This Jacksonville lawyer fought the city and won a landmark Supreme Court case
Good morning,
Earlier this year, columnist Mark Woods mentioned to me that this was the 50th anniversary of a landmark Supreme Court case involving a Jacksonville law.
When we heard talk about possible panhandling legislation here in Jacksonville, Mark knew this was a good time to take a look back. As he often does, Mark does a great job of tying this old case, Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville, in with what's going on today in Jacksonville and beyond.
You can read all about it in the story, Fifty years ago, a Jacksonville lawyer fought the city — and won a landmark Supreme Court case.
Also, you can do more than read about the case. Mark includes a link to some fascinating audio from the oral arguments.
While doing research for the story, Mark pointed out how amazing the internet can be sometimes.
"Listening to the audio is fascinating," Mark told me. "I mean, I'm sitting at my computer, hearing Thurgood Marshall ask Ed Austin questions."
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We have long had concerns in Jacksonville about public agencies putting up obstacles for citizens — including members of the news media — to find information about how those agencies are operating.
Sometimes we're told records don't exist, when they do. Sometimes we're told we aren't entitled to the information, when we are. And sometimes we're told that it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to simply review the information.
The recent invoice First Coast News executive producer Anne Schindler received from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is an example of such an obstacle.
Columnist Nate Monroe explains more in his column and why this is about more than a pricey invoice: Jacksonville's secret police and an $87,401 invoice for public records.
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Car fans, we have exciting news.
Reporter Dan Scanlan wrote this week about how the Old Lamborghini USA headquarters will shift gears into Jacksonville Sports Car Museum.
"A Deerwood Park office building where exotic Lamborghini Diablos were once factory-prepared in the 1990s for rich clients including Donald Trump will be home again to supercars and classics," Dan writes.
He has many more details in the story that all you car enthusiasts will especially enjoy.
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Reporter Beth Cravey, with help from reporter Emily Bloch, wrote this week about the shortage of baby formula here on the First Coast.
In the story What the baby formula shortage means for Jacksonville-area moms and dads the reporters talked to families about their own concerns.
One parent discussed the stresses that already come with caring for a newborn in general, especially during a pandemic. The mom said new parents already have enough obstacles to deal with and that "the fear of not being able to feed my baby should not be one of them."
Beth also put together a helpful guide for parents of newborns: Stressed by the baby formula shortage? Here are 10 tips to know.
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In my family, we love our coffee, and Jacksonville has a nice mix of locally-owned coffee shops to try something new.
More are coming, but they aren't all sit-down options.
Reporter Teresa Stepzinski writes about how Ellianos Coffee is expanding its drive-thrus to locations throughout Northeast Florida.
Ellianos recently opened two area stores. It has plans for another nine. So there's likely to be one not far from where you either live or work soon.
Have a great week,
Mary Kelli Palka
Executive Editor
Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: This Jacksonville lawyer fought city, won a landmark Supreme Court case
