(From 1565Today, http://news.1565today.net/federal-450th-commission-must-hold-open-public-meetings/
ED, RECKONING
Federal 450th Commission Must Hold Open Public Meetings
By Ed Slavin
Our community had high hopes for the federal 450th Commission. Where is it? What happened?
On March 30, 2009, Congress and the President created St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission. On April 14, 2011, Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar appointed thirteen Commissioners: former Senator/Governor Robert Graham; former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young; Cathedral Parish pastor Fr. Thomas Willis; St. Augustine Mayor Joseph Boles; billionaire-philanthropist Jay Kislak, Miami-Dade College President Eduardo Padron; historic preservationist Katherine H. Dickenson; Miami State's Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle; former Florida Secretary of State Bruce Smathers; former National Park Service Director Robert Stanton; Castillo de San Marco Monument Superintendent Gordon Wilson; and Professors Michael Gannon and Michael Francis.
This is a diverse and well-qualified group – “fairly balanced” in the terms of the Federal Advisory Committee Act – which is exactly what StAugustgreen requested the Secretary to do (by July 15, 2009 letter, objecting to then-City Manager William B Harris' demand that the Secretary of the Interior appoint only “affluent and influential” members of the federal 450th Commission).
This diverse and well-qualified group is now moribund, thanks to Tea Party control of the House of Representatives and refusal to authorize a mere $500,000 for the federal 450th Commission to have meetings and a small staff.
Hundreds of us took the day off, and attended the federal 450th Commission's one public meeting in St. Augustine, on July 18, 2011. There was applause when I called for creation of a St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore, to preserve and protect what we love, including current state parks, forests and water management district lands.
The more people learn about the St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore, the more they agree with Sheriff David Shoar, who told me after a Democratic Club meeting that it was a “no-brainer,” and would be the best way to protect our environment, rivaling Cape Code National Seashore in his native Massachusetts. The St. Augustine National Historical Park and Seashore would preserve and protect wildlife habitat for endangered and threatened species, including right whales (350 left in the North Atlantic and they give birth here every year); turtles; bald eagles; beach mice and butterflies. It would prevent golf courses and other hair-brained “development” schemes in existing state parks and water management district lands, while saving tens of millions of dollars in operation and maintenance from state and local government budgets.
Last month, at a packed meeting of local tourism-related businesses at World Golf Village on May 14th, St. Johns County Visitor and Convention Bureau's longtime consultant, MMGY Global Vice Chairman Peter Yesawich, said that a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore would have a “positive: impact on our economy. Yes we can! The 450th Commission must hold open meetings to discuss the National Historical Park and National Seashore concept. www.staugustgreen.com
But sadly, Congress has still not authorized funds for the 450th Commission, which conducts secret meetings and conference calls, in probable violation of the Sunshine requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. A maladroit federal attorney once opined the Commission was “exempt” from Sunshine as an “operational committee.” It's not “operating” anything. Meetings must be open.
This is non-negotiable. If DOI does not open up 450th meetings and records to public scrutiny, it can be successfully sued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. In 1993, I invoked FACA to force the Department of Energy to abolish its system of secretive advisory committees on nuclear cleanups, resulting in the creation of the Site Specific Advisory Committee at DOE sites. We didn't even have to sue – it was one 32-page letter to Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary – that and the truth. Likewise, I raised concerns with the Department of the Interior's own industry-dominated San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program, resulting in greater attention to Interior scientists' concerns, and Sacramento Bee investigative articles.
There are some 1000 federal advisory committees, but none matters more to any of us here in St. Augustine, Florida. As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, DOI must give and follow proper legal advice and open its meetings and records. Our federal 450th Commission must “let the Sunshine in.” If not, the General Services Administration and Federal Courts can help focus DOI attorneys' attention on compliance, not defiance.
The people must be heard. It's our town, our time and our money. Congress must act.
What do you reckon?
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-377-4998
No comments:
Post a Comment