While vote-by-mail ballots are being delivered, negative TV ads continue
As Jacksonville gets ready to elect a new mayor, vote by mail ballots are now being delivered and early voting begins in 24 days. But what’s been happening for some time now is the negative ads in the mayor's race, raising concern among the public and the candidates.
LeAnna Cumber’s lawyer says Mayor Lenny Curry behind ‘manufactured controversy’ over JEA dealings
In 47 days, Jacksonville voters will go to the polls to elect a new mayor, and while there are seven candidates running for the spot, most of the attention lately has been on two Republicans — LeAnna Cumber and Daniel Davis.
New street signs honor Jacksonville first responders who died in line of duty
Honoring our fallen first responders and their families. New street signs are starting to appear in areas of town named in memory of a first responder who died in the line of duty in that location. It’s part of a wider initiative and there’s a push to expand it.
Council withdraws bill to reimburse city employees traveling for ‘treatment related to reproductive rights’
The Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday evening voting unanimously to withdraw legislation that was aimed at creating a reimbursement option for city employees who travel for “medical treatments related to reproductive rights.”
Historic monument legislation gets public hearing at Jacksonville City Council
It’s already been a hot topic of conversation, but legislation first introduced by Jacksonville City Councilman Al Ferraro in regard to historic monuments in the city was placed in the spotlight of discussion during public comment at Tuesday evening’s council meeting.
Millions of dollars in play for campaigns for Jacksonville mayor, sheriff
With less than twelve months to go before Jacksonville voters go to the polls to choose their next mayor, sheriff and other city leaders, candidates for the top offices continue building their campaign war chests, with March fundraising numbers being reported this week.
Proposal to give decision on historic monuments to voters gets 1st reading in City Council
A proposal that would let Jacksonville voters have the final say on whether to take down historical monuments, including one in particular that’s tied to the Confederacy, was introduced to the City Council during its Tuesday evening meeting.
Bill to end automatic pay raises for city council members hits hurdle
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A bill that would get rid of built-in pay raises for Jacksonville City Council members hit a hurdle in committee Tuesday with an amendment that Councilman Rory Diamond called an attempt to “gut” the legislation. Diamond, who introduced the bill earlier this year, wants to require council members to pass standalone legislation to increase their salaries each year. “But we can still pass the original bill, stop automatic pay increases and have a public vote. Finance Committee voted to PROTECT automatic pay raises for Jax Council. Thank you, Council Members Cumber and Salem for voting for TRANSPARENCY and an up or down public vote on a raise.
‘My car flipped over the bridge’: 911 calls released in Dames Point Bridge crash
Jacksonville Fire-Rescue photo of driver being hoisted out of the St. Johns River after his car went off the Dames Point Bridge. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 27-year-old man called 911 moments after a crash on the Dames Point Bridge sent his car plunging into the St. Johns River. News4Jax on Thursday obtained audio of seven calls from people who called 911 to report the Feb. 6 crash. Driver: “I got into a wreck on the Dames Point going to Arlington. AdA crash report shows the 27-year-old man was cited with driving too fast for conditions and driving on an invalid license.
City Councilman: ‘Ball of sparks’ as car careens off Dames Point Bridge
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – He described it as a “ball of sparks.”A Jacksonville City Council member is among the witnesses to a crash over the weekend on the Dames Point Bridge that sent a car careening off the bridge. It ended in a dramatic rescue with firefighters pulling the car’s driver to safety from the St. Johns River. For District 2 City Councilman Al Ferraro and his wife, Saturday night was not another trip. “Before we got to the bridge, she was saying, how many people have fallen off the bridge?” he recalled. Ad“We just saw what looks like a ball of sparks going off to the side,” Ferraro said.
Hypothermia, rising tide among dangers as firefighters rescue man from St. Johns River
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville firefighters saved a 27-year-old man in a dramatic rescue Saturday evening in the St. Johns River, hoisting him out of the water after his car fell over the Dames Point Bridge. Photos from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department show a captain harnessing the man and as crews on the bridge pulled him to safety. He was taken to the hospital, but amazingly only had minor injuries after the 35-foot fall in his vehicle. Jacksonville firefighters hoisted a driver whose car went... Posted by WJXT4 Vic Micolucci on Monday, February 8, 2021The man, whose name wasn’t released, was kneeling on the roof. (WJXT)State troopers said this happened because another driver, a 37-year-old man, was speeding and hit the 27-year-old man’s sedan from behind.
Jacksonville City Council members say ‘NOPE,’ call for salary freeze
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Several Jacksonville City Council members are calling for a freeze on council salaries. Councilman Rory Diamond introduced a bill Wednesday that would get rid of built-in pay raises for council members and instead require them to pass standalone legislation to increase their salaries. This is not the time for an automatic pay increase.”DOCUMENT: View a copy of the proposed legislationThe City Council OK’d a $2,302 raise programmed into the 2020-21 city budget, bringing salaries for most council members to over $52,000. According to figures provided by Diamond, the city spends more than $1 million a year on council salaries and $595,000 more in benefits. Under his legislation, the City Council would fix annual salaries for council members at a rate equivalent to half the salary for a county commissioner in a county roughly the same size as Duval.
Controversial Lot J deal defeated in City Council vote
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After months of debate, City Council voted 12-7 against a deal to bring a major entertainment complex to Downtown Jacksonville. “We pulled the plug on Lot J. It’s dead,” Lamping said. When asked if the Jaguars might consider another proposal for Lot J, Lamping said he thinks “it’s time to turn the page.”“We’ll leave that behind,” Lamping said. The legislative body spoke and unfortunately Lot J will not move forward. Under the deal, the entertainment district, which was planned for Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field, would have been one of the biggest investments in the city’s history.
Mayor & some elected Jacksonville leaders take raise in 2020, others won’t accept
Recently, the salary for most City Council members was $49,974. All but two of the 19 council members took the raise. “It’s been a tough year -- 2020 has been a really tough year and to take a pay raise at this moment in time, I just couldn’t do it. It’s the first time since Curry was elected mayor that he took the raise. Either you’ve had a pay cut, you’ve had a furlough or you’ve been laid off.
After Hemming Park name change, Council considers revising renaming process
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The uproar over renaming Hemming Park to James Weldon Johnson Park is prompting the Jacksonville City Council to consider making some changes in its procedure on renaming buildings and parks. When Councilman Garrett Dennis first proposed the name change for the park, he followed council rules. While the majority of council members voted for the name change, many believe the process of renaming parks and public buildings needs to be improved. Salems main concern is the lack of input from the public with only one public hearing required. With one public hearing we negotiate multi-million dollar deals with the same six week process, Dennis said.
Calls for community to break code of silence after deadly shooting of teen girl
Dozens of Wyches loved ones and community members then broke up into groups to canvass the neighborhood, looking for the community to break its silence. According to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, a grey car pulled up in front of Wyches vehicle, then two men got out of the vehicle and opened fire. Shes still the light of our family, said Sandra Odol, Wyches Aunt. Odol said her niece was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Weve got to get people to talk.Anyone with information should contact the Sheriffs Office at (904) 630-0500 or First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
'We hear you’: City leaders call for peace, change after protests rock Jacksonville
“Jacksonville, we hear you,” Councilman Sam Newby said. “We hear your concerns, and we hear your voices. We are all going to work together to make Jacksonville a better place, a place that you deserve. Our city streets cannot become places of anarchy.”Councilman Garrett Dennis laid at least some of the blame at the feet of City Council. We have to work together on this thing.”As city leaders were meeting, protests continued across Northeast Florida.
Plan to revitalize Arlington moves forward in City Council
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A controversial plan to revitalize Arlington moved foward in the Jacksonville City Council during a meeting Tuesday night. Councilwoman Joyce Morgan introduced the bill for the Renew Arlington CRA Zoning Overlay a few weeks ago. PREVIOUS STORY: Plan to revitalize Arlington passes zoning committeeDOCUMENTS: Renew Arlington explainer | Ordinance 2019-239City Council decided to move ahead with an amendment, voting unanimously for the plan. "This is how you can transform Arlington," Morgan said during the meeting. Morgan gas pointed to the success that other neighborhoods in Jacksonville have had in setting standards and renewing their appearance.