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MATT CARLUCCI

Mayoral candidate Carlucci backs proposed gas tax increase, but still has concerns

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.

As break begins, Duval County Public Schools gives food to students who depend on in-school meals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While spring break is a fun time for students, it’s a difficult time for the children who depend on in-school meals. To fill the void, Duval County Public Schools teamed with Feeding Northeast Florida on Saturday to give children the food they need while they’re on break. On a rainy, overcast day, volunteers brought joy to children in need. Whenever school is out around the country, children who depend on in-school meals may not have any food at home. With the help of Councilmen Matt Carlucci and Kevin Carrico, they brought in Feeding Northeast Florida and Crossroads Church together to feed students that need food.

Councilman Matt Carlucci announces he’s running for Jacksonville mayor

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Councilman Matt Carlucci said Thursday that he plans to run to become the next mayor of Jacksonville in 2023. Carlucci sat down with News4Jax and said he’s been thinking about running for about three months. Recently, Carlucci has been critical of the Lot J project, a project backed by current Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. It’s time we get out of the ditch take the drama out and put the people in and move the city forward. And we have not been able to do that because of all the drama and divisiveness.”On Wednesday, Curry said he expected some of the councilmembers who voted against Lot J will be running for mayor.

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.

Controversial Lot J project is nearly a done deal

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.

Curry: If Lot J doesn’t happen now, it will never happen

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the Jacksonville City Council prepares for a major vote on Lot J Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said if the multi-million development project adjacent to the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium is not approved now, it never will. “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. I think it’s time to just pull the plug on it. News4Jax asked the Jaguars about Curry’s statement Wednesday and a spokesperson said it will wait until the vote Thursday to make a comment.

Another tense Jacksonville City Council ends without Lot J vote

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 Mayor: If Lot J deal doesn’t go through, NFL could drop affiliation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Monday night Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry sent a Twitter storm of messages calling on city council to make a decision on the development of Lot J. The Lot J development will send a big message to the team & NFL. — Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 1, 2020Curry started the thread implying that if Jacksonville residents want to remain an NFL city, the Lot J deal would help. The Mayor made it clear he supports the Lot J deal and what is stands for. He said the Lot J Development, Jaguars stadium upgrades and the Jags lease should be negotiated as one deal.

Jaguars president pitches stadium upgrades as Lot J talks continue

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While the focus recently has been on Lot J, the proposed entertainment complex outside TIAA Bank Field, the stadium itself is now in the spotlight. Mayor Lenny Curry on Tuesday issued a statement, saying: “More than 20 years ago we made a decision as a community to be an NFL city. That split was apparent Thursday when City Council President Tommy Hazouri and the mayor’s staff went at it. At Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, City Council members all asked questions about the Lot J project, what was involved and what the city’s role would be. The head of the DIA told News4Jax the group is already reviewing the deal but will follow the wishes of the City Council.

Business owner skeptical of Shad Khan’s proposed developments

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A day after Jaguars President Mark Lamping pitched city officials on team owner Shad Khan’s plan to build a Four Seasons hotel along Jacksonville’s riverfront, public reaction began to pour in. RELATED: City officials learn cost-benefit details of Lot J development“Jacksonville moves best when it moves together,” Carlucci said. This despite an auditor saying the city stood to make 44 cents for every dollar invested in the Lot J development. RELATED: City would make 44 cents for every $1 spent on Lot J developmentJackson took issue with the mayor’s statement. As for Lot J, the Council is planning to hold a special meeting on that topic on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Most Jacksonville voters oppose city’s stake in Lot J development

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An overwhelming majority of Jacksonville voters are opposed to the city’s plan to invest over $200 million in the development of an entertainment complex at Lot J near TIAA Bank Field, according to a new poll. The public opinion poll conducted by Barcelo & Company found 70 percent of those surveyed object to the city having such a huge stake in the project, with 25 percent strongly opposed to it. That’s compared to 17 percent who support it, 6 percent of them strongly in favor of it. Meanwhile, 64 percent of respondents indicated they’re generally pleased with how the city spends taxpayer money while 30 percent said they’re not pleased. Individuals surveyed were also presented with different scenarios and asked if those factors would make them more or less likely to support the city’s Lot J investment.

Jaguars reps discuss plans for Lot J, hear from public

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Representatives from the Jaguars and Jacksonville City Council members held a virtual public meeting to discuss the multimillion dollar Lot J development with the public. It was a chance for the public to ask questions about where the money is going and a chance for the Jaguars to hear feedback. That requires City Council approval. The city council is waiting for more detailed economic specifics about the Lot J financial plan from Mayor Lenny Curry’s office. “There’s a lot needed in this town, and that’s a lot of money to give to the Jaguars,” said resident Ray Roberts.

City receives costs/benefit details of Shad Khan’s Lot J development plan

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City leaders asked to decide whether to invest taxpayer money in a $445 million development Jaguars' owner Shad Khan’s company wants to build in a parking lot of TIAA Bank Field now have some financial details on the project. The city of Jacksonville released a 14-page economic and fiscal impact analysis of the proposed Lot J development that was conducted by Johnson Consulting on behalf of Khan’s development team. City Council pulled the measure from consideration earlier this month because the proposal lacked specific information, including details about a parking garage which was supposed to help generate revenue for the city. The consulting firm says the project will attract residents, shoppers, travelers and jobs to the Northbank area of downtown. According to the study, the annual economic impact of the proposed development is estimated to include $179 million of total spending by year five.

How Duval County’s half-cent sales tax would benefit schools in your neighborhood

The half-cent sales tax money would also go towards safety and security, building upgrades and renovations at schools across the city. For instance, at John E. Ford, a K-8 school in Northwest Jacksonville, the district decided on $11.7 million for upgrades. So when our children are in school, they’re healthy, we know that they’re safe, as far as the building is concerned," Buckley said. And in some of the other Northwest areas of Jacksonville," said Carlucci, co-chair of Duval Citizens for Better Schools. To see exactly how much of the tax money would go to each school if the measure is passed in November, click through to find every school on the interactive map below.

Supporters concerned about half-cent sales tax question’s placement on ballot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There are just over three weeks until ballot collection ends for the 2020 election and voters decide on a measure to implement a half-cent sales tax to fix aging schools in Duval County. The measure’s backers say they’re concerned about the ballot itself, particularly where the tax question is positioned on the ballot. “There are two pages to the ballots," explained Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Carlucci, who’s co-chair of Duval Citizens for Better Schools. "You go to the second page of the ballot, and it’s right at almost at the bottom of the ballot. The half-cent sales tax would provide nearly $2 billion to address improvements at public schools in Duval County over the next 15 years.

Mayor Curry, Shad Khan unveil long-awaited plans for Lot J

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Standing on the Jacksonville Jaguars indoor practice field Monday, Jaguars owner Shad Khan and Mayor Lenny Curry announced new plans for the development at Lot J, a project that has been years in the making. The total direct public investment from the city will be over $152 million which includes $77.7 million for city-owned infrastructure, Curry said. “This project will provide an immediate boost to our economy with the creation of 2,300 construction jobs,” Curry said. “We have a lot of other priorities in the city and they are going to cost some money so I don’t want to pit Lot J against those other needs. Rendering of Lot J development (Copyright 2020 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.)

Officials with city of Jacksonville, Jaguars set for Monday announcement on Lot J

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The next steps for development at Lot J are set to be released on Monday. Mayor Lenny Curry, Jaguars owner Shad Khan, and Jaguars President Mark Lamping are set to make the announcement at 12:05 p.m. at Daily’s Place. The city of Jacksonville shared details about the announcement Sunday night. “We have a lot of other priorities in the city and they are going to cost some money so I don’t want to pit Lot J against those other needs. “I believe it is because in this case it is specific to Lot J as I understand it,” he said.

Councilman proposes withholding half of JSO’s budget

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.

Organization continues push for half-cent tax to benefit crumbling Duval schools

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A virtual forum was held Tuesday night to discuss the proposed half-cent sales tax that would benefit Duval County Schools, which voters will make a decision on during the November election. Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene, School Board Chair Warren Jones and City Councilman Matt Carlucci each made presentations. The ongoing pitch to improve the district’s crumbling schools has been challenging in light of the pandemic, with many families struggling as parents have been out of work, needing assistance. Tuesday’s forum was held by Indivisible Mandarin, a grassroots organization eager to hear from experts about the proposed half-cent sales tax. The half-cent sales tax, Greene said, would supplement state revenue such that the district’s $1.91 billion master facility plan would be funded over the next 15 years.

Mother of woman killed in police-involved shooting calls for more mental health resources

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Saturday was the first time Charity Baker spoke out about her daughter, Leah, who was killed in an officer-involved shooting in April. Where is their help to get education, to get jobs? Charity Baker said. Carlucci said there are agencies that can provide mental health help that need more funding, and the city should be putting money toward programs to make sure at-risk youth and adults dont fall into the pipeline. Intervention, prevention and public services grants -- they handle everything from Meals on Wheels to helping people that have mental health disorders to providing medicine. Thats where we should be investing but not at the expense of the Sheriffs Office, Carlucci said.

Demonstrators at drive-up protest demand peoples budget & police accountability

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Northside Coalition and the Jacksonville Community Action Committee are demanding a city budget for the people and police accountability. On Saturday, there was a drive-up protest, with cars filling the parking lot across the street from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office headquarters. People painted Peoples budget now on car windows and held signs saying So no to JSO budget.Ben Frazier with the Northside Coalition called the proposed budget weak and said it lacks the strength needed to revitalize underserved and marginalized communities. Consider this: By reallocating the JSO money proposed by the mayor by about 25% would actually free up $100 million. We want to see that money used for social and community services like a comprehensive mental health care response team.

City councilman wants to see Jacksonville school named after Earl Johnson

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. As Jacksonville looks at the possibility of renaming several schools in the city that have names tied to the Confederacy, one City Councilman is pushing for the name of Earl Johnson to be placed on a school. Johnson was an African American city leader who was involved in a lot of local and national history, particularly in the 1960s. And also, as well, when MLK would come to Florida, Earl Johnson was his attorney, Carlucci told News4Jax on Sunday. Carlucci said Johnson could realistically have been Jacksonvilles first mayor back when the city decided to consolidate in the late 60s. Earl Johnson gave up the opportunity to probably be Jacksonvilles first Black mayor and instead supported consolidation.

Elected officials spread message of unity, change

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonville elected officials took part in a demonstration Sunday outside City Hall and then a walk. Despite the heavy rain, about 100 people gathered beneath the awning at City Hall to unite as one. After the demonstration, the group took to the streets to spread its message of unity and change. We are going to change the culture (of) Jacksonville, said Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Carlucci. Elected officials saying, Listen, we are one. Its going to take all of us together to move the needle and make a change," Dennis said.

Top city employees may earn thousands in extra pay for working during pandemic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Many city employees, including some of the highest-paid staff at Jacksonvilles mayors office may be earning thousands in extra pay for working during the coronavirus pandemic. We saw firsthand how some city employees worked extra hours, even seven days a week during the crisis that is still not over. Other city offices, including the property appraisers office and the council auditors office, are among those not taking the extra pay -- offering comp time only for employees extra work. The mayors office in Tampa said its employees did not receive hazard pay like Jacksonvilles mayors office did. So, the city of Orlandos final pay is $0 for pandemic response and city employees versus $50 million in Jacksonville.

Sea level rise continues to pose threat to low-lying communities

Northeast Florida is no stranger to hurricanes and strong storms, and Tony Pooley, the sustainability and resiliency development manager for Terracon, said that with sea levels rising, the flooding after these storms will continue to get worse. “We can see through tidal gauge data in Mayport that we’ve had about 10 inches of increased sea level rise since 1930. Jacksonville is ruled by shorelines, which increases the threat of flooding with sea level rise, especially when a large storm moves through. The meeting focused on setting the scene of climate change and sea levels rising in and around Jacksonville. The issues that were mentioned involved rising sea levels, which can trigger a whole new list of problems such as water pollution caused by septic tanks during floods.

Grand jury will not look into JEA, for now, but State Attorney’s investigation continues

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville City Council member said Friday that a state grand jury won’t be looking into the mess at JEA, but the State Attorney’s Office is expected to issue a report on the problems at the city-owned utility. Councilman Matt Carlucci on Friday sat down with State Attorney Melissa Nelson for an hour and half to talk about where the investigation could go. Although it is possible a grand jury could investigate JEA down the road and the State Attorney has the ability to file criminal charges if any wrongdoing is found. That’s why Carlucci said he wanted a grand jury or some other investigation into the matter. “They need to fire Zahn with cause,” Zahn told Justice.

Jacksonville official wants to revisit low-income housing inspections

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Some city leaders are looking to make changes in the way low-income housing is inspected in the wake of gas problems at a Westside apartment complex and a fire at a Northside complex. Now, a report from Jacksonvilles planning and development department obtained by News4Jax shows there is ongoing testing of the gas pipelines that serve families living at the apartment complex. They cut my gas off for a whole day and then turned it back on.A spokesperson for Millenia Housing Management said she could not speak to the details of inspections at the apartment complex. At Valencia Way, the apartment complex formerly known as Eureka Gardens, work continues on upgrades to the gas lines and other facilities. Specifically, Carlucci said he is concerned about publicly subsidized housing for low-income families.

Abrupt end to Charter Review meeting draws complaints

Charter Review Commission Chairman Lindsey Brock said Friday's meeting had a "hard stop" and adjourned the meeting at noon. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Angry words were exchanged when the chairman of Jacksonville's Charter Review Commission tried to adjourn a meeting Friday afternoon before receiving public comment. The commission meets every 10 years to consider changes in the city's charter -- the legal structure of the consolidated city/county government. City Councilman Garrett Dennis and Matt Carlucci were among those due to speak when time ran out and commission Chairman Lindsey Brock tried to adjourn the meeting. Dennis has introduced a resolution to City Council asking that the chairman of the charter commission be removed.

Cleaning up before Dorian: The items you might not know could cost you

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As Hurricane Dorian zeroes in on Florida, you want to prepare your house, including making sure you secure anything that could cause damage outside. It could be something as small as a loose brick on a driveway or something as big as a basketball net. "Heavy winds could easily pick that up and throw it through a window or even on top of a roof if we have a Category 2 or higher winds," Carlucci said. We have a shovel over here, the wind could easily pick that up along with the table, even the grill or the propane tank." So why is it important for people to take storm preps seriously and go around their house before a storm hits?

Boos & jeers before City Council withdraws sales tax bill

Ahead of the City Council's decision, the council chambers were cleared due to an outburst from the crowd while the sales tax measure was discussed. In June, the Duval County School Board approved its $1.9 billion Master Plan to repair or replace school buildings. Along with members of the School Board, theyre demanding city council put the half-cent sales tax to voters this year. Charter schools are public schools in that they offer free education, funded by taxpayers. The oldest charter school in Duval County was built 22 years ago, while the oldest traditional school is more than 100 years old.

School board OKs plan for charter school money if sales tax is approved

But if the tax is eventually approved, the Duval County School Board will allow charter schools to get a bigger chunk of that money. Charter schools are public schools in that they offer free education, funded by taxpayers. The oldest charter school in Duval County was built 22 years ago, while the oldest traditional school is more than 100 years old. School Board Chairwoman Lori Hershey said it was important for School Board members to discuss the recommendation in length and have a plan before the full Jacksonville City Council meeting Tuesday evening. PREVIOUS STORIES: Duval County School Board discusses charter school tax allocations |City councilman to propose putting sales tax referendum on 2020 ballotCity Councilman Matt Carlucci has been pushing to let voters decide on the matter this year.

City councilman to propose putting sales tax referendum on 2020 ballot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the debate over Jacksonville's proposed referendum on a half-cent sales tax for schools continues, Jacksonville City Council Member Matt Carlucci announced Friday that at Tuesday's City Council meeting, he will formally propose holding the vote in November 2020. The Duval County School Board wanted the vote held this fall, but some council members werent ready to put it on the ballot this year. In a news release, Carlucci said the referendum should be held when the chance of success is greatest, and he doesnt feel a vote this November gives enough time to rally public support. Carlucci had previously been vocal about wanting the vote to happen this year. Another development in this debate could come Monday when the City Council president meets with school district officials.

2 City Council committees vote to push back school sales tax decision

The Finance Committee voted unanimously in the morning to defer any vote on the sales tax referendum requested by the Duval County School Board. "I was disappointed in the fact that the school board administration and board members were here to answer questions and never got a chance to be asked questions." Warren Jones, vice-chairman of the Duval County School Board and a former member of City Council, was less diplomatic. On Monday, City Council President Scott Wilson joined the School Board for its workshop to discuss the issue. According to School Board Chair Lori Hershey, quite a lot -- especially when it comes to the bottom line.