
Mayor Donna Deegan of Jacksonville is stepping out from City Hall and into the community for a series of town halls aimed to discuss the city's budget and update constituents on ongoing projects and initiatives. In a move to increase transparency and civic engagement, these meetings are not exclusive behind closed doors or reserved seats but open to all who wish to attend, with no strings of preregistration attached.
The first of these gatherings will unfold on January 27th at Legends Center, running from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., as reported by the city's official news release. Following this, Ed White High School will be the next venue on February 4th, and then, on February 5th, Mayor Deegan will be part of the Beaches Watch Meeting at the Beaches Branch Library, though for a concise one-hour window from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The town hall series will then continue into the following weeks, with Atlantic Coast High School playing host on February 18th and Riverside High School opening its doors on March 4th, each of these sessions adhering to the 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. timeframe. The concluding event is set for March 11th at First Coast High School.
This initiative serves as a platform for Deegan to present her budget priorities in a setting that invites direct feedback and questions from those who are most affected by city policies. Her administration hopes to not only impart knowledge but also gather insights from the plethora of voices that make up Jacksonville. Mayor Deegan extends an open invitation, the details of which can be found on Jacksonville's news page.