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Mayor Curry signs legislation to shut down all Jacksonville internet cafes

11:30 a.m. 10/11/19 UPDATE:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville city spokesperson says Mayor Lenny Curry has signed a bill that would effectively shutdown Internet Cafes in the city of Jacksonville.

WATCH OUR FACEBOOK LIVE OF THE PROTEST IN SAN MARCO: 

RIGHT NOW: Protesters are marching on San Marco Square. They are against the shutdown of Internet cafes in Jacksonville

RIGHT NOW: Protesters are marching on San Marco Square. They are against the shutdown of Internet cafes in Jacksonville. Ryan Nelson Action News Jax will explain what this means for the city on CBS47 at 5: https://bit.ly/313dqyS

Posted by Action News Jax on Friday, October 11, 2019

ORIGINAL STORY:

Luck is running out for internet cafes in Jacksonville.

Mayor Lenny Curry is expected to sign legislation this week to shut them down as soon as possible.

The City Council voted 10 to 9 last night to move up their time frame for closing the facilities that have been targets for crime.

Today we talked to Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes on what happens after the mayor signs the bill.

“We’ll start a citation process that ultimately leads to either the removal of the machines, or shutting down the facility,” said Hughes.

TRENDING: 

Code inspectors, JFRD and JSO will start preparing for inspection sweeps when the bill is signed.

The inspections will come in phases, beginning with warnings, then reinspections and possible condemnation and trespassing measures.

Today, Action News Jax reporter Ryan Nelson visited an internet café on the Southside to find out how people on the other side of the decision are feeling.

Nelson was allowed in to speak to customers, if their identities were not revealed.

“I feel this is a wonderful form of entertainment and I don’t think it’s hurting anyone,” said one customer.

A security guard at the café tells us he’s not sure what comes next for himself, and the dozens of security guards in his company patrolling cafes.

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“When I came this morning, I didn’t know if I would have a job,” he said. “After seeing the information on the news last night I was kind of concerned, and I even called to see if I should come in.”

RELATED: Jacksonville security guard killed in armed robbery at Paxon internet cafe

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