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 | Bring Byron home”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich after a NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Don Montague)
January 30, 2022

OPINION | Bring Byron home

It’s hard for me to understand, as a longtime observer of the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise, why it’s taken the team…

Featured image for “OPINION | A sad lesson from Broad Street’s past”
January 25, 2022

OPINION | A sad lesson from Broad Street’s past

If you travel down Broad Street in Downtown Jacksonville’s LaVilla neighborhood today, you won’t pass by much that’s open. In…

Featured image for “OPINION | I am American”
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. Credit Gage Skidmore
January 24, 2022

OPINION | I am American

“African-American voters are voting at just as high a percentage as Americans.”  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made the offhand…

Featured image for “OPINION | Corrine’s revenge? Ron DeSantis goes after Al Lawson”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, poses during a ceremonial swearing-in with Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., right, on Capitol Hill in 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
January 23, 2022

OPINION | Corrine’s revenge? Ron DeSantis goes after Al Lawson

Is Gov. DeSantis trying to do what Jacksonville Democrats could not, in removing Al Lawson from Congress? That is one…

Featured image for “SPORTS | What Trevor Lawrence needs from the Jags”
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence high fives fans as he leaves the field after defeating the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
January 19, 2022

SPORTS | What Trevor Lawrence needs from the Jags

Former NFL coach Bill Parcells famously said, “You are what your record says you are.” Considering the Jaguars have the…

Featured image for “OPINION | Rethinking Jacksonville’s convention center dilemma”
The 2014 APA Florida Annual Conference at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center. This 10,000-square-foot meeting room was once the grand lobby for the largest train station in the country south of Washington, D.C.
January 18, 2022

OPINION | Rethinking Jacksonville’s convention center dilemma

A new convention center has been in Jacksonville’s long-term plans for decades, but the Downtown Investment Authority now says it…

Featured image for “OPINION | An open letter to Gov. DeSantis”
January 17, 2022

OPINION | An open letter to Gov. DeSantis

Dear Governor DeSantis,  My daughter has COVID. She’s 7 months. I’m watching her little body battle an invisible bully.  She’s…

Featured image for “OPINION | Rebirth of a nation, state”
Raymon Troncoso, WJCT News | The Florida Channel livestream
January 10, 2022

OPINION | Rebirth of a nation, state

Today marks the first day of the Florida legislative session. A session where our elected legislators will tackle a myriad…

Featured image for “OPINION | Ben Frazier makes his point”
A sheriff's deputy handcuffs Ben Frazier January 4, 2022. | Claire Heddles, WJCT News
January 9, 2022

OPINION | Ben Frazier makes his point

A week ago, the world hadn’t heard of Ben Frazier. The president of the Northside Coalition was known locally, but…

Featured image for “OPINION | 2022 will be a Republican rout in Florida”
Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters in 2018. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
January 5, 2022

OPINION | 2022 will be a Republican rout in Florida

In 2002, Jeb Bush was a runaway political freight train. His first four years in the Governor’s Mansion resulted in…

January 4, 2022

OPINION | Changing the urban landscape in 2022

Jacksonville’s Urban Core is growing again after decades of decline, the Emerald Trail has broken ground, and the Downtown Northbank…

Featured image for “OPINION | Feel free to begin, again”
People stand in Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve ball drop in New York City on Dec. 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)
January 3, 2022

OPINION | Feel free to begin, again

Happy New Year! 2021 marked the first time in a long time that I did not set traditional goals for…

Featured image for “OPINION | Ron DeSantis doesn’t owe you an explanation”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fist bumps with legislators Tuesday, March 2, 2021, as he enters the House of Representatives prior to his State of the State address at the Capitol in Tallahassee. | Phil Sears, Associated Press
January 2, 2022

OPINION | Ron DeSantis doesn’t owe you an explanation

Where was the governor at the end of 2021? Ron DeSantis stopped doing press events for the most part.  His…

Featured image for “OPINION | What Shad Khan gets right – and wrong – about Downtown”
December 21, 2021

OPINION | What Shad Khan gets right – and wrong – about Downtown

Jaguars owner Shad Khan recently criticized the progress of Downtown revitalization in Jacksonville, saying the area has “gone downhill” over…

Featured image for “OPINION | In search of holiday peace”
December 20, 2021

OPINION | In search of holiday peace

As the year comes barreling toward an end, I’m keenly aware of how tired I am. I’m spending the holiday…

Featured image for “OPINION | GOP 2023 race: Death, taxes, and Lenny Curry”
Lenny Curry discusses his campaign on TV on May 12, 2015. | AP Photo/Brendan Farrington
December 17, 2021

OPINION | GOP 2023 race: Death, taxes, and Lenny Curry

What to make of last week’s 13-5 Jacksonville City Council repudiation of LeAnna Cumber’s attempt to turn back the gas…

Featured image for “SPORTS | Urban Meyer couldn’t overcome his ‘trust issues’”
Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Credit: Heather Schatz, WJCT News
December 15, 2021

SPORTS | Urban Meyer couldn’t overcome his ‘trust issues’

There’s a difference between coach speak and dishonesty. Coach speak happens every week in news conferences at all levels of…

Featured image for “OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown”
The Duval County School Board administration building. Michael Rivera at Wikipedia
December 14, 2021

OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown

Duval County Public Schools’ announcement that it plans to sell its Southbank headquarters and relocate is welcome news for those…

December 13, 2021

OPINION | When are we going to get back to normal?

My son lied to me about wearing his mask. He lied for nearly two weeks straight. I had been sending…

Featured image for “OPINION | Polson’s problem”
December 12, 2021

OPINION | Polson’s problem

The First Election of the Jacksonville City Council At Large Group 3 race is in the books, and nobody won.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The forgotten factor behind Downtown Jax’s struggles”
December 7, 2021

OPINION | The forgotten factor behind Downtown Jax’s struggles

Analyses of Downtown Jacksonville’s continued struggles typically focus on factors within Downtown’s boundaries. Though generally overlooked, one external factor may…

Featured image for “OPINION | Voting is the price of freedom”
Signs in front of an early voting site | Claire Heddles, WJCT News
December 6, 2021

OPINION | Voting is the price of freedom

Today is election day. Albeit it’s a small election, a special election to fill the seat of the late at-large…

Featured image for “OPINION | Carlucci bails out”
Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Carlucci has abandoned his bid for mayor.
December 5, 2021

OPINION | Carlucci bails out

Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Carlucci surprised some people last week when he abandoned his bid for Jacksonville Mayor. Carlucci launched…

Featured image for “OPINION | Congress should get out of the marijuana business”
Credit CannabisMD TeleMed via Wikimedia Commons
December 1, 2021

OPINION | Congress should get out of the marijuana business

When Ron DeSantis was in Congress, he wasn’t a big fan of the institution. He criticized its ineptitude while he…