Casmira Harrison Reporter email

Casmira Harrison is a Jacksonville Today reporter focusing on local government in Duval County.

Harrison has a wide range of experience in more than 20 years in newspapers across Central Florida. From her beginnings as an ad designer at the Citrus County Chronicle to county government reporting at the Daytona Beach News-Journal and, most recently, as the editor for the Palatka Daily News, she enjoys all aspects of covering a community.

When she isn’t knee-deep in meeting agendas, Harrison enjoys playing guitar, riding motorcycles, traveling and seeking out truly outstanding restaurants.

Featured image for “Westside apartment complex first Jax Housing Authority purchase with bond sale”
February 1, 2024

Westside apartment complex first Jax Housing Authority purchase with bond sale

By issuing revenue bonds, the Jacksonville Housing Authority expects to raise enough funding to buy Westwood Apartments off Normandy Boulevard.…

Featured image for “Housing Authority CEO abruptly resigns, saying he feels forced out”
Dwayne Alexander resigned as president and CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 30, 2024

Housing Authority CEO abruptly resigns, saying he feels forced out

President and CEO Dwayne Alexander was the third major departure from the agency in recent weeks.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l What happens with the money set aside to remove Confederate monuments?”
Statues that decorated the monument to the Women of the Confederacy were removed from Springfield Park in Jacksonville and placed in storage in December.
January 26, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l What happens with the money set aside to remove Confederate monuments?

There was already money in the budget for the removal of the Confederate statues at Springfield Park. A reader asked…

Featured image for “Monument-removal money never flowed through city coffers, Jax top lawyer says”
January 16, 2024

Monument-removal money never flowed through city coffers, Jax top lawyer says

The city’s chief lawyer came under fire again Tuesday from City Council members as he sought to explain his department’s…

Featured image for “They’re not elected. They just keep showing up to City Council meetings”
January 15, 2024

They’re not elected. They just keep showing up to City Council meetings

In a city of more than a million people, relatively few citizens are a consistent presence at the Downtown Jacksonville…

Featured image for “Neighbors cluck over possible Oceanway Chick-fil-A, again”
January 11, 2024

Neighbors cluck over possible Oceanway Chick-fil-A, again

Neighbors near First Coast High School have big concerns that a Chick-fil-A proposed for Duval Station Road would inundate the…

Featured image for “‘Half-baked’ Laura Street Trio deal sent back to Downtown Investment Authority by Council”
Lori Boyer, CEO of Jacksonville's Downtown Investment Authority, speaks to City Council during a special meeting about the potential city investment in the redevelopment of the Laura Street Trio. | Screenshot from city of Jacksonville website
January 4, 2024

‘Half-baked’ Laura Street Trio deal sent back to Downtown Investment Authority by Council

A potential $38.5 million deal to redevelop the historic Laura Street Trio needs more work, the City Council decided Thursday. …

Featured image for “Jacksonville Council rails over removal of Confederate statues”
Jacksonville General Counsel Michael Fackler listens to City Council questions Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, about the removal of Confederate statutes from Springfield Park.
January 2, 2024

Jacksonville Council rails over removal of Confederate statues

City Council members spent over an hour Tuesday criticizing General Counsel Michael Fackler for the removal of Confederate statues in…

Featured image for “Despite murky data on housing waitlist, need has clearly grown”
Dwayne Alexander stands outside the entrance to the Jacksonville Housing Authority, where he serves as president and CEO. | Jacksonville Today, Casmira Harrison
December 21, 2023

Despite murky data on housing waitlist, need has clearly grown

The number of people waiting for housing through the Jacksonville Housing Authority has been exaggerated. But the need has grown…

Featured image for “Housing Authority CEO gets $25,000 bonus; investigation still pending”
Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Dwayne Alexander speaks at a board meeting Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
December 18, 2023

Housing Authority CEO gets $25,000 bonus; investigation still pending

An investigation into the Jacksonville Housing Authority won’t become public for a while longer, but the agency is extending the…

Featured image for “Affordable housing isn’t as simple as it sounds. Let us explain.”
A sign on the Jacksonville Housing Authority administration building shows the agency is no longer accepting applications for public housing. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
December 15, 2023

Affordable housing isn’t as simple as it sounds. Let us explain.

The terms “affordable” and “workforce” housing come down to how much money a family makes compared with the median income…

Featured image for “City Council OKs almost all mayor’s task force plans; Laura Street Trio request deferred”
December 12, 2023

City Council OKs almost all mayor’s task force plans; Laura Street Trio request deferred

City Council approved most of Mayor Deegan’s initiatives from transition task forces. But, a city loan to help renovate the…

Featured image for “Jax Housing Authority CEO says he will remain at helm amid probe”
December 11, 2023

Jax Housing Authority CEO says he will remain at helm amid probe

Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Dwayne Alexander, whose local low-income housing agency is under “investigation” by the city’s Office of the…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council set to vote on eviction diversion program  ”
December 10, 2023

Jacksonville City Council set to vote on eviction diversion program  

The Jacksonville City Council will vote Tuesday on a diversion program to keep the number of evictions down.…

Featured image for “City councilman seeks reform after mayor’s no-bid contract”
A City Council committee approved an ordinance that would require certain businesses to provide changing tables for adults. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 7, 2023

City councilman seeks reform after mayor’s no-bid contract

Councilman Nick Howland is pushing legislation he calls the “Transparency for Taxpayers Act,” which would require a City Council vote on…

Featured image for “Jacksonville approves plan to stop Brentwood liquor store”
Residents protest plans for a liquor store in Brentwood. | News4Jax
November 29, 2023

Jacksonville approves plan to stop Brentwood liquor store

The city plans to buy land in Brentwood that was set to become a liquor store next to a school…

Featured image for “Liquor store issue could go to City Council on Tuesday”
A proposed liquor store at the corner of Golfair Boulevard and Davis Street is less than 200 feet away from KIPP Voice Academy. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 26, 2023

Liquor store issue could go to City Council on Tuesday

Several committees voted in favor of the purchase, which would keep a liquor store from opening across from a charter…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l What does the Florida-UK trade pact actually do?”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Jaxport’s cruise terminal as an agreement was signed to boost trade between Florida and England. | News4Jax
November 17, 2023

#AskJAXTDY l What does the Florida-UK trade pact actually do?

A reader asked us to better explain what states can and can’t do when it comes to a trade deal…

Featured image for “Mayor stands her ground on contract with lobbying firm”
November 8, 2023

Mayor stands her ground on contract with lobbying firm

Mayor Donna Deegan says she won’t comply with requests to withdraw a lobbying contract awarded without seeking bids.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville sues PACE home loan agency”
City officials say this homeowner's tax bill soared under the PACE program. | City of Jacksonville.
October 27, 2023

Jacksonville sues PACE home loan agency

City attorneys say a program that finances home improvements has no right to issue loans in the city without following…

Featured image for “Michael Fackler recommended as Jacksonville’s top attorney”
Michael Fackler discusses his observations of the General Counsel's Office to a panel considering his appointment on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 26, 2023

Michael Fackler recommended as Jacksonville’s top attorney

The General Counsel Qualification Review Committee endorsed Fackler’s hiring as general counsel. City Council still must approve the appointment.…

Featured image for “More Jacksonville tenants are signing out-of-reach leases, case workers say”
October 17, 2023

More Jacksonville tenants are signing out-of-reach leases, case workers say

Local rental-aid and social service  organizations are seeing worrying trends as the number of eviction notices climbs in the Duval…

Featured image for “Jacksonville unveils long-term resiliency plan to prepare for climate change, growth and more”
October 13, 2023

Jacksonville unveils long-term resiliency plan to prepare for climate change, growth and more

Mayor Donna Deegan and the city’s Chief Resiliency Officer Anne Coglianese unveiled a master plan Friday for Jacksonville’s long-term resiliency.…

Featured image for “City Council approves potential PACE lending lawsuit”
October 11, 2023

City Council approves potential PACE lending lawsuit

The Jacksonville City Council has moved to fight ‘predatory’ PACE home loans.…