Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 5, 2017

Emails between senior staff in the Jacksonville mayor’s and sheriff’s offices offer a unique look at how legislation is nurtured through the process. The subject of the emails: the ShotSpotter technology that Jacksonville leaders have touted as a possible corrective to the hail of gunshots in high-crime areas. Ordinance 2016-795 will, among other things, “appropriate $435,001 […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2016

The Republican Party of Duval County continues to fracture after Monday’s surprising leadership elections, which saw longtime chair aspirant Karyn Morton topple Cindy Graves. The establishment, the donor class, and incumbent politicians all have a comfort level with Graves. However, it was Morton who scored a coup over Graves on Monday night. And it’s Graves […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Over 500 families can count on having a better Thanksgiving this year, thanks to a group of Jacksonville politicians who will host a farm share event Saturday. The food giveaway is on a first come, first serve basis, and kicks off at 9 a.m. at parking lot 4 of Florida State College — Jacksonville’s downtown campus. The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2016

On Wednesday afternoon, the Jacksonville Journey Oversight Committee convened for the first time since a wave of weekend violence left multiple people dead, including an 11-month-old infant. In that meeting, held in the wake of City Council committees scrutinizing how Journey resources are allocated, one thing that became clear was that the committee is looking […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2016

The Jacksonville Journey is in line to receive almost a million dollars in federal money, via a bill that passed Finance — the third and final Council committee to consider it — on Wednesday. This grant was first announced in the Jax Journey Oversight Committee meeting in late September. The two-year grant facilitates data analysis regarding the best way […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2016

When Jacksonville City Council President Lori Boyer took the helm this summer, she sought to expand the council’s role as a policymaking body. Primary to that charge were “special committees,” set to immediately follow the regular committee meetings every two weeks. Though some council members have voiced concerns that the special committees present a time burden, committee […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 19, 2016

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Can new rules and stricter enforcement help to regulate the unruly denizens of one of Jacksonville’s showcase parks? Jacksonville City Council members John Crescimbeni and Scott Wilson convened Wednesday to discuss issues related to code and ordinance enforcement in Hemming Park. A recurrent issue over years is problems with park regulars drinking and engaging in other illicit […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 4, 2016

In July, the Florida Environmental Regulatory Commission fast-tracked a decision to weaken water quality standards, allowing more benzene and other wastewater chemicals to be released in Florida waterways. In October, a Jacksonville City Council committee (Public Health and Safety) approved unanimously a resolution to express opposition and urge reconsideration of the recommendations sent to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. In doing […]

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 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 […]

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Dr. Leak Roberts. Image via AP.

Jacksonville mayor, sheriff’s office prepare for ShotSpotter legislation

Civil war embroils the Duval GOP after race for chair

Farm share giveaway to brighten Jacksonville Thanksgiving dinners

Jacksonville Journey: a marathon, not a sprint

Million-dollar Jax Journey grant clears final council committee

Jacksonville City Council ‘special committees’ doing well, say chairs

New rules for old problems at Hemming Park

Jacksonville council panel pushes back on relaxed state surface water quality standards

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

Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee addresses packed agenda