USS Iwo Jima and USS Fort McHenry Arrive at NS Mayport, Hanna Park to Open at 6 a.m.

Local leaders joined the United States Navy at Naval Station Mayport today to welcome the USS Iwo Jima and the USS Fort McHenry to their new homeport in Jacksonville. With the additional 1,300 sailors and marines arriving at the base, Mayor Alvin Brown announced that the gate to the adjacent Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park will now open an hour earlier to provide base access to military personnel and earlier entry for patrons to enjoy the park.

“We are honored to be the new homeport of the USS Iwo Jima and USS Fort McHenry,” said Mayor Brown. “We welcome the ship crew and their families as our new neighbors. Jacksonville plays a key role in supporting our nation’s security posture and the United States Navy is a vital part of our community. The arrival of these two impressive ships and mission capabilities highlights the renewed growth of the Navy’s presence in Jacksonville. As a convenience to military personnel and an added benefit to park lovers, we are taking this opportunity to expand access to Hanna Park.”

See more photos from the event at Mayport

With revenues growing, budget includes new investments and no tax increase
 
Calling Jacksonville “a city of opportunity,” Mayor Alvin Brown today presented a Fiscal Year 2014-2015 balanced budget proposal that includes no increase in the tax rate and invests in job creation, public safety, Downtown revitalization and quality of life.
 
“This is a dynamic time for our city,” said Mayor Brown.  “Our unemployment rate is falling and our high school graduation rate is rising. Foreclosures are down and home values are up.  Our businesses are investing, our port is expanding and our college-educated population is growing.  Our Downtown is coming alive, our neighborhoods are getting rid of blight and our parks are being enjoyed by millions of visitors.”

2014-2015 Proposed Budget | 2014-2015 Budget Fact Sheet | FY 2015-2019 Proposed Capital Improvement Program | Mayor's Full Remarks, July 14, 2014
 
The mayor said his budget will sustain and build Jacksonville’s momentum with strategic investments to expand opportunity and achieve a more prosperous future for the city.

Mayor Alvin Brown today joined representatives from the Downtown Investment Authority, City Council and Friends of Hemming Park to announce that an agreement has been reached to manage Hemming Plaza.

“This public-private partnership to reimagine and revitalize Hemming Plaza is great news not only for Downtown,” said Mayor Brown. “It’s also great news for our entire city and for everyone who visits Jacksonville.”

The City Council Hemming Plaza committee, chaired by Council Member Denise Lee, played a key role in assisting efforts to enhance programming at the park. Mayor Brown applauded the group’s leadership in making sure that Hemming Plaza becomes all that it can be.

Mayor Alvin Brown announced today an urban parks initiative that will provide supervised activities this summer for youth at 11 parks in Jacksonville neighborhoods affected by an increase in violent crime.

The Jacksonville law firm of Pajcic & Pajcic donated $50,000 to fund the urban parks initiative as a pilot project that will employ “old school” practices to keep kids engaged in healthy activities and out of trouble during their break from school this summer. Attorney Steve Pajcic grew up near Woodstock Park, the site of today’s announcement, and remembers spending his younger days there engaged in sports under the watchful eye of a park supervisor.

See photos from the June 2, 2014 news conference at Woodstock Park

In a city famous for its river, beaches and parks system, safety around the water is essential to enjoying all that Jacksonville has to offer. This summer, as part of Mayor Alvin Brown’s People+Parks Connection, free water safety education and swim lessons will be available to more qualifying families than ever.

Mayor Brown announced plans to expand the citywide drowning prevention campaign, called Waterproof Jacksonville, May 3 at the Cecil Aquatic Center. The program will offer free lessons to an estimated 1,500 children this summer, including students attending summer school at Woodland Acres Elementary, as well as to 150 dependents of active military personnel.

“Waterproof Jacksonville is about nothing less than saving lives,” said Mayor Brown. “The ability to swim is absolutely essential in a state like Florida, especially here in Jacksonville. Our state has the nation’s highest drowning rate among children ages 14 and under. That needs to change, and that’s what we’re trying to do with Waterproof Jacksonville.”

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office held their annual Police Memorial Day Ceremony on the front steps of the Police Memorial Building on Bay Street. Mayor Alvin Brown joined Sheriff John Rutherford and many other city officials for the May 1 ceremony to honor the lives of Jacksonville's 60 fallen officers and their families.

See more photos from Police Memorial Day 

During the ceremony, Mayor Brown presented a proclamation declaring May 1, 2014 as "Jacksonville Police Memorial Day," and the week of May 11-17, 2014 as "National Police Appreciation Week." The ceremony also included remarks from Sheriff Rutherford, a Final Roll Call, a twenty-one gun salute, missing man formation flyover, and much more.

The City of Jacksonville and City Council hosted a Tire and Sign Buy-Back event at the EverBank Field parking lot on April 5 as part of efforts to curb neighborhood and urban blight. More than 23,000 tires and 6,000 illegal signs were collected, resulting in a payout of $41,255. At the first-time event, approximately 3,000 Duval County residents turned out to trade in up to 10 tires for $2 per tire, and up to 40 illegal snipe signs for 50 cents per sign.

The event was a collaboration between the City of Jacksonville and the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Jacksonville’s Neighborhood Blight, which is chaired by Council Member E. Denise Lee, and includes Council Member John Crescimbeni, Council Member Bill Bishop, Council Member Jim Love and Council Member Dr. Johnny Gaffney. The Neighborhood Blight Committee was formed by City Council President Bill Gulliford to examine the status of blight in neighborhoods throughout the city.

One Spark Runs From April 9-13

Mayor Alvin Brown joined One Spark Executive Director Joe Sampson, City Council President Bill Gulliford, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Leonard Propper and Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s CEO Nat Ford to outline road closures and parking options for this year’s five-day One Spark event.

During the event’s duration, from Wednesday, April 9 through Sunday, April 13, free parking will be available in Lot E at EverBank Field. Free shuttles will take visitors to and from One Spark. There is also a free parking option at the Prime Osborn Houston Lot. JTA is offering free Skyway rides to and from that location.

Mayor Launches New Transparency Effort to Provide Even More Access for Citizens

Earlier in this Sunshine Week, the First Amendment Foundation rated the City of Jacksonville’s website as the most transparent city website in Florida. Building on that success, Mayor Alvin Brown today announced the launch of a new transparency web page to make it easier for people to connect with their government.

“Open government is good government,” said Mayor Brown. “It’s essential that our city government is transparent and citizens have convenient access to information. We appreciate the positive recognition from the First Amendment Foundation. Our new transparency web page is the next step forward in our continuing efforts at openness and accountability.”

New Website Offers the Public a Tool to Learn about City’s Progress on Key Priorities

Mayor Alvin Brown today announced the launch of a new City of Jacksonville web page with “performance scorecards” aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability in city operations. JaxScore 1.0, developed by the city’s Information Technology Division, offers the public a new tool to find out how well various city departments, divisions and offices are performing on key priorities.

“JaxScore is about making our city government more efficient, effective and responsive to community needs,” said Mayor Brown. “It’s about being focused on clear goals and measurable results. It’s also about being transparent and accountable, so citizens can see how their city is performing. Some people call it data-driven government. I just call it smart government.”

Jacksonville Summit One of 100 Nationwide to Examine Challenges and Solutions for Raising High School Graduation Rates and Preparing All Young People for Success

Mayor Alvin Brown announced today he will convene the Jacksonville GradNation Community Summit with America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth.

The all-day summit will be held Friday, April 4 at the Jacksonville Public Library’s Main Branch. The agenda will focus on how to improve high school graduation rates and better prepare young people for college and the workforce.

Opportunities for Jobs, Leadership and Diversion Begin at MLK Jr. Breakfast

Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown today launched a youth initiative that will increase summer job opportunities, expand efforts to keep first-time, nonviolent juvenile offenders out of repeat trouble and develop youth leaders in the community.

“Improving opportunities for Jacksonville’s next generation is one of my top priorities,” said Mayor Brown. “Young people represent the hope of our community. Wise investments in our youth pay huge dividends for them and for Jacksonville.”

View the fact sheet on the Mayor's Youth Initiative

The mayor announced his youth initiative at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, featuring journalist Soledad O’Brien.

Join Mayor Alvin Brown and the City of Jacksonville to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a breakfast honoring his life and dream for social change on Friday, Jan. 17. CNN reporter and anchor Soledad O'Brien will be this year's keynote speaker. In addition, six local students will be recognized as Tomorrow's Leaders for their volunteerism, leadership and civic responsibility.

Learn more about the 27th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast

The doors open at 7:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 8 a.m. at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Individual tickets are $40, tables are $400. Complimentary parking will be available for attendees in surrounding lots. Purchase tickets and learn more at JaxHappenings.com