• A Cathedral District advocacy group sees an opportunity in the construction delays on the Duval County Courthouse. The Cathedral Foundation is asking the City to consider moving the county jail into the new courthouse. Foundation representatives said the jail’s current location between downtown and the Sports Complex “is a major impediment” to development in the neighborhood surrounding the St. John’s Cathedral. Apparently, released prisoners take an aggressive approach to panhandling that is offputting to area residents.
• Not everybody at City Hall was thrilled with the city’s coverage in The New York Times last week. City planner Joel McEachin told members of the mayor’s staff that Times reporter Abby Goodnough made statements he couldn’t remember saying. Goodnough quoted McEachin saying that Jacksonville is “not what I would call a sexy city. When you visit there’s nothing terribly exciting about it. But it’s a nice place to live.”
• City Council will introduce legislation Tuesday night, honoring Florida Coastal School of Law professor and former Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead Makar. If passed, July 30 will be Nancy Hogshead Makar Day.
• The Jacksonville Asian-American Bar Association has elected its officers for 2004-05. They are Maria Aguila (president), Thuy Anh Nguyen (vice president), Rodnie Marquinez (secretary) and Larry Wang (treasurer).
• According to the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, the City has granted about $300 million in various development incentives since the commission’s inception in 1996. About $125 million of that money has actually been dispersed.
• JEDC chair Ceree Harden was keeping a close eye on the meeting of the committee charged with reviewing the JEDC’s finances. Shortly after spotting Harden in the audience, Finance Advisory Committee chair Charles Appleby joked, “I don’t know if he’s interested in what we’re doing or concerned.”
• The Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new website recently. The site was redesigned by Idea Integration, working with Husk, Jennings, Galloway and Robinson, to make it more attractive and user friendly. Members can now update some of their businesses’ information on the site, and the calendar now provides more detailed information on events.
• The Landing will be the practice site for the Voices of Faith Youth Mass Choir and Ritz Voices. The groups will practice four time over the next week, beginning Tuesday evening. The choirs are in town for the McDonald’s Gospelfest 2004.
• A popular downtown restaurant is now open on Saturday. London Bridge Pub is open for lunch, beginning at 2 p.m.