"What the people want is very simple -- they want an American as good as its promise." - Barbara Jordan
Tuesday, 2/22 -- Last Chance to VOTE!
If you've already cast your vote in the Special Unitary Election to fill the balance of Tommy Hazouri's Council term, you deserve a good citizenship award! At the close of early voting last night, just under 12% of Jacksonville voters had weighed in on this important choice. And while Democrats maintain a slim lead, the election remains much too close to call.
If you haven't voted, or know people who have not, be sure you (and they) make the time to go to the polls tomorrow, Tuesday, 2/22 between 7 AM and 7 PM. Click here to find your polling place. Other ways you can help:
Text out the vote today. 12-1 pm. On Saturday a group of about 30 volunteers reached out to more than 90,000 Duval Dems in less than two hours using this simple tool. Too many Duval Dems aren't aware this election is even happening & we need all their votes. If you can help, please do!
Signwave at the polls tomorrow and help push Tracye over the finish line! Email Tyler at the campaign for an assignment.
Help Cure Ballots. The Supervisor of Election flags ballots with missing signatures, or when a signature is different from the one on file. These problems can be easily corrected but the time frame is short. Lisa King, former chair of the Duval Democratic Party, is the director of this effort. Please reach out to her ASAP to help! • Ms. King will send you all the instructions, affidavits and documents you need to be successful. • Text her at (904) 910-6401 or email her at if you want to help in this effort.
Thursday, February 24 - 7 pm - Indivisible Mandarin & BAM Joint Zoom
Join us this week for an exciting discussion via Zoom! Rebekah Jones, who created the Florida Department of Health's original Covid-19 dashboard and tangled with the Governor about the data, is running against Trump cheerleader, Rep. Matt Gaetz for FL's 1st Congressional seat. Down ballot races like hers could be the key to turnout in 2022.
The meeting will also feature Duval's own Kim Glasgal, longtime Democratic activist and data expert, who will talk about what progressives need to do to win in Jacksonville. All are welcome but registration is required.
The Impact of Consolidation on Black Political Power in JAX - Noon Zoom 2/24
As redistricting has us all focused on issues of political fairness in Duval, the League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast (LWVJFC) is hosting a particularly timely lunchtime Zoom. Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen is the Executive Director of LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) here in Jacksonville and will speak on the history of consolidation and its impact on the political power of the city's Black communities. Register here.
Duval Redistricting Enters Critical Final Stage
Now that the 4 public hearings on Duval's draft redistricting maps are done, the Rules Committee is required to wait at least 15 days (until at least March 4) before sending the proposed plan to the whole Council for a vote. At their next City Council meeting (March 8 at the soonest), the Council could opt to amend the plan and hold additional hearings. They have until April 12 to approve new maps.
Now is the time to urge needed changes. Write or call the entire Council this week to demand they do better. And when you do, thank Rory Diamond - one of the few Council members to flatly say he will not support the current draft maps. If you need help on what to say, consult the sources below:
Four local groups have already commissioned the analysis the city did not do and are threatening legal action to address the "packing" of Black voters in the proposed maps. As this interactive map demonstrates, the proposed maps also split 47 different neighborhoods - making it harder for those communities to receive consistent, thoughtful representation. For other talking points and questions, see the Citizens Guide prepared by DWIN, BAM and other local groups.
These maps will strongly influence local politics for the next decade. Please act today!
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