Letter: Boles is arrogant, vote for Romano to save city

Letter: Boles is arrogant, vote for Romano to save city
Publication Date: 10/22/06

Editor: Land-raping speculators are ruining our city and county.

On January 9th, St. Augustine City Commissioner Joe Boles voted to put a strip mall and condominiums where there are unexamined Indian villages, risking floods and vehicle accidents near three schools, risking children's safety. Commissioners voted 3-2 to destroy history, falsely claiming Indian sites were protected.

We asked to show videotapes and photos, including Lewis Speedway underwater during football games, school functions and parent pickups. Looking toward the planning director, Mr. Boles shook his head "no'' at our request. In response, staff then claimed there were technical problems with video equipment and city staff needed to have viewed them first. They kept cable TV viewers and commissioners from seeing just how dangerous Lewis Speedway is when it's flooded due to speculators destroying wetlands.

Speculators rule the roost. City staff walked away and let lawyer George McClure paw through and read our speaker cards before they were passed to the mayor. I was shocked.

Commissioners no longer bother to swear in speculators or city staff during public hearings.

While citizens are limited to three minutes, speculators and lawyers get to take as much time as they want to and are allowed the last word.

Things will get worse because of 250 new homes proposed for Lewis Speedway.

Things will also get worse if Mr. Joe Boles is elected mayor. In my opinion, the entire commission and staff are arrogant and dismissive and reckon themselves above the law. If Mr. Boles is elected mayor, I believe he would favor wetland-filling speculators, while violating the peoples' rights and destroying nature (as at the contaminated Old City Reservoir).

I respectfully urge you to support Peter Romano for mayor and commissioner, shaking your heads "no'' (in disgust at condescending arrogance). Vote to save this city.

Sherry Badger

St. Augustine


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