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Jacksonville City Council wraps up meeting without final decision on HRO

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville City Council wrapped up a meeting Thursday night without making a final decision on expanding the city's Human Rights Ordinance.

The goal of the ordinance is to make sure that everyone in the city has equal rights in housing, employment and public accommodations.

Council members were looking at two bills that would extend protections to members of the LGBT community. They shared strong feelings about whether to drop two HRO bills.

Both the Council President Greg Anderson and Council Vice President Lori Boyer called for a vote on whether to withdraw the bills and essentially press the pause button, but it didn't fly.

In an 11-8 vote, council members voted to decide on who will vote. One bill puts the choice in the hands of the people in a referendum and another bill puts the choice in the hands of the City Council.

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This comes after Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry doesn't believe the city needs an ordinance. He says there are state and federal protections. He sent an email to all city workers last week making sure they’re complying with those protections.

Though several council members are pushing for the HRO, Curry does not support it. But he said he will expand hiring policies to protect people from discrimination. That didn't sit well with all council members.

"Why have we taken so long? Shame on us if we don't take action today?" said council member Tommy Hazouri.

"The prudent thing to do is press the pause button," said Anderson.

Boyer said she is worried about Jacksonville becoming a "chess piece" for interests outside the city.

Jacksonville is the largest city in the nation without an expanded HRO. For weeks, Curry has held public talks about adding one. Now, two competing bills filed by council members will be debated Thursday. One places the HRO on a referendum ballot for voters and the other leaves the decision up to council.

A group of ministers gathered Thursday to talk about efforts to get an HRO amendment on the ballot so the public can have a say.