Governor RICHARD LYNN SCOTT, left with St. Augustine Beach Mayor ANDREA SAMUELS, Democrat-turned-Republican, retaliator in chief at 6000-resident St. Augustine Beach (HCN)
Retaliation and corruption are legendary here in St. Johns County, Florida, where 800 Spanish invader-settlers founded St. Augustine on September 8, 1565. We commemorate our Nation's oddest, Oldest, European-founded city's 450th anniversary next month.
St. Augustine and St. Johns County are like Chicago "writ small," or "Twin Peaks," with beaches.
Energetic energumen retaliation was exemplified by evildoing President Richard Milhous Nixon saying of Pentagon whistleblower, A. Ernest Fitzgerald, a cost accountants to fire him, because "he's not a team player." Watergate tapes established the retaliation.
Mr. Fitzgerald "committed truth" about Lockheed's C-5A cost overruns (some $5 billion), answering questions before Congress truthfully.
Mr. Fitzgerald suffered the "capital punishment of the workplace," firing only to win reinstatement through ACLU-sponsored whistleblower litigation. I was honored to hang out with Mr. Fitzgerald at events at Stewart R. Mott House at 122 Maryland Avenue, N.E.; Mr. Fitzgerald served on the advisory board of our Government Accountability Project, where I was Legal Counsel for Constitutional Rights, 1989-1993.
Retaliation by employers was the focus of my litigation career, 1989-2004, cut short due to retaliation.
Retaliation by employers locally in Northeast Florida is typified by employers who fire honest employees.
In St. Augustine, Assistant City Manager TIMOTHY BURCHFIELD presumes to coerce employees about First Amendment protected activity.
In St. Johns County, our County Administrator, MICHAEL WANCHICK rules with an iron fist.
In the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff JEFFREY HARDY fires honest employees, a common scheme or plan now subject of an FBI investigation and two whistleblower lawsuits.
In our St. Johns County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff DAVID BERNARD SHOAR fires honest employees, subject of an FBI investigation.
At St. Augustine Beach, retaliation is typified by former Mayor SHERMAN GARY SNODGRASS, current Mayor ANDREA SAMUELS and Vice Mayor RICHARD O'BRIEN, who were so angry at ten (10) St. Augustine Beach Police officer whistleblowers -- who reported concerns about Chief Richard Hedges to FDLE in 2012 -- that they were in the 3-2 majority of Commissioners who voted to shut down the St. Augustine Beach Police Department because it was "politicized."
In 2013, We, the People persuaded St. Augustine Commissioners to change their minds, obey the law and to drop their retaliatory plan, based upon Commissioner SAMUEL's overt statements of her intention to retaliate against ten (10) ethical officers for raising concerns.
But the chilling effects on SAB City employees remain. Commissioners refused to pass a whistleblower policy protecting city employees, which would have been based upon one passed unanimously by Anastasia Mosquito Control Commission of St. Johns County (AMCD).
"WE GOT HIM!," Mayor ANDREA SAMUELS allegedly bragged to attendees at last night's St. Augustine Beach Civic Association, referring to the illegal arrest earlier that day of Mr. William Rosenstock, a 73 year old Coast Guard veteran, retired highly skilled electrician, former County Courthouse security officer, who is concerned about restoring beach parking on Pope Road. Mr. Rosenstock and others (including me) opposed no-bid renewal of a $1/year contract with her St. Augustine Beach Civic Association.
While recusing herself, Mayor ANDREA SAMUELS insisted on presiding at a packed meeting for two hours on August 3, 2015. SABCA supporters were unruly and loud.
On August 4, 2015, County Commissioners voted 5-0 to remove "First Amendment Area" signs which Mayor SAMUELS, her husband, longtime SABCA President ROBERT SAMUELS, and her accomplice-acolyte, SABCA President and Sheriff's Department employee WILLIAM JONES, used to chill, coerce, restrain and intimidate First Amendment protected activity. A sign was allegedly torn up by JONES; a sign-waver was allegedly body-slammed by Mr. SAMUELS (see letter below); a letter was sent from SABCA lawyer J. Stephen Alexander, former State's Attorney, threatening Mr. Rosenstock with arrest for First Amendment protected activity St. Johns County Commissioners found legal.
"WE GOT HIM" is the boast of a bully. Will Ms. SAMUELS, et pals be sued for civil rights violations and investigated by the Justice Department for them? Enough bullying at St. Augustine Beach.
I wrote Ms. SAMUELS thrice today and she did not respond:
-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: comasamuels
Sent: Thu, Aug 13, 2015 7:37 pm
Subject: Re: URGENT re: Mayor Samuels' Discussion re: Mr. William Rosenstock's arrest -- did you say in the presence of witnesses at 8/12 SABCA concert, "We got him!"?
We must assume that the answer is "yes," correct?
-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: comasamuels
Sent: Thu, Aug 13, 2015 5:45 pm
Subject: URGENT re: Mayor Samuels' Discussion re: Mr. William Rosenstock's arrest -- did you say in the presence of witnesses at 8/12 SABCA concert, "We got him!"?
Please acknowledge receipt of, and kindly respond to this, e-mail. Thank you.
-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin < easlavin@aol.com>
To: comasamuels < comasamuels@cityofsab.org>
Sent: Thu, Aug 13, 2015 1:12 pm
Subject: Discussion re: Mr. William Rosenstock's arrest -- did you say in the presence of witnesses at 8/12 SABCA concert, "We got him!"
Re: Discussion re: Mr. Rosenstock's arrest -- did you say to several persons attending the 8/12 SABCA concert at Pier Park, "We got him!"
Please respond. Thank you.
1 comment:
This is just 'business as usual' in and around St Augustine/St John County
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