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So it begins: Upcoming local elections. Prepare for negativity instead of solutions.
I knew it was coming. It’s now officially the season of Negativity in Duval County. The upcoming local elections will begin with the primaries in March. Ugh. Here is the first ad for the Mayor’s race. It isn’t pretty. It isn’t motivating. It’s the same old garbage from campaign consultants brief cases. Curry’s campaign consultants…
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Curry’s Wall: Stonewalling information to the City Council???
One member of City Council may have gotten a wake-up call after asking for public records. Garrett Dennis asked the administration for some information and got a note from a bureaucrat advising him that it would cost $3,000 to compile the data. At first the councilman thought it was an invoice, but Chief Administrative Officer…
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Duval County School Board: Let’s get a Vision and then “get er done!”
I took a brisk walk on the Riverwalk this morning and stood in front of the Duval County School Board building. It’s a nice building, seems to be in great shape and the view is spectacular! Year after year there are discussions about the School Board moving off that prime riverfront property and it is…
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Why so many secrets in the Curry Administration? Don’t we have a right to know?
One local story this week was an example of good reporting but not necessarily of good citizenship. A reporter for the Daily Record managed to uncover the names of companies trying to make a deal with the city for incentives. While it shows a commendable ability to crack through Curry’s Wall of secrecy, what else…
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City leaders stunk up downtown last night and it should never have happened. It was easy peasy peeps.
I was so excited to attend theTrans-Siberian Orchestra last night at the Veterans Memorial Arena. If you haven’t seen them in person, put it on your bucket list. It’s one of the most amazing concerts you will ever attend. My sweetheart and I grabbed a bite to eat and then jumped in the car to…
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Mayor’s Campaign Promises: Move the jail and then what?
People howled when the local government wanted to build a $350 million courthouse to replace one that was 50 years old. Now, the Curry administration is talking about spending $400 million to build a jail to replace one that is not even 40 years old. I can remember when the new one was built, next…
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Did Obama’s heavy hand cause the demise of Virginia College? Students pay the price.
Virginia College, Jacksonville, at Beach and University boulevards, has closed along with the company’s other facilities nationwide. The private college offered courses and associate’s degrees in business administration, computer technology, cosmetology, culinary arts, electrical technology and health and medical training. While the loss of jobs is disconcerting, it demonstrates the strength of the private for-profit…
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Hart Bridge ramps: Building in a cow pasture is not as risky as building on prime riverfront land.
The big breaking news is in: The Hart Bridge Ramps to downtown are coming down and our taxpayer dollars will pay for it. Pay for Mr. Shad Khan — a billionaire — to see his dream become a reality. Forty-five years ago, the citizens of Duval County paid to build the Hart Bridge and…
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JEA: We have our Eye on you and you’re looking good!!
If you have ever had your home appraised, you know how exciting it is to hear it’s worth more than you imagined. And the next question in your mind would be — “Is this a good time to sell?” It’s a game homeowners play with their equity. Should I sell or wait for the…
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The Curry Wall: Preventing access to public information. Maybe we should “recycle” politicians?
Putting stuff into the yellow-topped curbside recycling bins may make homeowners feel virtuous, but it probably isn’t saving the taxpayers any money. The popular notion is that the garbage is sold and the operation breaks even or makes a profit. Not quite. The city does get $1.5 million in revenue, but it spends $2.2 million,…