For some fifteen years, our St. Augustine Airport was called something else. Thanks to State Rep. Kim Kendall for sponsoring, and Governor Ronald Dion DeSantis for signing, legislation changing the name of the St. Augustine Airport to "Northeast Florida Regional Airport," without a branding study or any principled reason. There was only unreliable hearsay from then-Airport Executive Director Edward Wuellner, who fancied himself a king. Then-Airport lawyer Douglas Nelson Burnett of St. Johns Law Group made several unpersuasive ineffectual presentations to the St. Johns County Legislative Delegation several years in a row, eventually resulting in the name change. Query: why did Legislature change the name in the first place? How many other developer law firm nostrums get enacted into law, without thought? How much money was spent on signage, advertising and lawyer fees for "Northeast Florida Regional Airport?" Who will tell the people about the cost of this extravagant arrogant Airport waste, fraud, abuse, flummery, dupery and nincompoopery for the past fifteen (15) years? From Jacksonville Today:
St. Augustine Airport takes back its old name
The airport in St. Augustine has been known by many names, and now it has an old one back.
The St. Augustine Airport rebranded as the Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine in 2010 — and later just the Northeast Florida Regional Airport — but officials recently made a push to return to the older, simpler name.
The airport does not currently offer commercial flights, but private charter flights use the airport, as do corporate clients.
Earlier this year, the airport’s interim executive director, Courtney Pittman, asked St. Johns County’s lawmakers to support the change to help clear up passenger confusion.
“At that time, the thinking was … they would have more impact for commercial service by saying that we’re attached to the region,” Pittman said. “But then you would have people get on said commercial flights at that time, land here in St. Augustine and think that they (were) in Jacksonville.”
The bill to change the airport’s name was sponsored by Rep. Kim Kendall, R-St. Augustine. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it this week.
The change comes at a tumultuous time for the St. Johns County Airport Authority, the elected body that oversees operations at the newly renamed airport.
An investigation is underway into allegations that members of the Airport Authority board violated state laws requiring that meetings between elected officials be held in public.
The airport in St. Augustine has been known by many names, and now it has an old one back.
The St. Augustine Airport rebranded as the Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine in 2010 — and later just the Northeast Florida Regional Airport — but officials recently made a push to return to the older, simpler name.
The airport does not currently offer commercial flights, but private charter flights use the airport, as do corporate clients.
Earlier this year, the airport’s interim executive director, Courtney Pittman, asked St. Johns County’s lawmakers to support the change to help clear up passenger confusion.
“At that time, the thinking was … they would have more impact for commercial service by saying that we’re attached to the region,” Pittman said. “But then you would have people get on said commercial flights at that time, land here in St. Augustine and think that they (were) in Jacksonville.”
The bill to change the airport’s name was sponsored by Rep. Kim Kendall, R-St. Augustine. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it this week.
The change comes at a tumultuous time for the St. Johns County Airport Authority, the elected body that oversees operations at the newly renamed airport.
An investigation is underway into allegations that members of the Airport Authority board violated state laws requiring that meetings between elected officials be held in public.
1 comment:
St Augustine Airport puts the city on the map. The Northeast Florida name doesn't.
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