Who becomes the next mayor?

[Tacachale]

But to your question, Taca.  I have sent a request to his office to see whether he is interested in responding to Jimmy Midyette's oft repeated narrative, and separately if he spoke with Gaffney against voting for the HRO.  Would you reach out to Gaffney or Warren for something definitive?

Thank you, Stephen. And sure, I'll email them, but of course I don't own a popular website.

[Tacachale]

Any update on this? Perhaps the mayor is just too busy today.

[Tacachale]

I haven't gotten any response. Not terribly surprised.

[Jimmy]

This isn't my "ridiculous claim."  It comes from Warren Jones.  Mayor Brown had three chances to keep the bill from his desk.  The first was when his Chief of Staff discouraged the LGBT community from moving forward on the issue in early 2012.  The second was when he tried to get Warren to pull his bill back in April 2012.  And the third, as Warren (not me) posits, was when he got to Gaffney and had him change his vote.  Gaffney was in favor of the substitute at committee. And in favor of marriage equality and the HRO in a candidate questionnaire.

And despite his bizarre claim of confusion, Gaffney wasn't so confused that he skipped the "victory lap" service at First Baptist Church in late August 2012.

Here's a refresher of that shameful moment, rescued from the dustbin of the internet:

http://www.youtube.com/v/CtBaxVT5etQ

All this debate about the past is counterproductive in my opinion.  Victory on this issue lies ahead of us, after the election next month.  I have seen or heard nothing from either candidate for Mayor that gives me a warm fuzzy on any of this.  I have no idea how I'll vote in the Mayoral come May 19.

[Jimmy]

Chris is definitely not anti-gay.  But he didn't feel that 2012 was the right time to move forward with the HRO, despite my insistence that it would be moving.  (In the aftermath of the campaign promise on the HRO, the LGBT community was moving forward...)

I have been told by others who work for the Mayor that this is a "second term" issue.

At this point I'm looking forward.  I'll be with the Mayor on Sunday and if he's up for it, I'll ask how he's feeling these days about the concept.  I owe Mr. Curry the same courtesy.  I'll report back if there's anything substantive to share.

[Tacachale]

Stephen, how do you explain the mayor's failure to take a stand supporting the HRO? Even if he didn't work to defeat it, he damn sure didn't do a thing to help it. He's still not.

[mtraininjax]

I have been told by others who work for the Mayor that this is a "second term" issue.

LOL, politicians will say anything to get elected. Where are all those "I'm with Alvin" buttons and raving fans from 4 years ago. Let the last 4 years of indecision be that bitter pill for you. Even Delaney said that Curry knows in his heart what the right things are to do.

" You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do...Ultimately, we're all measured by what we've done." - Henry Ford

[tufsu1]

Stephen, how do you explain the mayor's failure to take a stand supporting the HRO? Even if he didn't work to defeat it, he damn sure didn't do a thing to help it. He's still not.

Because he personally doesn't believe in it...and neither does Curry.

The difference is the Mayor has people around him encouraging him every day to reconsider his personal beliefs on the issue....and Curry has the conservative-dominated Republican party advising and guiding him....just look at what the Florida House is doing on the LIP/Medicaid issue.

[tufsu1]

Even Delaney said that Curry knows in his heart what the right things are to do.

if that were the case, how does Delaney explain the positions Curry advocated for while chairman of the local and state Republican party?

[Tacachale]

Even Delaney said that Curry knows in his heart what the right things are to do.

if that were the case, how does Delaney explain the positions Curry advocated for while chairman of the local and state Republican party?

You could ask him. He'll probably reply. I doubt you could say that about Alvin's crew.

[Tacachale]

Stephen, how do you explain the mayor's failure to take a stand supporting the HRO? Even if he didn't work to defeat it, he damn sure didn't do a thing to help it. He's still not.

Because he personally doesn't believe in it...and neither does Curry.

The difference is the Mayor has people around him encouraging him every day to reconsider his personal beliefs on the issue....and Curry has the conservative-dominated Republican party advising and guiding him....just look at what the Florida House is doing on the LIP/Medicaid issue.

I'll take your word on Alvin. But that's not at all what I hear about Curry. I think we've got a good chance at him supporting the HRO.

At any rate, Curry also has all those business and Chamber folks that want the HRO advising him and guiding him. The folks that previously backed Brown until he proved to be a disappointment.

Brown had those people advising him, plus every Democrat group and lobby in the city, and he *still* opposes the HRO. What does that say? Nothing good.

[Tacachale]

From todays press notice

Today, Mayor Alvin Brown is making a major announcement to help city office holders prevent discrimination - and we wanted you to hear it directly from him.

In this Video Announcement, Mayor Alvin Brown has asked his Office of General Counsel to conduct a comparative study of federal, state, and local laws that combat discrimination. The Mayor's leadership on this issue will ensure that city office holders have the information they need to take the actions necessary to prevent discrimination in Jacksonville.

Mayor Brown has listened to the people of Jacksonville who have spoken up with great passion about this issue, and is showing leadership and vision by taking this action.

This study ordered by Mayor Brown has been praised by community leaders for being a crucial step in guaranteeing that Jacksonville will not have discrimination and that all of its citizens will be treated fairly and equally.

LOL! What timing.

[Jimmy]

I'm probably not going to win many friends with this, but here's the reaction of the PAC.

MAYOR ALVIN BROWN ADDRESSES DISCRIMINATION IN JACKSONVILLE

The Northeast Florida Leadership PAC today acknowledges Mayor Alvin Brown's statement this morning concerning discrimination in Jacksonville. Where previously the Mayor said that discrimination against anyone is wrong, which we certainly agree it is, Mayor Brown today moved toward finding new solutions to prevent discrimination in Jacksonville. He has ordered the General Counsel to complete a study of local, state, and federal non-discrimination protections. As all other categories (race, gender, age, religion, etc.) are currently covered by local, state, and federal protections, the only remaining characteristics for which protections are needed in Jacksonville are on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

"I am hopeful the General Counsel will undertake this work quickly and have something meaningful to guide the new City Council," said Jimmy Midyette, the PAC Chair. "Since 2012, we have heard countless reports of discrimination against LGBT residents and visitors to Jacksonville. Companies have skipped over our area for expansion based on the lack of these protections. If the study is comparative, and other major metropolitan areas in Florida and the nation are considered, it will be clear where the gaps are as Jacksonville is the last major city in Florida lacking these protections."

Other studies of this issue in Jacksonville have revealed the compelling need for these protections for LGBT people in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations. This issue has been thoughtfully studied by the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission who unanimously voted to support the updated Human Rights Ordinance. It has also been studied by JCCI, who issued a Forward Report on the status of LGBT people in Jacksonville. The issue was studied for the Jax2025 initiative and is part of the required benchmarks for success. And, finally, the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee studied the need for these protections and passed a resolution in support of adding the categories of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the city's Human Rights Ordinance.

It is necessary, however, for Mayor Brown or his team to clarify for the community the parameters of the General Counsel's study. We are cautiously optimistic that it is the ongoing issue of discrimination against people in Jacksonville's LGBT community that he seeks to remedy.

Further, in light of criticism of this move leveled against Mayor Brown by the Lenny Curry campaign this morning, we find it hypocritical of Mr. Curry's operation to chide Mayor Brown while offering no policy direction of its own on this issue. The voters of Jacksonville deserve to know if Lenny Curry agrees that the General Counsel should study gaps in our nondiscrimination ordinances, or not. And if not, how would Mr. Curry solve the problem of our city's lack of nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people?

The PAC is keeping its focus on the May 19 general election. "Our goal remains to elect a City Council that will send the Mayor a comprehensive update to our nondiscrimination ordinances that at long last expresses that Jacksonville is a tolerant city, respective of diversity, that is truly ready to take its place on the world stage," said Midyette. "We are looking for next-level leadership on this issue; Jacksonville deserves no less."

[Tacachale]

The infamous jacksonville study. Shouldn't someone already have a study on this?
How was the bill crafted without some such study to determine if it was in fact needed?
How was the bill debated and voted upon without these facts that the mayor is now looking for?
And, of course, if there was no such information available during the proposing of the bill, why didn't the mayor ask for it back then?

Confusing to commission a study now.

Excellent questions. Unfortunately, the answer to all of them is that it's just a transparent attempt at damage control after yesterday.

[Tacachale]

For those that don't want to watch the video. The cliff's notes are below:

Mayor Brown: Hello Gays, I've finally heard you. And... I will get back to you on that HRO thingy...right after I'm elected to my second and final term.

Thanks

HAHAHA!

Here's the cliffs notes to the LPAC statement:

LPAC: This study is just a cynical political stunt that would waste taxpayer money telling us what we already know, but we're too nice to say it in those words. Lenny, it's time to put up or shut up. In the meantime, we're focusing on the City Council.