Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 6, 2015

The first Charlotte’s Web workshop, held jointly by the Planning Commission and the Land Use and Zoning committee of the Jacksonville City Council in August, was less than auspicious. Discussion of “grass stations” and facile comparisons of children who need medicine to recovering heroin addicts waiting for their methadone fixes were the highlights. This time […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 5, 2015

The long-awaited JTA presentation to the Jacksonville Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee on the way forward for the much-maligned Skyway finally occurred on Monday afternoon. Scheduled originally for a committee meeting in September, scheduling confusion pushed back the original presentation. The options on the table range from overhauling vehicles, creating new vehicles, decommissioning the Skyway once obsolete, […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 25, 2015

On Thursday, when walking to Jacksonville’s City Hall, I talked with a couple of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue personnel (in separate conversations) who were pretty happy about the Jacksonville City Council’s decision, made on a second vote, to take $320,000 from the stormwater fund and put it toward maintaining the positions of 17 district chiefs. […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council officially approved the FY 16 budget and related bills on Monday evening. Leading off the meeting, Council President Greg Anderson quipped, regarding the jampacked Chambers, “I wonder why you’re all here tonight.” The Capital Improvement Plan was approved without discussion or exception (though a floor amendment at the end changed that), as […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 10, 2015

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There is every expectation that the Human Rights Ordinance is going to be at the forefront of Jacksonville City Council concerns once the city’s budget is likely approved at the Sept. 21 City Council meeting. With that in mind, the national Human Rights Campaign has a concerted lobbying effort, with multiple registered lobbyists making its […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2015

The Jacksonville Public Library has had a rough decade. Ten years of budget cuts have taken the beleaguered JPL past the point of efficiency into the realm of austerity. However, of late there has been hope, says Barbara Gubbin, JPL director. In welcoming Mayor Lenny Curry, Gubbin mentioned that she and her staff have been on “tenterhooks,” […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 26, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee continued its budget reviews on Wednesday afternoon. Documents were sparse in terms of change recommendations from Council Auditor Kirk Sherman, yet with the Jacksonville City Council, the potential is always there for lively discussion. The discussion of the Court budget, with Chief Judge Mark Mahon, was notable more for its […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 22, 2015

Though Florida Politics did not cover last week’s Jacksonville Parks, Recreation and Community Services meeting, we were able to obtain administration notes from the session, which give a strong sense as to City Council priorities that the Lenny Curry team found notable. Councilwoman Lori Boyer wondered “What funding is in our budget for the Jacksonville Day Resource Center?” As well, […]

Melissa RossAugust 20, 2015

Even though a 120-day moratorium on dispensing Charlotte’s Web is still in place in Jacksonville, one official involved with regulating the drug for cultivation and sale says the process is moving forward, albeit very slowly, for getting the non-euphoric THC oil into the hands of sick patients. “Over the past few weeks, everyone has learned […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

The Tuesday afternoon joint Charlotte’s Web workshop between Jacksonville’s Planning Commission and Land Use and Zoning drew few people. A few nurses and a smattering of other interested parties showed to discuss 2015-485, an ordinance establishing a partial moratorium on cultivation for 90 days (banned except in agricultural zones) and a full 120-day moratorium on […]

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Aleksandar Vucic Image via AP

Jacksonville’s second MMJ workshop leads to draft ordinance for Charlotte’s Web

Jacksonville Transportation Authority presents Skyway options to Council TEU committee

Did text messages sway the Jax City Council firefighter pay boost vote?

Jax City Council approves FY16 budget

Human Rights Campaign lobbying hard in Jax on HRO issue

For Lenny Curry and Jax Public Library, JAXREADS embodies 1C1J

Jax Finance Committee looks at regulatory compliance, debt affordability

Lenny Curry administration notes from Jax Parks and Rec budget meeting

Charlotte’s Web in Jacksonville: “We need to move quickly”

Jax Charlotte’s Web workshop resolves few issues, draws minimal public interest