Jacksonville City Council

Activists are switching gears in their campaign to take down a Confederate statue in Springfield Park. With City Council appearing to be a lost cause, the focus shifts to recruiting private interests to make the case that a reputation for racism is bad for business.

The once-in-a-decade redistricting process is halfway over, and residents have been largely shut out of the process.

Two committees of the Jacksonville City Council voted Monday against removing a confederate monument from public property in Springfield Park, indicating broad opposition to an ordinance that would require two-thirds of the council's support.

Duval County mailed out 83,275 ballots Thursday for the City Council at-large group three seat, recently vacated by the death of the former council president, Democrat Tommy Hazouri.

A City Council meeting that ran late into Tuesday night covered an upcoming vote to remove a Confederate monument from public property, the controversial confirmation of Jason Teal as General Counsel, Juneteenth as a city-wide holiday and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office taking over the county's misdemeanor probation program.

About 40 people gathered in front of City Hall Tuesday calling on Council president Sam Newby to reinstate Jacksonville's Safer Together committee.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office thinks it can make money off a misdemeanor probation program that has been a loser for the Salvation Army.

The nomination of interim General Counsel Jason Teal to officially serve as the city's top lawyer was approved Tuesday despite controversy over alleged misconduct.

An ordinance establishing Juneteenth as city employees' 13th paid holiday could get a vote from the full City Council as early as next week.

Councilman Michael Boylan is preparing legislation that he sees as critical in the battle against disease and drug overdoses. He says reluctant City Council members will be convinced once they see the success around the state.