Residents fill council chamber to oppose proposed $1 billion jail, Brentwood morgue and anti‑immigrant ordinance

Dozens of residents used the public‑comment period at the Jacksonville City Council meeting to press elected officials on three recurring concerns: opposition to a proposed billion‑dollar jail, anger over a morgue built in Brentwood near a school, and objections to ordinance 20‑25‑0147 — an anti‑immigrant ordinance attendees said should be repealed or will face litigation.

Speakers from multiple community groups said the proposed new jail — which they repeatedly described as a "$1 billion" project — would be built in or near predominantly Black neighborhoods and would divert funds from housing, mental‑health care, and other community services. "Not a single real working‑class person I've spoken to wants a new jail," Taylor Powell said during the allotted comment…