Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2015

A packed Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting Monday included what Chairman Bill Gulliford described as a “dog and pony show” related to Jaguars stadium upgrades and an update on the Police and Fire Pension Fund imbroglio, among other issues. If this were pro wrestling, it would be a supercard. Paul Harden, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ superlobbyist, was on […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 25, 2015

If you’re reading this, you likely have a positive relationship with the Thanksgiving holiday. This should be especially true for the doughty stalwarts of the #JaxPol universe, where seemingly everyone, from the congressional level down to City Council, have tangible things for which they should be grateful. U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, for one, can be grateful […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2015

Bill Gulliford celebrated his 72nd birthday by chairing the JEA Agreement meeting, promising, at long last, an extended discussion of the contribution formula, before a vote on it next Tuesday. The proposal specs: a 10-year agreement, starting October 2016; a contribution floor of $114,187,538; a reset of tax millage to achieve the floor; an annual […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

Momentum is growing among city officials for more active engagement between the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and youth at events in city parks, according to a review of city emails. In an email last Monday, Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa questioned Daryl Joseph, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, on this subject, noting that […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 10, 2015

A below-the-radar topic that nonetheless is always at the forefront of Jacksonville’s Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa‘s mind is cost savings. Internal emails indicate attention is going to be devoted to reducing fleet management costs in the coming weeks. Verizon Telematics will meet with senior administration members to discuss their solutions to fleet management issues. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2015

The case of 507 missing debit cards from the Alvin Brown administration continues to be investigated in Jacksonville’s City Hall… and Mayor Lenny Curry wants action. In an email sent Tuesday afternoon, Curry directed his Inspector General, Thomas Cline, to “look into the debit card issue and to connect w State Attorney as appropriate,” also […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 31, 2015

Employee recognition programs are wonderful; but so is fiscal accountability. An email from Jacksonville Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa to Mayor Lenny Curry indicated that over 500 debit cards have gone missing, from an Alvin Brown era employee recognition program. $27,425 of debit cards are “unaccounted” for, wrote Mousa, cards “purchased in conjunction with an […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 30, 2015

Emails from city officials indicate that the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund board knew the forensic audit was complete on Tuesday, making their silence on the matter notable in consideration of that fact. “The media has reported that the forensic audit is complete and that you have scheduled a news conference for 1:00 p.m. […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 21, 2015

On Wednesday afternoon, the Jacksonville City Council special committee on capital improvement projects continued its work refining legislation and policy related to debt management and CIPs. It ironed out aspects of draft legislation to move Jacksonville toward a more consistent and efficient approach to capital improvement projects, and with budgeting more generally, resolving City Council […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 20, 2015

Hot on the heels of a scathing dispatch on the sketchy financing of the Section 8 slum known as Eureka Gardens comes an internal email from Jacksonville Fire Marshal Kevin Jones regarding a “gas odor incident” at the same property. In related news, the email documents a pilot light problem in a unit that posed danger to […]

Tag: Sam Mousa

Jax Finance Committee OKs amphitheater deal

Thanksgiving, the #JaxPol edition

JEA Agreement meeting addresses contribution formula proposal

Sam Mousa pushes for JSO engagement with youth in parks

Jacksonville exploring fleet management efficiency improvements with Verizon

Lenny Curry enlists legal eagles on Alvin Brown era Debit-gate

The case of the 507 missing debit cards from the Alvin Brown administration

Why hasn’t Jax PFPF commented on forensic audit?

Jacksonville capital improvement committee works on final cleanup of bills

“Gas odor incident” at Eureka Gardens spotlights even more neglect