Jacksonville, Fl — This afternoon is a formal ribbon cutting for the University of Florida graduate campus in LaVilla, just outside downtown Jacksonville.
The project is being hailed as transformational for the city by Mayor Donna Deegan and other community leaders.
During our monthly visit with Deegan on Jacksonville’s Morning News, the UF grad campus was one of several key topics of conversation.
“Eventually what you’re going to see is all the jobs of the future and really the jobs of the present into the future, are a focus of that graduate campus,” Deegan said.
The city approved $105 million in taxpayer funding for the campus. An additional $245 million in state funding and private donations will pay for the project that’ll take years to complete.
Deegan addressed the City Council Finance Committee’s looming budget cut of $23 million, which includes $4.9 million for affordable housing.
The committee wants to move the money into a special contingency for public safety. Deegan supports Council Member Matt Carlucci’s effort to restore the affordable housing trust fund.
Deegan also addressed the recent resignation announcement by JEA CEO Vickie Cavey, whom Deegan had fully supported during a monthslong saga that included investigations into allegations of racism and a toxic workplace.
“I’m obviously extraordinarily frustrated by the way that she was treated,” Deegan said, as she called a special City Council Committee regrettable.
“Until we get to the point where we are treating people with respect and humanity, where we are treating people like humans instead of like pawns to be used in a political game, we’re going to have collateral damage,” Deegan said.
Cavey’s resignation is effective September 25th, the same day the JEA Board has scheduled meeting to discuss the next steps in its CEO search.
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