A myth in the making
Eye on Jacksonville has challenged local media to document the wild claim that proponents of consolidation promised residents of the unincorporated parts of Duval County they would immediately be provided with free water and sewer service in return for their support. We asked two television reporters the source of their information after they parroted the […]
Big “Scoop”…City plans big gifts for people they have ignored for years
City Council President Tommy Hazouri, a Democrat, has filed a bill to spend $100 million to improve the property of homeowners lacking a connection to the sewer system and the mayor is kicking in a few bucks, too. Ominously, Hazouri calls it “a drop in the bucket” compared to what is needed. His bill would […]
Everyone wants free stuff, but there is nothing free
From a story on News4Jax: “…a promise made 60 years ago during consolidation to connect neighborhoods on the Northside and Westside to city sewer lines so they wouldn’t have to rely on septic tanks.” Eye on Jacksonville would like to know: Who made that promise? Who did they make it to? We could find nothing […]
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 […]
Polling genius, Consolidation expert & Jax native Pat Caddell: “Dems hijacked by a confederacy of gangsters”
(In the run-up to the 50th anniversary of consolidation, we have written several columns on the history of that local political miracle.) During the heated process of bringing about consolidation, one of the lesser known parts was played by Pat Caddell. Today, Caddell is known as a polling genius who has worked for a number […]
Consolidation: White hats and Black hats were part of the story!
In a few weeks, the city will celebrate a momentous event that only a few people seem to remember or appreciate. In 1967, the voters decided by a 2-to-1 margin that they wanted to consolidate the city and county governments in Jacksonville. It was a bold move. A previous attempt in 1935 had failed and […]
Eye on Jacksonville welcomes new City Council President, Aaron Bowman
City Council President Aaron Bowman is taking steps to change the notoriously short-term thinking of politicians into a mindset that takes a longer view. Because of term limits, and the annual change of council presidents, the council tends to operate in one-year cycles. Obviously, some issues remain in the political realm much longer than that. […]
Consolidation: Tax relief doesn’t wear out yet politicians hate to give it out. Why?
Oct. 1 will mark the 50th anniversary of the consolidation of the city and county governments in Jacksonville. How has it worked? Pretty well, most would say. Just as one example, property tax rates were reduced for the first 10 years of the new government. However, those of us who were at the beginning recognize […]