The race for mayor of Lakeland has attracted a fourth candidate: Christopher Diaz, a 33-year-old former Polk Sheriff’s detective and current co-owner of a children’s goods retailer. He told The Ledger he doesn’t have a position on the strong-mayor ballot issue: “It’s up to the voters. I’m looking to be a representative of their voice. … […]
Category: City Hall
Posted inCity Hall
Third Mayor Candidate Wants to Help the Homeless
James Abraham Green, a 21-year-old Florida Southern College senior who has entered the mayor’s race, wants to assemble spiritual leaders to create a prayerful solution to help the city’s homeless population. RELATED: Mayoral hopefuls will discuss the race on one candidate’s heavy metal radio show. Source: The Ledger
Posted inCity Hall
City Commission: Stormwater Fees, Parking Fines, More
City commissioners on Tuesday raised stormwater fees and parking ticket fines. They got updates on medical marijuana dispensaries, Chamber of Commerce plans, the Lakeland Magic and a Simpson Park teaching garden. They also chose a firm to coordinate a homeless strategy and delayed hearing a land-use dispute between a boat storage facility and homeowners. Check […]
Posted inCity Hall
Mayor’s Race Gets a Second Candidate
Patrick Shawn Jones, a 52-year-old heavy metal DJ and certified sterilization technician (Facebook profile), has filed (document) to run for mayor, offering a strong contrast with businessman Bill Mutz, the only other announced candidate. “I know how it is to ride a city bus to work and have to walk home because the bus doesn’t run […]
Posted inCity Hall
Vote Raises Typical Electricity Bill by $1 a Month
A typical homeowner will pay an extra dollar a month for electricity starting next month after the City Commission voted today to increase the fuel charge for Lakeland Electric customers.
Posted inCity Hall
Expert Suggests New Homeless Strategy
Lakeland’s homeless people would be better served with more focus on “rapid re-housing” (info) and less on transitional housing, according to a consultant recommended to guide the city’s strategy on homelessness. Commissioners are scheduled to decide June 19 whether to award a contract to Tallahassee-based Florida Housing Coalition (link). Source: The Ledger
Posted inCity Hall
Commissioners Debate Auditor Contract
City commissioners will decide Monday whether to stick with their staff’s recommendation to rehire the firm that has audited city books for 40 years even though theirs was the highest of three bids. Source: The Ledger
Posted inRecreation
The Lakeland Center Becomes RP Funding Center
View this post on Instagram A post shared by lkldnow.com (@lkldnow) The Ledger: The five-year naming rights deal was part of a larger package involving the building, the Lakeland Magic and the Orlando Magic likely exceeding $5 million. Video: Lakeland Magic | Full news conference