• It’ll cost $8,881.75 for the City to conduct the swearing-in ceremonies of Council President-Designate Daniel Davis and others June 28 at the Times-Union Center. Most of the cost is from rental of the facility ($2,000) and stagehands ($5,000). The City does get $750 worth of rent forgiveness. The tab for last year’s swearing-in ceremony of Council President Michael Corrigan was $8,816.25.
• Speaking of Davis, he’s decided to forego the post swearing-in party. The last time that happened? 1983 when Council President-Designate Clarence Suggs decided to pass on a public party.
• Former Mayor and current University of North Florida President John Delaney has been appointed to The Trust for Public Land Northeast Florida Advisory Council. The group is chaired by Foley & Lardner attorney Bob Rhodes, who is also a former chair of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
• The 9th Annual Sheriff’s Cup Charity Golf Classic is set for Sept. 25 but has a new venue. This year’s tournament is at Deerwood Country Club and features a 1 p.m. shotgun start. All the proceeds go towards the Police Athletic League. For more, call PAL’s Robbie Freitas at 251-5934.
• The City’s new grants Web site is scheduled to go live Friday. The site is a one-stop-shop for all not-for-profit agencies and residents looking to apply for grants and funding.
• Per City ordinance, Mayor John Peyton is required to give his annual budget address to City Council by July 15 or earlier. However, this year July 15 falls on a Sunday so the address has been moved to Monday, July 16. That change will require a resolution approved by Council.
• The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission has released a slick, four-color public relations piece touting the area’s assets and economic growth and potential. The introduction says the St. Johns River “flows from the Atlantic Ocean through the city.” The St. Johns actually flows north and its delta is the Atlantic Ocean.
• Nelson Cuba, president of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, has been elected National Trustee for the State of Florida. He will be the state representative on the National FOP Board of Trustees which sets goals and policy for all State and local FOP lodges and represents more than 325,000 law enforcement officers nationwide. It has been 42 years since someone from Jacksonville has been elected to the post.
• For the past three years Jacksonville has been listed as one of the 10 “America’s Most Livable Communities” by an organization called Partners for Livable Communities. Company president Bob McNulty has offered the City another three years, but for a price: $5,000.
“For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and editing is selection and choice of material. That editors — newspaper or broadcast — can and do abuse this power is beyond doubt, but that is no reason to deny the discretion Congress provided.”
Warren E Burger, former Chief Justice, U. S. Supreme Court.