Jacksonville City Councilman wants voters to decide on removal of Confederate monuments

There’s a new push to let voters decide what happens to Confederate monuments in Jacksonville.

City Councilman Al Ferraro has introduced a proposed ordinance that calls for a referendum to be put on the ballot for a vote on Nov. 8.

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Here is how Ferraro has proposed that the question be worded:

“Shall the City of Jacksonville remove historic monuments and markers, defined as fixed assets that are identifiable because of particular historic, national, local or symbolic significance on City-owned property?”

Voters would have yes or no options.

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Action News Jax was live in what is now known as James Weldon Johnson Park, when the city first removed a Confederate monument on June 9, 2020. On that day, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced all the monuments would come down.

A plan to remove the Women of the Confederacy Monument in Springfield Park would have cost more than $1 million and was shut down by Council members in November 2021.

In March, Action News Jax told you that Councilman Matt Carlucci filed legislation to address the removal of the monuments. Carlucci’s resolution proposes a $500,000 cap, but he told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant that they can find additional funding with grants if needed.

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“I put that in there because it seemed like the dollar amount was soaking up so much of the conversation as opposed to the real issue of the bill,” Carlucci said.

Ferraro’s proposal for a referendum is expected to be introduced to City Council on Tuesday. We have reached out to Ferraro for comment on his proposal and will update this story with his response when we hear back.

Read the full proposal below:

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