JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – We are expecting a big boom with this Fourth of July celebration in Jacksonville. But there is also an expectation of even a bigger boom at city hall with the new mayor and administration now in charge.
In 13 days, Mayor Donna Deegan will have to have a budget ready to present to city council. And getting her priorities in place, plus getting a stadium deal ready is going to be tricky.
Mayor Deegan talked about a new beginning for Jacksonville. That work has already started. She has staff in place, her number two is Karen Bowling. She’s the chief administrative officer and held the position before under Mayor Alvin Brown.
When asked what’s first on the agenda, Bowling answered, “It’s going to be meeting with the directors and the chiefs right away. So, we’ve already had some meetings, but I know that they’ve been just a little nervous about what to expect. And so the first thing is, to sit down with them and have those discussions and get ready to move this city. I’m as optimistic as I’ve ever been about this city.”
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First, will be that budget of nearly $1.7 billion. Mayor Deegan will lay out her plan but it will be up to city council to say yes or no. And now, given the make-up of the council, that could be a challenge. Republican Ron Salem is now president.
When asked if he expects to see a lot of headbutting going on, Salem said, “I don’t, I really don’t. I’ve had great discussions with Mayor Deegan and Mike Weinstein, and I believe they’re going to put some things in the budget that people like me and my Republican colleagues want in the budget. I’m hopeful that occurs and the budget process won’t be so contentious.”
Deegan has appointed a number of Republicans and former city council members to her staff, like Republican Al Ferraro, who also ran for mayor. He will now head up the city’s neighborhoods department.
Ferraro told News4JAX, “I want to see our city become a lot better, the visions that I had during my campaign are very similar on our infrastructure and to make our city better. So, I’m highly supportive of what the new administration is doing and anything I can do to help.”
And it’s his department that some council members will be looking to for changes in this city.
“Well, I’m concerned about all the Jacksonville, especially the Northwest Jacksonville. There had been nothing for a long time and I’m hoping that we can consider some resources and opportunities for people who live on that side of town,” Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman said.
While the budget is first, Mayor Deegan also has the $2 billion stadium deal, and she said she has to get input from the citizens before the city signs off on any deal.
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