Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

On an otherwise quiet Tuesday in the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee, the panel moved to remove the provision that the inspector general shall not have been employed by city government or any other governmental entity within two years before before being selected, unless the appointment was in the IG’s office. The bill, moved on an […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 3, 2016

City Councilman Tommy Hazouri is the only former Jacksonville mayor on the 19-member legislative body. During his tenure, he dealt with issues in low-income housing at Blodgett Homes. A quarter-century later, Hazouri is dealing with issues at properties owned by Global Ministries Foundation, such as Eureka Garden and Washington Heights. Eureka Garden has gotten national […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

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After a fractious public notice meeting between Jacksonville City Council members and Friends of Hemming Park earlier on Tuesday, council Vice President Lori Boyer proposed that an appropriation approved by the Finance Committee for $250,000 for the construction of a new stage be changed to an appropriation granting Friends of Hemming Park $100,000 to cover operating […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 5, 2016

Is this the endgame for Mincy Pollock? Action News Jax reported Wednesday that the former City Council candidate-turned Corrine Brown employee is accused of money laundering and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Pollock is being accused of laundering money through a bogus charity closely tied to Brown. Those accusations are coming from Pollock’s former business […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee tackled two unusual bills. The first bill requires “public awareness signs for human trafficking” to be displayed in “adult entertainment and massage/bodywork establishments.” The bill had gotten workshopped in a couple of public notice meetings, before making its way to committees […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 2, 2016

In a drama-free move, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee approved a bill authorizing a referendum on extension of the half-cent sales tax on Monday. Bill 2016-300 passed unanimously as an emergency measure. CFO Mike Weinstein noted that the referendum would close the three existing pension plans, which created the $2.7 billion unfunded pension liability. “The beauty […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2016

In classic Jacksonville City Council fashion, a simple, well-intentioned bill mandating anti-human trafficking signs in massage parlors and adult entertainment establishments has led to committees tabling it and to the second of two public notice meetings on Tuesday. Councilman Tommy Hazouri‘s original bill got pushback from Councilman Danny Becton, among others, and now the two Council members […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

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On Wednesday, Jacksonville city officials, including Mayor Lenny Curry and Councilman Tommy Hazouri, visited Washington Heights. The Global Ministries Foundation’s 200-unit HUD complex has many of the same issues as Eureka Gardens, say the electeds, including mold and public safety concerns. Curry told FloridaPolitics.com this was one of his many “neighborhood walks” in which he goes into […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

FloridaPolitics.com has learned that Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri made political contributions from his office account, violating Florida Statute 106.141. Hazouri had two expenditures that could be defined as “political contributions” in Q4 2015. The first expenditure: a $250 Nov. 5 donation to the Florida Democratic Party, itemized as a “donation to send Young Democrats to South […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2016

Washington Heights is just one of a few questionable HUD complexes owned and run by the Global Ministries Foundation. Some politicians, such as district Councilman Reggie Brown, have sent mixed signals regarding getting timely redress for the beleaguered tenants of the Northwest Jacksonville complex. Others, however, are moving more expeditiously. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is primary among […]

Tag: Tommy Hazouri

Jax Council Rules committee relaxes inspector general ‘2-year rule’

Tommy Hazouri: ‘Hold a stick over HUD’

After extended inquisition, Jax Council approves more Hemming Park funding

The political education of Mincy Pollock

Jax Council committee tackles human trafficking, sexual predator bills

Jax Finance Committee approves pension tax referendum

Jax Council members discuss human trafficking sign legislation

Lenny Curry, Tommy Hazouri talk Washington Heights

Tommy Hazouri caught in contribution conundrum

Lenny Curry, Tommy Hazouri press for action on Washington Heights in Jax