Hysterical Preservationists" vs. Landraping, Wetlandkilling, Browbeating Specualtors

Hysterical Preservationists" vs. Landraping, Wetlandkilling, Browbeating Specualtors

Thanks to Jerry Dixon for letting the cat out of the bag about those who would remake our town into Boca Raton or something else ersatz and upscale. Dixon used the phrase "hysterical preservationists" in his column (below) today.


St. Augustine Planning and Zoning Board member Jerry Dixon is the architect for a project that would "demolish" seven historic homes on King Street in favor of a new hotel, modeled on Henry Flagler's home (destroyed by developers several decades ago).

Conflict of interest? A previous ethics complaint against St. Augusitne City Commisisoner Donald Crichlow, another architect, was summarily dismissed by Florida's moribund Ethics Commission without investigation, apparently based on a small town exception to fundamental ethical principles articulated in Matthew and Supreme Court precedent alike ("A man cannot serve two masters."). Dixon must disclose all investors in the hotel project (or else how can we judge if he has other conflicts of interest from which he must recuse himself?)

As to the hotel, both sides have shown an unwillingness to talk and compromise. If the hotelier were to take the seven homes and move them to another location, her proposal would be more palatable. The homes could be used for affordable housing in West Augustine, for example, or used as part fo the Historic Tours of America's Old Jail complex of restored homes. The hotelier only expresses the willingness to give the homes away.

Some of the claims made by the hotelier and her crew seem incredible. Did she acquire all these contiguous properties for the purpose of being a landlord to college students? Did she do any economic studies? I doubt it. Purchasing these homes adjacent to one anther is pregnant with the inference that she would eventually seek to tear them down for something bigger.

The HARB is charged with protecting historic houses, and is entitled to some deference in interpreting the rules that govern. If Dixon doesn't like the rules, he should run for the City Commission and seekt o amend them..

"Hysterical preservationists," in Dixon's view, don't have a right to plan our city -- that right only belongs to property owners. Courts have repeatedly rejected such views. People have rights -- not propety. No one is proposing to "take" the hotelier's land "without compensation." That;'s rubbish. She has the right to seek compensation under hte Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property Protection Act if she is unsatisfied with tonight's vote.

Apparently HARB would not support the project even if the homes were removed and preserved. That logic should be questioned at tonight's meeting. Other historic homes were allowed to be moved, a number to the HARB Chair's Historic Tours of America Old Jail complex. Why is the hotelier in quo being treated different than other applicants?

Is it because her name is not Patel, her lawyer's name is not McClure, and she is a woman? Are local government officials sexist when women seek permits for buildings, traditionally an all-male domain? Is the hotelier another victim of discrimination by our Nation's Oldeet City?

Are City decisions on "development" being made by people "talking without listening," in Simon & Garfunkel's words? On this one, there appears to be room for compromise. If I were a City Commissioner, I would reject the hotel unless: (a) all seven historic homes were satisfactorily moved at the owner's expense, to be used for affordable housing; and (b) the hotelier pledged to pay employees a living wage, hire a racially integrated, diverse workforce, and respect collective bargaining rights.

Rose Kennedy's favorite Bible verse was "to whom much is given, much is expected."
Too many local hotels and restaurants pay low wages, mistreat employees and exploit the sweat of their brow, with little evidence of desegregation. Walk up St. George Street and notice how few African-American employees work in any of the stores there (many in city and state owned buildings).

Anti-union notions reign, as demonstrated by a Chamber of Commerce website that brags on a docile, unorganized workforce. One local employer actually bragged on "Talk of the Town" that he fired every employee who talked about forming a union and would close his/her business if a union were ever voted in.

Labor standards are so low in St. Augustine that local governments, roofers and construction companies failed to provide basic failed to provide fall protection. OSHA fined a pesticide company that had employees working on the American Legion Hamblen Post roof recently.

A Tennessee state environmental manager once told his subordinate manager that he owned his brain for 7.5 hours per day and if he told him to jump off a roof, "you jump off the roof."

Too many employers literally ask their employees to jump off a roof for them.

If the hotelier can offer concessions on preserving the houses for housing and being a good example for treatment of workers, she deserves consideration tonight. Otherwise, I would vote against the propsoal.



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