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 20, 2016

Ideas have consequences, goes the maxim. So does, it turns out, texting on budget night. Consequences including media and internal scrutiny, and, in Jacksonville, a special committee on electronic communications. The committee, chaired by Councilman Sam Newby, was charged with looking at Council policy regarding electronic communication, and exploring storage options for archived text messages, and […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 19, 2016

Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee mulled one controversial item on the agenda: 2015-519, the property donation bill. And passed it – with amendments. 2015-519 would raise to $50,000 the value of properties the city can donate to Community Housing Development Organizations (CHODOs) or to for-profits looking to create affordable housing on these vacant lots. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 14, 2016

In a month of momentum for HD 11 GOP hopeful Sheri Treadwell, a key endorsement was conferred Thursday by Jacksonville City Councilman Sam Newby. Newby, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Duval County and chairman and co-founder of the Florida Assembly of Black Republicans, endorsed Carlos Lopez-Cantera for Senate already this election cycle. Newby, a social […]

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 5, 2016

Mayor Lenny Curry is going to have 19 versions of the same conversation in the coming days and weeks, as Council members ready budgetary requests. Curry spokeswoman Marsha Oliver said it plainly: “It’s budget prep time. They are discussing the budget and the city’s financial future.” Tuesday afternoon’s schedule for Curry tells the tale: Meetings abound, with […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

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 Newby

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

Jax Council electronic communications special committee kicks off

Jax Rules passes controversial property donation bill with amendments

Sam Newby endorses Sheri Treadwell in HD 11

Jacksonville City Council discusses controversial property donation bill, defers action

Budget meetings begin between Jax mayor, council members

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

Jacksonville City Council passes Neighborhoods bill