DANNY BECTON

Some parents voiced concerns Monday about the conditions at Greenland Park — one shared a photo of rusty equipment at the playground on Jacksonville’s Southside.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has had 826 calls for service since January 1, 2021, to an extended stay motel in the Baymeadows Center area.

How does a local government deal with mounting inflation and its effect on people?

The Jacksonville City Council is facing a vote Tuesday on a proposed special taxing district for residential areas around what used to be the Baymeadows Golf Club.

Neighbors in one Jacksonville community can weigh in on a proposed waste transfer station on Thursday evening. The proposed station would go right behind the tree line of the Greenland Chase neighborhood in Mandarin.

There is a potential solution in the works for the thousands of missed trash complaints that have come to the city of Jacksonville for at least two years. But that potential solution has become a problem unto itself for hundreds of homeowners.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Members of the Jacksonville City Council are scheduled Tuesday evening to discuss renaming five public parks amid the debate over giving a new name to Hemming Park. A Confederate memorial once stood in the park, which is named after Civil War veteran Charles Hemming, who donated the memorial to the state of Florida in 1898. Recently, Councilman Danny Becton proposed an alternative name -- Veterans Memorial Park. It was definitely a sneak attack by a fellow council member, Dennis told News4Jax after it was filed. Now, Dennis has filed additional legislation, suggesting renaming five other Jacksonville parks to honor veterans.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A Jacksonville City Council member has filed legislation, proposing the renaming of five city parks in honor of veterans. Councilman Garrett Dennis filed the proposal amid an ongoing feud over renaming Hemming Park. Dennis is upset after a move by fellow Councilman Danny Becton, who -- with the backing of some veterans groups -- proposed renaming the park Veterans Memorial Park. The suggestion to rename it Veterans Memorial Park threw a wrench into the whole renaming plan, and some council members are reluctant to vote against the two ideas. Dennis latest proposal would change the names of five parks, including Ed Austin Regional Park, Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park, William F. Sheffield Regional Park and a portion of the former Jacksonville Landing property.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A plan to change the name of a downtown park is causing a rift within the Jacksonville City Council, but a compromise is in the works. It centers around Hemming Park, which is currently named after Civil War veteran Charles Hemming, who donated a Confederate memorial to the state in 1898. “It was definitely a sneak attack by a fellow council member,” Dennis said, noting that legislation to rename Hemming Park after Johnson has been in the works for several weeks. Still those two alone won’t decide the future of the park as it would take 10 votes from City Council to rename it. In my opinion, there should be no agreement, settlement or compromise regarding the proposed name change to James Weldon Johnson park.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Less than 48 hours into Jacksonville’s mask mandate, City Council President Tommy Hazouri convened an emergency City Council meeting to ask questions of Mayor Lenny Curry and other Jacksonville leaders. The mayor, who was noticeably absent during a Monday news briefing announcing Executive Proclamation 2020-005, addressed City Council from where he is spending scheduled vacation time with his family. Newby said the ordinance is “a good first step.”As the ordinance stands now, masks are required indoors when a person cannot social distance. In restaurants, customers are required to wear a mask into the restaurant unless seated at a table to eat. Residents weren’t given any more direction on compliance with the mandate other than city leaders asking residents to “do the right thing.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. JEA is warning about scammers looking to take advantage of the coronavirus by threatening to turn off your service if you dont pay up. The city-owned utility said City Councilman Danny Becton recently received a scam call that he immediately reported it to JEA. The call included this message:You will be experiencing a disconnection of service today, within 30 minutes. Also, be on the lookout for threats that your connection will be immediately shut off. JEA customers who suspect someone is trying to scam them should call 904-665-6000 to report it.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Hazouri on Tuesday was chosen as the next Jacksonville City Council president. According to Wilson, Republicans pressured him to break a promise to Hazouri, a Democrat, and was told if he doesn’t, he could face an uphill battle in an upcoming primary. On the Tuesday Zoom meeting that has become the way of city business during the pandemic Councilmember Brenda Priestly Jackson made the formal nomination of Vice President Hazouri. For the most part, the City Council presidency is handed down to the person who serves as Vice President the year before. Sam Newby was chosen unanimously as the next City Council Vice President.

Local Republicans are turning against one of their own in the midst of an in-party battle for leadership of the Jacksonville City Council. It involves pressure by Republicans to pull support from the current City Council President Scott Wilson. Wilson, the current City Council President who is leaving to run for another office, told News4Jax on Monday he will have nothing to do with it. For the most part, the City Council presidency is handed down to the person who serves as Vice President the year before. “That’s Scott Wilson,” Hazouri said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new crime and safety initiative focused on the hotels in Jacksonville launched Friday in collaboration with city and state tourism officials. “Tourism Industry and Public Safety Alliance,” or TIPSA, is a partnership of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Visit Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and City Councilman Danny Becton. Jacksonville police have responded to hundreds of calls for service at that one hotel over the last three years. Becton began the initiative just over a year ago with Visit Jacksonville, FRLA, JSO and several concerned local hotel owners to reinforce the fact that the “safety of Jacksonville visitors is our No. Thirty hotels in Jacksonville have joined the program so far and between 50 and 100 are expected to be signed up within a month.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Concerned neighbors are expected to sound off Wednesday night about a plan to develop more than 5,000 acres in southern Duval County. This is the same area where another large development is already under construction. In a letter she wrote to the city, Herrin says the things that could be impacted include access roads, emergency services, schools, wetlands and waterways, and wildlife. For what Jacksonville might need in terms of new neighborhoods.Herrin says she doesnt want to slow down growth but believes developers should look at other areas in Jacksonville. So, I believe there are other areas where development can occur.Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.