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Housing, health care affordability top agenda as Mayor Deegan begins new round of town halls

Mayor Donna Deegan held a news conference Thursday to address why a city employee was placed on leave following a video they posted about reports of an increased ICE presence in Jacksonville. (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will host a new round of town hall meetings aimed at addressing some of the most pressing issues facing residents, including housing affordability, access to health care and long-standing infrastructure concerns.

The first town hall is scheduled for Tuesday evening at William Raines Senior High School, marking the start of eight meetings planned across the city.

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The mayor said the events are intended to give residents a direct look at her administration’s efforts while providing a space for community feedback.

The meetings come at a time when health care affordability and availability are top concerns for many families. Recent polls show those worries are growing, particularly as large federal funding cuts have created new challenges for local governments and health systems.

Housing affordability is also a central focus. While the city has launched new initiatives to increase access to affordable housing, rising costs continue to strain many households.

In October, the city introduced an affordable housing transparency dashboard designed to give residents a clearer picture of progress. The interactive tool tracks the development of below-market-rate housing across Jacksonville, including workforce, affordable, and low-income housing units.

RELATED | City launches interactive website to track affordable housing developments in Jacksonville

Infrastructure improvements are another major topic, especially on the long-neglected Northwest side of the city. The Deegan administration is pointing to projects like the Kingsoutel Crossing Community Redevelopment Area as an example of its efforts to address those concerns.

More than $6 million is being invested in the project, which is designed to improve safety, attract new businesses, and enhance the overall quality of life in the area.

All town hall meetings are free and open to the public, with no preregistration required. Each session is scheduled to last 90 minutes and begins at 6 p.m.

Here’s the full town hall schedule

  • Tuesday, Feb. 17
    • Westside High School, 5530 Firestone Rd.
    • 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 19
    • Fletcher High School, 700 Seagate Ave, Neptune Beach
    • 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 26
    • Samuel W. Wolfson High School, 7000 Powers Ave.
    • 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 3
    • Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, 2445 San Diego Rd.
    • 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 12
    • Mandarin High School, 4831 Greenland Rd.
    • 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 24
    • Springfield Middle School, 2034 Hubbard St.
    • 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 31
    • Fort Caroline Middle School of the Arts, 3787 University Club Blvd.
    • 6 to 7:30 p.m.

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