Jacksonville, Fl — Days after celebrating Easter with hundreds of families at Riverfront Plaza, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan addressed an array of topics during her monthly appearance on WOKV.
We asked how she thinks JEA is managing another possible fee increase amid public controversies.
“All things considered I think they are doing a good job of trying to educate the public as to why all of this is necessary.”, said Deegan.
Deegan said the city is closely watching soaring gasoline prices, but that there are few levers that can be pulled at the local level to bring relief.
“Some of that could be up to the state. But at the end of the day this is a situation I think that we all hope will be shorter rather than longer.”, Deegan said.
Jacksonville’s first Hispanic outreach coordinator, Yanira Cardona, has stepped down to take on new role with Phoenix Arts District.
Deegan says she is not yet going to fill the position given the uncertainty surrounding Florida’s recently passed law banning DEI initiatives.
“We’re having our General Counsel take a look at what that law will mean.”.
Jacksonville Republican Rep. Dean Black, the sponsor of the House version of the bill, said the proposal builds on prior efforts to dismantle DEI, a “philosophy” he claimed has wasted “millions of taxpayer dollars” and “fostered resentment instead of goodwill, mediocrity instead of merit.”
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