St. Augustine City Commissioner JOHN OTHA VALDES, a/k/a "Mr. Know-it-All," DENIED homestead property tax exemption for $2000/month garage apartment

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Thank you to St. Johns County Property Appraiser Eddie Creamer for his swift action as a reformer, including:

• plans to AUDIT all 70,000 homestead exemptions in St. Johns County, many of which had not been examined in decades; and 
• DENYING on May 3 a homestead exemption to new St. Augustine City Commissioner JOHN OTHA VALDES, et ux. for their two bedroom garage apartment at the rear of their 343 St. George Street property, after receiving an anonymous whistleblower complaint by mail.

JOHN VALDES, a/k/a "Mr. Know-it--All," has NOT responded to my requests for an interview or comments.

VALDES et ux advertised their two bedroom garage apartment on AirBnB, falsely advertising their Old City South rental as "oceanfront" at $139/night, listing the address as 344 Charlotte Street.  Now a $2000 month rental, according to paperwork provided to Mr. Creamer's office.

City police had no records for the phony address for the rental -- 344 Charlotte Street.  If a tenant has a heart attack, emergency vehicles might not have made it in time.

JOHN VALDES, a third-generation Florida construction contractor, was elected last year, calling himself "a fixer" -- "I fix things."

On April 3, VALDES announced his desire to:

• Eliminate the elected Mayor's job because it causes "turbulence and confusion."
• Allow nonresident business and property owners to vote in City elections.

No public comment was allowed after VALDES' comments, violating F.S. 286 and the First and Ninth Amendments.

JOHN VALDES claims to support "affordable housing," but not on his own property.

VALDES  moved to St. Augustine in 1992 after selling his Saudi Arabian construction company to Saudi and British partners.

VALDES was fined for demolishing an historic building on Washington Street without a demolition permit, arrogantly telling the City building official, "I can make it fall down." He sought a retroactive demolition permit. It was denied. He was then fined. Only $224. After a hearing on the issue, I told him, "Don't do it again." He said that he would do it again. Hence, louche lawbreaking contractor JOHN VALDES' earned nickname, "Mr. Know It All."

Testifying for DAVID BARTON CORNEAL in 2015, JOHN VALDES passionately supported the evisceration of the Dow Museum of Historic Homes and its conversation into a hotel. VALDES is a third generation Florida developer.

In his  campaign mailing, he extolls his 23 years of community service on HARB, PZB and Code Enforcement Boards. He says he won't require a "learning curve." He already knows how to support the Visigoths and Vandals destroying Our Town.

Mr. Know-it-All said he doesn't need to learn anything.  

Evidently, he needs to learn about Ethics, and not claiming homestead exemptions for rental property. 

As Jimmy Carter famously said, "I see no reason why big shot crooks should go free, and the poor ones go to jail."