JEA Board to Consider Mass Layoffs/Privitization

[Elwood]

When "quoting" FPLs lower rates, what's conveniently left out is the hurricane surcharges that they pass directly to their ratepayers. Something that JEA does not do. Significant if you are looking at overall cost. FPL is never going to advertise that tidbit.

[Kerry]

Now where do we get the Lot J money from?

[Peter Griffin]

Now where do we get the Lot J money from?

Our city budget, totaling over 1 billion dollars annually.

[thelakelander]

Can't afford Lot J on the budget unless you're willing to cut essential services.

[vicupstate]

Now that the NFL season is almost over, isn't construction suppose to start on Lot J soon?

[jaxlongtimer]

Now that the NFL season is almost over, isn't construction suppose to start on Lot J soon?

I thought it was subject to an environmental study that should be through by now.  Anyone hear anything?  If no news, maybe results were not favorable.

Finding $233 million in a city wide $1 billion budget is going to be a tough promise to keep.  After JEA, people are going to be a lot more cynical and suspicious of the Mayor and anything he pushes for and the willingness to push back should be greater.  This may be another project that needs to be pulled back on.

[thelakelander]

Just Jax's luck if we end up without Lot J and hole where the Landing used to be for $22 million spent.

[Snaketoz]

Just Jax's luck if we end up without Lot J and hole where the Landing used to be for $22 million spent.

It can be called a lot of things in addition to luck.  S.O.P. in the Curry era.

[jaxlongtimer]

Action News: More than 50 calls between Curry & Zahn over last 14 months are detailed out.  Wonder how many face to face meetings they also had? Texts? Indirect communications through Brian Hughes, et. al.?

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/duval-county/jacksonville-mayor-ousted-jea-ceo-have-had-more-than-50-phone-calls/ZXUEJB43DBEMBMHDASXFUDMB4Y/

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An Action News Jax investigation reveals Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and ousted JEA CEO Aaron Zahn exchanged more than 50 cell phone calls in a 14 month period during the now halted process to sell the public utility.

The calls came as the Mayor publicly praised the JEA board for exploring privatization, but he never, at least publicly, took an official position on an actual sale...

[Steve]

This is certainly interesting, but I'd love a little more context. How often did Curry and McElroy speak? Alvin Brown and McElroy? Curry and VanLoh (head of the airport Authority)? Going all the way back to Delaney's admin even-how often did Delaney chat with the head of JEA then (aside from the weeks on either side of a hurricane)?

I mean clearly this seems high, but I have no idea how often the Mayor talks with the head of these agencies?

[jaxlongtimer]

This is certainly interesting, but I'd love a little more context. How often did Curry and McElroy speak? Alvin Brown and McElroy? Curry and VanLoh (head of the airport Authority)? Going all the way back to Delaney's admin even-how often did Delaney chat with the head of JEA then (aside from the weeks on either side of a hurricane)?

I mean clearly this seems high, but I have no idea how often the Mayor talks with the head of these agencies?

If you look at the alignment on the calls with JEA actions, as they lay out on the link, you may find it more interesting regarding the timing of the calls, not just how many.

[Steve]

This is certainly interesting, but I'd love a little more context. How often did Curry and McElroy speak? Alvin Brown and McElroy? Curry and VanLoh (head of the airport Authority)? Going all the way back to Delaney's admin even-how often did Delaney chat with the head of JEA then (aside from the weeks on either side of a hurricane)?

I mean clearly this seems high, but I have no idea how often the Mayor talks with the head of these agencies?

If you look at the alignment on the calls with JEA actions, as they lay out on the link, you may find it more interesting regarding the timing of the calls, not just how many.

Circumstantial at best.

I want Curry and Zahn nailed to the wall because common sense says this wasn't on the up and up, but this doesn't do it.

[Ken_FSU]

List of RFPs that Jacksonville has walked away from this year, effectively wasting the time, money, and resources of all bidders involved:

1) Convention Center
2) Bike share
3) JEA Sale

Who's gonna want to do business with Jax if we keep burning national companies left and right like this?

[jaxlongtimer]

This is certainly interesting, but I'd love a little more context. How often did Curry and McElroy speak? Alvin Brown and McElroy? Curry and VanLoh (head of the airport Authority)? Going all the way back to Delaney's admin even-how often did Delaney chat with the head of JEA then (aside from the weeks on either side of a hurricane)?

I mean clearly this seems high, but I have no idea how often the Mayor talks with the head of these agencies?

If you look at the alignment on the calls with JEA actions, as they lay out on the link, you may find it more interesting regarding the timing of the calls, not just how many.

Circumstantial at best.

I want Curry and Zahn nailed to the wall because common sense says this wasn't on the up and up, but this doesn't do it.

If one is an investigator, starting with circumstantial evidence like this is a good jumping off point.  They should analyze the content/purpose/timing/parties/notes/recollections of every conversation, similar to what Congress has done with the Ukraine communications.  Breaking down each one may lead to more details not yet revealed.

[jaxlongtimer]

Looks like Curry was in up to his neck on JEA sale process. More dominoes falling.  Check out today's details:

(1) Mayor's team ran negotiations.  Issues include secret meetings, possibly illegally held, and rushing the process to reduce number of bidders with possible consequences of lowering offer prices by billions and favoring FPL:

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20191227/mayoral-official-leading-jea-sales-talks-pushed-lsquoaggressiversquo-timeline-according-to-ethics-directorrsquos-notes

(2) Nate Monroe:

...Consider:
‒ Miller's notes indicate how deeply involved Curry's administration was in the sale process, despite his repeated attempts to distance himself from it. He repeatedly insisted the JEA board and executives were responsible for the sale, despite the fact that top appointed city officials played lead roles in the negotiations...

...In sum, Miller's notes paint an unflattering portrait of the aborted sale process: Rushed, slapdash, secret, skirting the line of the law, run by outside consultants and mayoral appointees with little or no experience in managing large transactions of this kind...

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20191227/nate-monroe-accounts-of-secret-negotiation-sessions-offer-messy-unflattering-portrait-of-jea-sale

(3) JEA CFO is gone, joining CEO Zahn and Chief Lawyer:

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20191227/jea-confirms-cfo-ryan-wannemacher-is-gone-begins-releasing-sales-related-documents