Today’s media roundtable discussed some of the top stories on the First Coast, including:
- A report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office details one of the incidents of antisemitic messages displayed in Jacksonville last week. According to the report, police confronted a small group of men hanging antisemitic banners on an Interstate 10 overpass. The report publicly identifies the group responsible for this incident for the first time: National Socialist Florida, an extremist group with a growing presence in Jacksonville. On Thursday, hundreds of people rallied in Downtown Jacksonville to oppose hate speech and antisemitism.
- The Jacksonville City Council is under pressure to redraw the city’s lines of political power this election season. A federal judge ordered the council to redraw council maps, ruling they were made to dilute Black voting power in the city. The council has been meeting about the new maps all week and is scheduled to vote Friday.
- T.K. Waters, the Republican candidate for Jacksonville sheriff, leads Democratic opponent Lakesha Burton by 5 points in a poll released Monday. The poll by the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida shows Waters with 48% of the vote and Burton with 43%. But 9% of people surveyed — enough to sway the outcome — said they did not know how they would vote or they did not answer. Early in-person voting is underway, and Election Day is Nov. 8.
- The Duval County school district has published new, proposed sex education materials ahead of a public vote next month. The new textbooks would replace longstanding middle and high school sex-ed materials in response to new Florida laws and outcry from some local parents.
- Former congressman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist joined the guest panel during First Coast Connect to discuss his campaign, the midterm election and his position in the race for Florida governor according to polls.
Guests:
- Dan Scanlan of WJCT News.
- Fred Matthews, blogger and contributor.
- Claire Heddles of Jacksonville Today.
- Ben Becker of Action News Jax.
PorchFest
PorchFest is one of the city’s best parties all year. Historic Springfield becomes one big outdoor concert and street party during the event. It is being held this Saturday. Kelly Rich, executive director of the SPAR Council, is getting ready for the event. Rich joined us in the studio to discuss the day’s itinerary.
