Calls have begun this week for a federal probe into potential procurement fraud at Jacksonville City Hall.
Part of the spotlight has fallen on the influential downtown Bethel Baptist Church. WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union reported that top staffers to Mayor Lenny Curry may have tried to steer a crime prevention grant to Bethel, raising questions of whether there was any impropriety.
District 1 City Councilwoman Joyce Morgan is a longtime parishioner at Bethel Baptist. She said public figures need to make sure outreach to local faith communities doesn’t cross lines.
“A lot of times I’ll go to services in my district unannounced, so it will not be seen as political,” said Morgan.
Morgan is also involved with the Renew Arlington initiative in her district.
That effort got a boost this week with news that the Town and Country Shopping Center in the neighborhood has been sold to local developer JWB Real Estate Companies LLC for about $5 million.
The full interview with Morgan is available on Tuesday's First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross.
Melissa Ross can be reached at mross@wjct.org, 904-358-6382 or on Twitter at @MelissainJax.
