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Eastside residents press council to proclaim 'Lil Papa Day' and to help reopen Main Street Supply
Summary
Multiple speakers asked council to recognize March 18 as a day of remembrance for local artist Janarius 'Lil Papa' Willer and urged the city to help Main Street Supply (Miss Marie) reopen after enforcement actions; the administration said it was working on a proclamation and hoped to issue one by the end of the week.
A broad cross‑section of Eastside residents urged the Jacksonville City Council on March 10 to formally recognize March 18 as a day honoring local artist Janarius “Lil Papa” Willer and asked the city to help Main Street Supply, a longtime minority‑owned food wholesale business, reopen after regulatory closures.
Speakers from the Eastside and other neighborhoods described Willer’s cultural influence and urged the council to use a recognition to promote youth mental‑health awareness. Britney Washington asked the council to “consider issuing a city proclamation recognizing March 18th as Papa Day for the East Side community,” saying the designation would encourage youth and community unity. Multiple petitions and speaker cards in the record supported the request.
Community members also made a separate, sustained plea for city assistance with Main Street Supply (referred to in the record as Miss Marie’s store at 3717 Vance Street). Supporters said the small business has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and charities for decades and circulated petitions seeking assistance to resolve building and regulatory issues so the store can reopen. Marie Charlemagne addressed the council and said she had served small businesses for more than 20 years and requested help rebuilding and correcting cited deficiencies.
Councilman Paluso acknowledged the requests and noted the administration had received multiple requests for a proclamation. An administration representative, Britney Norris, said the mayor’s office was “currently working on that” and was hopeful a proclamation could be ready by the end of the week.
What’s next: Council members and administration representatives indicated they are coordinating on a proclamation and community outreach. Supporters of Main Street Supply said they will continue petitions and neighborhood advocacy to secure reopening assistance.
Source: Public comments and council responses on March 10, 2026.
