JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Councilmember Matt Carlucci said he was “upset” when he learned a federal funding request for the Emerald Trail was removed from Trump’s budget bill. But he remains optimistic about the project’s future.
“Initially, I was upset. I just have to tell you, because it’s such a wonderful project,” Carlucci told News4JAX in an interview for This Week in Jacksonville.
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“But I will say this — after I took a few deep breaths, the next morning, I called both Congressman Rutherford and Congressman Bean… and they are devoted to replacing the funding.”
The $147 million in funding was stripped from a federal appropriations bill. Carlucci said securing smaller amounts of money over time might be a more realistic approach and stressed the importance of bipartisan cooperation to keep the project moving forward.
Carlucci also addressed the ongoing debate about the future location of the Duval County Public Schools headquarters, which is currently up for sale. He plans to introduce a nonbinding resolution encouraging the district to stay downtown.
“The school board needs a place of significance because it’s a significant player in Jacksonville’s life,” Carlucci said.
He added that keeping the school board downtown would support revitalization efforts and increase daily activity in the urban core.
You can watch the full interview with Councilmember Carlucci on This Week in Jacksonville, airing Sunday at 9 a.m.
