DUVAL DEMS CONDEMN CURRY ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO WAIVE ETHICS CODE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Duval County Democratic Party condemns the bypassing of municipal ethics codes by Chief Administration Officer Brian Hughes to allow former CAO Sam Mousa to consult the Jacksonville Jaguars on development projects related to Lot J. This action continues a pattern of corruption in which only a small, select group of well-connected individuals within the administration are hand-picked from the top to oversee major city initiatives.

Revolving-door ethics rules exist to rid politics of money, fraud, and corruption, and pave a pathway to transparent processes. In recent months, this administration has shown a disregard for transparency while signaling that “pay-to-play” tactics are the most effective manner to conduct city business.

Since Mousa’s exit from the administration less than 60 days ago, he has already exerted himself into the ongoing debate over a school tax referendum and now a development project that will heavily impact the city’s downtown. In each scenario, Mousa—who has close political and personal ties to the mayor and Hughes—has professed himself to be the most capable individual for the task at hand.

The Lot J project seeks over $233 million in city incentives. Duval County residents deserve all city affairs be handled in the sunshine, especially those with such a staggering price tag. This move by the same group of problematic players we see time and again bend the rules for their gain raises concerns that residents will not get an independent assessment of the project and signals that decisions will be made outside of the public purview. This is exemplified by Hughes’ decision to bypass the ethics rules and approve Mousa for this lucrative consultant position in one of his first actions as the city’s Chief Administrative Officer.

“The Curry administration, including Brian Hughes and Sam Mousa, has once again been exposed as less interested in democratic processes and safeguards, and more concerned with lining their pockets,” said Duval Dems Vice Chair Angie Nixon. “They have capitalized on loopholes within the City Charter and used their political influence to strong-arm the residents, institutions and other elected officials of Duval County over and over again. In a political game of who-knows-who amongst political allies, the city of Jacksonville will always find itself on the losing side.”

We call on Mousa to follow the spirit and the letter of Jacksonville’s Ethics Code and recuse himself from matters concerning the Lot J development. Furthermore, we call on Mayor Lenny Curry’s administration to adhere to our city’s ethics codes and govern in a manner that is in the best interest of all of Duval County residents, not just in the best interest of political allies.

DUVAL DEMOCRATS CALL FOR INDEPENDENT MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATION INTO MAYORAL OFFICE’S ACTIONS

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Duval County Democratic Party is calling for an independent multi-agency investigation by the City of Jacksonville Inspector General, State Attorney for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit, and U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida into the actions of Mayor Lenny Curry’s office during the city’s “Stop the Violence” initiative. Specifically, we call for a conduct review of then officials Brian Hughes and Sam Mousa, and if they – or other members of the administration and the city's Office of General Counsel – exerted unlawful pressure to give favored treatment to select organizations, helping them secure thousands of dollars in public grant funding.

In a recent report by the Florida Times-Union, Kids Hope Alliance CEO Joe Peppers cites the disdain of Hughes and Mousa over his decision to hire a contract manager to oversee the initiative’s $364,000 in micro-grant money. “This is family talking; this is political,” Peppers claims Mousa said. During this private conversation, Hughes and Mousa urged the funds be managed in-house as “there would be designated applicants that would get preferential treatment during the application process,” according to Peppers. 

Peppers continued that he was expected to “pass certain applicants based on [Hughes and Mousa’s] discretion regardless of how they scored on the [request for proposal].” When he sought legal advice with the city’s Office of General Counsel, he was instructed by Deputy General Counsel Lawsikia Hodges to not “bite the hand that feeds” him and it was “not a big deal”.

This intimidation signifies the administration’s willingness to exert influence over a community program that was designed to help those in need and groups providing assistance to them. We are deeply concerned these actions amount to unlawful procurement fraud, abuses of executive power and possibly more unethical activity.

Additionally, this incident occurred in the months building up to the mayor’s re-election campaign. This leads to troubling concerns that taxpayer-funded micro-grants could have been utilized by the administration for political pay-offs to quiet criticism of Mayor Lenny Curry during the upcoming election cycle.

We demand the offices of the Inspector General, State Attorney, and U.S. Attorney explore the roles Hughes, Mousa, and the mayoral administration played in selecting micro-grant winners, and what role these preferred organizations played in the Curry re-election campaign. We also demand the actions and responses of Hodges be reviewed for unethical misconduct by the Florida Bar’s Department of Lawyer Regulation.

STATEMENT ON JEA BOARD’S DECISION TO EXPLORE PRIVATIZATION

DUVAL DEMS OPPOSE THE SALE OF JEA

JACKSONVILLE, FL, July 24, 2019 -- Duval County Democratic Party released the following statement on the JEA board’s decision to explore privatization of the public-owned utility.

“Yesterday, the JEA board of directors unanimously voted to explore selling the city-owned electric and water utility — one of the largest such utilities in the nation. This decision would impact every resident of Jacksonville and hinder the public’s ability to hold JEA accountable and transparent.

“The impact of a sale would cede control of the city's most valuable asset, create a $118-million hole in the city’s budget, and would present negative long term consequences, long past any one-time rebate or short term benefit from a potential transaction. These effects would be felt by all ratepayers through the possibility of increased rates, additional fees, and lackluster service once a deal’s honeymoon period has surpassed. 

“We stand with the 73% of voters that expressed in 2018, their desire to have a say in the fate of JEA. The residents of Jacksonville deserve and demand transparency in a process that has operated in the shadows since the idea of selling the utility was first discussed in 2017. We also deserve better than reactionary quick-fixes to complex situations.

“For this and many additional concerns, the Duval County Democratic Party reiterates its opposition to the sale and/or privatization of JEA and encourages all ratepayers to express these concerns with their City Council members and demand transparency in discussions moving forward.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Angie Nixon, First Vice Chair

Duval Democratic Party Executive Committee
info@duvaldems.org | 904.610.7103

STATEMENT ON THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM

DUVAL DEMS SUPPORT 2019-380

JACKSONVILLE, FL, June 18, 2019 -- The Duval County Democratic Party released the following statement on the proposed 2019 Sales Tax Referendum and its upcoming vote in City Council. 

“Yesterday, our party membership approved a resolution supporting the passage of Ordinance 2019-380. We feel that the community deserves the right to make this decision regarding our schools and it should be done at the ballot box.”

“ALL children, in ALL ZIP CODES should be afforded the same right, which is to learn and receive a quality education in buildings that are not crumbling and/or in utter disrepair. Duval County Public Schools have the oldest schools in the state - with over $243 million in unfunded repairs and maintenance costs. In 5 years, the unfunded repairs will total over $5 billion.”

“For this and so many reasons, the Duval County Democratic Party supports the proposed 2019 Sales Tax Referendum and encourages all City Council Members to vote yes on 2019-380.”

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No Show Terrance Freeman Skips Another Forum with Jacksonville Voters

While Freeman Dodges Voters, King is Laying Out Her Vision for a Stronger, Safer Jacksonville

This is the Second Forum in Two Weeks Freeman Has Refused to Show Up To

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Why is Terrance Freeman ducking the voters?

This evening, No Show Terrance Freeman refused to attend the Beaches Watch At-Large City Council Candidate Forum. It’s the second time in the past two weeks that Freeman has skipped a candidates forum that Lisa King has attended. Last week, Freeman also failed to show up to the League of Women Voters forum -- instead opting to attend a fundraiser put on by special interests.

Lisa King is the only candidate in this race who is showing up for the people of Jacksonville and telling them what she’ll do for them. Lisa is ready to work for Jacksonville. In stark contrast, Terrance Freeman seems to have a campaign strategy of ducking the issues and dodging voters.”

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