Over at JaxOutLoud, it's always been our goal to help the residents of Jacksonville interact with the government in productive ways. We want to make sure the people of Jacksonville have an opportunity to have their voices heard in matters that affect us all.
Not everyone can make it to committee meetings during the day or even to City Council meetings in the evening hours. We believe the internet is the most effective tool for putting the people in touch with their representatives. To that end, we have a bit of an open beta concerning Bill 2008-206 and the Dick Brown litigation against the City.
Check it out...
Showing posts with label jacksonville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jacksonville. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Harden & Brown vs. Jacksonville!
Oh boy. Here we go.
Everybody's favorite above-the-law lobbyist has taken the must-win case of above-the-law Dick Brown to open the At-Large Group 2 ballot to anyone and everyone who lives within the Group 2 boundaries.
I'll be back to offer a more detailed legal analysis of the complaint and supporting documents.
Check out the JaxOutLoud thread where you can download a copy of the complaint.
On first glance, it appears Mr. Brown is hanging his hat on the flawed premise that Mr. Jabour resigned from the Jacksonville City Council on 2/28/08. Stay tuned...
Everybody's favorite above-the-law lobbyist has taken the must-win case of above-the-law Dick Brown to open the At-Large Group 2 ballot to anyone and everyone who lives within the Group 2 boundaries.
I'll be back to offer a more detailed legal analysis of the complaint and supporting documents.
Check out the JaxOutLoud thread where you can download a copy of the complaint.
On first glance, it appears Mr. Brown is hanging his hat on the flawed premise that Mr. Jabour resigned from the Jacksonville City Council on 2/28/08. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Riverkeeper Takes Legal Action: Administrative Appeal Filed
Passing this along. My editorial comment is: Go, Neil, go! Save our American Heritage River!!!
From the release:
Fore the full scoop, check out the PDF release.
From the release:
On Tuesday, March 4th, St. Johns Riverkeeper official filed for an administrative hearing to challenge the permit request from Seminole County to withdraw an average of 5.5 million gallons of water per day from the St. Johns River for irrigation purposes...
Fore the full scoop, check out the PDF release.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Harms vs. Graham on 8/26
It's official. Theresa Graham has elected to run against Bob Harms for the Jacksonville City Council, At-Large Group 2, seat on the primary ballot.
Bob Harms is a good and honorable man and a champion of the citizens of Jacksonville.
Theresa Graham is a close associate of Randall Terry and an unknown in Jacksonville political circles.
It will be an interesting race, one in which I believe Mr. Harms carries many advantages.
Bob Harms is a good and honorable man and a champion of the citizens of Jacksonville.
Theresa Graham is a close associate of Randall Terry and an unknown in Jacksonville political circles.
It will be an interesting race, one in which I believe Mr. Harms carries many advantages.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Jabour Makes It Official
Jay Jabour has decided to give up his legal battle and this evening acknowledged his removal from the Jacksonville City Council. Our laws are serious business and should be followed, especially those which govern the election of our representatives.
Voters in Jacksonville should always be represented by people of strong morals and high ethics who follow the rules. While I was personally outraged by Mr. Jabour's tactics in seeking office, I have to credit him with a graceful statement upon his removal. The citizens of Jacksonville, though, deserved better. His votes to raise our taxes and break the covenant with the people of Arlington will be the low-points. They will also be his legacy on the Council.
Jabour had no choice but to acknowledge the Court's order removing him from office. There was no further appeal route available to him.
Voters in Jacksonville should always be represented by people of strong morals and high ethics who follow the rules. While I was personally outraged by Mr. Jabour's tactics in seeking office, I have to credit him with a graceful statement upon his removal. The citizens of Jacksonville, though, deserved better. His votes to raise our taxes and break the covenant with the people of Arlington will be the low-points. They will also be his legacy on the Council.
Jabour had no choice but to acknowledge the Court's order removing him from office. There was no further appeal route available to him.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
A Face Meant For Radio
Oh yes, I have a face for radio. The format loves me.
Check it.
Let me know what I screwed up on. What should I have said? What shouldn't I have said?
Fascinating stuff!
Check it.
Let me know what I screwed up on. What should I have said? What shouldn't I have said?
Fascinating stuff!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Video Killed the Radio Star
Oh yeah, before I forget... I'll be on the radio tomorrow morning between the hours of 9AM and 10AM on Dave Siebert's call-in show on AM 1460. If you're outside the area and interested in listening, that's www.1460.us for the live stream.
Diane Melendez and I will be his guests for the hour to talk about and issues of local concern. I imagine the Harms v. Jabour decision will come http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifup. Tune in!
Diane Melendez and I will be his guests for the hour to talk about and issues of local concern. I imagine the Harms v. Jabour decision will come http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifup. Tune in!
Harms Wins! Jabour Loses! Jimmy rejoices!
The result is not what surprised me. It was the speed with which the First District Court of Appeal handed it down. Though, like I was telling some friends at dinner last night, it doesn't take long to write three words: Per Curiam Affirmed.
There is a period of 15 days in which Mr. Jabour's attorneys can request a rehearing. The entry of the Judgement will be delayed until 1) the end of the 15-day period or 2) Mr. Jabour asks for a rehearing and the Court denies the motion.
The speed with which the 1st DCA returned their ruling leads me to believe that they would immediately deny the Motion for Rehearing as that Court has shown that the law is clearly on Mr. Harms's side.
But Jimmy, what about the Florida Supreme Court?, you might be asking. The Florida Supreme Court does NOT have jurisdiction to hear this case. In order for a case to progress beyond the District Court of Appeal and to the Florida Supremes, the DCA must certify that the question is one of "great public importance" due to some conflict of law. There is no conflict of law here. The facts and the law support the trial Judge's ruling and so support the affirmation of Judge Nachman's decision at the appellate level. The case is over.
Now the fireworks begin. And I'll post more about what they will look like when I know. Props belong to Tony, who I think broke the news to most of my crew...
There is a period of 15 days in which Mr. Jabour's attorneys can request a rehearing. The entry of the Judgement will be delayed until 1) the end of the 15-day period or 2) Mr. Jabour asks for a rehearing and the Court denies the motion.
The speed with which the 1st DCA returned their ruling leads me to believe that they would immediately deny the Motion for Rehearing as that Court has shown that the law is clearly on Mr. Harms's side.
But Jimmy, what about the Florida Supreme Court?, you might be asking. The Florida Supreme Court does NOT have jurisdiction to hear this case. In order for a case to progress beyond the District Court of Appeal and to the Florida Supremes, the DCA must certify that the question is one of "great public importance" due to some conflict of law. There is no conflict of law here. The facts and the law support the trial Judge's ruling and so support the affirmation of Judge Nachman's decision at the appellate level. The case is over.
Now the fireworks begin. And I'll post more about what they will look like when I know. Props belong to Tony, who I think broke the news to most of my crew...
Monday, February 11, 2008
Timing the Sunrise
My friend Jim Minion has been looking at the timing of when the Times-Union broke their investigative reporting on the Sunshine ethics scandal. His basic premise is that the TU timed the release of their journalism for after the spring 2007 elections in order to assist incumbent Councilmembers in their bids for re-election. Further, that the TU went on to endorse incumbents who they had a reasonable suspicion of being law-breakers and public trust-betrayers. The TU responded and you can read all about it today at JaxOutLoud. As someone likes to say: every issue is worth getting into.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Island Living in Jacksonville
No, this isn't a post about our Beaches communities. Just stay with me: there's a payoff at the end.
As a native of Jacksonville, I've come to realize something important, critically important, about this town. It's a city made up of islands. The conventional wisdom is that Jacksonville is backwards in its thinking, run by the Good Old Boys, and anathema to new ideas and progressive thinking in general. The zeitgeist that forms the basis of the conventional wisdom comprises the ocean of ignorance for which Jacksonville has heretofore been known.
But Jacksonville is dotted with islands that buck the conventional wisdom. We have a resurgent local Democratic Party, which we need for civic balance. Corruption is the result of any system that is tilted so wildly out of balance. See, the current Duval GOP. See also, the Duval Democrats in the 60s and 70s. There are new voices rising to challenge the JTA's lame-brain mega-bus scheme at MetroJacksonville. JaxOutLoud has become a voice for systemic political change. Arlington residents are energized about the broken promises surrounding Craig Field. RADO has attracted a nucleus of new-thinkers concerned with reserving the effects of White Flight. Pioneers in Springfield have been doing the same for ages. The local GLBT community is finally having an impact and getting noticed. A progressive radio station is giving a voice to so many new ideas and perspectives. And bloggers like Downtownparks, Colony Jax, Hemming Plaza, The Urban Core, Folio, and Urban Jacksonville are stirring up lots of new ideas and organically linking them together on the web.
And then we, each of us, have our own personal islands in the sea of Jacksonville. Our close circles of friends, family, coworkers, parishioners, and associates who we relate to and with on a daily basis. The people who are, for me at least, my balm against the dominant zeitgeist in this town and the people who are, for me at least, the reason why I stay and fight. The people who embody the Jacksonville possible.
So, we have a sea of corruption and negativity. We have islands of new thought and hope for the future. The key is to build bridges between our islands and reach out to as many people as we possibly can who are ready for something new in Jacksonville. Reaching out to others can be difficult. It involves a number of risks. While it's not always easy to do, please know that it's never been easier than it is today.
I've come to believe that to solve our problems and create unconventional wisdom in Jacksonville is to find new ways to unite the islands that we each take for granted. The concept of social networking and mapping is a key to unlocking Jacksonville's potential. Yes, we're surrounded by a status quo that will fight like hell to maintain itself. But we have new weapons in our arsenal in Jacksonville. We only have to use them to our ultimate advantage. I already see the seeds of that renewal beginning to take root. There is much energy pent up and ready for action. Bridges are being built between our islands. Emissaries and new leaders are identifying themselves. Change is coming soon to New Cowford.
Oh, you were promised a payoff if you stayed with me. When we strengthen our connections with each other and turn this kinetic storehouse into motion, bridge the divides, and work together, we'll remake our City as something that looks less like Southeast Georgia and more like the State of Florida (which, we're told, begins here, after all). I can't imagine a better reward for good deeds.
As a native of Jacksonville, I've come to realize something important, critically important, about this town. It's a city made up of islands. The conventional wisdom is that Jacksonville is backwards in its thinking, run by the Good Old Boys, and anathema to new ideas and progressive thinking in general. The zeitgeist that forms the basis of the conventional wisdom comprises the ocean of ignorance for which Jacksonville has heretofore been known.
But Jacksonville is dotted with islands that buck the conventional wisdom. We have a resurgent local Democratic Party, which we need for civic balance. Corruption is the result of any system that is tilted so wildly out of balance. See, the current Duval GOP. See also, the Duval Democrats in the 60s and 70s. There are new voices rising to challenge the JTA's lame-brain mega-bus scheme at MetroJacksonville. JaxOutLoud has become a voice for systemic political change. Arlington residents are energized about the broken promises surrounding Craig Field. RADO has attracted a nucleus of new-thinkers concerned with reserving the effects of White Flight. Pioneers in Springfield have been doing the same for ages. The local GLBT community is finally having an impact and getting noticed. A progressive radio station is giving a voice to so many new ideas and perspectives. And bloggers like Downtownparks, Colony Jax, Hemming Plaza, The Urban Core, Folio, and Urban Jacksonville are stirring up lots of new ideas and organically linking them together on the web.
And then we, each of us, have our own personal islands in the sea of Jacksonville. Our close circles of friends, family, coworkers, parishioners, and associates who we relate to and with on a daily basis. The people who are, for me at least, my balm against the dominant zeitgeist in this town and the people who are, for me at least, the reason why I stay and fight. The people who embody the Jacksonville possible.
So, we have a sea of corruption and negativity. We have islands of new thought and hope for the future. The key is to build bridges between our islands and reach out to as many people as we possibly can who are ready for something new in Jacksonville. Reaching out to others can be difficult. It involves a number of risks. While it's not always easy to do, please know that it's never been easier than it is today.
I've come to believe that to solve our problems and create unconventional wisdom in Jacksonville is to find new ways to unite the islands that we each take for granted. The concept of social networking and mapping is a key to unlocking Jacksonville's potential. Yes, we're surrounded by a status quo that will fight like hell to maintain itself. But we have new weapons in our arsenal in Jacksonville. We only have to use them to our ultimate advantage. I already see the seeds of that renewal beginning to take root. There is much energy pent up and ready for action. Bridges are being built between our islands. Emissaries and new leaders are identifying themselves. Change is coming soon to New Cowford.
Oh, you were promised a payoff if you stayed with me. When we strengthen our connections with each other and turn this kinetic storehouse into motion, bridge the divides, and work together, we'll remake our City as something that looks less like Southeast Georgia and more like the State of Florida (which, we're told, begins here, after all). I can't imagine a better reward for good deeds.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Signs of intelligent life!
It's been a rough week in Jacksonville. The Grand Jury's presentment was a round of Kumbya for civic involvement, while letting Them Get Away With It. The State Ethics Commission is set to potentially allow hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal entertainment and booze expenses to go unpunished because those silly politicians and their hangers-on thought partying like Paris and Britney with taxpayer money was a "perk" of their job. And half the leadership of the city, with spouses and other hangers-on, are set to do it all again, only this time down old Shanghai way. Yeah, a rough week for the taxpayer and work-a-day folks in New Cowford (same as the Old Cowford).
But this week had its bright spots. Leslie Goller, corruption-fighting Super-Esq, was revealed as the official Complainer and Whistleblower of the illegal entertainment and booze expenses. Art Shad struck a blow for runner's rights. The JaxOutLoud crew has been working overtime to keep 'em honest. And through wonderful happenstance, I was connected to kindred spirit and fellow law-blogger Colony Jax. His stuff is outstanding. He posts about things that I would if I weren't talking about shoes and iPhones.
So, signs of intelligent life in Jacksonville are reassuring. They give me, cynical and jaded me, hope for the future. Some idea, perhaps, that things will get better.
The buzz and good feelings will soon turn to the special election being held for the City Council District 10 seat. There's talk of building a movement around one candidate who can storm into the St. James Building and take on the tax-increasers and promise-breakers. As always I stand ready, willing, and able to assist in getting that person elected. (I'm just not telling anyone that I recently moved to CC10 myself. No, no, no... I'm not ready to go down That Road again.)
But this week had its bright spots. Leslie Goller, corruption-fighting Super-Esq, was revealed as the official Complainer and Whistleblower of the illegal entertainment and booze expenses. Art Shad struck a blow for runner's rights. The JaxOutLoud crew has been working overtime to keep 'em honest. And through wonderful happenstance, I was connected to kindred spirit and fellow law-blogger Colony Jax. His stuff is outstanding. He posts about things that I would if I weren't talking about shoes and iPhones.
So, signs of intelligent life in Jacksonville are reassuring. They give me, cynical and jaded me, hope for the future. Some idea, perhaps, that things will get better.
The buzz and good feelings will soon turn to the special election being held for the City Council District 10 seat. There's talk of building a movement around one candidate who can storm into the St. James Building and take on the tax-increasers and promise-breakers. As always I stand ready, willing, and able to assist in getting that person elected. (I'm just not telling anyone that I recently moved to CC10 myself. No, no, no... I'm not ready to go down That Road again.)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Corruption Consumes Jacksonville
Yesterday afternoon at 4:30 p.m., after having been under Court-imposed seal since January 18, the Presentment was released by the Duval County Grand Jury that was empaneled to investigate numerous violations by the City Council of Florida's open government laws. During the Grand Jury's term, additional wrong-doing on the part of the Mayor's office (awarding no-bid, high-value contracts to his pals) was added to the agenda. Remarkably, no criminal charges were brought, though the Grand Jury took note of several "technical" violations of the law.
It is a sad day for justice and another sad day for Jacksonville. The Presentment states that meetings and conversations took place outside of the Sunshine, though none rose to the level of criminal infractions. However, the Presentment also says that past and present members of the City Council, under the pains and penalties of perjury, stated that they had neither intentionally nor unintentionally held such meetings or discussions. This internal inconsistency in the Presentment is most troubling to me as an attorney. I believe now that there was intentional perjury if not overt obstruction of justice in the seemingly coordinated testimony before the Grand Jury.
I am personally frustrated that once again they've gotten away with it. Jacksonville deserves leaders who are honest and forthright. We the people are entitled to know that our business happens in our view. We've been disappointed again by the conduct of those elected to the public trust. What sends me around the bend is that these developments will have a negative effect on public engagement in the civic life of this City. Instead of whipping people up into a revolutionary frenzy, which could help to cleanse our government of these wrong-doers, instead people will be further turned off and alienated from the process. Not only will they have gotten away with it, but the successful culture of corruption will make it even easier for the next batch of questionable leaders to do the same, or worse. We deserve better than we've gotten.
Read the Presentment.
Join the Discussion.
It is a sad day for justice and another sad day for Jacksonville. The Presentment states that meetings and conversations took place outside of the Sunshine, though none rose to the level of criminal infractions. However, the Presentment also says that past and present members of the City Council, under the pains and penalties of perjury, stated that they had neither intentionally nor unintentionally held such meetings or discussions. This internal inconsistency in the Presentment is most troubling to me as an attorney. I believe now that there was intentional perjury if not overt obstruction of justice in the seemingly coordinated testimony before the Grand Jury.
I am personally frustrated that once again they've gotten away with it. Jacksonville deserves leaders who are honest and forthright. We the people are entitled to know that our business happens in our view. We've been disappointed again by the conduct of those elected to the public trust. What sends me around the bend is that these developments will have a negative effect on public engagement in the civic life of this City. Instead of whipping people up into a revolutionary frenzy, which could help to cleanse our government of these wrong-doers, instead people will be further turned off and alienated from the process. Not only will they have gotten away with it, but the successful culture of corruption will make it even easier for the next batch of questionable leaders to do the same, or worse. We deserve better than we've gotten.
Read the Presentment.
Join the Discussion.
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