Letters
Publication Date: 07/19/09
Public sold out in Fish Island deal
Editor: It saddens me to see the city leaders continually cower to threats of lawsuits by developers, or do they bow behind closed doors? The Fish Island deal stinks. Once again Commissioner Errol Jones led the way in selling us out. His shutting the public up certainly meets with the history of this city's government, but it was refreshing to hear Commissioner Leanna Freeman stand up to the sellout. God bless her and the environmentalists who are going to fight this outrage to the public and our environment.
Perhaps Mayor Joe Boles and the other three commissioners should go on another taxpayer- funded, fact-finding tour, maybe this time to a progressive city like Mt. Dora or Naples, but then again travel doesn't guarantee backbone. This city deserves more than we get in government, but then again they were elected. Makes one wonder about democracy.
It is too bad that competent people don't have the time to run for office, instead we have people who run after the office. My disgust for these little minds is only exceeded by their long-term destruction of our city. Possibly this might wake the voters up in this coming election to unseat at least three of the gang of four who now hold our city back.
To Freeman, keep up the good work and "illegitimi non carborundum," don't let "them" grind you down. Help is on the way.
Anthony Seraphin
St. Augustine
What are zoning laws for anyway?
Editor: Upon reading the headline on Thursday's front page, "Hotel developer sues city," a St. Augustine resident knows that it means our St. Augustine City Commissioners will fold.
Why do we have zoning laws anyway?
When a developer asks to have those laws changed and we decline, they know they can threaten to sue -- so our commissioners fold.
If you go into the St. Augustine phone book, you will find that we have 54 hotels/motels in St. Augustine and 32 bed and breakfast inns. Oh my, we need another one. And we certainly need more tourist shops.
The vote was 4-0 against (the hotel) and City Commissoiner Don Crichlow did not participate because he is involved with this developer.
The developer's architectural choice is "turn of the century." Which century?
The commission wants "Spanish Colonial." We only have to see an aerial photo of St. Augustine to know which choice is correct.
Well, I continued to read the paper and my beloved comics. There in the comics was the answer. Brevity -- "Fourteen opposed, one ninja in favor; so,I guess the motion passes."
Carolyn Embury
St. Augustine
City needs plan for saving video records
Editor: Did you know that audio/video records of City of St. Augustine government meetings are destroyed after only two years?
I was recently made aware of this policy when reviewing records at the City Clerk's office pertaining to the annexation and rezoning of Fish Island that took place in 1998-1999.
Upon requesting the recordings of certain Planning and Zoning and City Commission meetings, I was dismayed to learn that they were destroyed nearly a decade ago. The clerks were very helpful, but could only provide official minutes, which are an abbreviated account.
In this case, what could have proven to be some very important and telling exchanges were lost. I assume limited storage capacity (when dealing with cassettes) was the reason why it was deemed necessary to destroy important records on a biennial basis.
However, with today's technology two years of city board meetings recorded on DVD could fit in a shoebox.
This policy is antiquated at best and needs to change. Updating the equipment and procedures for this fundamental purpose would be tax dollars well spent.
Let's bring our city's record keeping into the 21st century.
In the meantime, I would urge our sitting commissioners to pay close attention when reviewing the draft minutes to ensure their accuracy before approving them. As it stands right now it's the only long-term record we've got.
Theresa Segal
St. Augustine
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