INSIDER
EWU president who resigned from JEA board was facing possible removal due to 58% meeting attendance record
Read full article: EWU president who resigned from JEA board was facing possible removal due to 58% meeting attendance recordThe News4JAX I-TEAM has learned a JEA board member resigned last week after he faced the possibility of removal.
Jacksonville City Council fails resolution that called for Medicaid expansion
Read full article: Jacksonville City Council fails resolution that called for Medicaid expansionIn September, Jacksonville City Councilmember Rahman Johnson introduced a resolution that highlighted what he said is a pressing need for broader healthcare coverage in Duval County. The resolution would have called upon state legislators to work toward Medicaid expansion.
City council shoots down proposal to rename Confederate Street after late activist Ben Fraizer
Read full article: City council shoots down proposal to rename Confederate Street after late activist Ben FraizerThe city council voted down the proposal to rename a Springfield street to honor the late civil rights activist Ben Frazier.
Vast majority of voters in new UNF poll favor moving jail out of downtown — despite potential $1B price tag
Read full article: Vast majority of voters in new UNF poll favor moving jail out of downtown — despite potential $1B price tagIt’s a staggering number from a new UNF poll about community support for moving the Duval County jail.
Final report envisions moving aging jail out of downtown Jacksonville, creating $1B, campus-style facility
Read full article: Final report envisions moving aging jail out of downtown Jacksonville, creating $1B, campus-style facilityA city committee has filed its final report on what needs to happen to move the county jail out of downtown and build a new, $1 billion campus-style facility somewhere in Duval County.
Councilman ‘heartbroken and disappointed’ after vote passes to move forward with San Marco mixed-use storage facility
Read full article: Councilman ‘heartbroken and disappointed’ after vote passes to move forward with San Marco mixed-use storage facilityPlans to build a self-storage facility with affordable housing and retail space in San Marco are moving forward after the Jacksonville city council voted to bring the facility to the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Prudential Drive.
San Marco residents fighting against storage unit say ‘enough is enough’ after vote passes
Read full article: San Marco residents fighting against storage unit say ‘enough is enough’ after vote passesPlans to build a self-storage facility with affordable housing and retail space in San Marco are moving forward after the Jacksonville city council voted to bring the facility to the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Prudential Drive.
A $72,000 JEA holiday party is getting mixed reaction from customers
Read full article: A $72,000 JEA holiday party is getting mixed reaction from customersIn December, JEA held a holiday party at the Florida Theater for its employees. There was catered food, an open bar, magicians and the total cost was $72,000.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could soon be on the move
Read full article: The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could soon be on the moveThe move of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to the Florida Blue building could begin in a few months. It still needs approval but some JSO detectives have been seen moving to the building on Riverside Avenue.
JSO headquarters officially moving to Riverside Florida Blue building as negotiations are underway
Read full article: JSO headquarters officially moving to Riverside Florida Blue building as negotiations are underwayThe conversation that was sparked in January about moving the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office administrative headquarters to another building was on the docket at a Tuesday special city council committee meeting.
After death of transient man in Duval jail, city councilman discusses creating behavioral health facility
Read full article: After death of transient man in Duval jail, city councilman discusses creating behavioral health facilityFifteen inmates have died in the custody of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office so far this year. The latest death happened early Tuesday morning.
Proposed new tax on restaurants to help homeless might be toast after city council committee withdrawals bill
Read full article: Proposed new tax on restaurants to help homeless might be toast after city council committee withdrawals billA proposal to impose a new tax on Jacksonville restaurants and hotels to help the homeless population has hit a major roadblock.
A New Duval County jail could cost over $380M, but current jail still needs to be repaired
Read full article: A New Duval County jail could cost over $380M, but current jail still needs to be repairedThe Jacksonville City Council is still working on plans to move the jail from its current location downtown to another area of town but it could take years before that happens.
Jacksonville City Council to vote on bill that would ban panhandling at intersections
Read full article: Jacksonville City Council to vote on bill that would ban panhandling at intersectionsThe Jacksonville City Council will soon take up a bill that targets people who use intersections to ask for money.
Local residents hope new bill will help decrease anti-semitic flyers distributed across Mandarin, Orange Park neighborhoods
Read full article: Local residents hope new bill will help decrease anti-semitic flyers distributed across Mandarin, Orange Park neighborhoodsResidents in the Mandarin community who found flyers containing anti-Semitic speech on their lawns are wishing that there was current legislation in place to stop the recent string of events.
Jacksonville City Council responds to the “put monuments back” banner over TIAA Bank Field
Read full article: Jacksonville City Council responds to the “put monuments back” banner over TIAA Bank FieldThe Jacksonville City Council is responding to a banner that flew over TIAA Bank Field before the Jaguars game on Sunday. The banner had a Confederate flag and with the words “put monuments back” on it.
Jacksonville City Councilman pushing bill that would allow homeowners to build tiny houses on their properties
Read full article: Jacksonville City Councilman pushing bill that would allow homeowners to build tiny houses on their propertiesThere’s a push to bring tiny houses to Jacksonville properties.
Despite pleas from groups, City Council president ends Safer Together committee
Read full article: Despite pleas from groups, City Council president ends Safer Together committeeA day after 15 community organizations or individuals signed an open letter to City Council President Sam Newby, imploring him to continue the work being done by Jacksonville’s Safer Together Committee, Newby responded with a memo thanking them for their service -- which he says is complete.
State representative, community organizations encourage Safer Together work to continue
Read full article: State representative, community organizations encourage Safer Together work to continueFifteen community organizations or individuals -- including State Rep. Angie Nixon -- have signed an open letter to City Council President Sam Newby, imploring him to continue the work being done by Jacksonville’s Safer Together Committee.
Councilmember Boylan quits committee aimed at improving police, community relations
Read full article: Councilmember Boylan quits committee aimed at improving police, community relationsIn a surprise move, Jacksonville City Councilman Michael Boylan on Monday announced his resignation as Vice-Chair of the Safer Together Committee.
‘Failure to communicate’: Questions raised at Safer Together meeting Friday about why sheriff wasn’t on hand
Read full article: ‘Failure to communicate’: Questions raised at Safer Together meeting Friday about why sheriff wasn’t on handEfforts to create a Citizen Review Board (CRB) to investigate complaints against the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, including police-involved shootings, may be taking a detour.
Use of force training, citizen review boards discussed during City Council workshop
Read full article: Use of force training, citizen review boards discussed during City Council workshopMembers of the public had the opportunity Monday night via Zoom to weigh-in on how Jacksonville police are performing their duties.
Another tense Jacksonville City Council ends without Lot J vote
Read full article: Another tense Jacksonville City Council ends without Lot J voteJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The proposal to build a $445 million entertainment complex on Lot J of TIAA Bank Field -- the sole topic of another tense Jacksonville City Council meeting Thursday -- will not be voted on until Tuesday at the earliest. The deal calls for the city to invest $233 million in direct spending or loans by the city of Jacksonville to the developer for Jaguars owner Shad Khan, the Cordish Companies. That drew a sharp response from Council President Tommy Hazouri and questioning of the rules before the review of the plan resumed. The DIA, which was asked to review the plan last week, voted Wednesday to recommend City Council approval, but with some modifications. DOCUMENTS: DIA report on Lot J proposal | Council Auditor’s Office’s things to consider/concernsMark Lamping, the Jaguars president, has asked for a vote by the council by its last scheduled meeting of the year, which is next Tuesday.
DIA passes Lot J recommendations on to Jacksonville City Council
Read full article: DIA passes Lot J recommendations on to Jacksonville City CouncilJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted to pass a report on to the City Council, which recommends the Lot J project with changes. It would develop Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field in a deal between the city and the Jaguars owner, using a developer named The Cordish Companies. But if the ask is, we want you to reduce the public investment by $65 million, than the project doesn’t go forward,” he said. I think for a lot of us guys like myself who take these kind of things very very seriously that they would understand that.”The DIA’s approval with changes is just a recommendation for City Council about Lot J. All 19 City Council members are scheduled to take part in Thursday’s meeting where they could decide to put the measure on their agenda Tuesday night.
Duval canvassing board takes second look at rejected mail-in ballots
Read full article: Duval canvassing board takes second look at rejected mail-in ballotsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County Canvassing Board on Friday started to reexamine nearly 250 mail-in ballots that were not counted due to irregularities. More than 124,000 vote-by-mail ballots had been received at the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office by Friday afternoon. The election workers examine those vote-by-mail ballots and if there are any irregularities. It is up to the canvassing board to decide the voter’s intent and accept or reject each ballot. The board will continue to review ballots next week and begin signature verification for some vote-by-mail ballots next week.
Duval County judge resigns from vote-counting board after yard sign, donations controversy
Read full article: Duval County judge resigns from vote-counting board after yard sign, donations controversySenior County Judge Brent Shore resigned from the Duval County Canvassing Board on Thursday, News4Jax confirmed. Judicial rules bar judges from political donations of any kind, and canvassing board rules bar members from displaying a candidate’s campaign signs. And I would expect that from my fellow members of the canvassing board,” Boylan said. The canvassing board has been at the center of a recent controversy that has captured statewide attention. News4Jax called the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission to ask if a complaint has been filed against Judge Shore.
LIVE: Watch Duval County canvassing board reviewing mail-in ballots
Read full article: LIVE: Watch Duval County canvassing board reviewing mail-in ballotsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With pressure building on the Duval County Canvassing Board to let the public see its review of vote-by-mail ballots, the board decided Tuesday to continue to exclude news cameras but to livestream the process. The meeting scheduled for Monday was delayed for 24 hours and announced at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting the Supervisor of Election’s Office would livestream the ballot review via Zoom. News4Jax has shown the process for years: deciding the intent of the voter on any questionable vote-by-mail ballot. Canvassing board member and Jacksonville City Councilman Michael Boylan proposed the compromise, but the meeting was abruptly canceled before it was taken up. “I am working really hard to make sure we stay transparent through this process.
Yielding to pressure, Duval’s election canvassing board livestreams ballot review
Read full article: Yielding to pressure, Duval’s election canvassing board livestreams ballot reviewJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With pressure building on the Duval County Canvassing Board to let the public see its review of vote-by-mail ballots, the board decided Tuesday to continue to exclude news cameras but began livestreaming the process themselves. About one hour of Tuesday morning’s ballot review was streamed and the board returned and screen hundreds of more ballots in the afternoon. Example of a ballot that the canvassing board must sort out and have duplicated before it can count. (Duval County Supervisor of Elections)News4Jax has shown the process for years: the canvassing board deciding the intent of the voter on any questionable vote-by-mail ballot. Members of the canvassing board said the rule was added out of concern that voters' signatures could end up shown to the public even though News4Jax agreed never to show the signature -- and never has.
Meeting over Duval County Canvassing Board’s no-camera rule postponed
Read full article: Meeting over Duval County Canvassing Board’s no-camera rule postponedIt was a decision News4Jax had hoped the canvassing board would have reversed or amended Monday, but instead, the board postponed its meeting until Tuesday. As of Monday, the no-camera rule still stood, banning what News4Jax has shown for years: the questionable vote-by-mail ballots that may not be counted. Now, members of the canvassing board are concerned that some signatures of voters might end up on air. Canvassing board member and Jacksonville City Councilman Michael Boylan proposed the compromise. She said her vote was based on information the board was told at the time that it protects voters' information, but she understands the concerns now being raised.
Duval County school tax referendum; JEA referendum on ballot; Former Rep. Jason Altmire
Read full article: Duval County school tax referendum; JEA referendum on ballot; Former Rep. Jason AltmireJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax political analyst Rick Mullaney of Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute hosts this edition of “This Week In Jacksonville." Former Sheriff Nat Glover of Duval Citizens for Better Schools discusses the sales tax referendum on Duval County ballots. City Councilman Michael Boylan breaks down the JEA referendum for Duval County voters. Former U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire talks about his new book, “Dead Center: How Political Polarization Divided America.”
16 bids to purchase JEA opened under shroud of secrecy
Read full article: 16 bids to purchase JEA opened under shroud of secrecyThe sealed bids were due Monday morning and were opened at 2 p.m. amid a shroud of secrecy. JEA's staff isn't talking and City Council members have been advised to keep mum. "Rest assured, if and when a recapitalization event is presented to the Jacksonville City Council, we will ensure public participation," he said. Wilson said at that time, council members would be able to ask questions about the sale. The City Council is also looking to hire an outside attorney to advise it on the matter and council members will meet Tuesday.