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...
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...
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...
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, Fernandina Beach Resident and Activist Jack Knocke, founder of Common Sense Fernandina Beach, shared his frustration...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Breaking News: Every time it rains, it pours taxpayer money in Jacksonville
The rain that falls on your house or business property results in a tax called the stormwater fee. The fee is based on the estimated amount of impervious surface at a home or business -- the theory being that rain washes off those surfaces, collecting hazardous...
Local reporters did good work examining grades
ActionNewsJax deserves a half a Wink for its work on school grades. Reporters for the station actually looked at data, which few in the media bother to do these days. They found a large number of low grades in the local public schools and also took note that they were...
Jacksonville had a slave owner with black skin
An example from Jacksonville shows the fatal fallacy of the liberal proposal to pay reparations to descendants of slaves. Without question, all former slave owners should pay reparations to all former slaves. But all of those people are dead. For people who never have...
Group opposed to left wing indoctrination in schools is growing fast
Spurred by the focus on race in public schools, to the detriment of learning and racial harmony, a social media group is growing rapidly, and asking questions. Save Our Schools – Florida, a new group on Facebook, says: “We are a Conservative grassroots movement...
Some Winks, Some Stinks and Me Thinks
News moves fast and furious and when you are busy with taking care of clients, it can be tough to share our thoughts quickly. I have saved a few news worthy items and got around to them today. Here are a few Winks that need to be given: Locally: Lori Boyer of the DIA...
Good intentions are making downtown look shabby
While city officials and civic leaders are busy discussing ways to gussie up downtown’s face, the tramp camp in the heart of downtown continues to grow. Well-intended people decided weeks ago to help the homeless people in the camp by moving them into hotels. Once...
Stir up Jacksonville residents about children and you quickly get action
Jacksonville residents are beginning to push back against a public school system they see as moving further left every day. Once aroused they act -- quickly, too. Local activist Esther Lyle Byrd posted this comment on Facebook: “Does anyone know of a local or Florida...
Being positive in Jacksonville
New4Jax deserves a Wink for its feature Random Jax of Kindness. Despite the name, which is either a clever pun or a lame play on the words “acts of kindness,” depending on your point of view, it is a good way to take note of some good things happening in the city amid...
Is treating everyone the same a crazy idea?
Here’s a radical idea for government schools. Instead of teaching black history and white history, why not try teaching American history? A special task force proposes that the Jacksonville public schools “embed” black history into the history curriculum. What does...
Downtown Development: Do we have a plan? Fingers crossed!
Eye on Jacksonville has been asking to see a master plan for Jacksonville’s downtown. We have written a couple of posts about the need for a downtown Master Plan instead of the piecemeal projects we have seen in the past. Rumor has it there might be one on the table....
How big is the ‘bucket’ and who will fill it?
In their crusade against septic tanks, Jacksonville politicians are setting up taxpayers for a major hit. But is it necessary? City officials claim septic tanks are a public health problem, even though the state of Florida says they are effective, and the city allows...
Medication or Food? Choose one.
You have either heard the radio ads or watched the T.V. commercials where individuals must choose to pay for their prescription medication or put food on the table. This scenario, sadly, is far too common for such a prosperous nation like the United...
Praise for protest is the wrong response
Students attending government schools in Jacksonville have learned that if you want something all you have to do is demand it loudly, like toddlers who lie on the floor screaming and kicking their feet. In the span of one incredible week: Students protested something...
Big “Scoop”…City plans big gifts for people they have ignored for years
City Council President Tommy Hazouri, a Democrat, has filed a bill to spend $100 million to improve the property of homeowners lacking a connection to the sewer system and the mayor is kicking in a few bucks, too. Ominously, Hazouri calls it “a drop in the bucket”...
Visions emerge for downtown Jacksonville
Yesterday the Times Union ran an in-depth article about a Vision for downtown development. The Guest columnist was Mike Balanky, a local developer. I've run into Mr. Balanky at numerous business events and have heard him speak at two local civic organizations. He...
Kids matter, adults don’t, is the lesson for today
Kids today are so indoctrinated that they can be “triggered” by almost anything. Case in point: “You Matter Month.” A few students at Sandalwood High School did not understand a new program the school system started, because they are ignorant. Ignorant is not stupid....
Do phantom students have phantom teachers?
Government schools in Jacksonville have more than 5,000 phantom students who may or may not exist. No one really knows and ordinarily it wouldn’t matter much. But this year it does. The state usually estimated what school populations will be in the coming year and...
School names: Another exercise in political correctness is under way
The cancel culture is on the rampage in Jacksonville as the government schools launch a plan to rename local schools – including two high schools beloved by thousands of older residents who attended them. Robert E. Lee High School and Andrew Jackson High School are on...
City Council workshop, jousting with windmills
Despite the fact that there are no visible signs of “hate groups” causing any problem in Jacksonville, members of the City Council are launching a crusade against them. What they propose to do is a mystery. Hate groups are a particular concern with liberals, although...
Will tidying up the city landscape reduce crime?
Based on the theory that there is a link between blight and crime, a bill is moving through the City Council to reduce blight in the city. Sponsored by Council Members Randy DeFoor and Randy White, the bill would spend $200,000 to clean up blight in the Brentwood...
Council is finding more ways to spend money
The City Council’s special committee of social justice warriors apparently is going to “invest” money in another round of job training programs. The Northside Coalition asked the committee to assign them to run the new program, and promised transparency. We looked on...
Backlash brewing in City Council over a committee created to promote justice
There is a minor revolution brewing in City Council. At least one member is refusing to vote for any bills that originate in a special committee of social justice warriors appointed by Council President Tommy Hazouri. Council Member Rory Diamond told Eye on...
Compassion should be tempered with caution
While it may be proper for the local government to help local citizens who have been made destitute by the federal government, politicians should be careful not to overdo their generosity. Jacksonville does not need to be the bum mecca of America. Leave that to San...
Use this template to hire Jacksonville’s next Mayor
The question of the year is this, “Can I trust any one who runs for office anymore and will the voting system be rigged?” There are numerous organizations stepping to the forefront on the subject of election fraud and we believe this situation will be...
JEA Scandal makes national news
Daniel Tait, a Research and Communication Manager for the Energy and Policy Institute, a watchdog group in the energy industry posted an in depth article about the JEA Scandal. My first thought was, "This is embarrassing." My second thought was, "The truth is finally...
Everyone wants free stuff, but there is nothing free
From a story on News4Jax: “…a promise made 60 years ago during consolidation to connect neighborhoods on the Northside and Westside to city sewer lines so they wouldn’t have to rely on septic tanks.” Eye on Jacksonville would like to know: Who made that promise? Who...
Local activists make waves
Sitting around and complaining doesn’t change anything. Fortunately, North Florida has a lot of people who don’t sit around. Eye on Jacksonville would like to recognize a few people who might be called “activists” because they follow and try to influence public...
Automatic pay raises? One councilman says, ‘Nope’
One of the perks of being a politician is that you can increase your paycheck whenever you want, if you can get enough of your buddies to go along with you. But for some, even that is not enough. Congress put its pay on automatic pilot years ago. (“There is no...
Council is considering legislation that may be just a waste of paper
After attending many sessions of the Jacksonville City Council and Florida Legislature, I came to the conclusion that most legislation is totally unnecessary. Exceptions are enacting a budget and repealing useless legislation previously enacted. An example that is...
Two local conservatives are running for the Florida Senate
Stalwart conservative Jason Fischer, a state representative from Jacksonville, has filed for the seat in the Florida Senate that will be left vacant by the departure of Sen. Aaron Bean, pitting him against Rep. Clay Yaborough, who filed earlier. Jason Fisher Clay...
How violent Jacksonville is may be open to question
Many Jacksonville residents were jolted when they saw a graphic suggesting Jacksonville is a dangerous place to live. Compiled by the liberal Washington Post and also published on Fox News, the graphic shows “cities with the most violent crime” and Jacksonville is...
Sonny B: MLK didn’t die so you can BLM
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was a man who truly cared about black lives and had a dream for all lives to join hands together in unity and love. I believe he would turn over in his grave if he saw the state of our nation today, especially the state of the black race....
