Latest news with #KeithPowers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
LIST: 17 candidates in the running for the next chief of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
The City of Jacksonville currently has 17 candidates it is considering to be the next fire chief of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Action News Jax told you last month when the city confirmed that current Chief Keith Powers would be stepping down. His last day is June 30, and the city wants to have a new chief in place by July 1. Here is the list of candidates being considered for the role: Aaron Bebernitz Damien Bell Jacob Blanton James Davis Percy Golden Darin Hooten Renaldo Horn Bryon Iveson Willie King Benjamin Kodatt Christopher McKeown Eric Mitchell Timothy Nguyen Michael Pluhacek Paul Rigdon Steven Serrato Todd Smith Phil Perry with the City of Jacksonville said that another 12 were deemed ineligible, for a total of 29 applicants. 'The 17 candidates currently being considered meet the basic criteria, including the requirement that they are currently serving at JFRD,' Perry said in an email to Action News Jax. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'We believe that out of nearly 2,000 firefighters, there are qualified candidates to be considered,' Perry continued. The 17 candidates will now go through a more detailed evaluation process. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal combined units to create his Manhattan co-op
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal has long spoken out about the need for more units to address New York City's affordable housing crisis — but has consolidated multiple homes in a pricey co-op to create a multi-million dollar apartment for himself. Between 2006 and 2016, Hoylman-Sigal and his husband combined three Greenwich Village apartments to form their 2,000-square-foot pad. There is no market value listed for the apartment, though with three bedrooms and three baths, the sale price would likely be in the millions. Hoylman-Sigal is an advocate for tenants' rights, slamming rent increases for rent-stabilized tenants and speaking out about the city's low vacancy rate. He is currently running for Manhattan borough president against Keith Powers, a current city councilmember. On a 2019 podcast, Hoylman-Sigal, who represents much of the west side of Manhattan, talked to host Jason Haber, a real estate entrepreneur, about the city's affordable housing problem. Haber said that consolidating units chips away at the city's housing stock and brought up an example of a wealthy New Yorker who combined nine apartments to form a single huge luxury home. Hoylman-Sigal agreed, explaining it makes financial sense for ultra-wealthy Manhattanites to buy multiple occupied units and merge them into mansions. He lamented this practice would force more rent-stabilized tenants out of their homes. 'On my block alone, on 10th Street, there's a software entrepreneur who's combining not one, not two, but three townhouses,' Hoylman-Sigal said, in an apparent reference to Sean Parker, a Facebook co-founder. 'It may be one of the largest townhouses in the Village by the time he's through with it. And I can't imagine to think how many families were pushed out of that residence over the years when he assembled this massive property. So it's a sad reality.' Parker's combination of the three mansions made headlines in 2016, although it does not appear he pushed any tenants out with his purchases. Hoylman-Sigal told the Daily News this week he had been referring to so-called 'Frankensteining,' or loopholes in rent stabilization laws that allowed landlords to combine or change apartments in order to hike rents up or push tenants out. That loophole was closed at the end of 2023 with the passage of legislation in Albany. Caroline Crowell, Hoylman-Sigal's campaign manager, cited his record on housing. 'In 2024, he helped secure more than 500 additional units of supportive and affordable housing in his senate district — in that same period, his opponent secured a paltry nine units in his council district,' Crowell said. 'The idea that the apartment he and his husband own in the Village has anything to do with Brad's record on increasing affordable housing is an absurd political hit.' The state senator also said he does not currently reside in the apartment, as he moved last year due to redistricting that shifted the bounds of the 47th District, which he represents.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jacksonville International Airport Hourly Parking Garage Fire: Timeline of events
A mid-size BMW appears to be the initial car that caught fire in the Jacksonville International Airport's Hourly Parking Garage, a police incident report reveals. Action News Jax told you how the fire began Friday afternoon, starting in one car and spreading to about 50 others. An incident report from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Police Department revealed the timeline of events from Friday. The first four events were spotted on the airport security cameras: 8:07 a.m.: 'Mid-size BMW, dark in color enters hourly garage through upper level access.' 8:09 a.m.: 'Subject parks and exit vehicle walking towards departures.' 12:03 p.m.: 'Smoke observed coming from beneath the front of the vehicle.' 12:04 p.m.: 'Vehicle fully engulfed in fire. No more visibility by video due to thick smoke.' Law enforcement is then alerted to the fire: 12:06 p.m.: AOCC (Airport Operations Communication Center) received a forwarded dispatch from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office about a vehicle on fire in the hourly garage. JAAPD responded to the garage and the first officer to arrive 'assisted several passengers from the hourly garage to safety,' the report said. RELATED: Navigating limited airport parking for Memorial Day weekend: Here are some options In addition to responding to fight the fire, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department also 'treated unknown passengers for smoke inhalation,' the report said. Eventually, the airport was closed because the JFRD resources being used to fight the fire meant authorities could not 'operate the airport while those units are off the airfield,' JFRD Chief Keith Powers said Friday. The airport reopened at 5 p.m. Friday. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The Jacksonville Aviation Authority shared the following message Tuesday afternoon about when cars can be picked up: 'The north side of the Hourly Garage (Rows A-E, all levels) is accessible to travelers parked there at 5:00 p.m. today. A call center will be staffed until 7:00 p.m. tonight and reopen at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Customers that do not remember where they parked are welcome to call 904-741-2710. If customers want to reach out after 7:00 p.m. they can email jax_airport_event@ and a call center representative will contact them in the morning. Valet customers can call 904-741-3900." [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Michael Stewart, Jacksonville Aviation Authority Vice President of External Affairs, also shared an update about the parking crunch at the airport: 'We accelerated some construction and are making an additional 297 spaces available tomorrow in Economy Lot 1.' Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New photos show partial collapse, damaged cars at Jacksonville airport parking garage
Two days after fire engulfed parts of a Jacksonville International Airport parking garage, new photos shared by the airport show damage to some of the dozens of cars ravaged by flames on Friday, May 16. The images released Sunday show several burned-out cars and debris in the part of the garage that partially collapsed during the mid-day fire that forced the closure of JIA for several hours and the indefinite closure of the airport's hourly parking garage to allow experts to assess the structural safety of the building. In a social media post on Sunday, May 18, the airport said that officials had "established a collapse zone" and that crews were "working to establish safe areas of the garage where cars may be removed" in the coming days. The hourly parking garage, which has a capacity of 1,015 vehicles, was nearly full when the fire is believed to have started in one vehicle on the second parking level, according to airport video, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department chief Keith Powers said. The parking structure remains closed in the aftermath of the fire, leaving hundreds of airport guests temporarily separated from their vehicles. More on the fire: Jacksonville airport parking garage fire cancels flights, closes parking facilities Two days after the fire that caused no serious injuries, the daily parking garage and daily surface parking were full, according to parking information on the airport's website. The outlying "economy lots" — which were at capacity during parts of the weekend — were listed as 88% full on Sunday evening. The airport encouraged travelers to find alternate parking or use taxis or ride-sharing services to get to and from the Northside airport. The hourly parking garage is a parking structure located directly across from the airport terminal, with an upper-level drop-off area for departing passengers and a lower-level pick-up area for arriving passengers separating the two buildings. The daily parking garage structure and daily surface lot parking extend out beyond the hourly parking garage, which is used most often for short stays at the airport to drop off or pick up family members or friends who are traveling to and from the airport. The ground floor of the facility also houses several rental car pick-up and drop-off facilities. What's next: Heading to JIA? Parking options limited after fire sweeps through airport parking garage This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville airport parking garage fire photos
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jacksonville International Airport reopens after fire at Hourly Garage
The Jacksonville International Airport reopened at 5 p.m. Friday to inbound and outbound flights after being closed for hours due to a garage fire. A fire broke out at the Hourly Garage on Friday afternoon. Smoke was first spotted pouring from a parking area at Jacksonville International Airport on the Action News Jax Skycam around 12:21 p.m. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Powers, and Michael Stewart of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority held a briefing at 4 p.m. You can watch it below: During the briefing, Deegan said the fire began in one car and spread to about 50. Deegan said the fire was under control, but still burning. Stewart said the fire happened on the second floor of the parking garage, which is the closest to the terminal. Powers said the airport has video of the car that first caught fire, but it is not yet known what type of car started the fire. Deegan said no injuries have been reported from the fire. Powers said there is a partial collapse of the garage on the second and third floors, so firefighters are being kept out and using drones to search the structure. He said heat from the fire caused the structural damage/collapse. Powers said the garage was last inspected in October. Powers said being able to fully inspect the garage will be a long process. Deegan said while the airport will reopen at 5 p.m., it's still a good idea for travelers to check with their airlines on the status of their flights. She said in addition to the Hourly Garage, the Daily Garage won't be available for use on Friday night. The parking garage remains closed, with more than 1000 cars inside. Officials said part of it collapsed, making entering a safety hazard. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority said it is working to create a dedicated landing page online for people to submit their information if they are parked in the hourly garage. It is expected to go live Friday night or early Saturday. Stewart said right now, the airport has 'less parking to provide.' The Hourly Garage, which has about 1,200 spaces, is closed indefinitely, Stewart said. Stewart said travelers should use Uber, Lyft, and off-site parking options. JIA has since opened temporary rental car return areas: 'A temporary rental car return area for Enterprise/Alamo/National is located at Staggerwing Ct.,' announced the airport. 'Avis/Budget, Dollar/Hertz/Thrifty will be returned on Rental Car Ln.' 'Sixt customers will return vehicles to the Aviation Authority admin office (14201 Pecan Park Road).' Roadway signage is being used to direct travelers to the designated areas. FlightAware data shows three flights took off from JAX airport during the 2 p.m. hour. A JAX airport spokesperson said at that time, 'We have some flights that were already at the gates that are departing, but that is all at this time. None arriving.' PHOTOS: Parking garage fire shuts down Jacksonville International Airport [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Jacksonville City Council President Randy White said no serious injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. He issued this statement: 'I am aware of the fire that JFRD responded to at the Jacksonville International Airport. First, I want to express my gratitude to JFRD, airport personnel, and all first responders who acted swiftly to ensure the safety of travelers and staff. 'At this time, I have been informed there are no serious injuries reported, and operations are being assessed to ensure safe resumption of services. The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remain our top priority. 'My office is in communication with airport authorities and emergency management, and we will continue to offer support as needed. I encourage the public to follow official airport and City updates for the most accurate and timely information. 'We are thankful for the professionalism and dedication of those who serve on the front lines during emergencies like this.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney Jr., who represents District 8 where the airport is located, shared the following statement while the airport was closed: 'I am closely monitoring the situation at Jacksonville International Airport, where a fire has broken out in the Hourly Garage. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. The safety of our residents, travelers, and first responders is our top priority. I commend the swift action of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in responding to this incident. 'As of now, the airport remains closed to ensure public safety. It will reopen once our first responders and relevant authorities have deemed it safe to do so. I urge everyone to stay informed through official channels and to follow any guidance provided by emergency personnel. 'My office is in close communication with city agencies and airport officials to monitor the situation. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, I ask for your patience and cooperation as we work together to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.' Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
