Saturday, March 10, 2007

Tree-cutting mania, public speaker censorship in St. Augustine, Florida

Tree-cutting mania, public speaker censorship in St. Augustine
This week FOLIO WEEKLY rightly reported the illegal tree-cutting by the Elks Club, reported by my friend and mentor, Ms. Robin Nadeau (with whom we recently celebrated her 81st birthday). FOLIO also reported the shocking behavior of St. Augustine Mayor JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR., giving him a "brickbat." I was late and did not observe BOLES’ behavior, but here is how FOLIO WEEKLY reported it:
"Brickbats to St. Augustine Mayor Joe Boles for insulting a resident at a public meeting, then cutting him off when their exchange prevented the speaker from completing his comments. Boles interrupted resident Les Garcia’s comments to ask if he were "under the influence," a comment other commissioners found inappropriate. Garcia tried to resume his presentation, but Boles cut him off, saying his time had elapsed. When Garcia refused to stop speaking, Boles had police remove him from the meeting."
Observations:
1. The same Commissioners who refuse to answer questions about illegal dumping often bait citizens, stealing their time with non sequiturs and telling them their time has elapsed.
2. Some Commissioners have appeared to be intoxicated at meetings, with City Manager WILLIAM B. HARRISS sometimes driving one of them home.
3. Some Commissioners leave meetings early, with no explanation why they’re departing. One Commissioner misses most meetings.
4. These Commissioners are getting very testy, because St. Augustine citizen-activists, like good diplomats, will not take no for an answer. Sunshine violations, waste, fraud, abuse and illegal dumping demand answers.
5. If Commissioners "can’t stand the heat, they should get out of the kitchen," as Harry S Truman put it best.

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