Melissa Ross: First Coast Connect

[TheCat]

MetroJacksonville is opening a thread for Melissa Ross and her show First Coast Connect, which airs on WJCT platforms. 

Melissa will be checking this thread prior to and throughout her show for commentary and questions. If you have a question, comment or discussion point related to the show post it here. It may end up on air.

First Coast Connect airs live on 89.9FM and streams via the WJCT website Monday - Friday at 9am.

Link to listen via web streaming:

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

Link to the show page:

http://news.wjct.org/programs/first-coast-connect

We have the tentative schedule for the week below, which is subject to change.

Schedule for 10/5 - 10/9:

MONDAY

The Florida Legislature is considering measures that would allow people with concealed weapon permits to bring their guns on college and university campuses. We'll hear from supporters and opponents of the proposed legislation. Joining us will be Eric Friday, lead attorney for the gun rights group Florida Carry, and John White, president of the UNF chapter of United Faculty of Florida, which opposes the measure.
An Act of Dog Museum of Compassion artist Mark Barone, who painted 5,500 portraits of shelter dogs to help raise funds for animal welfare organizations. An Act of Dog is the subject of an upcoming PBS documentary.

Upcoming events to help First Coast residents living with disabilities find employment
Sports with Cole Pepper

TUESDAY

Issues impacting the local transgender community
Hubbard House and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office release latest domestic violence numbers in Northeast Florida
Jacksonville University offering new mental health counseling degree
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra director Courtney Lewis

WEDNESDAY

State attorney candidate Wes White
Read It Forward Jax! Coalition chair W.C. Gentry
See the Girl Summit
Oktoberfest

THURSDAY

JTA CEO Nat Ford
ScaleUp North Florida
Northeast Florida Salvation Army
Around town with Kerry "The Specktator" Speckman

FRIDAY

Media roundtable week in review
Jacksonville Farmers Market Fall Festival
St. Johns River Ferry Fest

[TheCat]

I prefer to live in a gun free zones. Seeing guns or knowing other people around me have guns does not make me feel comfortable or safe, at all. It puts me in a position where I am essentially powerless. I am not going to carry a gun.

Still, I tend to think that the fight to disarm is a misplaced fight and if laws are passed that attempt to significantly lower gun ownership... those laws will invariably be used to penalize minorities.

I think to have this conversation, we have to be a bit more philosophical.

What is it within our culture that makes killing/violence such an "easy" step for so many people.

Is this type of violence the fruit of our attempt to realize a socially darwinistic society?

[mross66]

Hi, it's Melissa Ross, just saying hello to the MetroJax community. Very glad to be part of it and include the topics on the program in these threads!

[Noone]

Love First Coast Connect.

[brainstormer]

Love your show Melissa!

I would like to comment on the youthful pump of energy Courtney Lewis has injected into our Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. I attended the free concert the symphony performed this past Friday at Unity Plaza. What a fantastic event! I was pleased to see so many families with children in what was a very diverse crowd. The outdoor concert allowed all people the opportunity to enjoy the symphony.

It reminded me of Concerts on the Square (www.wcoconcerts.org/performance-listing/category/concerts-on-the-square) which is an annual summer tradition in Madison, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra has companies sponsor a dozen concerts on Wednesdays throughout the summer months. The concerts are held on the capitol steps and are free. People bring their picnics, a bottle of wine, children, etc. Events like this are what lead to people enjoying a high quality of life.

I would love to see something like Concerts on the Square happen in Jacksonville. Our business community is so generous, and it would be a way to promote the importance of the arts. I am excited about the possibilities for our Jax Symphony and wish Mr. Lewis a wonderful season of music.

[TheCat]

Today on First Coast Connect. Starts @ 9AM.

Streaming Link:

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

A story in this week's Folio Weekly follows the lives of several transgender individuals living in Jacksonville. We'll discuss issues affecting the local transgender community with Folio Weekly writer Claire Goforth and two transgender residents featured in the story: Jake Moore, UNF program coordinator for the LGBT Resource Center; and tattoo artist Synthia Roy.

According to a report recently released by Hubbard House and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, 18 murders in Duval County last year were the result of domestic violence. Roughly 5,000 incidents of domestic violence have been reported in Duval so far this year. We'll speak with Hubbard House COO Gail Patin about these numbers.

Jacksonville University's Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences now offering mental health counseling degree program

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra conductor/director Courtney Lewis

[TheCat]

Mayor Lenny Curry will have plan for HRO 'community conversation' within a month
Tuesday, September 29, 11:16 AM EDT
By David Chapman, Staff Writer

Expanding the Human Rights Ordinance was a frequent topic on the campaign trails that led to March and May elections.
How would the mayor and City Council members see the issue? When would it be addressed?

With an approved budget growing smaller in the rearview, many in the community say now is the time to talk about the issue.

Mayor Lenny Curry has long talked about leading the issue with a "community conversation."

According to his spokeswoman Marsha Oliver, the mayor's plan for that conversation will be delivered within a month.

For advocates who have waited years since the failure of the 2012 push, it's welcome news.

"I think people who are in favor of a Human Rights Ordinance ... we're ready to see some action taken," said Dan Merkan, chair of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality.

Banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression was struck down by council three years ago.

Since then, though, one almost wouldn't recognize the political landscape.

Curry and 11 new council members took office in July, many pledging support to the expansion effort.

Curry never publicly took a stance on the issue, only saying he is against discrimination and would the lead the conversation about the issue.

"We participated in the elections for the purpose of electing a mayor and council who were more willing to entertain amending the HRO," said Jimmy Midyette, an attorney and chair of the Northeast Florida LGBT political action committee. "People remember that and they're really excited."

Midyette recently met with Kerri Stewart, Curry's chief of staff, to talk about the issue in broader terms — but the two didn't get into specifics, Midyette said.

"I left the meeting feeling like we are on a good timeline," he said.

Several council members said they want to see what direction Curry takes.

"I think the mayor has made a pretty strong statement he wants to ead this ... and I'm certainly supportive of that," said council member Aaron Bowman, a senior vice president with JAXUSA Partnership.

Bowman, like his JAX Chamber employer, is supportive of an expanded policy. He said he doesn't want the issue to divide the community, but believes people don't want to be part of a city that discriminates.

According to a March poll by the University of North Florida, the issue has public support.

Of 546 registered voters who participated, 62 percent showered either strong support or some support for adding sexual orientation to the existing list of groups protected by workplace discrimination. A 2013 UNF poll had the number at 58 percent.

Like Bowman, council member Anna Lopez Brosche said she didn't see a groundswell of community support on the issue while the budget was underway. But she does expect it to start soon, as the topic has been of great interest.

A "community conversation" to her would be one that includes all voices — the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, small businesses, religious and faith-based groups.

As far as a timeframe in which she'd like to see it done, she doesn't have one. Bowman hoped to see action before the end of the year.

Council member Tommy Hazouri would like to see it a little sooner.

"It's time," he said.

He doesn't want to get in front of Curry on the issue and will allow him time to lead on it. He'd like to see at least those conversations take place by November. If not, he said he could file legislation on the matter.

Advocates like Merkan have waited for the budget process to play out. Waited, but prepared.

In the past week, a grassroots event of close to 60 supporters spent the afternoon training on how to tell effectively tell their stories to council members.

The three-minute window allowed during the public comment and public hearing portions of council meetings allows for only so much. But, they are stories people need to hear, said Midyette.

In the meantime, the overall story is being told through film.

"Six Words" is a documentary about the efforts to pass a Jacksonville human rights ordinance. It's being screened from 7-9 p.m. tonight at the University of North Florida.

dchapman@jaxdailyrecord.com

(904) 356-2466

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546233

[Know Growth]

Love First Coast Connect.

Yep. Here is a neat image for Metro Jacksonville folk to dwell on: Nooney on the river,Downtown,in his kayak,Melissa Ross program on the radio.

[TheCat]

Today on First Coast Connect. Starts @ 9AM.

Streaming Link:

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

Duval County Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti joins us to discuss Florida Standard Assessment testing and other issues affecting local schools.

Read It Forward Jax! Coalition chairman W.C. Gentry

See the Girl Summit

Oktoberfest at Art Walk

[mtraininjax]

Melissa is too hot to be on radio, but she does a great job. So glad we can go back and listen to her shows. I listen to 1010XL in the mornings, gotta hear what the Sunshine Pumpers are saying about the Jags from day to day.

[Tacachale]

For tomorrow, it would be great to ask JTA head Nat Ford what he thinks about the possibility of refitting the Skyway with normal streetcar infrastructure, instead of refitting it for new monorail cars or repairing the existing ones. Presumably that would cost more than refitting the cars, but long-term maintenance, and expansion, would be a lot cheaper and more efficient.

[TheCat]

For tomorrow, it would be great to ask JTA head Nat Ford what he thinks about the possibility of refitting the Skyway with normal streetcar infrastructure, instead of refitting it for new monorail cars or repairing the existing ones. Presumably that would cost more than refitting the cars, but long-term maintenance, and expansion, would be a lot cheaper and more efficient.

Good question.

The rest of today's line-up:

THURSDAY

JTA CEO Nat Ford
ScaleUp North Florida
Northeast Florida Salvation Army
Around town with Kerry "The Specktator" Speckman

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

[thelakelander]

Looking forward to hearing the show. Thanks for the link.

[TheCat]

I'm not a transit person...but I'm happy that Nat Ford is at the helm of JTA. Every time I hear him speak I'm left thinking that we have a thoughtful and innovative person in charge.

What did you guys think of Nat Ford, thus far?

Taca, did you hear the answer to your question on the show?

[Tacachale]

Not yet, but I'm going to listen to the show this morning online.

Edit: Or whenever they put it up on the website.