Month: March 2021

  • Knee-jerk news stories again appear in liberal local media

    Local media committed journalistic malpractice this week by publishing a divisive story full of obvious errors. It originated with a small, and shrinking, liberal newspaper, which published claims that girls with black skin are treated unfairly in the schools. Other outlets parroted the claims. The data may or may not have been accurate but the…

  • With gasoline prices rising, city officials want to bump gas taxes

    “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!” — Ronald Reagan President Ronald Reagan’s famous, and accurate, comment about federal government programs applies equally well to local government, and to taxes. For…

  • You picked a fine time to raise taxes, Mayor Curry

    As the Democrats in the House of Representatives in DC clapped for joy at the passing of the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, Mayor Curry was campaigning his way through the City Council and other people of importance about increasing the gas tax by 6 cents a gallon. So the Dems are clapping as they…

  • Spending plan has a wealth of information

    City budgets contain a lot of information useful to the taxpayer. You can see where the money comes from and where it goes, in detail. You also can determine the total cost of local government, which today is somewhere north of $6 billion. Because local reporters have been well-trained by politicians and bureaucrats they invariably…

  • Survey says: City of Fernandina uses abusive tactics against residents and contractors

    Last week Eye on Jacksonville looked into complaints by residents and contractors. We noted that the Chamber of Commerce had gotten wind of these complaints and posted a survey to see if the rumors were true. The Chamber deserves a big WINK for taking the lead on this issue. You can read our post about…

  • Survey says: City of Fernandina uses abusive tactics against residents and contractors

    Survey says: City of Fernandina uses abusive tactics against residents and contractors

    Last week Eye on Jacksonville looked into complaints by residents and contractors. We noted that the Chamber of Commerce had gotten wind of these complaints and posted a survey to see if the rumors were true. The Chamber deserves a big WINK for taking the lead on this issue. You can read our post about…

  • City is losing the septic tank battle

    With all the focus on infrastructure needs in the city, Eye on Jacksonville has been trying to find out what has been done in the past and what needs to be done in the future, as well as the cost. We have had some success. Recently, we learned that 6,600 septic tanks have been taken…

  • A look at Fernandina: Is it too difficult to build or live there?

    Maybe Fernandina Beach needs an Eye on them? From the looks of some “Stinky” building department activities, we just might need to expand! Jack Knocke, founder of Common Sense Fernandina Beach, shared his frustration with Eye on Jacksonville about the City of Fernandina Beach, his hometown. Jack, a business consultant, moved to the island with…

  • A look at Fernandina: Is it too difficult to build or live there?

    A look at Fernandina: Is it too difficult to build or live there?

    Maybe Fernandina Beach needs an Eye on them? From the looks of some “Stinky” building department activities, we just might need to expand! Jack Knocke, founder of Common Sense Fernandina Beach, shared his frustration with Eye on Jacksonville about the City of Fernandina Beach, his hometown. Jack, a business consultant, moved to the island with…

  • Local schools turn over decision-making to students, with predictable results

    One local public school principal’s efforts to kowtow to students backfired badly, which might help serve as a warning that students don’t always know best. Diversity teaching at Douglas Anderson was to be done in segregated student meetings – one for white, one for black. When parents learned that, there was a huge reaction and…

  • Homeless haven is closing but help is continuing

    Tramp Camp Jax will be shutting down Tuesday. The eyesore in the downtown area that has brought many complaints will be eliminated. City officials are evicting the occupants and fencing the grounds where some 150 vagrants have been camping. Local non-profit agencies are taking in the people. Contrary to some media reports, there is ample…

  • Democrats create side show with nothing burger

    Break out the popcorn for the sideshow aka a great political fight going on among Democrats in Jacksonville. It is over nothing, which makes it even better. Turns out that Council Member Rory Diamond was having a dialogue with a Democrat – something Democrats always say they are hankering for but really aren’t. As William…

  • Another costly project is launched by city officials

    Jacksonville is peering into a very expensive future. Although the taxpayers have spent billions on infrastructure over the past 25 years, they face many billions more. Estimates are flying around: $2 billion for sewers and septic tank removal, a billion more for drainage. And, now: untold millions for “resiliency” – a term that is used…