Thanks to Folio Weekly for years of excellent reporting on St. Johns County, including the current cover story on our local government officials' workplace preaching.
It explains why controversial Election Supervisor Penny Halyburton wastes our money giving "donations" to churches. Why, two- thirds of our St. Johns County polling places are in churches, which are admittedly paid "donations" by Supervisor Halyburton's office. St. Johns County is blessed with dozens of government buildings, including some Taj Mahals.
Why can't we vote there? We'd save money and avoid excessive entanglements with churches, avoiding possible First Amendment violations.
St. Johns County resembles a cross between Old Florida, Kennebunkport, Malibu, the Wild West, Levittown, and the movie "Chinatown."
Local officials deserve even more scrutiny. This is a place where St. Augustine City Commissioners voted that only government flags may be flown on our Bridge of Lions (after Gays won a federal court order requiring Rainbow flags be flown in 2005). Yet 2/3 of our polling places are in churches, not government buildings.
Does that make sense to you? As photojournalist J.D. Pleasant says, "they'll say and do anything."
See my November Out in the City column.
Pray for the St. Johns County political machine, whose grasp on reality (and power) is waning.
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085
471-7023
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