โStop playing this gameโ: Mayor Deegan says general counsel nominee Randy DeFoor โfacing smear campaignโ
Saying her nominee for general counsel is โfacing a smear campaign,โ Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan held a news conference Wednesday to rally support for Randy DeFoorโs appointment.
Area of Youngerman Circle and Blanding Boulevard has seen shootings and drug issues over the years
A woman died Wednesday after she was found shot multiple times in an area of Jacksonville near the Clay County border that has seen gun violence, drugs issues, homelessness and panhandling over the years.
Failed plan to privatize JEA inspires case study by delegation from African nations
The attempt to privatize JEA is now getting international attention. A delegation from African nations has visited Jacksonville to study ethics and transparency, and itโs using what happened with JEA as a case study.
City Council passes amended version of bill addressing automatic pay raises
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ After a debate that turned heated and slightly personal at times, Jacksonville city leaders approved an amended version of a bill to adjust how city council raises are handled. The original plan would have done away with automatic pay raises for council members and forced them to vote each year on whether to take salary increases. The NOPE bill stands for โNo Obligatory Pay Enlargement,โ but after a debate centered around a cost of living increase, the city council passed an amended version of the bill that removed the original language. City council salaries make up only a small part of the cityโs $1.3 billion budget. Last fall, council members approved a 4.6% increase, bringing salaries for most council members to over $52,000 a year.
Controversial Lot J deal defeated in City Council vote
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ After months of debate, City Council voted 12-7 against a deal to bring a major entertainment complex to Downtown Jacksonville. โWe pulled the plug on Lot J. Itโs dead,โ Lamping said. When asked if the Jaguars might consider another proposal for Lot J, Lamping said he thinks โitโs time to turn the page.โโWeโll leave that behind,โ 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 cityโs history.
City working to sniff out source of โsickly sweetโ stench in Murray Hill
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The city of Jacksonville is investigating a โchemical-likeโ pungent odor in the Murray Hill area after dozens of complaints have poured in. โWe have a lot of unhappy constituents in Murray Hill in relation to the smell,โ said City Council member Randy DeFoor, who represents District 14, which includes Murray Hill. Neighbors describe the smell as a sickly sweet, turpentine smell that makes them queasy and typically lasts around three hours. We are aware of the recent inquiries from the Murray Hill area. DeFoor assured residents during Thursdayโs town hall that sheโs working to get to the bottom of the smell.
City leaders discuss interviewing key witnesses in attempted JEA sale
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Members of the Jacksonville City Council spoke virtually Monday night on whether to subpoena key witnesses in the attempted sale of the city-owned utility, JEA. There are three outstanding witnesses that the committee would like to talk to, who might not testify unless theyre compelled to by subpoena. Our job isnt to represent these people in a criminal defense matter, said City Councilman Randy DeFoor. That warning frustrated Councilwoman Randy DeFoor who said that if the City Council cant use the power of a court order, the City Council cant do much in determining what went wrong with the attempted sale of JEA. Someone explain to me what we got going left.No decision was made Monday night, but council members said they want to hear from the public.
DOJ asks JEA scandal investigators to stop interviewing key witnesses
City leaders want to prohibit JEA from exploring or investigating any type of sale. If it does, City Council members have a limited amount of time to get it on the ballot. It comes as the Department of Justice is requesting Jacksonville leaders not to interview key witnesses in the attempted sale of JEA. Two, we havenโt interviewed anyone who was on the board when Zahn was hired,โ said Randy DeFoor, City Council member. City council members tell News4Jax it would be necessary if they were re-allocating power from the Mayorโs office, but they are not.
22 subpeonas issued in City Council probe of JEA
Committee Chairman Diamond said from the beginning of the probe earlier this year he planned to subpoena the bidders and find out who their lobbyists were. Meeting via a Zoom video conference on Tuesday, The Rules Committee unanimously approved issuing 22 subpoenas. The Rules Committee UNANIMOUSLY approved 22 subpoenas to the JEA bidders and investment banks. โHonest to God, this is embarrassing to you and JEA,โ DeFoor said last month. The committee plan to look through documents to see if JEA leadership started looking into the potential privatization of the city-owned utility before it was approved by the JEA Board of Directors.
โThis is nutsโ: Investigative committee accuses JEA of dragging its feet on public records requests
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jacksonville City Council members leading an investigation into JEAโs failed bid to sell the city-owned utility kicked off the special investigating committee meeting on Monday by calling out delays in public records requests sent to JEA. Councilmembers Rory Diamond, Randy DeFoor and Brenda Priestly Jackson all expressed their frustration to JEA lawyers that their public records requests from more than a month ago have produced zero documents so far. The committee plan to look through documents to see if JEA leadership started looking into the potential privatization of the city-owned utility before it was approved by the JEA Board of Directors. The committee also heard from former JEA executive Mike Brost and current Vice President Steven McInall. The committee wants to know more.
Would JEA board comply if City Council votes to end efforts to sell utility?
โYou have to talk to (JEA spokeswoman) Gina Kyle,โ JEA Chief Operating Officer Melissa Dykes said. On Thursday, Councilwoman Brenda Priestly Jackson said she was filing an emergency resolution asking that JEA to stop plans to privatize. Her concern is when the talk of a sale started, City Council was not notified in a timely manner, which she believes that should void the entire deal. The full council could vote Tuesday night on the resolution calling for the end to the process. JEA did ask us not to air that exchange with Dykes after the meeting, saying it would make her available later.