Each month, we sit down with our local expert on all things legal and political to break down the latest headlines. Among this week’s topics:
- An investigation into JTA accelerates with a new subpoena from the state attorney general, even as the City Council dips into its own pocketbook to bail out the transportation authority.
- Amendment 3 champions and adversaries bear down on messaging ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
- A court extinguishes the Hope Florida investigation with an order to expunge a critical grand jury report.
- Candidates enter the final stretch of the race, with recent polling suggesting advantage to Republicans in Florida's race for governor and U.S. Senate.
Have a question for Chris? You can email firstcoastconnect@wjct.org or call 904-549-2937 between 9 and 9:30 a.m.
Guest: Chris Hand, local government expert, attorney and co-author with the late Sen. Bob Graham of America, the Owner's Manual
Crosswalk talk
Jacksonville has never been a great place for bike safety; as recently as 2023, it ranked third nationally in the number of fatal bike crashes. And the most recent data from the League of American Bicyclists shows the number of bicyclist fatalities per capita grew 37% between the years of 2014 to 2018 and 2019 to 2023. But bike safety advocates have continued to press for improvements, and a recent appeal appears to have moved the needle. Stephen Tocknell, president of the group Pedaling for Safety, addressed the mayor at two recent town halls about the need to prioritize capital projects that advance bike safety. The city’s local option gas tax guarantees that 20% of the city's share of the 6-cent local option gas tax will go toward bike and pedestrian safety improvements. According to the city, Tocknell’s appeal hit home, and “plans are in the works to make sure next year’s [capital improvement project list] will get more bike/ped projects in the queue.” We discuss what areas could be targeted for upgrades and what changes the gas tax allocation have wrought since the set-aside was established in 2014.
Guests:
- Stephen Tocknell, president, Pedaling for Safety
- Matthew Fall, transportation programs supervisor, city of Jacksonville
Swamp romp
Contemporary dance meets aerial acrobatics in Jacksonville Dance Theatre’s annual Circo del Pantano, created by artistic director Rebecca Levy. Spanish (and Italian) for “circus of the swamp,” the production follows a protagonist who, lost in dream, experiences the vibrancy of Florida’s landscapes and wildlife. Described as a “modern dance circus,” performers embody the region’s fauna both on and above the stage. Circo del Pantano takes place at 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts.
Guests:
- Rebecca Levy, artistic director, Jacksonville Dance Theatre
- Megan Bannatyne, company manager, Jacksonville Dance Theatre
- Jake Dukes, apprentice dancer, Jacksonville Dance Theatre
Topics and guests subject to change.