St. Augustine must have a national historical park, seashore and scenic coastal highway -- see www.staugustgreen.com
Guest Column: St. Augustine should have a national historical park
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 03/26/07
Real estate speculators (some foreign-funded) continue to destroy our local wildlife, habitat, nature and history. Roads are clogged. Noise abounds. Our way of life is being destroyed. Unfeeling, uncaring Philistines are turning St. Johns County into an uglier, unreasonable facsimile of South Florida. Unjust county government stewards allowed an asphalt plant near homes. Another plant reportedly emits 50 tons/year of volatile organic compounds into residents' and workers' lungs and brains.
Speculators are even trying to build homes on top of unremediated septic tanks/fields, while vacationing boaters pollute our Bay front with untreated sewage (the only boat-pumpout-station is at Conch House Marina). Our Bay front (which lacks a harbormaster) had an oil spill Jan. 15. Developers demand to build docks over city-owned State Road 312 area marshes for boat-owners' pleasure. Enough.
Let's invite environmental tourism by preserving an "emerald necklace of parks," including the city-owned marsh.
Ask Congress to hold hearings to map our "St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore" (SANHPNS), using 1928-style trolleycars to save gasoline, uniting the Castillo and Fort Matanzas National Monuments, "slave market park," downtown streets, Government House, Red House Bluff indigenous village (next to historical society), marshes, forests, National Cemetery, GTM NERR, Anastasia State Park, Fort Mose and other city, county, state and St. Johns River Water Management District lands.
Let's cancel future shock/schlock/sprawl/ugliness/skyscrapers and eliminate temptations to abuse/neglect/misuse state parks and historic buildings for golf courses and rote, rube commercialism.
In December, State Sen. Jim King suggested Florida donate "deed and title" of state buildings to our city. I suggested that we deed them to the National Park Service (NPS), with St. George Street visitor center in restored buildings, saving millions (as in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park).
St. Augustine needs a national civil rights and indigenous history museum, celebrating local residents and national leaders, whose courage helped win passage of 1964's Civil Rights Act. Why not put the museum in the old Woolworth's building, restored to its former glory, with wood floors, lunch-counter and exhibits on the civil rights struggles that changed history (well- documented in Jeremy Dean's documentary, "Dare Not Walk Alone"), with "footsoldiers monument" across the street ?
Why not (finally) implement the 2003 National Trust for Historic Preservation and Flagler College study on how to protect our history? Let's tax tourists more to fund historic preservation, as in Charleston/elsewhere.
Let's preserve/protect the quality of our lives and visitors' experience (and property values) by preserving forever what speculators haven't destroyed (yet).
Let's adopt a three-year moratorium on growth, while we work to adopt truly comprehensive plans worthy of the name.
Colonial National Historical Park (NHP), Philadelphia's Independence NHP and NHPs in Boston, New Bedford, Valley Forge, San Francisco and Saratoga.
There's a Martin Luther King historical site in Atlanta, NHPs for "Rosie the Riveter" (California) and the "War in the Pacific" (Guam), and new parks slated for ten Japanese internment camps.
Florida hosts Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. Let's add St. Augustine to the list.
From sea to shining sea, America's coastal areas enjoy national parks. Where's ours?
Let's make parts of State Road A1A a National Parkway and hiking/biking trail, like the Colonial National Historical Parkway and the Baltimore Washington, George Washington, Rock Creek and John D. Rockefeller (Wyoming) Parkways and the Appalachian Trial and C&O Canal.
Let's add St. Augustine to the list of our nation's most beloved national parks, joining Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Florida's 500th and St. Augustine's 450th anniversaries are only six and eight years away (2013 and 2015). Enacting a national park and seashore will forever preserve the treasures that we love. It will halt the sprawl we hate, increase tourism and reduce local taxes, paying speculators to stop.
Mayor Joe Boles' mother graciously thanked me for speaking out on these issues after the Jan. 22 City Commission meeting -- issues that Mrs. Boles has been outspoken about for "30 years." Let's honor/heed Mrs. Boles' wisdom -- and those who proposed a national park before World War II. Let's save St. Augustine and our environment forever.
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Ed Slavin lives in St. Augustine.
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http://staugustine.com/stories/032607/opinions_4479465.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Friday, May 01, 2009
IF YOU LOVE ST. AUGUSTINE: Speak May 21 at 2PM HARB Meeting -- Does McCLURE/SCHECTER Ugly Block Belong in Our Historic Downtown By Cathedral?
IF YOU LOVE ST. AUGUSTINE: Speak May 21 at 2PM HARB Meeting -- Does McCLURE/SCHECTER Ugly, Palatka-Style Block Belong at Cathedral Place & St. George St?
Not one of the public hearing witnesses at the April 27, 2009 City Commission meeting thought so. What do you think? See below.
Architect DONALD CRICHLOW should be ashamed for his design, which would ruin the view from his own Cathedral Parish. Has he no shame?
Not one of the public hearing witnesses at the April 27, 2009 City Commission meeting thought so. What do you think? See below.
Architect DONALD CRICHLOW should be ashamed for his design, which would ruin the view from his own Cathedral Parish. Has he no shame?
USDOJ Press Release:Genovese Family Captain Found Guilty on Murder, Racketeering, Robbery, Extortion, Firearms, and Other Charges
Genovese Family Captain Found Guilty on Murder, Racketeering, Robbery, Extortion, Firearms, and Other Charges
LEV L. DASSIN, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; WEYSAN DUN, the Special Agent-in- Charge of the Newark Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"); and JOSEPH M. DEMAREST JR., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the FBI, announced today that ANGELO PRISCO, a Captain in the Genovese Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra, was found guilty after a two-week jury trial before United States District Judge NAOMI REICE BUCHWALD of crimes including murder, racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, robbery, extortion, firearms crimes, property theft, and operating an illegal gambling business.
According to the evidence at trial and other documents filed in the case:
PRISCO was "made," or inducted, as a member of the Genovese Organized Crime Family in the late 1970s and was later promoted to Captain. As a Captain, PRISCO supervised, oversaw and profited from the criminal activities of his own crew of Genovese Family soldiers and associates. PRISCO's crew operated in the New York City area and in New Jersey.
On June 2, 1992, PRISCO arranged the murder of ANGELO SANGIUOLO, who was PRISCO's own first cousin. PRISCO received the order to kill SANGIUOLO from VINCENT GIGANTE, a/k/a "The Chin," who was then the Boss of the Genovese Organized Crime Family. GIGANTE ordered PRISCO to murder SANGIUOLO because SANGIUOLO had been stealing from another Genovese soldier. PRISCO assigned two members of his crew, one of whom was JOHN LETO, a/k/a "Johnny Balls," to carry out the murder. PRISCO lured SANGIUOLO to PRISCO's social club in the Bronx. When SANGIUOLO arrived, PRISCO told him to get into a van with LETO and the other crew member. Inside the van, LETO shot SANGIUOLO numerous times, killing him. SANGIUOLO's body was left in the back of the van in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant in the Bronx. PRISCO then picked up LETO at the McDonald's and accompanied him while LETO disposed of the murder weapon.
PRISCO was found guilty of conspiring to commit robberies with members of his crew, from 1991 to 1992, and later, in 2003 to 2005. In robberies in 1991 and 1992, PRISCO oversaw various crew members who carjacked and robbed at gunpoint jewelry dealers who were transporting large quantities of gold and other jewelry that they had purchased in the Dominican Republic. PRISCO received $20,000 in cash from one robbery, and a bag of gold worth about $50,000 from another robbery. PRISCO also bragged about the armed robberies at his Bronx social club, where he passed around a December 13, 1991, Newsday article about the robberies.
Also, from 2003 to 2005, PRISCO ordered, approved, and supervised multiple violent home invasion robberies targeting individuals believed to possess cash in their homes. During the robberies, numerous victims were tied up and beaten inside their own homes. PRISCO had to "green light" the robberies before they could occur, and PRISCO received a portion of any money stolen during the home invasions. PRISCO also instructed his crew members on his own personal robbery "policy" -- specifically, that his crew members should "play dumb" if it turned out that they had robbed another person who was tied to organized crime.
PRISCO also was found guilty of extortion and conspiracy to extort a Manhattan construction company owner. PRISCO and his crew first extorted the victim's company in 1997, when a member of PRISCO's crew at the time broke a glass coffee pot over the head of the victim’s business partner. Members of PRISCO's crew then pressured the victim and his business partner to drop the assault charge against that crew member. Seven years later, various other members of PRISCO's crew -- acting on PRISCO's orders, and following PRISCO's advice about how to collect the money -- returned to the same construction company and threatened to cut off the victim's finger and harm the victim's family. The victim paid PRISCO and his crew a total of $50,000. In addition, PRISCO extorted other individuals and businesses, including the owner of a diner in the Bronx; the owner of a night club in Manhattan; and an electrical contractor in Brooklyn.
PRISCO was found guilty of (1)racketeering conspiracy; (2) racketeering; (3) Hobbs Act Robbery conspiracy; (4) possession and use of firearms in connection with crime of violence; (5) extortion conspiracy; (6) extortion; (7) interstate transportation of stolen property; (8) receipt, possession, or sale of stolen property; (9) operating illegal gambling business PRISCO, 69, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2009.
Mr. DASSIN praised the work of the FBI's New York Field Office and the FBI's Newark Field Office, which was instrumental in developing the evidence supporting PRISCO's prosecution. Mr. DASSIN also praised the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation; the Orange County, New York District Attorney's Office; the Westchester County, New York District Attorney's Office; the New York State Police; the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; the New York Police Department; the United States Bureau of Prisons; the Morris County, New Jersey Prosecutor's Office; the Rockaway Township, New Jersey Police Department, all of which contributed to the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys ELIE HONIG and LISA ZORNBERG are in charge of the prosecution.
LEV L. DASSIN, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; WEYSAN DUN, the Special Agent-in- Charge of the Newark Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"); and JOSEPH M. DEMAREST JR., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the FBI, announced today that ANGELO PRISCO, a Captain in the Genovese Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra, was found guilty after a two-week jury trial before United States District Judge NAOMI REICE BUCHWALD of crimes including murder, racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, robbery, extortion, firearms crimes, property theft, and operating an illegal gambling business.
According to the evidence at trial and other documents filed in the case:
PRISCO was "made," or inducted, as a member of the Genovese Organized Crime Family in the late 1970s and was later promoted to Captain. As a Captain, PRISCO supervised, oversaw and profited from the criminal activities of his own crew of Genovese Family soldiers and associates. PRISCO's crew operated in the New York City area and in New Jersey.
On June 2, 1992, PRISCO arranged the murder of ANGELO SANGIUOLO, who was PRISCO's own first cousin. PRISCO received the order to kill SANGIUOLO from VINCENT GIGANTE, a/k/a "The Chin," who was then the Boss of the Genovese Organized Crime Family. GIGANTE ordered PRISCO to murder SANGIUOLO because SANGIUOLO had been stealing from another Genovese soldier. PRISCO assigned two members of his crew, one of whom was JOHN LETO, a/k/a "Johnny Balls," to carry out the murder. PRISCO lured SANGIUOLO to PRISCO's social club in the Bronx. When SANGIUOLO arrived, PRISCO told him to get into a van with LETO and the other crew member. Inside the van, LETO shot SANGIUOLO numerous times, killing him. SANGIUOLO's body was left in the back of the van in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant in the Bronx. PRISCO then picked up LETO at the McDonald's and accompanied him while LETO disposed of the murder weapon.
PRISCO was found guilty of conspiring to commit robberies with members of his crew, from 1991 to 1992, and later, in 2003 to 2005. In robberies in 1991 and 1992, PRISCO oversaw various crew members who carjacked and robbed at gunpoint jewelry dealers who were transporting large quantities of gold and other jewelry that they had purchased in the Dominican Republic. PRISCO received $20,000 in cash from one robbery, and a bag of gold worth about $50,000 from another robbery. PRISCO also bragged about the armed robberies at his Bronx social club, where he passed around a December 13, 1991, Newsday article about the robberies.
Also, from 2003 to 2005, PRISCO ordered, approved, and supervised multiple violent home invasion robberies targeting individuals believed to possess cash in their homes. During the robberies, numerous victims were tied up and beaten inside their own homes. PRISCO had to "green light" the robberies before they could occur, and PRISCO received a portion of any money stolen during the home invasions. PRISCO also instructed his crew members on his own personal robbery "policy" -- specifically, that his crew members should "play dumb" if it turned out that they had robbed another person who was tied to organized crime.
PRISCO also was found guilty of extortion and conspiracy to extort a Manhattan construction company owner. PRISCO and his crew first extorted the victim's company in 1997, when a member of PRISCO's crew at the time broke a glass coffee pot over the head of the victim’s business partner. Members of PRISCO's crew then pressured the victim and his business partner to drop the assault charge against that crew member. Seven years later, various other members of PRISCO's crew -- acting on PRISCO's orders, and following PRISCO's advice about how to collect the money -- returned to the same construction company and threatened to cut off the victim's finger and harm the victim's family. The victim paid PRISCO and his crew a total of $50,000. In addition, PRISCO extorted other individuals and businesses, including the owner of a diner in the Bronx; the owner of a night club in Manhattan; and an electrical contractor in Brooklyn.
PRISCO was found guilty of (1)racketeering conspiracy; (2) racketeering; (3) Hobbs Act Robbery conspiracy; (4) possession and use of firearms in connection with crime of violence; (5) extortion conspiracy; (6) extortion; (7) interstate transportation of stolen property; (8) receipt, possession, or sale of stolen property; (9) operating illegal gambling business PRISCO, 69, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2009.
Mr. DASSIN praised the work of the FBI's New York Field Office and the FBI's Newark Field Office, which was instrumental in developing the evidence supporting PRISCO's prosecution. Mr. DASSIN also praised the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation; the Orange County, New York District Attorney's Office; the Westchester County, New York District Attorney's Office; the New York State Police; the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; the New York Police Department; the United States Bureau of Prisons; the Morris County, New Jersey Prosecutor's Office; the Rockaway Township, New Jersey Police Department, all of which contributed to the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys ELIE HONIG and LISA ZORNBERG are in charge of the prosecution.
USDOJ Press Release: Korean Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty and Serve One Year in Prison for Participation in LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy
or Immediate Release
April 27, 2009 United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of California
Contact: (415) 436-7200
Korean Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty and Serve One Year in Prison for Participation in LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy
To Date, Four Companies Have Agreed to Plead Guilty and to Pay More Than $616 Million in Fines and Nine Executives Have Been Charged
WASHINGTON—A high-level Korean executive from LG Display Co. Ltd. (LG) has agreed to plead guilty and serve a year in jail in the United States for participating in a global conspiracy to fix prices in the sale of Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) panels, the U.S. Department of Justice announced today.
According to a one-count felony charge filed today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Bock Kwon, an executive of LG, conspired with employees from other TFT-LCD panel makers to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the prices of TFT-LCD panels from on or about Sept. 21, 2001, to on or about June 1, 2006. During the charged conspiracy, Kwon, a citizen of the Republic of Korea, held several high-level positions at LG, including president of LG’s Taiwan subsidiary, vice president of notebook sales, vice president of sales planning, and executive vice president of sales and marketing. Under the plea agreement, which must be approved by the court, Kwon has agreed to serve a 12-month prison sentence in the United States and to pay a $30,000 criminal fine.
“The participants in the LCD conspiracy committed a serious fraud upon American consumers by fixing the prices of a product that is in almost every American home,” said Christine A. Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department’s Antitrust Division. “The charges against top-level executives who participated in the LCD conspiracy show the commitment of the Department of Justice to finding and prosecuting those at the highest levels, no matter where they live or where these crimes against American consumers were committed.”
Including today’s charges, four companies and nine individuals have been charged in the Department’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the TFT-LCD industry. To date, more than $616 million in criminal fines have been imposed, or agreed to, as a result of this investigation, and four individuals have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to serve jail time.
TFT-LCD panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices. In 2006, the worldwide market for TFT-LCD panels was approximately $70 billion.
Kwon was charged with participating in a conspiracy that was accomplished by:
* Participating in meetings, conversations and communications in Taiwan, Korea and the United States to discuss the prices of TFT-LCD panels;
* Agreeing during these meetings, conversations and communications to charge prices of TFT-LCD panels at certain predetermined levels;
* Issuing price quotations in accordance with the agreements reached;
* Exchanging information on sales of TFT-LCD panels for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-upon prices; and
Authorizing, ordering and consenting to the participation of subordinate employees in the conspiracy.
On Dec. 15, 2008, LG pleaded guilty to participating in a worldwide conspiracy to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels and was sentenced to pay a $400 million criminal fine – the second-largest fine in Antitrust Division history. On Dec. 16, 2008, Sharp Corp. pleaded guilty to participating in three separate conspiracies to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold to Dell, Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Inc. and was sentenced to pay a $120 million criminal fine. On Jan. 14, 2009, Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. (Chunghwa) pleaded guilty to participating in the same worldwide conspiracy as LG, and was sentenced to pay a $65 million criminal fine. On March 10, 2009, Hitachi Displays Ltd. was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold to Dell Inc. for use in desktop monitors and notebook computers from April 1, 2001, to March 31, 2004. Hitachi Displays Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $31 million fine.
In February 2009, former Chunghwa CEO Chieng-Hon “Frank” Lin and two Chunghwa executives, Chih-Chun “C.C.” Liu and Hsueh-Lung “Brian” Lee, pleaded guilty to and were sentenced for participating in the same conspiracy as LG and Chunghwa. Lin was sentenced to serve nine months in prison and pay a $50,000 criminal fine. Liu was sentenced to serve seven months in prison and pay a $30,000 criminal fine. Lee was sentenced to serve six months in prison and pay a $20,000 criminal fine. Also in February 2009, LG executive Chang Suk “C.S.” Chung pleaded guilty for his role in the same conspiracy as LG and Chunghwa. Chung was sentenced to serve seven months in prison and pay a $25,000 criminal fine.
On Feb. 3, 2009, a federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment against a former LG executive, Duk Mo Koo, and two former Chunghwa executives, Cheng Yuan Lin, aka C.Y. Lin and Wen Jun Cheng, aka Tony Cheng, for their participation in the same conspiracy as LG and Chunghwa. On March 31, 2009, a federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment against Sakae Someya, an executive at Hitachi, for his participation in the same conspiracy as Hitachi.
Today’s charge is the result of a joint investigation by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office and the FBI in San Francisco.
Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct in the TFT-LCD industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-436-6660.
April 27, 2009 United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of California
Contact: (415) 436-7200
Korean Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty and Serve One Year in Prison for Participation in LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy
To Date, Four Companies Have Agreed to Plead Guilty and to Pay More Than $616 Million in Fines and Nine Executives Have Been Charged
WASHINGTON—A high-level Korean executive from LG Display Co. Ltd. (LG) has agreed to plead guilty and serve a year in jail in the United States for participating in a global conspiracy to fix prices in the sale of Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) panels, the U.S. Department of Justice announced today.
According to a one-count felony charge filed today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Bock Kwon, an executive of LG, conspired with employees from other TFT-LCD panel makers to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the prices of TFT-LCD panels from on or about Sept. 21, 2001, to on or about June 1, 2006. During the charged conspiracy, Kwon, a citizen of the Republic of Korea, held several high-level positions at LG, including president of LG’s Taiwan subsidiary, vice president of notebook sales, vice president of sales planning, and executive vice president of sales and marketing. Under the plea agreement, which must be approved by the court, Kwon has agreed to serve a 12-month prison sentence in the United States and to pay a $30,000 criminal fine.
“The participants in the LCD conspiracy committed a serious fraud upon American consumers by fixing the prices of a product that is in almost every American home,” said Christine A. Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department’s Antitrust Division. “The charges against top-level executives who participated in the LCD conspiracy show the commitment of the Department of Justice to finding and prosecuting those at the highest levels, no matter where they live or where these crimes against American consumers were committed.”
Including today’s charges, four companies and nine individuals have been charged in the Department’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the TFT-LCD industry. To date, more than $616 million in criminal fines have been imposed, or agreed to, as a result of this investigation, and four individuals have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to serve jail time.
TFT-LCD panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices. In 2006, the worldwide market for TFT-LCD panels was approximately $70 billion.
Kwon was charged with participating in a conspiracy that was accomplished by:
* Participating in meetings, conversations and communications in Taiwan, Korea and the United States to discuss the prices of TFT-LCD panels;
* Agreeing during these meetings, conversations and communications to charge prices of TFT-LCD panels at certain predetermined levels;
* Issuing price quotations in accordance with the agreements reached;
* Exchanging information on sales of TFT-LCD panels for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-upon prices; and
Authorizing, ordering and consenting to the participation of subordinate employees in the conspiracy.
On Dec. 15, 2008, LG pleaded guilty to participating in a worldwide conspiracy to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels and was sentenced to pay a $400 million criminal fine – the second-largest fine in Antitrust Division history. On Dec. 16, 2008, Sharp Corp. pleaded guilty to participating in three separate conspiracies to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold to Dell, Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Inc. and was sentenced to pay a $120 million criminal fine. On Jan. 14, 2009, Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. (Chunghwa) pleaded guilty to participating in the same worldwide conspiracy as LG, and was sentenced to pay a $65 million criminal fine. On March 10, 2009, Hitachi Displays Ltd. was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold to Dell Inc. for use in desktop monitors and notebook computers from April 1, 2001, to March 31, 2004. Hitachi Displays Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $31 million fine.
In February 2009, former Chunghwa CEO Chieng-Hon “Frank” Lin and two Chunghwa executives, Chih-Chun “C.C.” Liu and Hsueh-Lung “Brian” Lee, pleaded guilty to and were sentenced for participating in the same conspiracy as LG and Chunghwa. Lin was sentenced to serve nine months in prison and pay a $50,000 criminal fine. Liu was sentenced to serve seven months in prison and pay a $30,000 criminal fine. Lee was sentenced to serve six months in prison and pay a $20,000 criminal fine. Also in February 2009, LG executive Chang Suk “C.S.” Chung pleaded guilty for his role in the same conspiracy as LG and Chunghwa. Chung was sentenced to serve seven months in prison and pay a $25,000 criminal fine.
On Feb. 3, 2009, a federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment against a former LG executive, Duk Mo Koo, and two former Chunghwa executives, Cheng Yuan Lin, aka C.Y. Lin and Wen Jun Cheng, aka Tony Cheng, for their participation in the same conspiracy as LG and Chunghwa. On March 31, 2009, a federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment against Sakae Someya, an executive at Hitachi, for his participation in the same conspiracy as Hitachi.
Today’s charge is the result of a joint investigation by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office and the FBI in San Francisco.
Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct in the TFT-LCD industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-436-6660.
Ex-Commissioner SUSAN BURK Cant's Stand Criticism, Hates Public Participation, Bares Her Tormented Soul
So ex-Commissioner Susan Burk hates public criticism. (See her 2/24/09 letter in the St. Augustine Record, below). No surprise. What did Burk ever do to rein in the government of our Oldest City, which brandishes mismanagement and:
1. Arrests artists and musicians, whom tourists enjoy?
2. Wastes money, junketing again to Spain in April with our money, with Burk taking previous junkets to NYC, Colombia and Germany (examining German parking garages)?
3. Saying it's "too expensive," refuses to web-post agenda-related documents as other governments do?
4. Refuses to fax/E-mail public records?
5. Renews Florida Power & Light's franchise (30 years) without adequate research/investigation/discussion of public power alternatives?
6. Awards 15-year Comcast cable-franchise, without answering widespread concerns, deleting applicability of cable ordinance provisions?
7. Awards ex-Mayor George Gardner $1250/month no-bid contract for "newsletter?"
8. Votes to let Checker Cab use meters within City limits, with taxicab customers forbidden to speak?
9. Votes to let Robert Michael Graubard destroy a 3000-4000 year old indigenous Native American village (Red House Bluff), while forgiving Graubard's $15,000 year tree-killing fine?
10. Dumps solid waste in our Old City Reservoir (fined $31,000)?
11. Heaps hatred on those who reported illegal dumping?
12. Fought fiercely against state orders to place solid waste in landfills?
13. Dumps sewage effluent in our saltwater marshes, never telling citizens for years (while City Manager "polled" Commissioners about it, violating Sunshine laws)?
14. Discriminates against low-income and African-American communities with environmental racism (illegal solid waste and sewage effluent dumping, bad roads, no sidewalks and bad/nonexistent sanitary/storm sewers)?
15. Welcomes motorcyclists (with free parking)?
16. Builds a (largely unused) $25 million White Elephant Parking Garage?
17. Spends $50 million a year (350 full-time employees) for 13,000 residents?
18. Refuses to post/advertise job vacancies (result: little diversity, no African-American managers)?
19. Hires an $83,000/year manager without job description?
20. Tolerates all-white employment in St. George Street stores leasing government property?
21. Refuses to discuss/support the environmentally-friendly solution of a St. Augustine National Historical Park, Seashore and Scenic Coastal Highway?
22. Votes to deny rights to fly Rainbow Flags on our Bridge of Lions for Gay Pride (while allowing other groups to do so for their events linked to history), which a federal judge found violated the First Amendment? The City's response: banning all but government-fly-flying.
23. Refuses to discuss a Living Wage Ordinance?
24. Snarls at citizens for asking questions while abusing police powers, interrupting and insulting speakers, threatening arrests, focusing hate stares, rearranging schedules and shuffling speaker cards (among other tricks)?
Enough. Citizen-activists were unfairly attacked by 2/24/09 Record letter from ex-Commissioner Susan Burk, who missed 25% of Commission meetings. Disgruntled Burk whined about the "group" of "rude" people who tell only "lies" at City Commission meetings. Burk "doth protest too much!"
Burk is Graubard's ex-girlfriend. She shows "prejudice," a "hostile or aversive attitude" toward people "based on perceived membership in a group." (Allport, "The Nature of Prejudice," 1954).
Commissioner Burk often appeared angry, bored or disinterested in what citizens were saying, provocatively rolling her eyes and emitting exaggerated looks/sighs, once notoriously displaying a "Flat Stanley" doll that she said was "better-behaved" than public commenters.
Eleven years ago, Burk pushed to hire City Manager William Harriss with no national search, no public comment and no annual performance evaluations. On April 13th, City Manager Harriss celebrates eleven years without one performance evaluation.
Bad management? Dictatorship? Or is Harriss victim of a "group" of "disgruntled residents?" You decide.
Our Founders trusted the people. Our Bill of Rights protect us from all governmental bullies, including mere City Commissioners and Mayors.
Elect real leaders -- not angry authoritarians with bad attitudes. Yes we can!
Ed Slavin (B.S.F.S. Georgetown University, J.D. Memphis State University, former law clerk to U.S. Department of Labor Chief Administrative Law Judge Nahum Litt and Legal Counsel for Constitutional Rights of the Government Accountability Project is a St. Augustine citizen-activist who has lived in Florida since 1995. He has worked with local residents to elect reformers; to expose and reverse purchase of no-bid luxury $1.8 million Bell Long Ranger Jet helicopter for the Mosquito Control District (winning a refund of the deposit); and to celebrate the Obama Inauguration in the Slave Market Square (he drafted the City's Proclamation and suggested the location). Ed also worked with local citizens to win victories over unaccountable City government officials violating citizens' free speech and environmental rights (e.g., Bridge of Lions Rainbow Flags and Old City Reservoir dumping).
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Letter: Respect is a two-way street
Susan Burk
Former St. Augustine City Commissioner, St. Augustine
Publication Date: 02/24/09
Editor: St. Augustine City Commissioners and staff deserve respect at meetings. As Aretha sings, "sock it to me," she is not referring to the manner in which certain citizens should address the commission. It was quite annoying to sit in a seat as commissioner for more than a decade and take the abuse and insults repeatedly hurled at the commission table from a few disgruntled citizens and non St. Augustine citizens who demand respect but do not give it.
This small group of citizens and non-citizens appear regularly at meetings wasting everyone's time making the same false statements and insults which they have repeated over and over and over at previous meetings.
Somehow they must imagine the repetition will make it true or will get attention. Unfortunately this tactic has the opposite effect.
After hearing the same people repeat the same things it is only human nature to tune them out. This is sad because on occasion they may have something worth saying and it won't be heard.
Elected officials knowingly put themselves out there as targets for abuse. It comes with the territory and I thank every one of them for doing so.
What kept me going was that the few rude and ill-mannered speakers are far outweighed by wonderful and truly concerned citizens who make up this incredible city.
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http://staugustine.com/stories/022409/opinions_022409_029.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
1. Arrests artists and musicians, whom tourists enjoy?
2. Wastes money, junketing again to Spain in April with our money, with Burk taking previous junkets to NYC, Colombia and Germany (examining German parking garages)?
3. Saying it's "too expensive," refuses to web-post agenda-related documents as other governments do?
4. Refuses to fax/E-mail public records?
5. Renews Florida Power & Light's franchise (30 years) without adequate research/investigation/discussion of public power alternatives?
6. Awards 15-year Comcast cable-franchise, without answering widespread concerns, deleting applicability of cable ordinance provisions?
7. Awards ex-Mayor George Gardner $1250/month no-bid contract for "newsletter?"
8. Votes to let Checker Cab use meters within City limits, with taxicab customers forbidden to speak?
9. Votes to let Robert Michael Graubard destroy a 3000-4000 year old indigenous Native American village (Red House Bluff), while forgiving Graubard's $15,000 year tree-killing fine?
10. Dumps solid waste in our Old City Reservoir (fined $31,000)?
11. Heaps hatred on those who reported illegal dumping?
12. Fought fiercely against state orders to place solid waste in landfills?
13. Dumps sewage effluent in our saltwater marshes, never telling citizens for years (while City Manager "polled" Commissioners about it, violating Sunshine laws)?
14. Discriminates against low-income and African-American communities with environmental racism (illegal solid waste and sewage effluent dumping, bad roads, no sidewalks and bad/nonexistent sanitary/storm sewers)?
15. Welcomes motorcyclists (with free parking)?
16. Builds a (largely unused) $25 million White Elephant Parking Garage?
17. Spends $50 million a year (350 full-time employees) for 13,000 residents?
18. Refuses to post/advertise job vacancies (result: little diversity, no African-American managers)?
19. Hires an $83,000/year manager without job description?
20. Tolerates all-white employment in St. George Street stores leasing government property?
21. Refuses to discuss/support the environmentally-friendly solution of a St. Augustine National Historical Park, Seashore and Scenic Coastal Highway?
22. Votes to deny rights to fly Rainbow Flags on our Bridge of Lions for Gay Pride (while allowing other groups to do so for their events linked to history), which a federal judge found violated the First Amendment? The City's response: banning all but government-fly-flying.
23. Refuses to discuss a Living Wage Ordinance?
24. Snarls at citizens for asking questions while abusing police powers, interrupting and insulting speakers, threatening arrests, focusing hate stares, rearranging schedules and shuffling speaker cards (among other tricks)?
Enough. Citizen-activists were unfairly attacked by 2/24/09 Record letter from ex-Commissioner Susan Burk, who missed 25% of Commission meetings. Disgruntled Burk whined about the "group" of "rude" people who tell only "lies" at City Commission meetings. Burk "doth protest too much!"
Burk is Graubard's ex-girlfriend. She shows "prejudice," a "hostile or aversive attitude" toward people "based on perceived membership in a group." (Allport, "The Nature of Prejudice," 1954).
Commissioner Burk often appeared angry, bored or disinterested in what citizens were saying, provocatively rolling her eyes and emitting exaggerated looks/sighs, once notoriously displaying a "Flat Stanley" doll that she said was "better-behaved" than public commenters.
Eleven years ago, Burk pushed to hire City Manager William Harriss with no national search, no public comment and no annual performance evaluations. On April 13th, City Manager Harriss celebrates eleven years without one performance evaluation.
Bad management? Dictatorship? Or is Harriss victim of a "group" of "disgruntled residents?" You decide.
Our Founders trusted the people. Our Bill of Rights protect us from all governmental bullies, including mere City Commissioners and Mayors.
Elect real leaders -- not angry authoritarians with bad attitudes. Yes we can!
Ed Slavin (B.S.F.S. Georgetown University, J.D. Memphis State University, former law clerk to U.S. Department of Labor Chief Administrative Law Judge Nahum Litt and Legal Counsel for Constitutional Rights of the Government Accountability Project is a St. Augustine citizen-activist who has lived in Florida since 1995. He has worked with local residents to elect reformers; to expose and reverse purchase of no-bid luxury $1.8 million Bell Long Ranger Jet helicopter for the Mosquito Control District (winning a refund of the deposit); and to celebrate the Obama Inauguration in the Slave Market Square (he drafted the City's Proclamation and suggested the location). Ed also worked with local citizens to win victories over unaccountable City government officials violating citizens' free speech and environmental rights (e.g., Bridge of Lions Rainbow Flags and Old City Reservoir dumping).
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Letter: Respect is a two-way street
Susan Burk
Former St. Augustine City Commissioner, St. Augustine
Publication Date: 02/24/09
Editor: St. Augustine City Commissioners and staff deserve respect at meetings. As Aretha sings, "sock it to me," she is not referring to the manner in which certain citizens should address the commission. It was quite annoying to sit in a seat as commissioner for more than a decade and take the abuse and insults repeatedly hurled at the commission table from a few disgruntled citizens and non St. Augustine citizens who demand respect but do not give it.
This small group of citizens and non-citizens appear regularly at meetings wasting everyone's time making the same false statements and insults which they have repeated over and over and over at previous meetings.
Somehow they must imagine the repetition will make it true or will get attention. Unfortunately this tactic has the opposite effect.
After hearing the same people repeat the same things it is only human nature to tune them out. This is sad because on occasion they may have something worth saying and it won't be heard.
Elected officials knowingly put themselves out there as targets for abuse. It comes with the territory and I thank every one of them for doing so.
What kept me going was that the few rude and ill-mannered speakers are far outweighed by wonderful and truly concerned citizens who make up this incredible city.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/022409/opinions_022409_029.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Sandra Parks: A Budget Is a Moral Documant
Former St. Augustine City Commissioner Sandra Parks had an important point last night at the meeting of "A People United" at St. Paul's A.M.E. Church: "a budget is a moral document." By that standard, Florida's legislators are acting in an immoral fashion as the proceed to gut education, gut parks and gut consumer protection, while inviting offshore oil drilling to destroy our beaches and our tourist economy.
Shame on them!
This Wrecking Crew" in Tallahassee -- led by the likes of mossback St. Augustine Representative WILLIAM L. PROCTOR -- have no claim to "moral" authority.
Under former Florida JOHN EDWARD BUSH (a/k/a "JEB BUSH"), OSHA protections for government employees were eliminated while taxes on stocks and bonds were eliminated (BUSH called it an "immoral tax"). BUSH was an immoral Governor, as is CHARLES CRIST. It's time for these Republicans to go.
Here's a 2005 letter signed by religious leaders on the budget as a moral document, courtesy of the Center for American Progress:
The Federal Budget as a Moral Document: A Letter from Religious Leaders
January 25, 2005
The following letter, signed by over 60 leaders from diverse faith communities across the nation, calls on Congress to examine the budget as an inherently moral document and offers six specific questions that should be asked to determine whether the budget's provisions are fair, just and promote the common good.
Dear Member of Congress:
We are leaders of America's religious community and citizens of this great country. Our faith traditions teach us that every person is created in God's image and that we are all part of God's family. We are called by God to care for each other, both individually and as a nation.
Because of these core beliefs, we feel called to speak out on the federal budget, which will be released on February 7th. Despite its complexity, the budget is essentially a moral document--the specific expression of the values of the nation.
As people of faith and responsible citizens, we must examine the budget closely to determine whether its provisions are fair and just. We must ask specific questions to discover whether the budget of President Bush promotes the common good.
1. Does the budget provide those in need with the assistance necessary to build self-reliant, purposeful lives?
2. Does the budget provide adequately for all of God's children, including the poor and sick, the old and very young?
3. Does the budget strengthen the foundations of our country in order to make us safer and more secure?
4. Does the budget protect God's creation, the environment?
5. Does the budget spread its burdens and rewards fairly, or are some groups given special unearned privilege, while others are excluded from America's bounty and opportunity?
6. Does the budget promote justice and equality by providing for basic human needs in health care, education, housing and other areas?
When the budget is released, we will assess its provisions concerning health care, education, housing, the environment, foreign policy, national security and other issues. If the budget falls short in these areas, we will work to transform it into a document that reflects America's best moral values and who we are as children of God.
We invite you and the American people to join us in this important work.
Signed:
* Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
* Rev. Steven C. Baines, Senior Organizer for Religious Affairs, People for the American Way/PFAW Foundation, Washington, DC
* Rev. Chloe Breyer, St. Mary's Manhattanville, West Harlem, NY
* Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, Director, Faith Voices for the Common Good Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Oakland, CA
* Rev. Jim Burklo, author of "Open Christianity," Presbyterian minister in Sausalito, CA
* Simone Campbell, SSS, National Coordinator, NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Washington, DC
* Rev. Theopholus Caviness, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Pastor, Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH
* Charlie Clements, CEO and President, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Cambridge, MA
* Marge Clark, BVM, Lobbyist, NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Washington, DC
* Rev. Ann Marie Coleman, Co-Senior Minister, University Church---A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ Congregation, Chicago, IL
* Rev. Daryl Coleman, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Pastor, AME Zion Church, Jackson, TN
* Dr. David R. Currie, Mainstream Baptist Network
* Dan Daley, Co-Director, Call to Action USA
* Rev. John E. Denaro, Episcopal Migration Ministries
* Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches, New York , NY
* Rev. Janet Ellinger, United Methodist Pastor, River Falls , WI
* Rev. Dr. James L Evans , Auburn First Baptist Church, Auburn, AL
* Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister, The Riverside Church, New York , NY
* Rev. Paul B. Feuerstein, President/CEO, Barrier Free Living Inc.
* Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President, The Interfaith Alliance, Washington, DC
* Rev. Debra W. Haffner, Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing, Norwalk, CT
* Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins , Pastor, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church , Washington, DC
* Joseph C. Hough, Jr., President and Professor of Ethics, Union Theological Seminary, New York , NY
* James E. Hug, S.J., President, Center of Concern
* Dr. Mary E. Hunt, Co-director, WATER: Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual, Silver Spring , MD
*Rev. Betty Hudson , Rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
* Vince Isner, Faithful America, New York , NY
* Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory , Director, Washington office, Presbyterian Church (USA)
* Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs, Temple Kol Tikvah, Los Angeles , CA
* Patricia de Jong, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church of Berkeley
* Rob Keithan, Director, Washington office, Unitarian Universalist Association, Washington, DC
* Dr. Catherine Keller, Professor of Theology, Drew University, The Theological School, Madison, NJ
* Pam Kelly, Facilitator of the New Hampshire Faithful Democracy Network
* Dr. Nazir Khaja, Islamic Information Services, Los Angeles , CA
* Jung Ha Kim, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
* Frances Kissling, President, Catholics for a Free Choice, Washington, DC
* The Very Reverend Dr. James A. Kowalski, Dean, Cathedral of St.John the Divine, New York, New York
* Rev. Peter Laarman, Executive Director, Progressive Christians Uniting, Pomona, CA
* Jackie Ladd, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Cambridge, MA
* Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor of Tikkun Magazine and Rabbi of Beyt Tikkun Synagogue, San Francisco , CA
* Tat-siong Benny Liew, Chicago Theological Seminary
* Marie Lucey, OSF, Associate Director for Social Mission, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Silver Spring , MD
* Rabbi Jane Marder, Beth Am Congregation, Los Altos Hills , CA
* Rev. Timothy McDonald, Founder, African American Ministers Leadership Council and Pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
* Rabbi Paul Menitoff, Executive Vice President, Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York , NY
* Robert Parham, Executive Director, Baptist Center for Ethics, Nashville, Tennessee
* Rev. Dr. Andrew Sung Park, Professor, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH
* Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, President, Starr King School for the Ministry, Berkeley, CA
* Rev. Clarence Pemberton, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Pastor, New Hope Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA
* Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Washington, DC
* Sister Catherine Pinkerton, Network: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
* Rev. Lois M. Powell, Minister and Team Leader of Human Rights, Justice for Women and Transformation Ministry Team Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ, Cleveland, OH
* Rev. Dr. Bruce Prescott, Executive Director, Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists
* Rev. George F. Regas, Founder, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, L.A.
* Rev. Meg Riley, Director, Advocacy and Witness, Unitarian Universalist Association, Washington, DC
* David Robinson, Executive Director, Pax Christi USA, Erie, PA
* Charlie Rooney, Catholics for the Common Good, Detroit, MI
* Rev. Dr. Jose D. Rodriguez, Director, Th.M./Ph.D. Programs of Study, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, IL
* Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, Executive Director, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Los Angeles , CA
* Rev. Kenneth Samuel, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Pastor, Victory Church, Atlanta, GA
* Rabbi David Saperstein, Director and Counsel for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington, DC
* Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church, Portland, OR
* Rev. Paul H. Sherry, Coordinator, Mobilization to Overcome Poverty, National Council of Churches, Cleveland, OH
* Rev. Bill Sinkford, President, Unitarian Universalist Association, Washington, DC
* Rev. Dr. A. Knighton Stanley, Senior Minister, Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, DC
* Rev. Lynn Thomas Strauss, Minister, River Road Unitarian Church, Bethesda, MD
* Rev. Leonard Charles Stovall, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Pastor, Camp Wisdom United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX
* Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, President, Chicago Theological Seminary
* Rev. Romal Tune, Assistant Pastor, Nineteenth St. Baptist Church and Director for African-American Ministers Programs, People for the American Way , Washington, DC
* Jim Wallis, Editor, Sojourners, Washington, DC
* Rev. Jeremy M. Warnick, Vicar Christ Episcopal Church, New Bern , NC
* Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center, Philadelphia, PA
* Rev. Dr. Daphne Wiggins, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Assistant Pastor, Union Baptist Church, Durham, NC
* Rev. Reginald Williams, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Assistant Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL
* Rev. Dr. Roland Womack, Board Member, African-American Ministers Leadership Council, and Pastor, Progressive Baptist Church, Milwaukee, WI
* Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President, Union for Reform Judaism, New York , NY
ABA President: Celebrating Lincoln on Law Day
Celebrating Lincoln on Law Day: A Great Lawyer-President
H. Thomas Wells Jr., President, American Bar Association
When he established Law Day on May 1, 1958 as “a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law,” President Dwight Eisenhower sought to highlight for all Americans that our very freedom as a nation depends upon our continuing commitment to the rule of law. As he expressed it in the following year’s official proclamation for Law Day, “Free people can assure the blessings of liberty for themselves only if they recognize the necessity that the rule of law shall be supreme and that all men shall be equal before the law.”
Each year, when we observe Law Day, we celebrate this principle of the rule of law and recognize the contributions of the women and men who work on behalf of our system of law and justice.
This year, as Americans celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, we honor him on Law Day with the theme “A Legacy of Liberty—Celebrating Lincoln’s Bicentennial.” Regarded by many as our nation’s greatest and most eloquent president, Lincoln devoted much of his adult life to the practice of law. He was our quintessential lawyer-president.
Lincoln's background in the law informed both his actions and his oratory. Reflecting 50 years ago on the sesquicentennial of the president’s birth, cultural historian Jacques Barzun perceptively commented, “Something of Lincoln’s tone obviously comes from the practice of legal thought. It would be surprising if the effort of mind that Lincoln put into his profession had not come out again in his prose.” Grounded in his practical and principled understanding of American law and adhering to his own strong sense of moral clarity, we celebrate Lincoln today as a great leader who sought to preserve our national union and helped free millions from, in his own words, “the yoke of bondage.”
President Obama frequently notes the impact that Lincoln has had on him personally and on our nation. He acknowledged this debt when he announced his candidacy for the presidency—in Lincoln’s home of Springfield, Illinois: “Through his will and his words, he moved a nation and helped free a people. It is because of the millions who rallied to his cause that we are no longer divided, North and South, slave and free. It is because men and women of every race, from every walk of life, continued to march for freedom long after Lincoln was laid to rest, that today we have the chance to face the challenges of this millennium together, as one people—as Americans.”
This Law Day we encourage all Americans to renew their understanding of Abraham Lincoln. Celebrate in schools, courthouses, workplaces, and communities the impact he has had on our nation and on our democracy. By continuing the conversation on Lincoln and liberty, we can all ensure that the legacy of this great lawyer-president endures.
April 20, 2009
H. Thomas Wells Jr., President, American Bar Association
When he established Law Day on May 1, 1958 as “a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law,” President Dwight Eisenhower sought to highlight for all Americans that our very freedom as a nation depends upon our continuing commitment to the rule of law. As he expressed it in the following year’s official proclamation for Law Day, “Free people can assure the blessings of liberty for themselves only if they recognize the necessity that the rule of law shall be supreme and that all men shall be equal before the law.”
Each year, when we observe Law Day, we celebrate this principle of the rule of law and recognize the contributions of the women and men who work on behalf of our system of law and justice.
This year, as Americans celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, we honor him on Law Day with the theme “A Legacy of Liberty—Celebrating Lincoln’s Bicentennial.” Regarded by many as our nation’s greatest and most eloquent president, Lincoln devoted much of his adult life to the practice of law. He was our quintessential lawyer-president.
Lincoln's background in the law informed both his actions and his oratory. Reflecting 50 years ago on the sesquicentennial of the president’s birth, cultural historian Jacques Barzun perceptively commented, “Something of Lincoln’s tone obviously comes from the practice of legal thought. It would be surprising if the effort of mind that Lincoln put into his profession had not come out again in his prose.” Grounded in his practical and principled understanding of American law and adhering to his own strong sense of moral clarity, we celebrate Lincoln today as a great leader who sought to preserve our national union and helped free millions from, in his own words, “the yoke of bondage.”
President Obama frequently notes the impact that Lincoln has had on him personally and on our nation. He acknowledged this debt when he announced his candidacy for the presidency—in Lincoln’s home of Springfield, Illinois: “Through his will and his words, he moved a nation and helped free a people. It is because of the millions who rallied to his cause that we are no longer divided, North and South, slave and free. It is because men and women of every race, from every walk of life, continued to march for freedom long after Lincoln was laid to rest, that today we have the chance to face the challenges of this millennium together, as one people—as Americans.”
This Law Day we encourage all Americans to renew their understanding of Abraham Lincoln. Celebrate in schools, courthouses, workplaces, and communities the impact he has had on our nation and on our democracy. By continuing the conversation on Lincoln and liberty, we can all ensure that the legacy of this great lawyer-president endures.
April 20, 2009
ABA Journal article raises the question: Do St. Augustine City Attorneys Give Miranda Warnings During Investigations?
Orlando attorney WILLIAM L. PENCE (with hat), City of St. Augustine anti-environmental lawyer, billed hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-starter plan to repatriate waste to historic African-American community of Lincolnville
(Formerly with Akerman Senterfitt & now with Baker & Hostetler)
ABA Journal
Legal Ethics
Lawyer Predicts ‘Miranda Warnings’ by Law Firms in Corporate Probes
Posted Apr 13, 2009, 11:40 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A judge’s recent decision to refer Irell & Manella to the California State Bar for an ethics probe has corporate lawyers speculating it will lead to more detailed warnings by law firms conducting corporate probes.
U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney said Irell had conflicts of interest when it represented both Broadcom Corp. and its chief financial officer, William Ruehle. The judge also said the law firm should have obtained Ruehle’s written consent before turning over information to prosecutors from an interview with him.
Irell contends it gave Ruehle proper notice, and the judge’s ruling is in error. Still, the decision “is reverberating among law firms” that conduct internal corporate investigations, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.). While law firms already warn corporate employees that they represent their employer rather than workers, the notice is likely to become more precise, the story says.
Steve Crimmins, a former Securities and Exchange Commission lawyer now at Mayer Brown, told the newspaper that the warnings will “turn into something akin to the Miranda warning the police give to suspects."
A similar issue is being raised in a suit by an executive of Stanford Financial Group, the article points out. Laura Pendergest-Holt claims in the malpractice suit against Thomas Sjoblom and his law firm Proskauer Rose that the partner represented the company rather than her interests in hearings before the SEC. She also claims Sjoblom failed to inform her of her Fifth Amendment rights.
Pendergest-Holt has been charged with obstructing an SEC investigation into her employer by withholding information.
Bad St. Augustine City Manager, No Stimulus Money
CITY MANAGER WILLIAM B. HARRIS (Photo by J.D. Pleasant)
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER JOHN REGAN, with "pipe" that long leaked sewage effluent in St. Augustine's saltwater marsh.
What Congress won't do is give our City of St. Augustine stimulus money, given the City's Environmental Racism, waste of public funds and recidivist pollution.
An Environmental Justice complaint is pending with the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to EJ regulations and the 1964 Civil Rights Act (Title VI).
While Congress will likely fund St. Johns County projects with earmarks or stimulus money, any notion of Congress giving unaccountable WILLIAM B. HARRISS and his City Hall Gang any money is absurd.
Local progressives have been watching St. Augustine City Hall.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall put 40,000 cubic yards of solid waste in the Old City Reservoir.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall avoid, evade, prevaricate and downright lie about its putting 40,000 cubic yards of solid waste in the Old City Reservoir (On February 24, 2006, then-Mayor George Gardner told me it was "clean fill (sic)," to which EPA expert John Marler responded dryly, "there's no bedsprings in clean fill."
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall intimidate persons asking questions about its putting 40,000 cubic yards of solid waste in the Old City Reservoir.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall drag its heels for three years about its cleanup of 40,000 cubic yards of solid waste in the Old City Reservoir, despite fines and orders to put the waste in a Class I landfill, the City resisted putting the waste in a Class I landfill, saying it would never agree to it.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall dump treated sewage effluent in our saltwater marsh for years, through a leaky "pipe" that more closely resembled a colander.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall conceal dumping sewage effluent in our saltwater marsh from the people for years, with the City Manager briefing Commissioners privately and obtaining their consent for delays -- a Sunshine violation that must be prosecuted by the State's Attorney's office.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall attempt to coerce, restrain and intimidate persons asking questions about its dumping sewage effluent in our saltwater marsh.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall pass unjust laws attempting to outlaw visual artists and musicians from sharing their talents with tourists, violating civil rights to engage in First Amendment protected activity (and hurting tourism).
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall refuse to adopt environmental whistleblower protections (which our Anastasia Mosquito Control District adopted November 20th).
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall miss a deadline to apply for a million dollar grant to fix the Lightner Museum/City Hall roof (apparently thanks to the the City Manager's hiring his own nephew).
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall tolerate police abuses that left Marshall Burns a quadriplegic, which caused taxpayers to spend some $1.5 million, spread over three years, above what was covered by insurance.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall waste money on a $25 million White Elephant Parking Garage, a $1.1 million utility bill-paying building, and other costly flubdubs, while doing little for African-American and low-income residents, who must endure bad streets (Riberia Street is a disgrace) and invidious discrimination.
We've seen St. Augustine City Hall practice Apartheid -- environmental racism, employment discrimination and gross insensitivity (as typified by illegal dumping in African-American and low-income areas of Lincolnville and West Augustine).
We've seen a lot -- and documented it all.
St. Augustine's City Hall's actions are obscene.
And Congress was watching.
So exactly who was it who said, "You can't fight City Hall."
Yes, we can!
Let's work tirelessly to clean up St. Augustine's haughty City Hall and adopt a St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway Act. See below.
The answer, my friends, is a St. Augustine Nationa.l Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway -- www.staugustgreen.com
The Record's editorials (below) rightly describe with alarm the legislature's proposed cutoff of state funds for new parks (Florida Forever), which will adversely affect efforts to preserve what's in need of preserving in St. Augustine and St. Johns County.
The answer to the concern is the St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway Act of 2009.
See www.staugustgreen.com
There's no reason for anyone to be "in a quandary like lawmakers are" (of the St. Augustine Record editorial writers say they are).
The St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway Act of 2009 has bipartisan support.
It's long past time for Congress to introduce, debate and enact the St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway Act.
What do you reckon?
The answer to the concern is the St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway Act of 2009.
See www.staugustgreen.com
There's no reason for anyone to be "in a quandary like lawmakers are" (of the St. Augustine Record editorial writers say they are).
The St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway Act of 2009 has bipartisan support.
It's long past time for Congress to introduce, debate and enact the St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway Act.
What do you reckon?
Editorial: Uncertainty puts Florida Forever in jeopardy
Uncertainty puts Florida Forever in jeopardy
Publication Date: 05/01/09
The uncertainty of Florida's revenue for the coming year, at least a $6 billion shortfall is forecast, has put many of the state's 'feel good' programs at risk. As the Florida Legislature today begins its final day of the 2009 regular session and awaits a special session on the proposed $65 billion budget next week, the threat level is elevated for programs like Florida Forever, the state's landmark land conservation program.
In St. Johns County, the benefit of Florida Forever and its predecessor, Preservation 2000, over 20 years has been $55 million in purchases of properties by local governments, for example, public parks, waterfront access sites, habitats for the protection of wildlife and environmental protection. St. Johns County, like other local governments, wants to see it continue. So do we.
But, a proposal to fund at least $12 million in Florida Forever purchases next year has flat lined. The leadership of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate eliminated it from their budget plans which usually is "the kiss of death" to a program.
Florida Forever has done a lot for St. Johns County and communities within it.
Alpine Groves Park in northwest St. Johns County on the St. Johns River was saved for the public by the state and the county, working with the Trust for Public Land.
Maratea, a great venue along the St. Augustine Beach front, is being purchased by the Beach city from owners who had hoped to develop it as a residential/commercial community. The Beach city holds out hope for reimbursement from Florida Forever funds.
Like many other people we had hoped the state's revenue picture would defy recent gloomy outlooks from state economists. But that doesn't look like it will happen any time soon. Instead debates continue over use of federal stimulus funds -- a short-term solution, and over cuts to state jobs, education, health and public safety. All enhance our quality of life.
We're in a quandary like lawmakers are. We find ourselves saying: "Don't cut that." In reality, some things have to be cut. We just hope that the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist will find some money to keep Florida Forever going, even on a smaller scale. It benefits our state's environmental protection, recreation, habitat conservation and tourism and much more.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/050109/opinions_050109_025.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Publication Date: 05/01/09
The uncertainty of Florida's revenue for the coming year, at least a $6 billion shortfall is forecast, has put many of the state's 'feel good' programs at risk. As the Florida Legislature today begins its final day of the 2009 regular session and awaits a special session on the proposed $65 billion budget next week, the threat level is elevated for programs like Florida Forever, the state's landmark land conservation program.
In St. Johns County, the benefit of Florida Forever and its predecessor, Preservation 2000, over 20 years has been $55 million in purchases of properties by local governments, for example, public parks, waterfront access sites, habitats for the protection of wildlife and environmental protection. St. Johns County, like other local governments, wants to see it continue. So do we.
But, a proposal to fund at least $12 million in Florida Forever purchases next year has flat lined. The leadership of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate eliminated it from their budget plans which usually is "the kiss of death" to a program.
Florida Forever has done a lot for St. Johns County and communities within it.
Alpine Groves Park in northwest St. Johns County on the St. Johns River was saved for the public by the state and the county, working with the Trust for Public Land.
Maratea, a great venue along the St. Augustine Beach front, is being purchased by the Beach city from owners who had hoped to develop it as a residential/commercial community. The Beach city holds out hope for reimbursement from Florida Forever funds.
Like many other people we had hoped the state's revenue picture would defy recent gloomy outlooks from state economists. But that doesn't look like it will happen any time soon. Instead debates continue over use of federal stimulus funds -- a short-term solution, and over cuts to state jobs, education, health and public safety. All enhance our quality of life.
We're in a quandary like lawmakers are. We find ourselves saying: "Don't cut that." In reality, some things have to be cut. We just hope that the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist will find some money to keep Florida Forever going, even on a smaller scale. It benefits our state's environmental protection, recreation, habitat conservation and tourism and much more.
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http://staugustine.com/stories/050109/opinions_050109_025.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Editorial: Keep 'Florida Forever' saving county land
Keep 'Florida Forever' saving county land
Publication Date: 04/15/09
If Florida Forever, the state's landmark land conservation program, is cut by the Florida Legislature, watch out.
Environmentally sensitive land, still in priavte hands, could be lost forever. It could likely be paved over in the future with mega-communities of residential and commercial development if Florida Forever's 20-year run of funding ends this year.
Florida's image as a place for eco-tourism will be diminished, too. Many toursits come for our natural beauty and wildlife settings.
If Florida Forever is not funded again this year, its legacy, valued at $55 million in St. Johns County, will still be most appreciated. But at the same time, the loss of future parks, recreation and conservation areas, wildlife habitats and the like will be mourned forever.
Without Florida Forever funding, there may never be another Alpine Groves Park. St. Augustine Beach might not be able to get reimbursed for the purchase of Phase One of the Maratea beachfront property, which will affect the subsequent purchase of another portion of that land.
Floridians have seen Florida Forever as a great salvation for more than two decades.
As lawmakers sweep through state trust funds for available dollars, Florida Forever's cache is being scrutinized, too.
The St. Johns County Commission is on record by resolution for supporting the continuation of funding. Statewide polls in recent years, funded by environmental groups, overwhelmingly support the continuation of the fund.
Because of the funding structure to Florida Forever, it has been able to take its documentary stamp proceeds and leverage it into $300 million of purchasing power. Last year, Florida Forever received $30 million to leverage, according to The Florida Times-Union. It likely will be considerably less because of the decline in housing sales.
We know it is crunch time and that government, businesses and industries have to take cuts. But whatever the state receives from the documentary stamp tax, at least some of that money should continue to go to Florida Forever.
That's not only a sound decision to keep Florida Forever going, but also it's a smart one, considering that some large land owners may be more willing to deal with the state because private sales have dried up.
Click here to return to story:
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/041509/opinions_041509_046.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Publication Date: 04/15/09
If Florida Forever, the state's landmark land conservation program, is cut by the Florida Legislature, watch out.
Environmentally sensitive land, still in priavte hands, could be lost forever. It could likely be paved over in the future with mega-communities of residential and commercial development if Florida Forever's 20-year run of funding ends this year.
Florida's image as a place for eco-tourism will be diminished, too. Many toursits come for our natural beauty and wildlife settings.
If Florida Forever is not funded again this year, its legacy, valued at $55 million in St. Johns County, will still be most appreciated. But at the same time, the loss of future parks, recreation and conservation areas, wildlife habitats and the like will be mourned forever.
Without Florida Forever funding, there may never be another Alpine Groves Park. St. Augustine Beach might not be able to get reimbursed for the purchase of Phase One of the Maratea beachfront property, which will affect the subsequent purchase of another portion of that land.
Floridians have seen Florida Forever as a great salvation for more than two decades.
As lawmakers sweep through state trust funds for available dollars, Florida Forever's cache is being scrutinized, too.
The St. Johns County Commission is on record by resolution for supporting the continuation of funding. Statewide polls in recent years, funded by environmental groups, overwhelmingly support the continuation of the fund.
Because of the funding structure to Florida Forever, it has been able to take its documentary stamp proceeds and leverage it into $300 million of purchasing power. Last year, Florida Forever received $30 million to leverage, according to The Florida Times-Union. It likely will be considerably less because of the decline in housing sales.
We know it is crunch time and that government, businesses and industries have to take cuts. But whatever the state receives from the documentary stamp tax, at least some of that money should continue to go to Florida Forever.
That's not only a sound decision to keep Florida Forever going, but also it's a smart one, considering that some large land owners may be more willing to deal with the state because private sales have dried up.
Click here to return to story:
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/041509/opinions_041509_046.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Thursday, April 30, 2009
St. Augustine must have a national historical park, seashore and scenic coastal highway -- see www.staugustgreen.com
St. Augustine must have a national historical park, seashore and scenic coastal highway -- see www.staugustgreen.com
Guest Column: St. Augustine should have a national historical park
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 03/26/07
Real estate speculators (some foreign-funded) continue to destroy our local wildlife, habitat, nature and history. Roads are clogged. Noise abounds. Our way of life is being destroyed. Unfeeling, uncaring Philistines are turning St. Johns County into an uglier, unreasonable facsimile of South Florida. Unjust county government stewards allowed an asphalt plant near homes. Another plant reportedly emits 50 tons/year of volatile organic compounds into residents' and workers' lungs and brains.
Speculators are even trying to build homes on top of unremediated septic tanks/fields, while vacationing boaters pollute our Bay front with untreated sewage (the only boat-pumpout-station is at Conch House Marina). Our Bay front (which lacks a harbormaster) had an oil spill Jan. 15. Developers demand to build docks over city-owned State Road 312 area marshes for boat-owners' pleasure. Enough.
Let's invite environmental tourism by preserving an "emerald necklace of parks," including the city-owned marsh.
Ask Congress to hold hearings to map our "St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore" (SANHPNS), using 1928-style trolleycars to save gasoline, uniting the Castillo and Fort Matanzas National Monuments, "slave market park," downtown streets, Government House, Red House Bluff indigenous village (next to historical society), marshes, forests, National Cemetery, GTM NERR, Anastasia State Park, Fort Mose and other city, county, state and St. Johns River Water Management District lands.
Let's cancel future shock/schlock/sprawl/ugliness/skyscrapers and eliminate temptations to abuse/neglect/misuse state parks and historic buildings for golf courses and rote, rube commercialism.
In December, State Sen. Jim King suggested Florida donate "deed and title" of state buildings to our city. I suggested that we deed them to the National Park Service (NPS), with St. George Street visitor center in restored buildings, saving millions (as in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park).
St. Augustine needs a national civil rights and indigenous history museum, celebrating local residents and national leaders, whose courage helped win passage of 1964's Civil Rights Act. Why not put the museum in the old Woolworth's building, restored to its former glory, with wood floors, lunch-counter and exhibits on the civil rights struggles that changed history (well- documented in Jeremy Dean's documentary, "Dare Not Walk Alone"), with "footsoldiers monument" across the street ?
Why not (finally) implement the 2003 National Trust for Historic Preservation and Flagler College study on how to protect our history? Let's tax tourists more to fund historic preservation, as in Charleston/elsewhere.
Let's preserve/protect the quality of our lives and visitors' experience (and property values) by preserving forever what speculators haven't destroyed (yet).
Let's adopt a three-year moratorium on growth, while we work to adopt truly comprehensive plans worthy of the name.
Colonial National Historical Park (NHP), Philadelphia's Independence NHP and NHPs in Boston, New Bedford, Valley Forge, San Francisco and Saratoga.
There's a Martin Luther King historical site in Atlanta, NHPs for "Rosie the Riveter" (California) and the "War in the Pacific" (Guam), and new parks slated for ten Japanese internment camps.
Florida hosts Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. Let's add St. Augustine to the list.
From sea to shining sea, America's coastal areas enjoy national parks. Where's ours?
Let's make parts of State Road A1A a National Parkway and hiking/biking trail, like the Colonial National Historical Parkway and the Baltimore Washington, George Washington, Rock Creek and John D. Rockefeller (Wyoming) Parkways and the Appalachian Trial and C&O Canal.
Let's add St. Augustine to the list of our nation's most beloved national parks, joining Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Florida's 500th and St. Augustine's 450th anniversaries are only six and eight years away (2013 and 2015). Enacting a national park and seashore will forever preserve the treasures that we love. It will halt the sprawl we hate, increase tourism and reduce local taxes, paying speculators to stop.
Mayor Joe Boles' mother graciously thanked me for speaking out on these issues after the Jan. 22 City Commission meeting -- issues that Mrs. Boles has been outspoken about for "30 years." Let's honor/heed Mrs. Boles' wisdom -- and those who proposed a national park before World War II. Let's save St. Augustine and our environment forever.
#
Ed Slavin lives in St. Augustine.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/032607/opinions_4479465.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Guest Column: St. Augustine should have a national historical park
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 03/26/07
Real estate speculators (some foreign-funded) continue to destroy our local wildlife, habitat, nature and history. Roads are clogged. Noise abounds. Our way of life is being destroyed. Unfeeling, uncaring Philistines are turning St. Johns County into an uglier, unreasonable facsimile of South Florida. Unjust county government stewards allowed an asphalt plant near homes. Another plant reportedly emits 50 tons/year of volatile organic compounds into residents' and workers' lungs and brains.
Speculators are even trying to build homes on top of unremediated septic tanks/fields, while vacationing boaters pollute our Bay front with untreated sewage (the only boat-pumpout-station is at Conch House Marina). Our Bay front (which lacks a harbormaster) had an oil spill Jan. 15. Developers demand to build docks over city-owned State Road 312 area marshes for boat-owners' pleasure. Enough.
Let's invite environmental tourism by preserving an "emerald necklace of parks," including the city-owned marsh.
Ask Congress to hold hearings to map our "St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore" (SANHPNS), using 1928-style trolleycars to save gasoline, uniting the Castillo and Fort Matanzas National Monuments, "slave market park," downtown streets, Government House, Red House Bluff indigenous village (next to historical society), marshes, forests, National Cemetery, GTM NERR, Anastasia State Park, Fort Mose and other city, county, state and St. Johns River Water Management District lands.
Let's cancel future shock/schlock/sprawl/ugliness/skyscrapers and eliminate temptations to abuse/neglect/misuse state parks and historic buildings for golf courses and rote, rube commercialism.
In December, State Sen. Jim King suggested Florida donate "deed and title" of state buildings to our city. I suggested that we deed them to the National Park Service (NPS), with St. George Street visitor center in restored buildings, saving millions (as in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park).
St. Augustine needs a national civil rights and indigenous history museum, celebrating local residents and national leaders, whose courage helped win passage of 1964's Civil Rights Act. Why not put the museum in the old Woolworth's building, restored to its former glory, with wood floors, lunch-counter and exhibits on the civil rights struggles that changed history (well- documented in Jeremy Dean's documentary, "Dare Not Walk Alone"), with "footsoldiers monument" across the street ?
Why not (finally) implement the 2003 National Trust for Historic Preservation and Flagler College study on how to protect our history? Let's tax tourists more to fund historic preservation, as in Charleston/elsewhere.
Let's preserve/protect the quality of our lives and visitors' experience (and property values) by preserving forever what speculators haven't destroyed (yet).
Let's adopt a three-year moratorium on growth, while we work to adopt truly comprehensive plans worthy of the name.
Colonial National Historical Park (NHP), Philadelphia's Independence NHP and NHPs in Boston, New Bedford, Valley Forge, San Francisco and Saratoga.
There's a Martin Luther King historical site in Atlanta, NHPs for "Rosie the Riveter" (California) and the "War in the Pacific" (Guam), and new parks slated for ten Japanese internment camps.
Florida hosts Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. Let's add St. Augustine to the list.
From sea to shining sea, America's coastal areas enjoy national parks. Where's ours?
Let's make parts of State Road A1A a National Parkway and hiking/biking trail, like the Colonial National Historical Parkway and the Baltimore Washington, George Washington, Rock Creek and John D. Rockefeller (Wyoming) Parkways and the Appalachian Trial and C&O Canal.
Let's add St. Augustine to the list of our nation's most beloved national parks, joining Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Florida's 500th and St. Augustine's 450th anniversaries are only six and eight years away (2013 and 2015). Enacting a national park and seashore will forever preserve the treasures that we love. It will halt the sprawl we hate, increase tourism and reduce local taxes, paying speculators to stop.
Mayor Joe Boles' mother graciously thanked me for speaking out on these issues after the Jan. 22 City Commission meeting -- issues that Mrs. Boles has been outspoken about for "30 years." Let's honor/heed Mrs. Boles' wisdom -- and those who proposed a national park before World War II. Let's save St. Augustine and our environment forever.
#
Ed Slavin lives in St. Augustine.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/032607/opinions_4479465.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Orlando Sentine: CONGRESSMAN JOHN LUIGI MICA'S "Sunrail" Deal is "Awful"
orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-asecdockery19042009apr20,0,1886846.story
OrlandoSentinel.com
Paula Dockery: SunRail is OK, but this deal is awful
Dan Tracy
Sentinel Staff Writer
April 20, 2009
TALLAHASSEE
Like it or not, and she says she doesn't, Lakeland Sen. Paula Dockery is the equivalent of a railroad crossing arm that has dropped in front of Central Florida's planned SunRail commuter train.
She stopped the $1.2 billion project in the Legislature last year — and she says she's on track to do it again.
The 47-year-old Republican lawmaker has recruited an unusual assortment of allies — labor unions and Democrats — to push SunRail into the last two weeks of the session, a perilous time when legislation can be lost in the crush of hundreds of bills.
Though the project has cleared two Senate committees and will likely pass a third today, Dockery is confident she will prevail. She estimates she has 26 votes to defeat the bill (SB 1212) if it comes to the floor of the 40-member Senate.
Dockery says she takes no joy in trying to deprive Central Florida of a train that would run 61 miles from DeLand through downtown Orlando to Poinciana by 2013. In fact, she said, she is a big mass-transit supporter and would like to see Central Florida get its train.
Her husband, after all, is C.C. "Doc" Dockery, the Lakeland multimillionaire and Republican fundraiser who has tried for decades to get a high-speed train built that would link Tampa with Miami and Orlando.
And it's that relationship that SunRail supporters privately grouse about. They say Dockery is motivated primarily by the supposed animus of her husband, whom they contend is angry that high-speed rail hasn't happened.
He spent $3 million of his own money on a statewide referendum in 2000 that amended the state constitution to create a high-speed-rail system. But then-Gov. Jeb Bush not only got that vote reversed in 2004, he then threw his backing to the Central Florida commuter-rail plan.
Dockery, critics say, is exacting her husband's revenge. "Absolutely not true," said Doc Dockery, who declined further comment.
Paula Dockery also scoffs at the notion. "I'm not against SunRail," she said during an interview in her third-floor Senate office.
The problem, she said, is the agreement between the state Department of Transportation and CSX, the railroad company that owns the tracks that the commuter train would use.
"This is not about me," Dockery said. "This is about a bad deal that needs to be improved."
A University of Florida graduate with a master's degree in mass communications, Dockery said her initial response to SunRail was ambivalent. But she started to pay more attention when she was told freight traffic could be rerouted through her hometown to make way for the commuter train.
SunRail is only a part of a plan that would have the state pay CSX $759 million; more than half will go for improvements to enable CSX to re-route its freight traffic to tracks running down the center of the state and into a new rail yard near Winter Haven. One consequence: the number of freight trains running through downtown Lakeland could increase from an average of 16 today to as many as 54 in coming years.
Dockery started asking FDOT officials questions, she said, and largely was ignored.
"They sort of patted me on the head and said, 'Don't worry. This is going to happen,'" she recalled.
FDOT officials say they cooperated with her. And indeed, Dockery has more than two dozen legal-sized boxes filled with documents about SunRail in her downtown Lakeland office.
Combing through the records with her staff, she said, she concluded that CSX was being paid too much and shifting virtually all of the risk related to any possible accidents onto the state.
A former State Farm insurance underwriter whose husband made his fortune in insurance, Dockery zeroed in on how liability would be split between CSX and the state. Under the current plan — the subject of the bill now in the Senate — the railroad and the state would buy a $200million liability policy that would cover virtually any accident, even one caused by CSX.
"Nothing is coming out of CSX's pockets," she said.
But the railroad is insisting on approval of the entire deal in return for selling its right to run on the tracks through Orlando. That right of way, says CSX spokesman Gary Sease, "has real and tangible value. That's pretty obvious."
A 15-year legislative veteran, including six years in the House, Dockery dug in to fight SunRail. Last year, she recruited trial lawyers — who normally ally with Democrats — and a powerful Miami Republican senator to win.
The lawyers were upset because SunRail was seeking "sovereign immunity," sharp limits on lawsuits.
And with the help of Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, who chaired the critical Judiciary Committee, she tied the train in parliamentary knots that kept it from coming to a floor vote.
This year, SunRail's sponsor, Sen. Lee Constantine, R- Altamonte Springs, dropped sovereign immunity to mollify the trial lawyers. He even got the support of Lakeland by promising in the bill to help reroute freight traffic away from that city.
Dockery responded by enlisting the AFL-CIO, which has strong influence with the Senate's 14 Democrats. The unions are concerned because eight unionized CSX workers could lose their jobs — and worse, the commuter train could be operated by a nonunion company.
Dockery has also insisted — despite DOT spreadsheets that say otherwise — that there are "hundreds of millions" of state dollars set aside for SunRail. Democrats, seeking more money for education, have jumped on that argument, prompting Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee to call SunRail "a choo-choo train to nowhere."
Constantine says Dockery has "been very persuasive. She has the 15-second argument."
By that, he means she can say SunRail is a bad deal that could cost taxpayers millions. His response is more complicated, what he calls "the 15-minute argument" that goes into economic development, transportation philosophy and DOT funding. That's more difficult to sell.
Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, and a SunRail opponent, said Dockery has been so effective at thwarting the train through "sheer doggedness."
Storms said it is not uncommon to hear from Dockery two or three times a day as she passes along new arguments about the train. "She grabs hold. I would say Senator Dockery has not let an opportunity go by," Storms said.
Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel
OrlandoSentinel.com
Paula Dockery: SunRail is OK, but this deal is awful
Dan Tracy
Sentinel Staff Writer
April 20, 2009
TALLAHASSEE
Like it or not, and she says she doesn't, Lakeland Sen. Paula Dockery is the equivalent of a railroad crossing arm that has dropped in front of Central Florida's planned SunRail commuter train.
She stopped the $1.2 billion project in the Legislature last year — and she says she's on track to do it again.
The 47-year-old Republican lawmaker has recruited an unusual assortment of allies — labor unions and Democrats — to push SunRail into the last two weeks of the session, a perilous time when legislation can be lost in the crush of hundreds of bills.
Though the project has cleared two Senate committees and will likely pass a third today, Dockery is confident she will prevail. She estimates she has 26 votes to defeat the bill (SB 1212) if it comes to the floor of the 40-member Senate.
Dockery says she takes no joy in trying to deprive Central Florida of a train that would run 61 miles from DeLand through downtown Orlando to Poinciana by 2013. In fact, she said, she is a big mass-transit supporter and would like to see Central Florida get its train.
Her husband, after all, is C.C. "Doc" Dockery, the Lakeland multimillionaire and Republican fundraiser who has tried for decades to get a high-speed train built that would link Tampa with Miami and Orlando.
And it's that relationship that SunRail supporters privately grouse about. They say Dockery is motivated primarily by the supposed animus of her husband, whom they contend is angry that high-speed rail hasn't happened.
He spent $3 million of his own money on a statewide referendum in 2000 that amended the state constitution to create a high-speed-rail system. But then-Gov. Jeb Bush not only got that vote reversed in 2004, he then threw his backing to the Central Florida commuter-rail plan.
Dockery, critics say, is exacting her husband's revenge. "Absolutely not true," said Doc Dockery, who declined further comment.
Paula Dockery also scoffs at the notion. "I'm not against SunRail," she said during an interview in her third-floor Senate office.
The problem, she said, is the agreement between the state Department of Transportation and CSX, the railroad company that owns the tracks that the commuter train would use.
"This is not about me," Dockery said. "This is about a bad deal that needs to be improved."
A University of Florida graduate with a master's degree in mass communications, Dockery said her initial response to SunRail was ambivalent. But she started to pay more attention when she was told freight traffic could be rerouted through her hometown to make way for the commuter train.
SunRail is only a part of a plan that would have the state pay CSX $759 million; more than half will go for improvements to enable CSX to re-route its freight traffic to tracks running down the center of the state and into a new rail yard near Winter Haven. One consequence: the number of freight trains running through downtown Lakeland could increase from an average of 16 today to as many as 54 in coming years.
Dockery started asking FDOT officials questions, she said, and largely was ignored.
"They sort of patted me on the head and said, 'Don't worry. This is going to happen,'" she recalled.
FDOT officials say they cooperated with her. And indeed, Dockery has more than two dozen legal-sized boxes filled with documents about SunRail in her downtown Lakeland office.
Combing through the records with her staff, she said, she concluded that CSX was being paid too much and shifting virtually all of the risk related to any possible accidents onto the state.
A former State Farm insurance underwriter whose husband made his fortune in insurance, Dockery zeroed in on how liability would be split between CSX and the state. Under the current plan — the subject of the bill now in the Senate — the railroad and the state would buy a $200million liability policy that would cover virtually any accident, even one caused by CSX.
"Nothing is coming out of CSX's pockets," she said.
But the railroad is insisting on approval of the entire deal in return for selling its right to run on the tracks through Orlando. That right of way, says CSX spokesman Gary Sease, "has real and tangible value. That's pretty obvious."
A 15-year legislative veteran, including six years in the House, Dockery dug in to fight SunRail. Last year, she recruited trial lawyers — who normally ally with Democrats — and a powerful Miami Republican senator to win.
The lawyers were upset because SunRail was seeking "sovereign immunity," sharp limits on lawsuits.
And with the help of Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, who chaired the critical Judiciary Committee, she tied the train in parliamentary knots that kept it from coming to a floor vote.
This year, SunRail's sponsor, Sen. Lee Constantine, R- Altamonte Springs, dropped sovereign immunity to mollify the trial lawyers. He even got the support of Lakeland by promising in the bill to help reroute freight traffic away from that city.
Dockery responded by enlisting the AFL-CIO, which has strong influence with the Senate's 14 Democrats. The unions are concerned because eight unionized CSX workers could lose their jobs — and worse, the commuter train could be operated by a nonunion company.
Dockery has also insisted — despite DOT spreadsheets that say otherwise — that there are "hundreds of millions" of state dollars set aside for SunRail. Democrats, seeking more money for education, have jumped on that argument, prompting Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee to call SunRail "a choo-choo train to nowhere."
Constantine says Dockery has "been very persuasive. She has the 15-second argument."
By that, he means she can say SunRail is a bad deal that could cost taxpayers millions. His response is more complicated, what he calls "the 15-minute argument" that goes into economic development, transportation philosophy and DOT funding. That's more difficult to sell.
Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, and a SunRail opponent, said Dockery has been so effective at thwarting the train through "sheer doggedness."
Storms said it is not uncommon to hear from Dockery two or three times a day as she passes along new arguments about the train. "She grabs hold. I would say Senator Dockery has not let an opportunity go by," Storms said.
Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel
TIME FOR A NO-BRIBERY CAMPAIGN IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY
TIME FOR A NO-BRIBERY CAMPAIGN IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY
We need an anti-bribery campaign in St. Johns County and St. Augustine and the other government agencies here.
People who are offered bribes should turn in the bribepayer.
People who are asked to give bribes should turn in the public official.
A culture of corruption can be changed one day at a time, just as courageous citizens have done in Sicily.
Stand up to bribepayers and bribetakers, who destroy our democracy.
Interesting that there's never been one editorial in local newspapers against bribery, even though our former Republican County Commission Chair THOMAS MANUEL is under indictment for bribery,for accepting $60,000.
Oleaginous St. Augustine corporate lawyer GEORGE McCLURE, longtime developer lawyer who shows his open contempt for public particpation in govenment, is scheduled to be a witness against MANUEL. Did McCLURE get a deal from federal prosecutors? If not, why is McCLURE testifying? Is this a sudden pang of conscience after inflicting so many ugly, tree-killing, wetland-destroying projects on our community?
What do you reckon?
We need an anti-bribery campaign in St. Johns County and St. Augustine and the other government agencies here.
People who are offered bribes should turn in the bribepayer.
People who are asked to give bribes should turn in the public official.
A culture of corruption can be changed one day at a time, just as courageous citizens have done in Sicily.
Stand up to bribepayers and bribetakers, who destroy our democracy.
Interesting that there's never been one editorial in local newspapers against bribery, even though our former Republican County Commission Chair THOMAS MANUEL is under indictment for bribery,for accepting $60,000.
Oleaginous St. Augustine corporate lawyer GEORGE McCLURE, longtime developer lawyer who shows his open contempt for public particpation in govenment, is scheduled to be a witness against MANUEL. Did McCLURE get a deal from federal prosecutors? If not, why is McCLURE testifying? Is this a sudden pang of conscience after inflicting so many ugly, tree-killing, wetland-destroying projects on our community?
What do you reckon?
“A PEOPLE UNITED” COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION April 30, 2009 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM ST. PAUL AME CHURCH 85 MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE ST. AUGUSTINE, FL
“A PEOPLE UNITED”
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
April 30, 2009
6:00 PM- 7:30 PM
ST. PAUL AME CHURCH
85 MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL 32084
CONTACT REV. RON RAWLS FOR MORE INFORMATION
Pastor@SaintPaulFamily.com / 904 829-3918 office
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
April 30, 2009
6:00 PM- 7:30 PM
ST. PAUL AME CHURCH
85 MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL 32084
CONTACT REV. RON RAWLS FOR MORE INFORMATION
Pastor@SaintPaulFamily.com / 904 829-3918 office
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
GROUND ZERO FOR UGLIFYING DEVELOPER DANNY SCHECTER's EFFORT TO DESTROY ST. AUGUSTINE'S HISTORIC CHARM
The most historic spot in the Nation's Oldest City is GROUND ZERO of uglifying developer DANNY SCHECTER et ux and their lawyer GEORGE McCLURE's effort to inflict a modern building where Spanish Colonial belongs. See below.
Speak May 21 at 2PM Meeting of Historic Architecture Review Board -- Does This Ugly, Palatka-Style Block Belong at Cathedral Place & St. George St?
Not one of the public hearing witnesses at the April 27, 2009 City Commission meeting thought so. What do you think? See below.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
THE MICA FAMILY: Is Bank of Montreal considering J. CLARK MICA, Congressman JOHN LUIGI MICA's Son, As Lobbyist?
Is the Bank of Montreal considering hiring CONGRESSMAN JOHN LUIGI MICA's son, J. CLARK MICA, as a lobbyist?
Formerly a $100,000/year HUD Schedule C Political Patronage employee under President G.W. Bush, J. CLARK MICA is looking for private sector opportunities that are his because of his surname.
16-year right-wing Congressman MICA's son J. CLARK MICA is scion of a father who was top aide to controversial homophobic U.S. Senator PAULA HAWKINS (JOHN LUIGI MICA).
J. CLARK MICA has two uncles who are lobbyists in Tallahassee (Republican DAVID MICA lobbies for Big Oil) and Washington, D.C. (Democrat DAN MICA lobbies for Credit Union National Association).
J. CLARK MICA's sister, D'ANNE MICA, lobbies for people who want influence with her father, including the SANFORD AIRPORT AUTHORITY, where she was introduced in sexist fashion as "CONGRESSMAN MICA's daughter," waltzing off with the first of a line of no-bid contracts.
For whom will J. CLARK MICA lobby next?
Some rich guys, no doubt. Stay tuned.
St. Augustine must have a national historical park, seashore and scenic coastal highway -- see www.staugustgreen.com
Guest Column: St. Augustine should have a national historical park
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 03/26/07
Real estate speculators (some foreign-funded) continue to destroy our local wildlife, habitat, nature and history. Roads are clogged. Noise abounds. Our way of life is being destroyed. Unfeeling, uncaring Philistines are turning St. Johns County into an uglier, unreasonable facsimile of South Florida. Unjust county government stewards allowed an asphalt plant near homes. Another plant reportedly emits 50 tons/year of volatile organic compounds into residents' and workers' lungs and brains.
Speculators are even trying to build homes on top of unremediated septic tanks/fields, while vacationing boaters pollute our Bay front with untreated sewage (the only boat-pumpout-station is at Conch House Marina). Our Bay front (which lacks a harbormaster) had an oil spill Jan. 15. Developers demand to build docks over city-owned State Road 312 area marshes for boat-owners' pleasure. Enough.
Let's invite environmental tourism by preserving an "emerald necklace of parks," including the city-owned marsh.
Ask Congress to hold hearings to map our "St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore" (SANHPNS), using 1928-style trolleycars to save gasoline, uniting the Castillo and Fort Matanzas National Monuments, "slave market park," downtown streets, Government House, Red House Bluff indigenous village (next to historical society), marshes, forests, National Cemetery, GTM NERR, Anastasia State Park, Fort Mose and other city, county, state and St. Johns River Water Management District lands.
Let's cancel future shock/schlock/sprawl/ugliness/skyscrapers and eliminate temptations to abuse/neglect/misuse state parks and historic buildings for golf courses and rote, rube commercialism.
In December, State Sen. Jim King suggested Florida donate "deed and title" of state buildings to our city. I suggested that we deed them to the National Park Service (NPS), with St. George Street visitor center in restored buildings, saving millions (as in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park).
St. Augustine needs a national civil rights and indigenous history museum, celebrating local residents and national leaders, whose courage helped win passage of 1964's Civil Rights Act. Why not put the museum in the old Woolworth's building, restored to its former glory, with wood floors, lunch-counter and exhibits on the civil rights struggles that changed history (well- documented in Jeremy Dean's documentary, "Dare Not Walk Alone"), with "footsoldiers monument" across the street ?
Why not (finally) implement the 2003 National Trust for Historic Preservation and Flagler College study on how to protect our history? Let's tax tourists more to fund historic preservation, as in Charleston/elsewhere.
Let's preserve/protect the quality of our lives and visitors' experience (and property values) by preserving forever what speculators haven't destroyed (yet).
Let's adopt a three-year moratorium on growth, while we work to adopt truly comprehensive plans worthy of the name.
Colonial National Historical Park (NHP), Philadelphia's Independence NHP and NHPs in Boston, New Bedford, Valley Forge, San Francisco and Saratoga.
There's a Martin Luther King historical site in Atlanta, NHPs for "Rosie the Riveter" (California) and the "War in the Pacific" (Guam), and new parks slated for ten Japanese internment camps.
Florida hosts Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. Let's add St. Augustine to the list.
From sea to shining sea, America's coastal areas enjoy national parks. Where's ours?
Let's make parts of State Road A1A a National Parkway and hiking/biking trail, like the Colonial National Historical Parkway and the Baltimore Washington, George Washington, Rock Creek and John D. Rockefeller (Wyoming) Parkways and the Appalachian Trial and C&O Canal.
Let's add St. Augustine to the list of our nation's most beloved national parks, joining Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Florida's 500th and St. Augustine's 450th anniversaries are only six and eight years away (2013 and 2015). Enacting a national park and seashore will forever preserve the treasures that we love. It will halt the sprawl we hate, increase tourism and reduce local taxes, paying speculators to stop.
Mayor Joe Boles' mother graciously thanked me for speaking out on these issues after the Jan. 22 City Commission meeting -- issues that Mrs. Boles has been outspoken about for "30 years." Let's honor/heed Mrs. Boles' wisdom -- and those who proposed a national park before World War II. Let's save St. Augustine and our environment forever.
#
Ed Slavin lives in St. Augustine.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/032607/opinions_4479465.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 03/26/07
Real estate speculators (some foreign-funded) continue to destroy our local wildlife, habitat, nature and history. Roads are clogged. Noise abounds. Our way of life is being destroyed. Unfeeling, uncaring Philistines are turning St. Johns County into an uglier, unreasonable facsimile of South Florida. Unjust county government stewards allowed an asphalt plant near homes. Another plant reportedly emits 50 tons/year of volatile organic compounds into residents' and workers' lungs and brains.
Speculators are even trying to build homes on top of unremediated septic tanks/fields, while vacationing boaters pollute our Bay front with untreated sewage (the only boat-pumpout-station is at Conch House Marina). Our Bay front (which lacks a harbormaster) had an oil spill Jan. 15. Developers demand to build docks over city-owned State Road 312 area marshes for boat-owners' pleasure. Enough.
Let's invite environmental tourism by preserving an "emerald necklace of parks," including the city-owned marsh.
Ask Congress to hold hearings to map our "St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore" (SANHPNS), using 1928-style trolleycars to save gasoline, uniting the Castillo and Fort Matanzas National Monuments, "slave market park," downtown streets, Government House, Red House Bluff indigenous village (next to historical society), marshes, forests, National Cemetery, GTM NERR, Anastasia State Park, Fort Mose and other city, county, state and St. Johns River Water Management District lands.
Let's cancel future shock/schlock/sprawl/ugliness/skyscrapers and eliminate temptations to abuse/neglect/misuse state parks and historic buildings for golf courses and rote, rube commercialism.
In December, State Sen. Jim King suggested Florida donate "deed and title" of state buildings to our city. I suggested that we deed them to the National Park Service (NPS), with St. George Street visitor center in restored buildings, saving millions (as in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park).
St. Augustine needs a national civil rights and indigenous history museum, celebrating local residents and national leaders, whose courage helped win passage of 1964's Civil Rights Act. Why not put the museum in the old Woolworth's building, restored to its former glory, with wood floors, lunch-counter and exhibits on the civil rights struggles that changed history (well- documented in Jeremy Dean's documentary, "Dare Not Walk Alone"), with "footsoldiers monument" across the street ?
Why not (finally) implement the 2003 National Trust for Historic Preservation and Flagler College study on how to protect our history? Let's tax tourists more to fund historic preservation, as in Charleston/elsewhere.
Let's preserve/protect the quality of our lives and visitors' experience (and property values) by preserving forever what speculators haven't destroyed (yet).
Let's adopt a three-year moratorium on growth, while we work to adopt truly comprehensive plans worthy of the name.
Colonial National Historical Park (NHP), Philadelphia's Independence NHP and NHPs in Boston, New Bedford, Valley Forge, San Francisco and Saratoga.
There's a Martin Luther King historical site in Atlanta, NHPs for "Rosie the Riveter" (California) and the "War in the Pacific" (Guam), and new parks slated for ten Japanese internment camps.
Florida hosts Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. Let's add St. Augustine to the list.
From sea to shining sea, America's coastal areas enjoy national parks. Where's ours?
Let's make parts of State Road A1A a National Parkway and hiking/biking trail, like the Colonial National Historical Parkway and the Baltimore Washington, George Washington, Rock Creek and John D. Rockefeller (Wyoming) Parkways and the Appalachian Trial and C&O Canal.
Let's add St. Augustine to the list of our nation's most beloved national parks, joining Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Florida's 500th and St. Augustine's 450th anniversaries are only six and eight years away (2013 and 2015). Enacting a national park and seashore will forever preserve the treasures that we love. It will halt the sprawl we hate, increase tourism and reduce local taxes, paying speculators to stop.
Mayor Joe Boles' mother graciously thanked me for speaking out on these issues after the Jan. 22 City Commission meeting -- issues that Mrs. Boles has been outspoken about for "30 years." Let's honor/heed Mrs. Boles' wisdom -- and those who proposed a national park before World War II. Let's save St. Augustine and our environment forever.
#
Ed Slavin lives in St. Augustine.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/032607/opinions_4479465.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Endangered St. Augustine visual artists to be featured at Democratic Headquarters for First Friday Art Walk
City of St. Augustine employee allegedly takes surveillance photos of visual artists legally selling art at City Hall Photo credit: Art in the Market
St. Augustine Democratic Headquarters (142B King Street, 825-2336) will be the site Friday evening, May 1st for endangered visual artists and musicians to share their talents during First Friday Art Walk (from 6-9 PM).
Portrait artist Kate Merrick, a plaintiff in the visual artist’s First Amendment lawsuit against the City of St. Augustine, will be featured, along with artist Greg Travous and musician Roger Jolley. St. Augustine visual artists are awaiting a federal court decision on a motion for a preliminary injunction, seeking to overturn enforcement against our local artists of St. Augustine Ordinance 22-6, which the artists say unconstitutionally lumps visual artists together with street vendors, banning artists and their art from city parks and streets, including the historic Plaza de la Constitucion, the oldest public market in America.
EPA Press Release: EPA Fines Eight P.R. Companies for Water Runoff
EPA Fines Construction Companies in Culebra, Puerto Rico for
Ignoring Federal Water Quality Laws
Contact: John Senn (212) 637-3667, senn.john@epa.gov or Brenda Reyes (787) 977-5869, reyes.brenda@epa.gov
(San Juan, P.R. – April 28, 2009) – In a move that shows its strong commitment to enforcing rules that protect water quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) levied fines against eight construction companies in Culebra, P.R. for their failure to follow federal regulations for handling stormwater run off from construction sites. The eight companies are Culebra Resorts Associates; Playa Clara, S. E.; Inversiones del Mercado; JOFA Contractors; Caribbean Properties Investments; VPI Construction Corp.; and VÃctor Morales all face fines for failing to obtain proper stormwater permits for construction sites in Culebra. Alfa & Omega was also fined for similar violations related to the installation of a sewer line. The companies face fines totaling $205,500.
“The failure to implement adequate stormwater and sewage controls at these construction sites was harming Culebra’s fragile coastal ecosystems” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. “Stormwater runoff carries sediments and other pollutants that endanger sea grasses and coral ecosystems, which in turn can impact threatened and endangered sea turtles.”
The eight companies failed to obtain permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), a program under the federal Clean Water Act that regulates stormwater discharges associated with sewer systems, and industrial and construction activities. NPDES requires owners and operators of construction sites larger than one acre to obtain a permit and to develop and implement a storm water pollution prevention plan, including best management practices to minimize the amount of pollutants reaching waterways.
Breakdown of the fines:
Inversiones del Mercado/Jofa Contractors Corp. $60,050
Caribbean Properties Investment/VPI Construction Corp. $56,050
Culebra Resort Associates $32,500
VÃctor Morales $32,500
Playa Clara, S.E. $24,400
Two endangered species of sea turtles, the hawksbill turtle and the leatherback turtle, and one threatened species, the green turtle, inhabit Culebra’s coastal waters. Elkhorn and staghorn coral, both endangered species, are also found in these waters.
Sediment runoff rates from construction sites are typically 10 to 20 times greater than those from agricultural lands, and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than those of forest lands. Sediment discharges from construction sites can cause physical and biological harm to waterways.
For more information on how stormwater is regulated, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swbasicinfo.cfm.
Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/useparegion2 and visit our new Facebook page.
09-061
Ignoring Federal Water Quality Laws
Contact: John Senn (212) 637-3667, senn.john@epa.gov or Brenda Reyes (787) 977-5869, reyes.brenda@epa.gov
(San Juan, P.R. – April 28, 2009) – In a move that shows its strong commitment to enforcing rules that protect water quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) levied fines against eight construction companies in Culebra, P.R. for their failure to follow federal regulations for handling stormwater run off from construction sites. The eight companies are Culebra Resorts Associates; Playa Clara, S. E.; Inversiones del Mercado; JOFA Contractors; Caribbean Properties Investments; VPI Construction Corp.; and VÃctor Morales all face fines for failing to obtain proper stormwater permits for construction sites in Culebra. Alfa & Omega was also fined for similar violations related to the installation of a sewer line. The companies face fines totaling $205,500.
“The failure to implement adequate stormwater and sewage controls at these construction sites was harming Culebra’s fragile coastal ecosystems” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. “Stormwater runoff carries sediments and other pollutants that endanger sea grasses and coral ecosystems, which in turn can impact threatened and endangered sea turtles.”
The eight companies failed to obtain permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), a program under the federal Clean Water Act that regulates stormwater discharges associated with sewer systems, and industrial and construction activities. NPDES requires owners and operators of construction sites larger than one acre to obtain a permit and to develop and implement a storm water pollution prevention plan, including best management practices to minimize the amount of pollutants reaching waterways.
Breakdown of the fines:
Inversiones del Mercado/Jofa Contractors Corp. $60,050
Caribbean Properties Investment/VPI Construction Corp. $56,050
Culebra Resort Associates $32,500
VÃctor Morales $32,500
Playa Clara, S.E. $24,400
Two endangered species of sea turtles, the hawksbill turtle and the leatherback turtle, and one threatened species, the green turtle, inhabit Culebra’s coastal waters. Elkhorn and staghorn coral, both endangered species, are also found in these waters.
Sediment runoff rates from construction sites are typically 10 to 20 times greater than those from agricultural lands, and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than those of forest lands. Sediment discharges from construction sites can cause physical and biological harm to waterways.
For more information on how stormwater is regulated, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swbasicinfo.cfm.
Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/useparegion2 and visit our new Facebook page.
09-061
Florida Republican-Controlled State House of Reprobates Rejects Stimulus Funding
The New York Times
April 28, 2009
Keeping Jobless Rules Intact, Florida Declines Stimulus Money
By GARY FINEOUT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Days from the end of the legislative session, Florida lawmakers have refused to move a bill to expand unemployment eligibility in order to accept $444 million in federal stimulus aid.
While the Republican-controlled Legislature plans to use as much as $5 billion from the stimulus package to balance the budget, lawmakers balked at moving the unemployment insurance bill out of committee.
Senator Anthony C. Hill Sr., Democrat of Jacksonville, conceded that the bill was dead for the annual session, which is supposed to end on Friday, although a budget stalemate may force legislators to extend the session by a few days.
Republican legislators say that they do not want to increase the burden on Florida’s unemployment trust fund when it is running out of money. Some statewide business groups, already bracing for an expected increase in unemployment taxes, also objected to the changes.
“The strings attached to the $444 million are going to potentially make a bad problem worse,” said Representative Adam Hasner, the House majority leader from Boca Raton.
Other Southern Republicans have raised protests about the unemployment benefits, saying that expansion could eventually require them to raise taxes. But Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida said he supported changing the law to draw the extra federal money.
“I think taking it is important,” Mr. Crist said. “I know the people need it, especially those who may be facing unemployment. I wish it would be reviewed again.”
Democrats have accused Republican lawmakers of leaving money on the table.
“The unemployed in Florida are being denied their share of the economic stimulus pie,” said United States Representative Kendrick B. Meek, Democrat of Miami, who accused the Legislature of putting “ideology over the people of Florida in their time of need.”
Florida has been hammered by the recession and the collapse of the real estate market and has an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent. The state is eligible for about $1.5 billion in additional unemployment aid in the stimulus package.
The state’s unemployment trust fund is expected to run out of money in August. State officials plan to ask for a federal loan for the fund, and the Legislature is moving ahead with a bill that would increase unemployment taxes on businesses.
Lawmakers are expected to pass a measure that would allow them to use $700 million in stimulus money to extend unemployment benefits for the rest of the year to 250,000 people whose benefits would otherwise expire. But they have been unwilling to make more changes, like offering benefits to those who left work because of domestic violence or the relocation of a spouse.
April 28, 2009
Keeping Jobless Rules Intact, Florida Declines Stimulus Money
By GARY FINEOUT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Days from the end of the legislative session, Florida lawmakers have refused to move a bill to expand unemployment eligibility in order to accept $444 million in federal stimulus aid.
While the Republican-controlled Legislature plans to use as much as $5 billion from the stimulus package to balance the budget, lawmakers balked at moving the unemployment insurance bill out of committee.
Senator Anthony C. Hill Sr., Democrat of Jacksonville, conceded that the bill was dead for the annual session, which is supposed to end on Friday, although a budget stalemate may force legislators to extend the session by a few days.
Republican legislators say that they do not want to increase the burden on Florida’s unemployment trust fund when it is running out of money. Some statewide business groups, already bracing for an expected increase in unemployment taxes, also objected to the changes.
“The strings attached to the $444 million are going to potentially make a bad problem worse,” said Representative Adam Hasner, the House majority leader from Boca Raton.
Other Southern Republicans have raised protests about the unemployment benefits, saying that expansion could eventually require them to raise taxes. But Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida said he supported changing the law to draw the extra federal money.
“I think taking it is important,” Mr. Crist said. “I know the people need it, especially those who may be facing unemployment. I wish it would be reviewed again.”
Democrats have accused Republican lawmakers of leaving money on the table.
“The unemployed in Florida are being denied their share of the economic stimulus pie,” said United States Representative Kendrick B. Meek, Democrat of Miami, who accused the Legislature of putting “ideology over the people of Florida in their time of need.”
Florida has been hammered by the recession and the collapse of the real estate market and has an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent. The state is eligible for about $1.5 billion in additional unemployment aid in the stimulus package.
The state’s unemployment trust fund is expected to run out of money in August. State officials plan to ask for a federal loan for the fund, and the Legislature is moving ahead with a bill that would increase unemployment taxes on businesses.
Lawmakers are expected to pass a measure that would allow them to use $700 million in stimulus money to extend unemployment benefits for the rest of the year to 250,000 people whose benefits would otherwise expire. But they have been unwilling to make more changes, like offering benefits to those who left work because of domestic violence or the relocation of a spouse.
Florida's Crooked, Mendacious Republican-Controlled State House of Reprobates Supports Offshore Oil Drilling
VAN ZANT
House passes bill to allow offshore drilling
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press Writer
Publication Date: 04/28/09
TALLAHASSEE -- The promise of money and jobs and the desire to reduce dependence on foreign oil beat out arguments that offshore drilling could harm the environment and hurt tourism as the House passed a bill Monday that could allow wells three miles off Florida's coast.
The governor and three-member Cabinet would be able to approve drilling leases in state waters between three and 10.5 miles from shore under the plan.
Rep. Charles Van Zant, the bill's sponsor, said the proposal could attract a new industry to Florida while helping free the U.S. from relying on unfriendly OPEC countries. He said drilling could reap more than $6 billion annually for the state and create more than 16,000 jobs.
"No one in this chamber rode a bicycle here today," Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, said before the vote, capping two hours of debate on the bill (HB 1219).
Democrats countered that spills would devastate tourism, the state's top industry.
"This is something serious, a dagger in the heart of the economy in my district and the districts of other coastal communities," said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, a Sarasota Democrat. "Just the smallest of spills will send people elsewhere."
He and other Democrats questioned whether the amount of oil off the state's coast wouldn't even supply the nation for half a year.
"History will judge us on this vote, whether it be 10 years or 20 years," said Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach. "We are gambling with the future of Florida."
The bill next goes to the Senate, which has no similar legislation and has shown little interest in the proposal.
"I'm not receptive to it," said Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach. "That is a really significantly important issue and one that I think would, frankly at our end, would take some serious review."
Atwater said there isn't time to thoroughly examine the idea with the 60-day regular legisative session scheduled to end Friday, nor was he sure it could be adquately done during a special session later this year.
The largely party line vote in the House was 70-43. Only two Democrats voted for the bill and just three Republicans voted against it.
Supporters argued that drilling technology has advanced to the point where spills are highly unlikely, and that pumps can be put on the sea floor unseen from shore.
And many Republicans argued that it's better to drill in American waters than to hand money over to Middle East nations that hate the United States.
"A vote for this bill is a vote for America. It is a vote for our way of life," said Greg Evers, a Republican from Baker in the western Florida Panhandle. "And a vote against this bill is a vote for OPEC."
Gov. Charlie Crist said last week that he was "open minded" about the bill, but before the vote he expressed some caution, saying he was concerned that the idea wasn't discussed until late in the two-month session that ends Friday and that drilling would be close to shore.
But he didn't express opposition.
"It may have some promise. What I mean by that is if the technology can be proven, if it can be shown to be safe, I'm sympathetic to the notion we might be able to be more independent in terms of weaning off our dependence on foreign oil," Crist said.
He said he hopes the issue doesn't get tied to his push to require power companies to use more renewable energy.
The bill has upset members of the state's delegation in Washington who have fought to keep drilling out of federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
"This bill jeopardizes Florida's $65 billion-a-year tourism economy and thousands of jobs in the middle of a serious economic downturn for our state," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. "I urge Governor Crist to veto this short-sighted legislation should it pass."
She added: "Instead of pandering to Big Oil, the Florida Legislature should be leading the way to alternative sources of energy."
Former Gov. Bob Graham, a Democrat who also served in the U.S. Senate for three terms, said the state action could hurt Florida's efforts on the federal level.
"This will undermine them like a tsunami hitting off the Gulf coast," Graham said.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/042809/state_042809_024.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Making a Pig's Breakfast of Florida's Coast, Refusing Stimulus Money, Florida Republican Legislators Stink On Ice
Voting to allow our sea coasts to be destroyed in the name of greed, Florida's plug-uglies (other-directed Republican legislators) know no ethical boundaries. See above.
These clowns have also rejected any federal economic stimulus funds tied to extending unemployment compensation funds. See above.
These ignortant ideologues badly need to be replaced with compassionate people.
See below for more on their shameless ideological perversions.
These clowns have also rejected any federal economic stimulus funds tied to extending unemployment compensation funds. See above.
These ignortant ideologues badly need to be replaced with compassionate people.
See below for more on their shameless ideological perversions.
GEORGE McCLURE (a/k/a SNIDELY WHIPLASH) ON A LOSING STREAK IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND ST. JOHNS COUNTY
SNIDELY WHIPLASH
Occupation: Stereotypical cartoon villain
GEORGE McCLURE
Species: Slobbus Americanus Vulgaris
Occupation: Stereotypical Villain (Northeast Florida Real Estate Speculator Mouthpiece)
The fight to preserve our Nation's Oldest City moved to a new level last night. See below. St. Augustinians and St. Johns Countians are winning the fight against wily GEORGE McCLURE and his clients, foreign-funded developers who have unlimited funds and what H.L. Mencken called "a libido for the ugly."
Last night, every single one of the many witnesses who testified on a monstrous building planned for the corner of Cathedral Place and St. George Street was against it. Not even hiring controversial developer mouthpiece GEORGE McCLURE as its lawyer -- and hiring sitting St. Augustine Commissioner DONALD CRICHLOW as its architect helped an out-of-town developer to have its way with our historic City's downtown.
What a difference four years makes. Where once GeORGE McCLURE was invincible -- and citizens didn't bother to speak when he appeared, knowing he would always get his way -- last night diverse citizens beat McCLURE, again.
GEORGE McCLURE kept cloyingly invoking DONALD CRICHLOW's name, as if it were a shibboleth that would get him past the opposition of respected community leaders.
GEORGE McCLURE is a privileged character -- someone who felt comfortable blathering on for hours about a project that would have been a non-starter but for the Philistine City Manager, WILLIAM B. HARRISS.
GEORGE McCLURE was given unlimited time by his buddy (Mayor JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR.).
GEORGE McCLURE used the time to get all gushy about the project, repeatedly using the words "I," "me" and "my" and the royal "we." Mayor BOLES never bothered to swear in McCLURE or any of the public hearing witnesses, but it didn't matter.
In St. Augustine, GEORGE McCLURE met his Waterloo last night in active, informed citizens, including a number of passionately concerned, good and decent people, among them former City Commissioner Raymond Connor (who modestly didn't mention his having served as a Comissioner. Others speaking against McCLURE's effort to trash the Plaza de la Constitucion with ugliness were architect Gerald Dixon, Charles Pellicer, Sandra Goode, Belinda Reconce, Hillary Bosza, William Smith, et al.
Every single one of the public hearing speakers said that the planned building is out of character with the downtown of our Ancient City, founded in 1565. McCLURE's usual disrespectful remarks about dissenting citizens did not carry the day.
Despite McCLURE's unlimited time and self-indulgent use of the words "I," "me" and "my," Commissioners asked good questions and were unconvinced by his plan to turn the historic intersection of St. George Street and Cathedral Place into an unreasonable fascimile of downtown Palatka (or any old South Georgia town).
Controversial corporate lawyer GEORGE McCLURE's influence in St. Augustine and St. Johns County is waning. See article and letter below.
Only our Republican public officials on the City Commission and County Commission are such timid lickspittles for this former ROGERS TOWERS lawyer that they save him from embarrassment by postponing decisions, instead of rejecting his projects.
But the next thing you know, we'll have a vibrant two-party system in St. Johns County again, and actual Democrats who will just say "no" to MCCLURE and his clients.
Last night, has-been lawyer GEORGE McCLURE was so incensed that he stuck his finger in my face outside the meeting, showing as little class or panache as GEORGE McCLURE did when he first tried this tired old provocation with me in May 2005. (The definition of insanity is doing the same old things and expecting different results, GEORGE McCLURE).
Give it up, GEORGE McCLURE -- especially in this saturated real estate market, your stable of developers are no match for today's St. Augustinians, who are no longer bossed and bullied by the likes of you and your pals.
You and your clients can just go to Palatka (or South Georgia) to build your ugly monstrosities.
Our Nation's Oldest City of St. Augustine is for beauty, not for beastly bullies and plug-ugly tactics (attempts to intimidate citizens by lawyers like McCLURE and City officials like HARRISS).
A pox on GEORGE McCLURE and his uglifying clients.
GEORGE McCLURE (and the corporate lawyer "Smirky Turkey Society" of which he is the Dean) may as well disband. We've got your number, GEORGE McCLURE.
We're looking forward to learning more about GEORGE McCLURE's having taped Republican County Commission Chairman THOMAS MANUEL in alleged bribe transactions.
We're especially looking forward to Federal Court cross-examination of McCLURE as to what led him to tape MANUEL, and whether GEORGE MCCLURE has ever provided any money or thing of value to any politicians in exchange for development "favors" of the sort his clients have inflicted on St. Augustine and St. Johns County for too long.
Cynical, sinister, slippery, supercilious, shallow, vacuous spellbinder GEORGE McCLURE is guilty, guilty, guilty of inflicting tree-killing and ugliness on our town and county.
Influence-peddling former ROGERS TOWERS lawyer GEORGE McCLURE has seen his influence decline. Is it the result of his bad karma? Even McCLURe's kids hate him for what he's done to our environment here in St. Johns County.
Examples of unsound, ill-advised GEORGE McCLURE projects abound, like the evisceration of Cooksey's Campground (in St. Augustine Beach) and of Red House Bluff (next to St. Augustine High School), where GEORGE McCLURE helped ROBERT MICHAEL GRAUBARD destroy a 3000-4000 year old indigenous Native American village without proper investigation of possible human burials, as was suggested by the UF Acting Anthropology Chair in January 2006).
It's time for GEORGE McCLURE to come clean and tell the truth before a federal grand jury investigating St. Johns County corruption --- all of it (not just a dinky little piece of it).
What do you reckon?
City tables St. George Street hotel
City tables St. George Street hotel
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 at 12:21 am by Shaun Ryan
By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
St. Augustine City Commissioners on Monday tabled an application to build a 16-room hotel and seven retail shops at Cathedral Place and St. George Street because they couldn’t decide if the building’s turn-of-the-century architectural style was appropriate in a city marked by many Spanish Colonial Period structures.
St. Augustine attorney George McClure, speaking for developers Danny and Kaspit Schechter of Jacksonville, said the proposed building was designed to duplicate the original Bishop’s Building, constructed on that site in 1897 and demolished in the early 1960s.
“We’ll make an effort to ensure that the building does not look new,” McClure said. “We’ll use distressed brick, which has the appearance of age. Here we have the opportunity not to imitate history but to restore it.”
The 11,000 square foot building at 180 St. George St. would cover half the Bank of America parking lot. The Cathedral Place side would feature the hotel entrance and one retail door, with the St. George St. side having seven retail doors.
Its second story would contain 15 or 16 hotel rooms, each with its own cast iron balcony.
However, every speaker at the public hearing opposed the project.
Charles Pellicer, son of the late X.L. Pellicer Sr., said his father was a historian and would have opposed this application.
“If I had to pick a center of town, this corner would be it,” he said, adding that Palatka, Gainesville and Tallahassee all had many buildings in the turn-of-the-century style. “If you’re ever going to hold the line on the (historic) districts, this is the time.”
St. Augustine architect Jerry Dixon said this application isn’t just for one building.
“It could set the precedent for a whole lot more. You open up a can of worms when you go there,” he said. “Everyone’s got that style of architecture. We’re the only ones with Colonial Spanish. It’s very important that we stick with the original concept.”
Mayor Joe Boles said, “I want a Second Spanish Colonial city.”
But he recognized that city codes allow a property owner to pick any architectural style that is within view. And most of St. George Street is in the turn-of-the-century style.
Vice Mayor Errol Jones said, “I don’t want (the city) to be a Palatka.”
Seeing the four-member commission — Don Crichlow, an architect, designed the new building and recused himself — in a quandary, McClure requested the item be tabled until a review by the Historic Architectural Review Board for historical appropriateness. That was passed 4-0.
HARB tabled a request for a certificate of appropriateness on April 16 because of some design issues, according to Mark Knight, director of city planning and building.
Commissioner Leanna Freeman posed the crucial question, saying, “Is there some value to replicating what was there? Or do we want colonial?”
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