Some people living in a Northside community near Soutel Drive say it’s the last thing they want — a fifth liquor store.

After almost seven years working for the city, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s Chief of Staff Jordan Elsbury is stepping down.

And that has some asking why Jacksonville city leaders are now thinking of doubling the local gas tax. The proposed plan would double the current gas tax from 6 cents to 12 cents, the maximum amount allowed under the law. MORE | JTA CEO: Gas tax increase for new infrastructure ‘critical for our community’AdCity councilman and candidate for Jacksonville mayor Matt Carlucci brought up the gas tax proposal Tuesday during a city council finance meeting. “I am not tone deaf about gas prices going up. Right now, the majority of the local gas tax goes to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you think gas prices are high now, get ready. Mayor Lenny Curry is proposing that Duval County double the local gas tax from 6 to 12 cents per gallon to fund major transportation and other infrastructure improvements. That income would be split between the city and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and used for both road and other projects, including paying for septic tank replacement and other unfunded city projects. “This an opportunity to fund them.”The Jacksonville Transportation Authority, which currently receives most of the local gas tax revenue, would get half of the increase. AdDOCUMENT: Itemized list of $930 million in infrastructure projectsThis major tax increase would have to be approved by the City Council.

On Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said on The Morning Show that he’s investing nearly $200 million in this year’s city budget. After News4Jax’s original story on the matter was published, Curry’s office requested an opportunity to respond, which was provided Monday. Instead, his office offered Jordan Elsbury, the mayor’s chief of staff, to speak about what the city considers neighborhood infrastructure investments. After analyzing Curry’s most recent budget, specifically looking for neighborhood infrastructure investments, News4Jax determined that Jacksonville’s neighborhood infrastructure investment is $145 million, and not the $200 million the mayor stated. But Elsbury said – the mayor’s office does categorize those as neighborhood infrastructure investments.

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. – News4Jax political analyst Rick Mullaney of Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute joins this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” which explores the Lot J proposal from multiple angles with Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer, Jacksonville Civic Council CEO and President Jeanne Miller, Urban Land Institute Chair Tarik Bateh, Jaguars Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Megha Parekh and Mayor Lenny Curry’s Chief of Staff Jordan Elsbury.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville city officials are seeking reimbursement for more than $150,000 in expenses for law enforcement costs, consulting fees and other funds spent preparing to host the National Republican Convention that never took place in their city. City officials told the Florida Times-Union that they have been assured by the 2020 Jacksonville Host Committee that it will be repaid. Jacksonville had been selected to host Trump and other Republicans in late August after a disagreement over social distancing with North Carolina’s Democratic governor prompted the party to scale back festivities in Charlotte. Jacksonville officials, including Mayor Lenny Curry, had openly sought to host the event. In a report to the Federal Election Commission, the host committee did not show any payments to the city, the Times-Union reported.

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. – Despite the fact that the Republican National Convention moved to Jacksonville earlier this summer never took place here, the city still spent thousands of dollars on planning. Auditors determined that more than $153,602.68 was spent on planning the event -- with 45% that on overtime pay to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office employees and another 45% to an outside firm hired to help secure federal grants. The remaining 10% of the money went to overtime to Jacksonville Fire-Rescue and other city employees. In late July, President Donal Trump canceled the Jacksonville events due to coronavirus cases surging locally and across Florida. Mayor Lenny Curry stated numerous times that Jacksonville would not be on the hook for any costs.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. As Jacksonville nears 12,000 confirmed coronavirus cases since state officials began tracking data, three new federal testing sites have opened in the city, which has been identified by as a surge site by the Department of Health and Human Services. The three new sites, combined with current testing locations in Jacksonville, are expected to increase the citys testing capacity to an estimated 5,000 tests daily. Those sites along with an existing site at Lot J are set to close on Wednesday. As we talked about on Tuesday, while we are seeing more COVID-19 related hospitalizations than we did in April, the percentage of those hospitalizations requiring ICU care is lower, Elsbury said. One of those sites will open on Monday at the Jim Fortuna Senior Center at 11751 McCormick Rd.

Instead of one giant fireworks display drawing thousands of people to line the St. Johns River downtown, the city will launch fireworks from six different spots across the River City to keep people spread out and socially distanced. The goal is to spread out the crowds with multiple locations around the city, making social distancing possible. The city of Jacksonville will launch fireworks from six locations this 4th of July. At Friendship Fountain on the Southbank, there were a few social distancing signs, but no markers or vendor setups like in years past. At Normandy/Lem Merrett Park, there was not a sign or social distancing circle in sight.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Mayor Lenny Curry has appointed Jordan Elsbury as the new Chief of Staff of the City of Jacksonville, the city announced Monday. Chief of Staff is an integral part of my administration, said Curry in a press release. Leeann Krieg will take Elsburys former job as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. Prior to joining the Intergovernmental Affairs team in 2018, Krieg served as the Executive Council Assistant to Group 4 At-Large Council Member, Greg Anderson. Before joining the City of Jacksonville in 2012, Krieg worked for the State of Florida.