City Council member tweets are out of character for a community leader seeking truth
Eye noticed a tweet discussion between city council woman, Brenda Priestley Jackson and a Jacksonville native/military veteran, Emily Nunez. The tweet discussion was unnerving because Eye has watched Councilwoman Jackson during her time on the special committee for JEA where she has done great work and handled her role with professionalism and a desire to […]
Pausing the Lot J proposal’s progress is in order
There is no particular reason to rush the proposed mega-development proposed by Jaguars owner Shad Khan through the City Council. Letting it rest over the holidays might give council members more time to reflect upon the details. It’s an important step. The $466 million proposal as it stands would call for the taxpayers to put […]
Lot J: Losing money is not a winning proposal
After a devastating review of the Lot J proposal found that the city actually would lose money on its “investment” in the project, the City Council should halt further progress until it is revised. Council Auditor Kim Taylor did a meticulous examination of the proposal and declared the city would get back 44 cent for […]
Jacksonville taxpayers should not be in the development business without good reason
Projections of fabulous riches accruing to taxpayers from the latest handout to the Jacksonville Jaguars are impressive. If you believe them. Unfortunately, it requires more than one grain of salt. The documents from the office of Mayor Lenny Curry suggest that local taxpayers could spend $153 million on Shad Khan’s Lot J project and reap […]
City Council and the JEA scandal: Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.
Yesterday the City Council Rules Committee voted 4-3 to subpoena Mayor Curry’s former political consultant, Tim Baker as part of the Council’s investigation into the attempt to sell JEA. Mr. Baker is not happy with this decision and promises to take his fight to the Supreme Court. Strange response since Mr. Baker states he has […]
Lot J: How to become a Billionaire. Negotiate with a Star Struck Mayor
Fair warning — this post is a little sarcastic. We try to be positive and we are stunned by the big news about Lot J. I am convinced one day the City of Jacksonville will be the subject of a made for TV movie and the characters will be similar to those from the old […]
Pioneer leaders in consolidated Jacksonville are dwindling in number
Jack Carter, Jake Godbold, Walter Dickinson, Sallye B. Mathis, John Lanahan, Mary Singleton, I.M. Sulzbacher, Homer Humphrey, Earl M. Johnson and W.E. “Ted” Grissett, Don MacLean, Wallace Covington, Johnny Sanders, Joe Carlucci, Oscar Taylor, Earl Huntley, Bobby Moore, Bill Basford and Walter Williams. Those were the members of the first City Council after the city […]
Mayor Curry extends mask mandate for 30 more days — but not for him and his family
In breaking news today, Mayor Curry extended the wearing of masks in Duval County another 30 days. Many who support the mask mandate were thrilled with the decision. Those who do not, were not. But the biggest and loudest group of upset Duval County residents came from those who follow the Mayor on Twitter and […]
Ring around the Rosie playing out in Jacksonville politics… may they all fall down
The minute you saw the headline, you probably started singing this nursery rhyme. Most of us grew up with it and did you know — folklore states it was a song about the plague – the Black Death? The Black Death was said to have come from fleas off rats from ships bringing goods to […]
Time once again for local politicians to spend some of the money you will earn next year
City Council will be voting Tuesday night on how to spend nearly $6 billion of your money. That’s the total amount of the city budget for 2020-21. (Not $1.3 billion, as local media reported.) The good news is the property tax rate will not increase. It will take about half, $2.9 billion, to run the […]