Today’s media roundtable discussed some of the top stories of the week on the First Coast, including:
- Duval County Public Schools has ended a 20-year relationship with JASMYN, Northeast Florida’s leading LGBTQ support organization for young people. In an email to principals Wednesday, Superintendent Diana Greene said inappropriate "program materials” were behind the district's decision. JASMYN CEO Cindy Watson called the decision an overreaction to a far right extremist website spreading inflammatory rhetoric.
- Advocates for removing Jacksonville’s Confederate monuments grow impatient as sources of funds for addressing Confederate monuments on public land sit idle, and Jacksonville City Council’s promised action on Confederate monuments remains stalled. Earlier this week, City Councilman Matt Carlucci joined us in the studio and expressed frustration with the monument removal process.
- Duval County residents can start applying for rental and utility assistance. This is a part of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program through the city of Jacksonville to help residents who lost income because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has more than $3 million to aid people in need. Although the site keeps crashing because of traffic, people can keep trying to apply electronically or complete a paper application. All applications must be done by 5 p.m. Monday.
Guests:
- Dan Scanlan of WJCT News.
- Nate Monroe of the Florida Times-Union.
- Joe Mclean of WJXT-TV.
- Fred Matthews, blogger and regular contributor.
JME DJ Session
It’s time for our December DJ listening session over at the Jacksonville Music Experience. WJCT’s arts and culture editor, Matt Shaw, joined us and shared previews of great new music from top local talent.
Christmas in Avondale
Hearts 4 Minds is unveiling a new mural during Christmas in Avondale as part of its Murals with Meaning program at 5:30 pm. Saturday. Avondale resident Ron Rothberg joined us in the studio with a quick preview of this event. The mural is at the corner of St. Johns and Talbot avenues. This free community Christmas celebration offers families multiple holiday activities and cheer for people of all ages.
