Sunday, December 16, 2007
Does Edvard Munch's "Silent Scream" Capture the Mood at St. Augustine's Embattled City Hall for Caudillo WILLIAM B. HARRISS, City Mangler (Manager)?
Does Edvard Munch's "Silent Scream" Capture the Mood at St. Augustine's Embattled City Hall for Caudillo WILLIAM B. HARRISS, City Mangler (Manager)?
PENNY HALYBURTON'S REDUCING NUMBER OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY PRECINCTS -- RIGHTFULLY DRAWS FIRE FROM SJC VOTERS -- ENOUGH FLUMMERY, DUPERY AND NINCOMPOOPER!
Letter: Reducing precincts wrong in growing county
Gina Burrell
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 12/16/07
Editor: I have learned that the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections is reducing the number of precincts in our county from 63 to 46, effective for the Jan. 29 Presidential Primary.
In fact, eight new precinct locations will be in churches and fewer schools will be used.
We will get new Voter Information Cards to be mailed after Jan. 3, with the precinct numbers and precinct locations.
Early voting starts Jan. 14. Voters need to pay attention, because probably their precinct information will be changed. I was told by the supervisor of election's office that these reductions will save money.
So far, we are the only county in the state decreasing our precincts.
In doing research, I learned from Clay County's Supervisor of Elections office, it is not decreasing its precincts at all.
Clay is thinking of increasing them, because it is fast-growing. According to the 2006 U.S. Census, Clay County's population was 178,899. St. Johns County, with a population of 169,224, is also a fast-growing county.
I think we should be increasing, not decreasing, our precincts to make it easier for people to vote. I can envison long lines on Election Day and a lot of confusion, with all the new changes. Ten of the precincts have more than 4,000 registered voters.
I question why our Supervisor of Elections decided to choose this presidential election year of 2008, the most important election of our lifetime, to make monumental changes to our precincts. I feel there are many unanswered questions.
Also, take note. If voters haven't voted in 2006 and 2004 (federal election years), they will be taken off the voting rolls. They will have to register again.
Get out and vote.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/121607/opinions_062.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Gina Burrell
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 12/16/07
Editor: I have learned that the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections is reducing the number of precincts in our county from 63 to 46, effective for the Jan. 29 Presidential Primary.
In fact, eight new precinct locations will be in churches and fewer schools will be used.
We will get new Voter Information Cards to be mailed after Jan. 3, with the precinct numbers and precinct locations.
Early voting starts Jan. 14. Voters need to pay attention, because probably their precinct information will be changed. I was told by the supervisor of election's office that these reductions will save money.
So far, we are the only county in the state decreasing our precincts.
In doing research, I learned from Clay County's Supervisor of Elections office, it is not decreasing its precincts at all.
Clay is thinking of increasing them, because it is fast-growing. According to the 2006 U.S. Census, Clay County's population was 178,899. St. Johns County, with a population of 169,224, is also a fast-growing county.
I think we should be increasing, not decreasing, our precincts to make it easier for people to vote. I can envison long lines on Election Day and a lot of confusion, with all the new changes. Ten of the precincts have more than 4,000 registered voters.
I question why our Supervisor of Elections decided to choose this presidential election year of 2008, the most important election of our lifetime, to make monumental changes to our precincts. I feel there are many unanswered questions.
Also, take note. If voters haven't voted in 2006 and 2004 (federal election years), they will be taken off the voting rolls. They will have to register again.
Get out and vote.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/121607/opinions_062.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Letter: City's parking meters are not visitor friendly
Letter: City's parking meters are not visitor friendly
Capt. Norman Dean
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 12/16/07
Editor: Residents of St. Augustine please take note. On a November "road trip" to California and back my wife and I made a point to see as many "tourist sites" as we could, towns, parks, historic sites, etc. A common theme was observed; no parking meters.
Old towns had a mix of local and tourist traffic (look at license plates). The centers of most of these towns were alive with gift shops for the tourists and other stores for the locals.
St. Augustine city government and the St. George Street merchants seem to be doing their level best to make downtown St. Augustine as difficult as possible with their parking attitude. The Castillo de San Marcos staff as well. Why close that parking just because the fort is closed?
When we have out-of-town guests we give a driving tour and take our guests out of town for dining and suggest shopping elsewhere.
A great deal of tax money is spent to promote St. Augustine. For a large number of visitors it will be a one-time visit due to the attitude of the city.
The street entertainment is gone, street artists are gone, downtown is not fun. A T-shirt can be purchased at an outlet mall. These people will tell others back home. City officials are killing the Golden Goose.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/121607/opinions_060.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Capt. Norman Dean
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 12/16/07
Editor: Residents of St. Augustine please take note. On a November "road trip" to California and back my wife and I made a point to see as many "tourist sites" as we could, towns, parks, historic sites, etc. A common theme was observed; no parking meters.
Old towns had a mix of local and tourist traffic (look at license plates). The centers of most of these towns were alive with gift shops for the tourists and other stores for the locals.
St. Augustine city government and the St. George Street merchants seem to be doing their level best to make downtown St. Augustine as difficult as possible with their parking attitude. The Castillo de San Marcos staff as well. Why close that parking just because the fort is closed?
When we have out-of-town guests we give a driving tour and take our guests out of town for dining and suggest shopping elsewhere.
A great deal of tax money is spent to promote St. Augustine. For a large number of visitors it will be a one-time visit due to the attitude of the city.
The street entertainment is gone, street artists are gone, downtown is not fun. A T-shirt can be purchased at an outlet mall. These people will tell others back home. City officials are killing the Golden Goose.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/121607/opinions_060.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)