Jacksonville, Fl — The Jacksonville City Council is set to vote on a property tax cut that’s dividing political factions. Jacksonville’s Police and Fire unions have come out against the proposal. Both say the $13 million property tax cut could damage the ability to pay for public safety issue in years ahead.

Former Council President Ron Salem says he’s committed to the cut.

“They know that we will fund police and fire first with the dollars we have the budget. This budget has gone from $1.2 billion to $2 billion over the last seven or eight years. We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.”, said Salem.

The Jacksonville Civic Council also came out against the property tax cut. Mayor Donna Deegan says Jacksonville’s business leaders understand that it takes investment to become a world class city and that it’s time to move forward, not backward. The Civic Council is a nonpartisan group of 80 business leaders that offer input on city issues.

An immigrant rights group is planning a news conference today against a proposed budget amendment in Jacksonville. Council Member Rory Diamond’s proposal would add new restrictions to Mayor Deegan’s budget proposal including a ban on taxpayer funding for people living in the country illegally, a ban on taxpayer funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and a ban on taxpayer funding for abortion and abortion-related services.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released a sexually suggestive letter to Jeffrey Epstein purportedly signed by President Donald Trump. Trump has said he did not write the letter or create the drawing of a curvaceous woman that surrounds the letter. He filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for earlier reporting on his link to the letter. The letter was included as part of a 2003 album compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday. The full House committee released a copy of the entire album Monday night. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that “it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.”

First Alert Weather: Local nor’easter conditions continue with heavy rain bands moving west off the Atlantic at times. It’s breezy, especially at the coast with increasing winds through the day. Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh tracks the winds through the week, and the encouraging lack of development in the tropics as we reach the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Erick Erickson shares thoughts on a number of developing headlines, including tariff impacts, President Trump’s plans to deploy immigration raids in Chicago and Baltimore, the Epstein Birthday Card scandal, and more (and all this may go out the window as new stories keep developing!). Hear more on the Erick Erickson Show from noon to 3pm!

Capitol update: Ryan Schmelz reports on the release of assorted Epstein documents, including the so-called “birthday card” allegedly from Donald Trump. The President denies its authenticity. In other news, Virginia holds a special Congressional election for their 11th district today, which may narrow the Republican majority in the House.

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