Politics
Jacksonville Bold for 8.20.25: Ticket tizzy
Football season is almost here (as Cole Pepper’s Jags’ roster roundup at the end of this newsletter reminds you).
But the game isn’t only on the field.
It’s also in the St. James Building, where Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico is aiming for free tickets.
“With recent policy changes and the Council’s continued effort to cut government waste, I am proud to file the DEEGAN Amendment to officially end the practice of free Jaguar tickets for elected officials,” said Carrico. “Taxpayers should not bankroll politicians’ tickets, and the DEEGAN Amendment puts an end to that. I’m calling on Mayor Donna Deegan to back this reform and prove she’s on the side of taxpayers, not perks. If Jacksonville families must buy their own tickets, politicians should too.”
The amendment is to Republican Ron Salem’s Ordinance 2025-612, which was intended to ensure the legislative branch received half the allocation of “tickets gifted to the City of Jacksonville.”
Carrico’s amendment would render obsolete the bill’s provision requiring the Executive Director of the Office of Sports and Entertainment to provide the Council Secretary/Director a monthly report “detailing the total number of tickets, passes, vouchers or other event gifts for each event occurring within the next six months and the number of each ticket, etc. that the Council will receive or has received.”
The bill was introduced on Tuesday, so Committee hearings and an eventual vote are pending.
For her part, Deegan welcomes the amendment.
“While I’m flattered this amendment was named after me, I’m not the one asking for more tickets. I’ve been a Jaguars season ticket holder for decades. I’d be happy to return to my long-standing north end zone seats, which I still pay for. If the City Council wants to update the ticket system that has been in place for many years before I took office, I’m all for it. That said, why stop with Jaguars tickets? Let’s look at all tickets for city-owned venues as part of this process.”
The Mayor’s Office notes that “venue tenant lease agreements and the venue management company contract” often lead to tickets being distributed “for economic development and relationship building efforts.”
Additionally, the Mayor’s Office and City Council will evenly split the “City Suite” for Jaguars’ games.
“All Jaguars club seats, Jaguars terrace seats and any other city-owned venue tickets will be made available upon request from community members, city employees and City Council. This system is designed to ensure transparency and that ticket distribution is not abused,” the Mayor’s Office notes.
Brandon begins
Adam Brandon, who briefly explored a run for Florida House in 2022 before redistricting changed the map, will run to succeed fellow Republican Michael Boylan on the Jacksonville City Council.
Boylan will be term-limited out of the Southside seat in 2027, and Brandon is thus far the first candidate to file. He says he’s “running to restore common sense to City Hall and protect our quality of life in District 6.”
“Jacksonville families need a relentless advocate to tackle rising prices, support public safety, and ensure our tax dollars are spent wisely. As a Navy Commander, I’ve prosecuted terrorists in Iraq, led Sailors and Marines, and served in a wide range of community organizations to deliver results. At City Hall, I’ll bring the same discipline, accountability, and common sense I’ve lived by my entire career,” he added.
Though he is relatively new as a candidate, he’s well-known and respected in legal and political circles statewide. Notably, Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed him to the Judicial Nominating Commissions for both the 1st and 5th District Courts of Appeal.
Brandon’s military work has taken him across the world, including to Guantánamo Bay, where he served as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps as Chief of the Litigation Support Section. He is currently Executive Officer of a 60-person legal unit.
As an active soldier, he deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom after graduating from Notre Dame Law School. He prosecuted members of al-Qaida in that capacity.
He’s active locally in a variety of organizations, including serving as a Rotarian and a board member of the American Red Cross-Northeast Florida Chapter.
He is also past President of the Jacksonville Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society, a former General Counsel of the Duval County Republican Executive Committee, and an alum of Leadership Florida, the James Madison Institute Leaders Fellowship, and the Jacksonville Regional Political Leadership Institute.
Plug-n-play
There’s more out there than gas-powered vehicles, and JEA is geared up to show you options at the upcoming Electrathon.
The event is Sept. 13, but RSVPs are being taken now for the show-up at FSCJ Cecil Center.
BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, Mini, Tesla, Vinfast, Volkswagen and Volvo models will be available for a test drive.
Additionally, there will be a race involving many of these vehicles.
Co-hosts include FSCJ, First Coast Electrathon, North Florida Transportation Planning Organization and the North Florida Clean Fuels Coalition.
The fun starts promptly at 9:15 a.m.
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Stay hungry
Senior citizens may not need GLP-1s to lose weight if the reduced funding levels proposed by a Jacksonville City Council Committee hold.
The Finance Committee is cutting Meals on Wheels funding, according to the Florida Times-Union.
Deegan is proposing “to spend $2.37 million for Meals on Wheels. The Finance Committee decided on $468,000. At the lower funding level, many seniors currently served by Meals on Wheels in Jacksonville will stop getting them.”
She calls the cut “shortsighted and cruel.”
Finance Chair Raul Arias said that the Mayor was pressuring the Council to continue a pilot program, and that she “essentially shoving this down our throats to tell us we have to re-fund it again.”
Jobless figures stable
Florida’s unemployment rate has now held steady for four months straight.
FloridaCommerce, the state’s business development bureau, released the jobless figures for July, showing the unemployment rate remains unchanged at 3.7%. That number has been the same since April.
But the July figure is up in the year-over-year comparison. July 2024 saw an unemployment rate of 3.4%, 0.3 percentage points lower than the current rate. Indeed, every month this year has had a higher rate than the same month a year ago.
The July figure accounts for about 417,000 Floridians who are out of a job. That’s out of an entire estimated workforce in the state of about 11.19 million people. July also saw an expansion of nonagricultural employment by about 7,300 workers compared to June. That was a gain of about 134,000 people in the annual comparison.
Jacksonville has one of the highest jobless rates among large metropolitan areas in the state. The July figure was 4.2%, up from 3.9% a year ago.
Getter done
A recent shutdown of the key grocery stores in a major portion of Nassau County brought to light that there’s almost a food desert in the area, especially near Amelia Island.
Nassau Democrats highlighted the organizing of a “Grocery Getter” in an online flier, which was initiated on Monday. The service provides food route stops and helps many in Nassau County who might not have immediate access to grocery stores, especially for older adults.
Basically, it’s a shuttle service for residents who are bused to multiple locations so they can shop, and it’s free. The local Publix and Winn-Dixie grocery stores were recently shut down for remodeling, which led the Nassau Community Voices Coalition to initiate the Grocery Getter.
The service runs every Monday and Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and noon. Residents who use the shuttle service have an hour to shop and then can get a lift back to their home. There are multiple locations, both in Fernandina Beach and Yulee.
Favored farmland
More than 500 new acres of agricultural land in North Florida are being preserved and protected from development by the state.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced that his agency has implemented a land preservation plan for 540 acres of farmland in Flagler and Putnam counties.
The protection of that agricultural property is being implemented through Florida’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). The land and easements are part of the Singleton Family Farms property, a multigenerational farming operation.
“Protecting working farms like Singleton Family Farms ensures that Florida’s agricultural heritage remains strong,” Simpson said in a news release. “This easement supports a family that has invested generations into feeding our state, while also safeguarding critical land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It’s a win for agriculture, a win for conservation, and a win for Florida’s future.”
The RFLPP seeks to encourage more agricultural production in the state and protect it from development. The program enables the government to “protect natural resources, not as the primary purpose, but in conjunction with the economically viable agricultural operations.”
Wastewater wonder
St. Johns County is upgrading its wastewater treatment service in the northern area of the county.
The county announced Monday that there is a $2.3 million upgrade to the Marsh Landing Wastewater Treatment Plant as part of the county’s property improvement plan. Marsh Landing is in the northern reaches of Ponte Vedra Beach, bordering Duval County.
That wastewater plant was acquired by the county in 2005 and has needed improvements for years.
“What we’re doing out here is replacing aging electrical equipment and preparing the plant for the future,” said Kevin Ledbetter, Senior Engineer for St. Johns County Utilities. “We’re building a new electrical building that will run everything from pumps to blowers — and it’ll be ready for future expansion.”
The improvements include a seamless transition to generator power in the event of a storm or other emergency events that, in previous years, caused service shutdowns.
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First cuts
The Jaguars’ starters showed improvement in the second preseason game on Sunday in New Orleans. On Saturday, the team has the final tune up before the regular season begins as they face the Dolphins in Miami (7 p.m. ET, WFOX).
Against the Saints, Trevor Lawrence completed eight of 10 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. He only played in the first quarter. Project his numbers over a full game, and Lawrence would have thrown for over 300 yards while completing 80% of his passes—all-pro numbers.
Then again, it came against the New Orleans Saints, the team with the longest odds to win the Super Bowl in the league, according to ESPN Bet.
Still, NFL teams can only play the opponent in front of them.
Some other highlights from the game included good pass protection from the offensive line, a notable improvement in the running game by Travis Etienne, and dominant play by the defense against the Saints’ rookie quarterback, Tyler Shough.
On Saturday, the Jaguars’ defense should have the best test of the preseason. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opener, the Jaguars did not see Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. The Saints have a bad quarterback situation. The Dolphins should play Tua Tagovailoa for at least the first half. While preseason defensive game plans are often bland, we should have a better sense of where the Jaguars’ defense sits after Saturday’s game.
Another central question for the Jaguars is the availability of rookie Travis Hunter. The two-way star was held out of Sunday’s game with an upper-body injury.
After Saturday’s game, the Jaguars must cut the roster from 90 players down to 53 (and then add up to 16 on the practice squad).
Will there be any surprises? Likely not. The Jaguars lack sufficient talent throughout their roster. However, some positions will demand some decisions.
Offensive line: The starting five is likely to be Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, and Anton Harrison. Chuma Edoga has battled injuries, while rookies Jonah Monheim and Wyatt Milum have shown promise. Cole Van Lanen is a versatile backup, and Fred Johnson started against the Saints with Harrison limited by an injury. If the Jaguars keep 10 offensive linemen, these are the most likely to make the squad.
Defensive back: The numbers could impact this position. How many defensive backs will be expected to contribute to special teams? At cornerback, Tyson Campbell and Travis Hunter will play a lot. Expect Jourdan Lewis and Jarrian Jones to be regulars. That leaves De’Antre Prince and Montaric Brown to complete the cornerback room.
At safety, Andrew Wingard and Eric Murray seem set to start, while Daniel Thomas and Rayuan Lane have flashed in special teams coverage duty. Antonio Johnson and rookie Caleb Ransaw will likely make the squad, leaving Darnell Savage and Christian Braswell on the outside looking in.
Running back: Will the Jaguars keep four running backs? Travis Etienne, Tan Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen have all shown flashes in the first two preseason games. Having Hunter available to play two roles gives the Jaguars coaching staff more flexibility in final roster decisions.
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State lawmakers are considering a proposal aimed at encouraging Florida’s largest private landowners to serve as long-term stewards of both the natural and built environments, offering a framework supporters say better aligns growth, conservation and infrastructure planning.
Sen. Stan McClain and Rep. Lauren Melo have each filed bills (SB 354, HB 299) establishing “Blue Ribbon” projects, which would apply to landowners who control or own at least 10,000 or more contiguous acres. The measures would require participating landowners to conserve at least 60% of the property.
Under the bill, the plan must prescribe the development property over a 50-year planning period by meeting strict statutory requirements. Landowners would still have to earn approval from local governments based on compliance with the statutes, including development orders, and concurrency.
“HB 299 creates a framework that secures large-scale private land conservation for the long term — without requiring state purchase or taxpayer subsidies,” Melo said.
“The legislation not only fosters responsible growth, it also expands the availability of attainable housing for Florida families. The Blue Ribbon Projects bill strikes a balance that will be good for our communities, while protecting natural spaces, wildlife corridors and critical water recharge areas.”
The stated Blue Ribbon project goals are to protect wildlife and natural areas; limit urban sprawl; provide a range of housing options including missing middle and affordable housing; create quality communities designed to reduce vehicle trips and promote mobility options; and enhance local economic development objectives and job creation.
The proposal is born of a desire to implement smart growth strategies by ensuring growth occurs only where it can be supported. The proposal requires phased planning for water, wastewater, transportation, schools and utilities.
It also emphasizes sustainability beyond just conservation lands, by ensuring new development supports population density in compact communities that are mobility focused.
The measure also seeks to ensure the state is a good steward of taxpayer dollars, by allowing conservation lands to be secured without public dollars.
Still in its early phases, the bill has some early detractors, such as the Sierra Club, worried the proposal constitutes a local government preemption. But Audubon Florida’s Beth Alvi has not taken a direct position and remains hopeful, telling POLITICO that Melo “has always been solutions-oriented and is a devoted advocate for her community.”
Supporters, meanwhile, argue the process actually gives local residents more say in development in or near their communities through a real remedy process for landowners or anyone who objects to the project proposal.
“These bills are about the Florida we leave behind. They secure meaningful land conservation at no cost to taxpayers, while giving our state a responsible way to plan for future growth. SB 354 and HB 299 also bring fairness and predictability to the review process and support sustainable development that pays its own way — providing the long-term certainty communities and local governments need to plan wisely,” McClain said.
The House version of the bill will be heard in its first committee, the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, Thursday at 9 a.m.
First Coast manufacturers put the brakes on contraction for the first time in months in November, though the general industrial picture was flat.
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey (JEMS) shows several sectors of the manufacturing elements expanded in November, the most upbeat turnaround on the First Coast in several months. Seven out of the 12 elements of the UNF survey showed the Purchase Managers Index (PMI) expanded last month. That’s a big change from October, when only two sectors showed expansion.
“Jacksonville’s headline PMI of 50 in November indicates that local manufacturing activity was essentially flat. This stands in contrast to the national PMI of 48.2, which shows that U.S. manufacturing continued to contract at a faster pace,” said Albert Loh, Interim Dean of the UNF Coggin College of Business who oversees the JEMS survey.
“Still, a flat PMI is relatively positive when compared with deeper national declines and highlights Jacksonville’s resilience heading toward 2026.”
UNF researchers from the JEMS project reach out to First Coast manufacturing companies each month to see where they stand on production and several other factors.
One of the key factors that showed expansion for North Florida manufacturers in October was output, which jumped from a 49 figure in October to 53 in November.
“A reading of 53 suggests a modest but meaningful pickup in business activity in the region. While not signaling a boom, it reflects resilience and indicates that local firms are navigating cost pressures, supply chain adjustments, and mixed demand with cautious optimism,” the JEMS report concluded.
New orders, another high-profile manufacturing element, also showed a substantial uptick increasing from a figure of 49 in October to 52 in November.
“New orders are a leading indicator, so this improvement points to potentially stronger production, hiring, and inventory activity ahead,” the JEMS report said.
Other factors that showed expansion in North Florida last month included output prices, average input prices, quantity of input purchased, inventory of input purchased and business activity outlook over the next year.
Key elements that are still sluggish with contraction included employment, backlogs of work, finished goods inventory and suppliers’ delivery times. New export orders were unchanged.
Politics
Democrats question how court cases upholding Florida’s congressional map warrant redrawing it
No congressional maps were presented at a second meeting of the Florida House’s redistricting committee. Now, Democrats are questioning why any would be drafted at all.
Andy Bardos, counsel for the House, told members that two key court cases contribute to a different legal landscape than when the Legislature last approved congressional lines in 2022. Most importantly, the Florida Supreme Court upheld that map, which was drawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ staff and broke up a seat previously held by a Black Democrat. The other case out of Louisiana awaits a Supreme Court ruling in the coming term.
Rep. Kevin Chambliss, a Homestead Democrat, questioned how the Florida Supreme Court upholding the existing map merited the reconsideration of new lines.
“That map was deemed constitutional,” Chambliss said. “If that was conclusive to an action, then that means that’s done. So then what is the reason why we’re doing it now? I’m confused, because it seems like there was a conclusion there based on the court case, and now we’re having a conversation where the second court case isn’t even finished yet.”
Bardos stressed that the only reason the Florida Supreme Court considered the congressional map was because civil rights groups sued, but the legal challenge focused only on the breakup of the North Florida seat previously represented by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson.
Justices upheld the map, but determined the prior configuration of Lawson’s seat, itself the product of a 2015 Supreme Court decision, improperly considered race as the predominant motivation in drawing a district spanning from Tallahassee to Jacksonville.
“In the process of deciding that, the court articulated legal principles that had never before been set forth by a court in that way,” Bardos said.
For example, he said that even if lawmakers want to hold to a nondiminishment requirement in the “Fair Districts” amendments in Florida’s Constitution, lawmakers “can’t make race predominant.”
Still, Bardos in presentations also explained that portions of Florida’s Fair Districts remain unchanged, including a ban on drawing maps to favor a political party.
That could likely fuel any legal challenge to maps produced by the Legislature ahead of the 2026 Midterms. President Donald Trump has pressured Republican-controlled Legislatures to draw House maps that better improve the situation for Republicans.
Minutes before the Wednesday redistricting meeting, Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters, a member of the Florida Senate, reposted a prediction on X that Florida could net as many as five seats in redistricting. Florida’s U.S. House delegation currently includes 20 Republicans and eight Democrats.
But notably, the House is moving forward with redistricting before DeSantis or the Florida Senate takes action. Both the Governor and Senate President Ben Albritton said they think new cartography should wait until the Supreme Court rules in another redistricting case, Louisiana v. Callais.
“Just no matter what else happens, that is going to have to be addressed,” DeSantis said last week.
Bardos said any ruling on that case will only directly impact Louisiana. However, he said the Legislature may take action at any point to adhere to legal principles set forth in that ruling, issues that will impact any court challenges to political cartography in the future.
Rep. Bruce Antone, an Orlando Democrat, suggested there’s no legally compelling reason for the Legislature to look at maps right now.
“Once a state goes through the redistricting process, what compelling reasons would there be outside of a court case requiring redistricting?” Antone said. “What compelling reasons would require us to do this exercise a second time, mid-census?”
Rep. Mike Redondo, a Miami Republican chairing the House redistricting committee, said he didn’t want lawmakers discussing “hypotheticals,” including whether lawmakers would even consider a new map. He also said lawmakers can undertake whatever process they choose, including still deciding whether to undertake field meetings around Florida.
“As a body, we’re going to make those decisions in terms of how input will be received.”
But at the meeting on Wednesday, the committee took no public comment, including from South Florida members of the public who bussed to the hearing.
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