly summary raised concerns in the committee. There also were concerns that weren’t discussed by the panel. One such concern discussed within the committee: stress on various subfunds related to stadium improvements. The stadium subfund is projected to incur a $644,502 […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 14, 2016

In an email, Jacksonville’s CAO, Sam Mousa, told one of those A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Next Level stories about the Alvin Brown administration. This one affects the Bob Hayes Track Meet. “It came to our attention via the Council Auditor this week that the Brown administration did not have a contract executed before […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Highlighting the Jacksonville City Council agenda on Tuesday was “cure legislation” to address safety officer salary allocations from the September budget. The other looming issue was yet another round of public comment for the Human Rights Ordinance. The agenda meeting addressed both. Regarding the cure legislation, Garrett Dennis and Al Ferraro, during the agenda meeting, expressed concerns […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting lacked a lot of punch when it came to legislation. The big bill of the night, the controversial term limits referendum measure, was said (H/t David Chapman) to be tabled ahead of the meeting. During agenda, Matt Schellenberg confirmed it. Schellenberg, in Tallahassee last week representing the City Council for the Florida […]

Tag: Sam Mousa
Gabrielle Russon

Jax City Council plans closed meeting on John Keane dispute

Lenny Curry to lead demolition exercise Friday

Jax Council “postpones indefinitely” John Keane settlement

Jax city employees may pay more for parking next fiscal year

Both Jax HRO bills withdrawn

Jax CAO Sam Mousa to receive community service award

Jax Council Auditor quarterly financial summary raises concerns in Finance Committee

Sam Mousa drops another amusing Alvin Brown administration anecdote

Jax Council passes Safety Officer cure legislation

Matt Schellenberg to withdraw term limits bill