Letter: City's Spain trip is slap to citizens
Posted: August 13, 2010 - 12:00am
By ANTHONY SERAPHIN
Editor: I was amused by reporter Peter Guinta mocking my comments about the city's $25,000 Sunshine violation trip to Spain by three of four commissioners (including lame-duck Commissioner Don Crichlow) and three staff. Now that Mayor Joe Boles bailed out under fire, so should the rest of them.
Our officials have contempt for our residents. Some go to Spain every year. It's our money.
It is a farce to think Spain, which is in financial crisis, will put one Euro to help St. Augustine. Boles actually said, "I think it's important, Spain needs to know we're in support of the 450th celebration." What does that mean? It sounds like we have to prove ourselves to Spain that we are willing to go into debt for a party and this elected group is going to prove their lemming mentality and go over the fiscal cliff for another Sunshine violation. What a slap in the face to working people battling in these tough times.
To call me a gadfly and a chronic complainer makes me wonder if Guinta is your society writer and not a reporter who states the facts and not his insipid opinions of citizens exercising our First Amendment rights.
Peter Guinta misquoted me. He even misspelled my name. Of course, I do think the disgrace of Riberia Street will only be completed, as currently planned to the Mason Dixon line -- Bridge Street - Lincolnville be damned. But I said the $25,000 would be better spent to promote our city by ads in the New York Times Travel section on Sundays, which would reach tourists nationally and internationally.
City Manager John Regan is going (again), raising concerns about fiscal accountability? Why would Mark Litzinger, the city comptroller have to go? These city officials smirk at the criticism leveled at them for this boondoggle waste of taxpayers' money, but come election day, I won't vote for any of them.
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