Jacksonville Today seeks to include a diverse set of perspectives that add context or unique insight to the news of the day. Regular opinion columnists are independent contractors who are not involved in news decisions. Want to submit your own column on a matter of public interest? Email pitches to jessica@jaxtoday.org.
Featured image for “OPINION | Landlord registry plan represents ‘thoughts and prayers’ for renters”
2 days ago

OPINION | Landlord registry plan represents ‘thoughts and prayers’ for renters

Jacksonville City Council member Jimmy Peluso’s pitch to create a local landlord registry is a sign of the times in…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | From rust to revival: 5 dream adaptive reuse projects”
April 16, 2025

THE JAXSON | From rust to revival: 5 dream adaptive reuse projects

Here are 5 early 20th century buildings that combine architecturally unique features with deep connections to Jacksonville’s history.…

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Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping addresses the Jacksonville City Council. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 13, 2025

OPINION | In defense of Jacksonville City Council leadership elections

A counterpoint to City Council member Michael Boylan’s proposal to have at-large members rotate into council leadership.…

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Lotus Noodle Bar's ground duck ramen "brimmed with exuberance," Hanna Raskin says.
April 6, 2025

CRITIC’S NOTEBOOK | St. Augustine restaurant and bar scene

These were the standouts from food writer Hanna Raskin’s visits to St. Augustine.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Can Democrats flip a Republican seat in Congressional District 6?”
Randy Fine, left, and Josh Weil | Florida House of Representatives and Josh Weil campaign
March 30, 2025

OPINION | Can Democrats flip a Republican seat in Congressional District 6?

Republican Randy Fine may win, in a district that’s 47% registered GOP. But if he beats Josh Weil, it’ll be…

Featured image for “OPINION | Which Republican will win ‘invisible primary’ to challenge Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan in 2027?”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan speaks to a crowd at the Legends Center in Northwest Jacksonville | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
March 16, 2025

OPINION | Which Republican will win ‘invisible primary’ to challenge Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan in 2027?

Defeating a popular mayor requires playing the margins and angles, and it doesn’t seem anyone currently in the mix understands…

Featured image for “This Neptune Beach bar is one of Florida’s top canned wine hotspots”
March 12, 2025

This Neptune Beach bar is one of Florida’s top canned wine hotspots

Florida wine drinkers aren’t going for the canned variety, in general. Brewhound customers are bucking the trend.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The calendar says 2025, but 2026 has begun”
State Sen. Jason Pizzo, First Lady Casey DeSantis, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, and state Rep. Angie Nixon are potential gubernatorial candidates.
March 2, 2025

OPINION | The calendar says 2025, but 2026 has begun

A breakdown of what we know about the 2026 Florida governor’s race…

Featured image for “Fruit Time brings flavor of Syria to Jacksonville’s Southside”
February 18, 2025

Fruit Time brings flavor of Syria to Jacksonville’s Southside

Fruit Time, a newish Southside business owned by a family from Damascus, makes elaborate fruit displays for Eid and beyond.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The Jacksonville City Council’s lawyer problem”
Council President Ron Salem listens as Jacksonville General Counsel Michael Fackler responds to Salem's questioning about the surprise removal of a Confederate monument in January 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
February 16, 2025

OPINION | The Jacksonville City Council’s lawyer problem

Multiple City Council members wish General Council Michael Fackler would resign. But they aren’t blameless in why he’s there in…

Featured image for “OPINION | Battle of Olustee, now a celebration, was infamous for its cruelty to Black troops”
Battle of Olustee drawing circa 1864 | State Archives of Florida
February 9, 2025

OPINION | Battle of Olustee, now a celebration, was infamous for its cruelty to Black troops

The annual Battle of Olustee reenactment and festivities are Feb. 14 through 16.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Jacksonville’s stadium deal: A necessary gamble for a world-class city”
Jaguars owner Shad Khan hugs Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan on June 26, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 3, 2025

OPINION | Jacksonville’s stadium deal: A necessary gamble for a world-class city

Bringing in the NFL to help build “a world-class city” has been a cornerstone of Jacksonville economic planning since the…

Featured image for “OPINION | Muzak for airports: Scenes from Reagan National”
A passenger walks past a flight information board displaying several canceled flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. | AP Photo, Stephanie Scarbrough
February 2, 2025

OPINION | Muzak for airports: Scenes from Reagan National

Being stuck in the airport after the plane crash felt like an apt metaphor for the banal transactional conflicts of…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | How Downtown’s train station was saved”
January 28, 2025

THE JAXSON | How Downtown’s train station was saved

This is the story of the Station Celebration, a forgotten dispatch that rallied thousands of Jaxsons together to help save…

Featured image for “OPINION | The city suffers while Jaguars owner stumbles”
EverBank Stadium, seen here in October of 2024, will begin four years of renovations in early 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 26, 2025

OPINION | The city suffers while Jaguars owner stumbles

The city needs a respected, independent evaluation of future finances, the equivalent of a financial counseling session — tough love.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The budget cliff is upon us”
January 20, 2025

OPINION | The budget cliff is upon us

Will the mayor be able to sell fiscal austerity during her upcoming public budget town halls?…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Rehabilitated urban passenger rail stations”
January 15, 2025

THE JAXSON | Rehabilitated urban passenger rail stations

The Prime Osborn Convention Center could become a major mixed-use economic hub. With that in mind, here is a look…

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Lamb at Othello | Hanna Raskin
January 14, 2025

REVIEW | Othello

If you want a glimpse of the future of dining out, check out Othello in Springfield.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Why we need to raise garbage fees”
A trash hauler rides down Hendricks Avenue just south of San Marco in 2022. | Dennis Ho for Jacksonville Today
January 12, 2025

OPINION | Why we need to raise garbage fees

City Council member Matt Carlucci explains his proposed garbage fee hike.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 3 things changing the urban landscape in 2025”
January 8, 2025

THE JAXSON | 3 things changing the urban landscape in 2025

In 2025, here are three predictions about the urban core that could permanently change Jacksonville for the better.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Garbage in, garbage out: Jax trash fee debate raises questions”
January 6, 2025

OPINION | Garbage in, garbage out: Jax trash fee debate raises questions

A.G. Gancarski argues that Carlucci’s plan will disproportionately hurt homeowners of modest means.…

Featured image for “SPORTS | What will the Jaguars do next after 4-13 season?”
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair forearmed Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Dec. 1, 2024, ending Lawrence's season. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 5, 2025

SPORTS | What will the Jaguars do next after 4-13 season?

After concluding the season with a 26-23 overtime loss to the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday, the Jaguars finished the…

Featured image for “SPORTS | Thomas stars as Jaguars stumble to another loss”
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) scores a touchdown as he gets past the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, including cornerback Tyson Campbell (3), during the second half of the game on Dec. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. | AP Photo/John Locher
December 22, 2024

SPORTS | Thomas stars as Jaguars stumble to another loss

With the loss, and the other results around the NFL, the Jaguars are now in line to hold the third…

Featured image for “OPINION | Jacksonville politics 2024: Year in review — and what’s next”
Jacksonville City Hall
December 16, 2024

OPINION | Jacksonville politics 2024: Year in review — and what’s next

At least two of Mayor Donna Deegan’s early moves will go down in history. The new local Republican Party chair…