Featured image for “UF graduate campus gets green light in Jacksonville”
Students walk by Century Tower on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. | Sam Thomas, Fresh Take Florida
March 28, 2024

UF graduate campus gets green light in Jacksonville

The Florida Board of Governors approved plans for a University of Florida graduate campus Downtown.…

Featured image for “Randy White appears a lock for council president as Carrico, Boylan vie for VP”
Council President Ron Salem, left, and Council Vice President Randy White, right, listen as their colleagues pledge to support White as the next City Council president when Salem steps down July 1. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
March 11, 2024

Randy White appears a lock for council president as Carrico, Boylan vie for VP

Randy White appears set to take the reins as the president of the government body this summer. The race for…

Featured image for “What else could proposed stadium money buy?”
February 28, 2024

What else could proposed stadium money buy?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are negotiating with the city to split the cost of a $1.4 billion stadium remodel. What does…

Featured image for “OPINION | The reality of divided government”
Ron Salem and Donna Deegan at her 2023 budget presentation | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 25, 2024

OPINION | The reality of divided government

For Mayor Donna Deegan and this City Council, it will take negotiation and the time-honored principle of “getting to yes”…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s new planning director lays out his mission”
R. Brett James is Jacksonville's new Director of Planning. | NAVFAC Southwest
February 9, 2024

Jacksonville’s new planning director lays out his mission

R. Brett James, a former Navy civilian director, took over this week as Jacksonville’s chief of planning and development.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Talking back to your betters: The difficulty of commenting at Council, School Board meetings”
January 31, 2024

OPINION | Talking back to your betters: The difficulty of commenting at Council, School Board meetings

City Council needs to stop shielding its members from direct criticism. It also needs to provide more opportunities to receive…

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 “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 “OPINION | Where is the stadium deal?”
January 15, 2024

OPINION | Where is the stadium deal?

The set-up couldn’t have been better for stadium negotiations. Now, it’s the same old Jagwires, bumbling on the field and making…

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 “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 “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 “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 “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 “OPINION | In defense of Ron Salem”
Ron Salem is a member of the Jacksonville City Council. He was reelected in March 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2023

OPINION | In defense of Ron Salem

Ron Salem, a Republican of Palestinian descent, is taking hits for his no vote on a City Council resolution offering…

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.…

Featured image for “To keep affordable housing affordable, a public-private partnership for Jax?”
The Lofts at Cathedral in Downtown Jacksonville are an affordable housing development using Sadowski trust funds.
October 9, 2023

To keep affordable housing affordable, a public-private partnership for Jax?

A proposed mix of public and private money to leverage tax credits could yield $160M to build affordable housing.…

Featured image for “GET INVOLVED | Local government meetings guide”
October 8, 2023

GET INVOLVED | Local government meetings guide

Start here to plan on attending local government meetings in the Jacksonville, Florida, area.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Who drew first blood? A Jax election retrospective”
Jacksonville University hosted a mayoral debate between the seven candidates vying for election this spring. They were placed in alphabetical order: Omega Allen, LeAnna Cumber, Daniel Davis, Donna Deegan, Al Ferraro, Audrey Gibson and Frank Keasler. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 5, 2023

OPINION | Who drew first blood? A Jax election retrospective

Jacksonville’s recent local elections were the nastiest in our city’s history. These campaigns slung first mud.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville set to fight ‘predatory’ PACE loan program”
City officials say this homeowner's tax bill soared under the PACE program. | City of Jacksonville.
October 5, 2023

Jacksonville set to fight ‘predatory’ PACE loan program

City and county officials say the PACE home improvement program is sticking property owners with bills they can’t afford.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council OKs budget after debate over homelessness funding ”
Jacksonville City Hall
September 26, 2023

Jacksonville City Council OKs budget after debate over homelessness funding 

The Council ultimately shot down a budget amendment that would have redirected $3.1 million from the mayor’s $25 million budget…

Featured image for “City plans to buy proposed Brentwood liquor store”
A proposed liquor store at the corner of Golfair Boulevard and Davis Street is less than 200 feet away from KIPP Voice Academy. When a zoning execption for the store was approved in 2020 the school had yet to be built. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 25, 2023

City plans to buy proposed Brentwood liquor store

City Council Member Ju’Coby Pittman has told residents the city will buy the property, which sits less than 200 feet…