CITY COUNCIL

During its Tuesday night meeting, the Jacksonville City Council approved a resolution honoring First Coast News investigative journalist Ken Amaro for his decades of work.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

The Black Caucus' leader said the Latino map is "gutting, essentially" five Black wards.

There are a number of pressing issues and hot-button topics facing Jacksonville, including the future of the city’s remaining Confederate monuments, suspension of curbside recycling pickup and traffic delays due to trains.

The vaccination rules are "unprecedented in scope," but are built on an extensive framework of legal public health and safety regulations, an expert told CNBC.

Some opponents said it doesn't do enough to address the database's flaws.

The Cockburn Association says it fears temporary structures for outdoor eating in Edinburgh could be made permanent.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said it’s unfortunate that his legislation to remove a Confederate monument from Springfield Park was withdrawn by the City Council.

A Jacksonville City Counil member along with the chairman of the Jax Chamber are calling for the city council to postpone an upcoming vote to remove a Confederate moment that is still standing in a Springfield park.

Who are the four people running for the City Council seat open since the death of Tommy Hazouri?

Bad weather didn’t stop a protest in front of City Hall Friday morning by members of Take 'Em Down Jax who are upset about a Confederate moment still standing in a Springfield park. That statue is likely to remain in place despite legislation introduced by Mayor Lenny Curry to have it removed.

The Florida Department of Health in Duval County said Monday morning the county is now considered to be a low transmission county as the number of cases continues to fall.

Duval County residents who vote by mail should check their mailbox over the next couple of days for a ballot in a special election to fill Tommy Hazouri’s City Council seat.

Minneapolis voters are deciding whether to replace the city’s police force with a new Department of Public Safety.

Some aldermen want Mayor Lightfoot’s vaccine mandate to be voided.

The City Council could vote as soon as Wednesday on a plan that would provide as many as 5,000 households with $500 a month.

“If they want it, they’re gonna get it.”

An 1833 statue of Thomas Jefferson will be removed from New York’s City Council chamber by the end of the year.

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) has started hosting its five-day dance music festival after the Dutch government lifted restrictions on the entertainment sector, as well as clubs and bars. The event has been scaled down compared to previous years, while measures are in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including on-site testing.

For weeks, the Northside Collation of Jacksonville has been pressing the city follow through with the removal of all remaining Confederate monuments, and on Tuesday, the organization held another rally outside City Hall.

Mayor Eric Garcetti approved the sweeping ordinance on Wednesday, adding Los Angeles to a list of other major cities requiring patrons to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Mayor Eric Garcetti approved the sweeping ordinance on Wednesday, adding Los Angeles to a list of other major cities requiring patrons to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Joliet police chief says she was fired for requesting administrative hearing related to Eric Lurry death

Los Angeles leaders have voted to enact one of the nation’s strictest vaccine mandates.

AccuWeather's Bill Wadell was live in Shasta County on Sept. 29 to take a look at the severe drought situation in the state, which experts say has been worsened by climate change.

The amendment doesn't say "defund the police." But it would remove the city charter's requirement that Minneapolis have a police department with a minimum staffing level.

The Jacksonville City Council is meeting Tuesday night for the first time since the death of former mayor and council president Tommy Hazouri.

Several elected city leaders also want Gardiner to apologize publicly.

The latest census data shows the city’s population has grown by more than 100,000 over the last ten years. Now, Jacksonville City Council members are debating how the districts they represent could change as a result of the 2020 census.

Legislation introduced by City Councilman Matt Carlucci seeks to rename the Jacksonville City Hall’s council chambers after former Mayor and current Councilman Tommy Hazouri, who recently entered hospice care at his home.

FBI agents on Wednesday searched offices at Detroit City Hall and the homes of two City Council members, just a few weeks after another councilman was charged in an alleged bribery scheme. Agents and state police were seen at the homes of Janeé Ayers and Scott Benson. Agents also were seen leaving City Hall with boxes.

Elijah Nouvelage/GettyWhen Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by police last summer after being woken up in the parking lot of an Atlanta Wendy’s, already-raging protests over the murder of George Floyd hundreds of miles away reached new heights in the city.Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms found herself thrust into the national spotlight, telling the Today show in June 2020 that Brooks “could have been any one of us.”“It breaks my heart,” she said. “This went so terribly wro

Mayor Lightfoot changed search warrant rules after the wrongful raid at Anjanette Young's home.

Shootings are up, but property crime is not. Still, city and police leaders must aggressively respond before things get worse.

The first Black mayor of Tarrant, Ala., has been in office for less than a year, and he says it's not the first time he's heard “racial language” from a City Council member.

The first Black mayor of Tarrant, Ala., has been in office for less than a year, and he says it's not the first time he's heard "racial language" from a City Council member.

Mayor Lenny Curry presented a $1.4 billion budget proposal Tuesday to the City Council, laying out a vision for Jacksonville that combines new priorities resulting from the pandemic and an effort to honor the city’s past commitments to invest in overlooked neighborhoods.

One measure aims to protect renters in foreclosed buildings; an earlier law was struck down in court.

A super PAC funded largely by Stephen Ross saw major victories targeting progressive New York City Council candidates.

The City Council voted in 2017 to remove the statue amid public pressure, which sparked an extremist "Unite the right" rally defending the memorial.

Statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson will be removed in the Virginia city almost four years after the deadly Unite the Right rally.

The first sentence of the brief falsely claims Kansas City is defunding the police department. It goes downhill from there. | Editorial

Schmitt opposes the City Council’s action, which local organizations said gives the community a voice in spending taxpayer dollars.

In addition to city taxes, the KCPD is funded through a myriad of revenue streams that is not transparent even to top city officials.

A day after Adventure Landing closed the doors of its Westside site, a Jacksonville Beach City Council meeting was held Monday to discuss plans for the Beach Boulevard location.

CHICAGO — Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive it is. Or rather, will soon be. Two years after a South Side alderman introduced an ordinance to rebrand the landmark Chicago Lake Shore Drive to honor DuSable because he was upset he didn’t hear the Black founder of Chicago mentioned during a river boat tour, the City Council on Friday ended months of racially charged debate by adopting a ...

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“It is incumbent upon us as a council to try to right some wrongs that have been made,” Councilman Lee Barnes said of Kevin Strickland.

Chicago aldermen on Wednesday will once more consider renaming Lake Shore Drive for the city’s Black founder, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, but the controversy is no more settled as they again prepare to vote.

Years in the making, Charlotte’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan was approved by just one vote on Monday by a divided City Council.

With two parking garages already under construction at the site, this move makes way for one or two more.

The council is significantly younger with the most turnover in a decade.

The City Council adopted the $2.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2022 Monday night.

Six new members have been elected, and that could mean a different approach to transportation, policing and family issues.

Changes are coming to University Drive near Interstate 30 that should improve access to Fort Worth’s Cultural District.

The city’s Advisory Committee on Equality would “advocate for LGBTQ issues in all areas of city government.”

First-time candidate Kassandra Timothe has defeated former North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns in a runoff for the city’s District 2 City Council seat, according to unofficial results posted Tuesday night by the Miami-Dade elections department.

A vote by City Council members could drastically change zoning dynamics in Charlotte. Let voters decide instead. (Letters to the Editor)

Durham is the best city in the world, the mayor said. The challenge is to make it a safe and affordable city all.

Kansas City doesn’t need red-versus-blue political fights.

Authorities say a gunman opened fire at the Valley Transportation Authority building during a shift change on Wednesday morning, killing eight and injuring several others; the shooter died by suicide. This was one of the deadliest gun incidents to ever happen in Northern California, Politico reports. "When are we going to come to grips with this?" Newsom asked during a news conference.

Police said a naked woman flagged them down and told them she had been assaulted.

Aldermen used a parliamentary maneuver Wednesday to temporarily block a vote on a plan to rename Lake Shore Drive for the Black explorer credited with founding Chicago. After two aldermen called Wednesday for the measure to be deferred, the vote on whether to rename the outer Drive from Hollywood Avenue to 67th Street in honor of Jean Baptist Point DuSable was sent to the next City Council meeting. The move drew anger from the sponsor of the plan who said there were “racial overtones” in the delay tactic.

Brandeis University assistant dean Kate Slater is claiming that "all white people are racist" and stating that she hates "whiteness."

Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced a package of measures on Wednesday aimed at helping Chicago businesses, including extending a cap on third-party delivery fees and $10 million in grants for those hurt by the pandemic.

Three Nebraska men are facing charges Tuesday after allegedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman while holding her captive for five days, police say.

A British Transport Police (BTP) officer who harassed an Asian woman in London last year got to keep his job following a misconduct investigation. Inappropriate behavior: The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which conducted the investigation, said Imran Aftab had inappropriately used his status as a police officer to harass a female jogger and make “sexually inappropriate comments” while he was off-duty back in April 2020, reported The Mirror. Aftab reportedly told the victim she was “too curvy to be Asian,” showed her his warrant card and asked for her phone number.

A video that shows a portion of a recent deadly police shooting in Portland, Oregon, has circulated on social media and evening news broadcasts.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Councilman Terrance Freeman joins this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville” to discuss the City Council meetings in March that included discussions of the NOPE bill and the replacement of septic systems in the Christobel neighborhood. Then, Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren and state Rep. Cord Byrd join the show to share their views on HB 1, the so-called “anti-riot” bill. Finally, Susan King, president and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida, joins the show to talk about her meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the help her organization is receiving and providing for COVID-19 relief.

At-large Jacksonville City Councilmember Terrance Freeman said the plan is about more than protecting the health of the river and improving the quality of life for residents. We have a lot of work to do,” Freeman told host Kent Justice for Sunday’s This Week in Jacksonville. AdThe effort to remove septic tanks is meant to make good on a broken promise made in 1968 during consolidation. But to this day, tens of thousands of Jacksonville residents still depend on septic tanks, which have harmful effects on the local tributaries. This week, Freeman hosted a meeting at City Hall that brought together, parents, coaches and others to talk about safety.

EVANSTON, Ill. – Using tax money from the sale of recreational marijuana, the Chicago suburb of Evanston has become the first U.S. city to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery. The move by the Illinois community comes as hundreds of communities and organizations across the country are considering providing reparations. “This is set aside for an injured community that happens to be Black, that was injured by the city of Evanston for anti-Black housing policies,” Simmons said. Alderman Cicely Fleming, the lone vote against the plan, said she supports reparations, but what the City Council was debating is a housing plan that is being called reparations. President Joe Biden has even expressed support for creating a federal commission to study Black reparations, a proposal that’s languished for decades in Congress.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson also raised the possibility of renewing his previously unsuccessful motion to move Derek Chauvin's trial to another city. AdMayor Jacob Frey deferred questions about the timing of the settlement to City Attorney Jim Rowader, who declined to comment. Potential jurors questioned later didn't mention hearing of the settlement, and neither attorneys nor the judge directly asked if they were aware of it. At least four potential jurors dismissed Monday said they couldn’t be impartial. Three other former officers face an August trial on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Curry, joined by City Council members Brenda Priestly-Jackson, Ju’Coby Pittman and Vice-President Sam Newby, discussed the budget shortfall during a news conference Tuesday. Ad“In 2016, my team and I committed to completing septic tank phaseouts in three Jacksonville neighborhoods with the highest need,” Mayor Curry said. The effort to remove septic tanks is meant to make good on a broken promise made in 1968 during consolidation. But to this day, tens of thousands of Jacksonville residents still depend on septic tanks, which have harmful effects on the local tributaries. We care deeply about our city; I hope JEA in conjunction with the City will soon make a commitment to further the efforts of eradicating septic tanks,” Hazouri said.

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.

City Council President Tommy Hazouri has been at odds with the Mayor Lenny Curry’s office on this deal for the past two months. After Bateh’s comments, the Lot J developer, COO Zed Smith of The Cordish Companies, responded saying the Jacksonville deal is quite different than others. “If you pull the plug on Lot J, it’s gone. If Lot J, if you pull the plug on Lot J, it’s over. On Thursday, City Council considered all of the proposed amendments to the current deal on the table.

Katrina Brown was sentenced to 33 months in prison. Katrina Brown was sentenced to 33 months followed by five years of supervised release. Reggie Brown was given a sentence of 18 months, followed by three years of supervised release. Katrina Brown was convicted on 37 different felonies, including money laundering, fraud and conspiracy. Reggie Brown was convicted of 33 felonies.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The final report by a special Jacksonville City Council committee formed to investigate a botched attempt to sell the JEA in 2019 calls the plan greedy and found that it cost the city millions of dollars. The 132-page report released Monday morning was the result of 10 months of committee work, including witness testimony, and prepared by an attorney for the City Council. The report says the compensation plan “ran afoul through Aaron Zahn’s greed.” In closing, the report says “The ultimate cost to JEA and the City was millions of dollars. The truth around JEA’s strategic planning process is complex and definitively involved the Mayor, City Council, the entire Board, OGC and countless strategic advisors. He applauds the City Council investigation on JEA and says the report points to three huge problems.

City Council president Tommy Hazouri deferred the vote on the Lot J bill last week and said he’d like to see a final vote Jan. 12. At Friday’s meeting, City Council members got answers to questions and concerns that the council auditor has regarding the deal. The majority of them have been addressed and those in attendance said they feel confident that the Lot J project will move forward. Those in favor of the Lot J project say it’ll bring jobs, boost Jacksonville’s economy, and lead to a thriving downtown. Councilman Garrett Dennis said this week he supports the Lot J project, but also said no decision should be rushed without making sure all questions have been answered.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a budget early Thursday that will shift about $8 million from the police department toward violence prevention and other programs — but will keep the mayor's targeted staffing levels for sworn officers intact, averting a possible veto. “Tonight the City Council passed a budget that represents a compromise, and also a big step forward into a more compassionate and effective public safety future,” said City Council member Steve Fletcher, co-author of the proposal to lower the cap on staffing. The plan cuts nearly $8 million from Frey’s $179 million policing budget and redirects it to mental health teams, violence prevention programs and other initiatives. Those against the plan said the City Council was acting irresponsibly and has bungled its attempts to bring change. Such cuts have led some departments to lay off officers, cancel recruiting classes or retreat from hiring goals.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The controversial Lot J project is still taking center stage even though the Jacksonville City Council has decided to not vote on the project until next month. Protesters shouted outside City Hall to City Council members, Curry and others, upset that the city is even considering spending over $233 million on the entertainment complex. Inside, City Council was meeting and it was expected the council would take up the Lot J issue and possibly take a vote on the matter. The lack of action by City Council tonight was seen by many observers as a good step. And while City Council is going on a holiday break, they might hold another special meeting this week to take up questions.

Some City Council members have said the reason they are concerned about passing the Lot J legislation right now is because of the JEA debacle. News4Jax contacted several council members about Lot J. Councilman Reggie Gaffney has scheduled a meeting to discuss Lot J at 1 p.m. Tuesday, ahead of Tuesday’s night’s City Council meeting. News4Jax asked Dennis what he thinks will happen if the Lot J project is brought up at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. So the drama over Lot J could play out Tuesday night if a majority of council members vote to bring it up for discussion.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the wake of Thursday’s tense Jacksonville City Council meeting over a $445 million proposed entertainment complex on Lot J of TIAA Bank Field, City Council President Tommy Hazouri said the proposal will not be discussed at their next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday. We started interacting with City Council members then. In fact, the reason documents have changed is because there have been dozens of edits responsive to the requests of City Council members and their staff. The DIA voted Wednesday to recommend City Council approval, but with some modifications. As Council President, in honoring the legislative process, I will not be adding this bill to the addendum on December 8th.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the daily average of COVID-19 numbers continues to rise in Jacksonville, the City Council is considering new steps to combat the spike. Legislation will be introduced that would ban large parties indoors and outside, unless those hosting them get a permit from the city. The proposal would prohibit large gatherings, like block parties, of 50 or more people near public rights-of-way or buildings unless they have the owners’ consent or a permit. The idea of blocking unauthorized block parties might not sit well with some, but others, like Lamar Hooper, said it’s a matter of public safety. Currently, Duval County is the only county in Northeast Florida to maintain a mask-wearing mandate.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The proposal to build a $445 million entertainment complex on Lot J of TIAA Bank Field -- the sole topic of another tense Jacksonville City Council meeting Thursday -- will not be voted on until Tuesday at the earliest. The deal calls for the city to invest $233 million in direct spending or loans by the city of Jacksonville to the developer for Jaguars owner Shad Khan, the Cordish Companies. That drew a sharp response from Council President Tommy Hazouri and questioning of the rules before the review of the plan resumed. The DIA, which was asked to review the plan last week, voted Wednesday to recommend City Council approval, but with some modifications. DOCUMENTS: DIA report on Lot J proposal | Council Auditor’s Office’s things to consider/concernsMark Lamping, the Jaguars president, has asked for a vote by the council by its last scheduled meeting of the year, which is next Tuesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted to pass a report on to the City Council, which recommends the Lot J project with changes. It would develop Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field in a deal between the city and the Jaguars owner, using a developer named The Cordish Companies. But if the ask is, we want you to reduce the public investment by $65 million, than the project doesn’t go forward,” he said. I think for a lot of us guys like myself who take these kind of things very very seriously that they would understand that.”The DIA’s approval with changes is just a recommendation for City Council about Lot J. All 19 City Council members are scheduled to take part in Thursday’s meeting where they could decide to put the measure on their agenda Tuesday night.

The footprint of the production hub will grow with a private land purchase and a lease involving state trust land. She said the partnership with Netflix should send a signal that New Mexico is the place to be for film and television production. As part of the proposed investment, Netflix has committed to providing training programs in partnership with the New Mexico Film Office, local universities and industry organizations. Since coming to New Mexico in 2018, Netflix said it has spent more than $200 million, used more than 2,000 production vendors and hired more than 1,600 cast and crew members. Netflix is in production in New Mexico on the original films “The Harder They Fall" and “Intrusion" and is expected to soon begin filming “Stranger Things 4" in Albuquerque.

Instead, nothing happened at a special meeting Thursday night except finger-pointing, name-calling and what some members say was a big embarrassment for government. Those on hand say they were at the meeting to get answers from the City Council auditor about Lot J. No vote was taken by the City Council about that, but apparently, the DIA has already started that process. Instead, he heard the bickering and he also heard that some council members wanted to start the whole process of Lot J negotiators over again. Other council members spoke up, saying they were surprised about what happened and how nothing came out of what was to be an important meeting.

U.S. District Magistrate Judge James Clint also found that Katrina Brown was financially unable to get her own attorney so one will be appointed to represent her during the appeal. The charges resulted from government loans and grants to Katrina Brown’s family business. For Katrina Brown, the government wanted 4½ years in prison, three years of supervised release and $535,335 forfeited. After Monday’s hearing, Katrina Brown told News4Jax she was optimistic about the appeal. Curtis Fallgatter, who was Katrina Brown’s trial attorney, was allowed to withdraw from the case.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During a special Jacksonville City Council meeting Thursday, more details become public about Jacksonville’s proposed $218 million investment into a new entertainment complex at Lot J near TIAA Bank Field. Lot J is a proposed 50-50 partnership between the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars that has been in the works for two years and Thursday was the first time the full city council was taking up Lot J during a special meeting. In fact, the auditor said that for every dollar spent, the city would make just 44 cents. News4Jax asked Lamping to clarify how that plays into the team’s commitment to Jacksonville and the Lot J project. News4Jax asked if that means the team needs to be better for Lot J to work, Lamping said no.

TIMELINE | Case against Katrina Brown and Reggie BrownReggie Brown’s attorney, M. Alan Ceballos, said in his appeal, that his client meets the criteria for release while his appeal is in process. Katrina Brown’s attorney, Curtis S. Fallgatter, asked for the same, writing that she is a perfect candidate for release at this time. Reggie Brown was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. For Katrina Brown, the government wanted 4½ years in prison, three years of supervised release and $535,335 forfeited. For Reggie Brown, prosecutors wanted four years in prison, three years of supervised release and $411,752 forfeited.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville voters have spoken, and they want the City Council to have a say in who sits on the board of directors for JEA. The majority of voters approved an amendment to the city’s charter that empowers the City Council to appoint and remove four members of the city-owned utility’s board of directors. Previously, the charter held that it was up to the mayor to appoint all seven board members and the council confirmed those appointments. Duval County Referendum - JEA board member appointment “Shall the Jacksonville charter be amended ... to (1) grant to City Council the executive power to appoint and remove four members of the JEA Board and (2) amend the qualifications of board members?" The abandoned plan to find suitors for the utility is under investigation by both the City Council and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The federal case against Katrina and Reggie Brown began to unfold in May 2018. The former Jacksonville City Council members, who are not related, were named in a federal indictment alleging fraud and money laundering, charges related to the misuse of a federally backed loan and a city grant obtained by a barbecue sauce business owned by Katrina Brown’s family. RELATED: Former Jacksonville City Council members to be sentenced Thursday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The $445 million entertainment project at Lot J is on hold. But the plan was missing a key element when it was introduced to the Jacksonville City Council Tuesday night — the details of the parking garage agreement. The city plans to put more than $208 million into the project which the city would have to borrow. It would be used to construct an elaborate entertainment zone which would include a new hotel, restaurants, bars and a live entertainment complex on and near the current Lot J parking lot. The lawyers negotiating this deal and the City Council that is evaluating it decided it’s in the best interest of the public to introduce the legislation at a subsequent City Council meeting.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Another player in the JEA saga was questioned about what happened during the city-owned utility’s failed sales attempt. Tim Baker, a political consultant for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, was questioned last month by an attorney for the City Council investigative committee about the role he played in the botched JEA sale. Zahn said that he flew to Atlanta on a plane provided by Conventus, LLC, a company co-managed by Baker. Sam Mousa, who recently retired from that position and is listed in public records as a co-manager of Conventus LLC, was also there. The testimony is being reviewed by a City Council committee looking into JEA and the practices surrounding the potential sale.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Testimony released Wednesday reveals what Mayor Lenny Curry and his staff may have known prior to the plan to try and sell JEA. Curry’s former Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa was interviewed for that committee and he said there was no plot by the mayor to sell JEA outright. SPECIAL SECTION | Tracking the JEA sagaMousa was questioned by an attorney hired by the investigative committee looking into JEA. Mousa said Curry never said at any time that he was going to sell JEA. One JEA employee was reprimanded for leaking some confidential documents to City Council members and JEA has made changes in how those documents are stored.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The fast-growing Gate Parkway area has been served since last September by firefighters working out of a temporary structure. “These fine men and women have been in a temporary station. Reducing response times and lowering insurance rates are a few benefits for the placement of the new station. JFRD said members working at Fire Station No. It’s very important that we can respond and meet those NFPA numbers to keep our response times down,” Powers said.

Councilman Garrett Dennis moved to withdraw the amendment during a meeting of City Council. “And the only commitment that I ask, council president, is that we have a committee in the near future to address these issues.”City Council President Tommy Hazouri then withdrew the amendment. The amendment Dennis offered would have changed how the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office received its $484 million in funding allocated by the city. It would have allocated $234 million to the Sheriff’s Office off the bat and then release the rest in increments as the agency reports back periodically. “We’re disappointed that the City Council chose to go with the status quo," Sampson said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A day before the City Council approves more than $1 billion in spending, a City Councilman is calling for changes to the way the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is funded. The councilman is offering an amendment that would allocate $234 million to the Sheriff’s Office off the bat and then release the rest in increments as the agency reports back periodically. Dennis is set to introduce that amendment shortly before the City Council takes its budget vote on Tuesday evening. Councilman Matt Carlucci, who chairs the council’s finance committee that approved the budget, as among those present for Monday’s meeting. “Make no mistake, this is an attempt to defund men and women in uniform,” Chief of Staff Jordan Elsbury said.

“The major problems involve racial issues, the city budget and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.”The activists want more oversight from the City Council of JSO’s budget spending. “The city council should establish new methods to evaluate how effectively JSO is spending the lion’s share of our city funds,” said Ben Frazier, founder of the Northside Coalition. The city has broken promises and ignored the needs of Black neighborhoods for more than 50 years.”In addition to that demand, the groups say the City Council should:Create a police accountability council to review police investigations. “The People’s Budget calls on the city to reallocate and reinvest money from the proposed half-billion dollar budget for JSO,” said Christina Kittle with the JCAC. That budget will be voted on by City Council before the end of the month.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville could be spending hundreds of millions of dollars this upcoming year on various construction projects. Two City Council committees — rules and finance — have approved a plan that addresses that issue. “You have got to start somewhere, and a good place to start was the old Jacksonville city limits,” Carlucci said. He says he talked with both Black and white community leaders, and they agree it’s a good place to begin. The City Council will take up the issue Tuesday as they mull over the city budget.