Yesterday, Governor Rick Scott announced the selection of two Jacksonville leaders, Earl Johnson and Rutledge Henry Pearson, to the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Also announced was the selection of Jesse McCrary, Jr. of Miami. Governor Scott chose these three from a list of 10 distinguished nominees selected by the Florida Commission on Human Relations for making significant contributions to the improvement of life for minorities and all citizens of Florida.

Aiden Michael McClendon, a 22-month-old boy, died early Saturday morning after being struck by gunfire while inside a vehicle with his mother and grandmother. The incident occurred in the 700 block of Spearing Street on the city’s eastside. The shooting is believed to be gang-related.

Mayor Lenny Curry joined Sheriff Mike Williams, State Attorney Angela Corey, City Council members, various local ministers and other community leaders in a news conference on Saturday, Jan. 30, at A. Philip Randolph Park – less than a mile from the scene of the fatal shooting. 

Watch unedited video from the Jan. 30 news conference

City of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is issuing a directive to change City employment-related policies and practices to comply with all federal and state laws. This policy change precludes and prohibits all forms of employment discrimination, upon any basis, as currently interpreted by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This directive also applies to vendors who provide goods and services to the City of Jacksonville.

At the January meeting of the Jax Journey Oversight Committee, Mayor Lenny Curry reaffirmed his commitment to the initiative and its mission to reduce violent crime in Jacksonville. 

“This is our issue. This is our cause,” said Mayor Curry during his remarks to the committee. “With all of the things going on in our city, this is the thing we have to focus on.”

Several community organizations were recognized for their contributions to the city in a quarterly ceremony in the Atrium of City Hall on Jan. 28. Mayor Lenny Curry presented proclamations to honor their work and to raise awareness for issues of importance in Jacksonville communities.

Mayor Lenny Curry welcomed more than 20 City employees to his office at City Hall on Jan. 28 to honor them for their years of dedicated service to the people of Jacksonville. Employees who had reached 25, 30 and 35 years of service were given service pins in appreciation of their hard work on behalf of Jacksonville citizens.

With the relaunch of Jax Journey, Mayor Lenny Curry has identified four new members – Scott Wiley, W.C. Gentry, April Green and Terrence Harvey; and reappointed two members – Tracy Tousey and Ricardo Bedoya, to serve on its board. Jax Journey, founded in 2008 by then-mayor John Peyton, supports programs and efforts that improve youth services and safer communities.

“One of my key priorities is public safety, which Jax Journey strengthens,” said Mayor Curry. “These individuals are dedicated members of our community who share my commitment to safety and will serve our city well.”

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the Jacksonville area gained 16,600 new private sector jobs over the year in December. The Jacksonville area’s unemployment rate declined by 0.8 percentage point over the year to 4.5 percent in December. Florida has added more than 1 million private sector jobs since 2010.

In his address at the City of Jacksonville's 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, Mayor Lenny Curry quoted a famous speech made by the celebrated civil rights leader in 1967 and asked those gathered where we as a city go from here.

Watch the mayor's full remarks

Jacksonville Now Largest City in the Nation with Distinction 
 
Officials from Insurance Service Office (ISO) joined City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) leadership today to announce that the City of Jacksonville has earned the highest ISO rating it awards. The Class 1 distinction, held by only 140 out of 48,000 fire departments throughout the country, makes Jacksonville the largest city in the nation with the top classification, and one of only 19 fire and rescue departments in the state.
 
“This is a big win for our city,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “It clearly demonstrates the level of quality, excellence and commitment JFRD has to the public safety of our citizens.”