IN HAEC VERBA: Diversity is the watchword of our City's visioning process

I got a nice, thoughtful response from Commissioner Horvath (see below), indicating that diversity is the key to our City's visioning process, evidently withdrawing the trial balloon idea that business owners should have half the seats on the Steering Committee. More good news.
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From: Ed Slavin
To: Roxanne Horvath
Sent: Sat, Oct 5, 2013 12:44 pm
Subject: Re: Reserved seats on Visioning Steering Committee for "business owners" is unconstitutional
Dear Commissioner Horvath:
Thank you, and thank you for all you do for our City!
Cheers,
Ed

On Oct 5, 2013, at 12:02 PM, Roxanne Horvath wrote:
Dear Mr. Slavin,
Thank you for your review of my agenda and for being at the Visioning Workshop. Your argument for not setting aside a designation of 50% representation for business interests is well made. I value your input on this issue. I believe my fellow commissioners and I will be working towards a high level of diversity for the steering committee. I hope you will continue to be involved in this visioning effort, I look forward to your future reviews.

Sincerely,
Roxanne Horvath

---------------------------------------------------------From: easlavin@aol.com [easlavin@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2013 9:41 AM
To: Roxanne Horvath
Subject: Reserved seats on Visioning Steering Committee for "business owners" is unconstitutional
Dear Commissioner Horvath:
1. Thank you for pointing out the lack of Sunshine compliance in the 1995 visioning process, and the need for full Sunshine compliance with the current visioning process. Thank you for initiating that visioning process.
2. However, I must object to one suggestion you made. You proposed that each Commissioner appoint two members of a ten-person steering committee, one a "business owner" and the other a "resident." Why?
3. Think about it -- is it desirable, legal or ethical to have "affirmative action" for businsess owners in picking members of the steering committee? They have enough influence without reserved seats.
4. Why do you suggest that "business owners" be given preference?
5. This violates the Fourteenth Amendment.
6. If you were to substitute any other characteristic or noun for "business owner," would you ever even consider it? Imagine, if you will, if one of your fellow Commissioners had proposed setting aside half the proposed ten seats on the steering committee for artists, or musicians, or librarians, or antique car buffs, or runners, or bicyclists, or philatelists or shoe salesmen, or union members, or Republicans or Democrats, or women or African-Americans, or Menorcans, or college graduates or federal employees or military retirees. Would anyone have supported such a move? Please reconsider your suggestion.
7. It is unconstitutional. There is no rational basis for government discrimination based upon ownership of a business.
8. Government volunteer appointments must be based on merit, not reserved for economic special interests.
9. By the same token, the City's board appointments form must be revised ASAP -- it asks prospective appointees to City Boards and Commissions to answer "Property owned" and "Business Owned."
10. Neither business nor property ownership is a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) for government service as a volunteer, or otherwise. Not in America.
What do you reckon?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Clean Up St. Augustine
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-377-4998