Everything old is not a treasure
There seems to be a dichotomy between the constant cries for downtown redevelopment and the constant pleas to preserve everything that is a few decades old. The attached photo illustrates how the city’s core might look if the “preservationists” had their way....
Once again, the city is having disturbances, but they are not the same as before
Riots in Jacksonville, again. The city went through this 60 years ago. I was there. There is a vast difference in the two events. In 1960, black Americans were supporting the cause of civil rights. Most were following the guidelines of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.,...
Numbers on school crime and safety continue to fluctuate but show a glimmer of improvement
Eye on Jacksonville noted last year that Jacksonville had the highest rate of school safety incidents in the state. But the latest figures show improvement. The School Environmental Safety Incidents Rate (SESIR) data are for crimes and rules violations during the...
Running afoul of political correctness can be hazardous to your career
Last year, a teacher in the public schools angered the PC Police and was brought to heel. But his troubles aren’t over yet. The teacher told a boy student last August that he would not call him “her,” although the teacher said he would use the new name the student...
Stunned Republicans don’t understand anger of constituents
Yesterday the City Council voted for their new President. The City Council is comprised of 13 Republicans and 6 Democrats. The winner of the vote was Tommy Hazouri - a Democrat. Only 3 Republicans voted against him. See the final vote tally here: There was a big push...
Everybody in the media wants to be Sherlock Holmes these days
One of the things that happened to the newspaper business as it started down the path to oblivion was the creation of “investigative reporters.” I never heard the term before the Watergate scandal, when the media succeeded in bagging a (Republican) president. After...
Scott Wilson: Wrong day to politic, sir!
Scott Wilson, City Council President Scott Wilson chose Memorial Day to hold a press conference. It was to inform the media of his decision to stick with Tommy Hazouri instead of changing his pledge to one from his own party for the position of City Council President....
Pension reform numbers are not turning out as expected
What a difference a year makes. Every year, the city’s annual financial statement shows the condition of the city’s finances. Last year, the one for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2018, was released on March 29. Mayor Lenny Curry wrote in it, “As I have learned from...
Death of former deputy is the final chapter in a week of suspense and death from the city’s past
Florida Highway Patrolman Eddie Gasque Lester Parmenter died last week, closing the book on an event that held the attention of Jacksonville residents for a week in October 1961. Parmenter was a retired policeman. In 1961 he was a Duval County deputy sheriff,...
When elected officials forget to vote their values, we suffer
You may not be aware but right now there is a big election coming up. You have no vote and you will either benefit or suffer from the consequences of the voting tally. The vote is for the new City Council President and the race is on between Tommy Hazouri (D) and...
Local media unimpressed by huge parade of boats showing support of President Trump
North Florida Trump Flotilla The stirring sight of hundreds of boats cruising down the Intracoastal Waterway waving American flags and colorful signs thrilled thousands of people May 16 – everyone, it seems, except the local media. Although the media had been notified...
Eye predicted headline in TU today about JEA back in August 2019 thanks to JEA employees!
Corruption and deal making under the table? Today's headline in the Times Union states: Curry’s former chief administrator, political strategist worked for JEA bidder, according to documents In August 2019, Eye wrote about the men surrounding Mayor Curry in a post...
An empty lot now stands where Jacksonville’s long-sought redevelopment dream once stood
Where The Landing once stood The bare earth at the foot of Laura Street in downtown Jacksonville serves as a metaphor for the old adage “you can’t fight City Hall.” Just 30 years ago, the Jacksonville Landing was an almost new building housing shops and restaurants –...
So-called voting reforms would make the elections process worse
Harvesting is for hay - not votes! An all-out effort is under way by the Democrat Party to use the current health crisis to further revamp the voting procedure in a way that would almost guarantee increased fraud. “Coronavirus gives us an opportunity to revamp our...
Is Tommy Hazouri our Joe Biden? #metoo
As women across the country watch Joe Biden get a pass for his #MeToo accusations, locally we are doing the same thing. Have we no shame? Eye wrote about Tommy Hazouri's administration and the past issues with Ms. Darlene Tye. Ms. Tye won a lawsuit against the city...
Here comes the money train and City “Haul” is queued up to get aboard
“Free money” from the federal government has arrived in City Haul and is being redistributed, ostensibly to lower-income Jacksonville citizens who have been adversely affected by the Chinese virus. Not that we don’t trust them to do it correctly, but we hope someone...
Setback for pro-homosexual law could lead to it being invalidated
Jacksonville’s contentious and controversial “human rights” ordinance was dealt a blow at the hands of Florida’s First District Court of Appeals this week. Twice barred by a local circuit judge who said the plaintiffs lacked standing, lawyers for Liberty Counsel got...
Jacksonville’s once-large newspaper utters a pipsqueak plea as it completes its transformation
As it continues a descent into liberalism, the Florida Times-Union reached a new low last week by publishing an editorial pleading for the federal government to bail out the newspaper industry. Having worked there for a long time, I have tried to avoid commenting on...
Life is different for everyone – including those in government
Rep. John Rutherford Jacksonville residents who have visited the nation’s capital in the past might be shocked to see it today. Hordes of people, including lobbyists and tourists used to keep the Capitol and government office buildings packed. “It is very different,”...
Local lawyers say something stinks about fancy maneuvers in a judicial race
Illegal, unethical or just a shrewd political move? That’s what everyone in courthouse circles is asking after Michael Kalil, a well-connected local lawyer, slid into a judge’s seat amid a last-minute bit of paper-shuffling. The only other person in the race withdrew...
Breaking News: Local developer recognized nationally but not locally
Yesterday April 23rd Dana Perino, host of "The Daily Briefing"on Fox News, interviewed one of our local, home-grown developers and supporters of small business. Sleiman Enterprises was recognized as one of the "good guys" who is sacrificing for others during the...
Put the money meant for small business where it is needed
Small businesses need help now Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. They have been swiftly and drastically affected by the furor over the Chinese virus. Yet, all indications are that the bulk of the money government has thrown at the problem is...
Is the SBA rigged against moms and pops in a crisis?
One thing is certain, never let a crisis go to waste has found its way into COVID19 and the same ones who always win -- are winning again. And the reason they are winning is because they know how to play the game -- how to rig the system -- and how to cheat those they...
Opening Jax beaches pleased many local residents but offended liberals here and nationwide
By re-opening the local beaches, Mayor Lenny Curry triggered a lot of liberal snowflakes, but it was the right thing to do. The simple action made national news. It also spawned what appeared to be fake photos of jammed beaches and anger from the left. It simply...
Job of selling a new tax just got a lot more difficult
School officials kept insisting on putting a proposed tax increase on the ballot in November, and finally prevailed. That might have been a big mistake. It was looking like a slam dunk. Using the old, reliable “for the kids” line, they seemed to have people convinced...
Red vs Blue approaches by governors from two states and two parties is educational
Liberal newspapers throughout Florida are berating Gov. Ron DeSantis for the way he is handling the pandemic in the same way they are besmirching the president, who belongs to the same political party. But the measured response of Florida’s governor is perhaps best...
Sleiman Enterprises gives back to their tenants in a big way!
For years I watched as the City maligned Sleiman Enterprises and the media was the vehicle for slamming a wonderful company. The Sleiman family grew up in Jacksonville, attended schools here and returned from college to run their family business. They love...
Coughing on cops will not be tolerated in the Jacksonville area
State Attorney Melissa Nelson is taking a non-nonsense approach to assaults upon police officers that are connected with the current virus threat. Underscoring the pivotal roles the police and other first responders play during a worldwide medical emergency like the...
Eye’s Teen Editor shares her thoughts on COVID-19
“Welcome to your first day of distance learning,” read students around the globe. Suddenly computer monitors were switched on, iPads got unplugged from chargers and desks became replaced by pillows and couch cushions. Coronavirus disease 2019, coined COVID-19 by the...
Bill Gay set an example in everything he did
There is a void in the city after the loss of Bill Gay, who died this week quietly, as he did everything. Gay never got much fanfare but he was always working behind the scenes to make Jacksonville a better city and help those in need. He was a leading businessman,...
Rutherford shares his views on the virus threat and the actions by Congress
Rep. John Rutherford U.S. Rep. John Rutherford of Jacksonville thinks the relief bill Congress enacted will help in the effort to stop the onslaught of the Chinese virus but that Florida and other places in the nation were harmed by the delay. Rutherford gave Eye on...
The thousand cuts have finished. Now we heal.
I have been speaking these words in my head for the last month, "Death by a thousand cuts," each time we heard about one more executive order regarding what we could and could not do. Each little cut meant one less piece of liberty we could enjoy. Each little cut hurt...
Please contact those who are not enforcing laws on non-essential abortions. You have the time so let’s do this.
We received this information from an Eye on Jacksonville follower. We AGREE that something must be done to stop this NOW. Please take your time today to make your calls or email the people listed below. Abortions are not being performed in Texas unless the mother’s...
Call to Action: Governor & Mayor need to hear from you. Coronavirus & the Choice People have the microphone.
Nothing else could be better than a pandemic to show the hypocrisy of our governmental leaders. The numbers of unemployment – more than 20% and growing – and my friend included -- come from within the medical field too. That’s a fact and who would believe that? How...
Political leaders in the city should guard against being over-zealous
Over-reacting to a problem can be as bad, or worse, than under-reacting. Yes, “err on the side of caution” is good advice. But politicians in some parts of the country are erring badly in addressing the pandemic. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry raised a few eyebrows...
SBA Loans Available for North Florida business owners
One of our readers sent us this email and we wanted to get this information to you asap. Thanks for sharing!! Details are below for assistance to a business’, they would apply directly to SBDC on-line and this is now open for the Bridge Loan or contact SBDC local...
Jacksonville residents quickly change lifestyles to conquer coronavirus
Eye on Jacksonville has been limiting posts because the nature of the worldwide health crisis makes most other news, especially local news, pale by comparison. But we wanted to give a quick review of events to date. Officials at the state and local levels, meanwhile,...
Hope is what we need!
Yesterday I went to the Loop Restaurant to pick up lunch. There were 2 couples eating in the restaurant AND black take out boxes lined up for the To Go Order. The Loop is a locally owned restaurant and the founder is a man who puts his trust in God. ...
JEA management is digging a hole and raising suspicions
Advice to top management at JEA: When you are in a hole, stop digging. Under investigation by local government and the feds for its botched attempt to sell the utility, JEA brass are suspected of stonewalling on releasing public records. City Council’s special...
Media blackout on good news is all about politics
Frustration is at a high level among those who operate Florida’s largest school choice organization – and it should be. An incredible bit of media malpractice is taking place in this state. Two recent events provide strong evidence that school choice is beneficial to...
