Letter: Gardner is pleasant, not effective; vote Romano

Letter: Gardner is pleasant, not effective; vote Romano
Publication Date: 11/05/06

Editor: Mayor George Gardner was elected as a reformer, and meant well.

He and Ms. (Susan) Burk are often the only votes against badly planned, overly dense developments. But Gardner's not persistent and lacks the ability or will to convince fellow commissioners to vote to protect Indigenous history, wetlands and human rights. His 2002 campaign slogan and promise of "real leadership" hasn't been kept!

Contrary to what Gardner has said, challenger Peter Romano is hardly the only one who criticizes City Hall. Many are critical of Gardner's tenure as mayor, including those like myself who supported him in 2002.

On history, Gardner failed miserably. American-Indian history is daily being destroyed or simply developed-over. His historic tourism program -- including the guide and test for historic tour guides -- avoids historic American-Indians (with a 13,000-year history in area), African-Americans, Civil Rights heroes, gays and lesbians.

It treats the entire scope of history, as if history involves only Spanish and English "settlers," (the area was already settled by some 200,000 Timucua-speakers), and a few pirates. This is pure and simple Eurocentrism and racism!

Gardner has utterly failed to oversee City Manager Bill Harriss, who has routinely abused his power, and stonewalled citizens on records- requests. He's not stopped City Planning/Zoning Director Mark Knight from rushing to cover over and develop on top of a magnificent, 700-year-old, Timucuan ceremonial site next to Magnolia St.

It's hoped Romano would remove the city-archeologist's position from under the thumb of the pro-development Planning/Zoning Department.

On environmental protection, Gardner failed. The illegal dumping in our Old City Reservoir is even worse than in Clay County, where former county officials have been indicted for illegal dumping and other felonies.

On protecting First Amendment Rights -- from St. George St. to Pride Flags on the Bridge of Lions -- Gardner failed.

At least a part-time presence of these entertainers on St. George St. would have pleased millions of tourists annually who still ask, "Where are all the street artists?"

Sunshine violations persist, as evidenced most recently on October 13, by hiring Dobson & Brown as interim legal counsel without legal notice.

On respecting citizen rights to speak out, Gardner initially improved conditions and then retreated, limiting time without even a vote.

Gardner insulted one persistent-but-respectful citizen activist during speakers' public comment time. Aren't commissioners just supposed to listen carefully and take citizen-input into account before deciding on issues?

Commissioners Gardner and (Joseph) Boles are too cozy with developers and their attorneys' -- such as local, oftentimes rude, land-rape attorney George McClure. When there's another maximum-density, development being proposed, McClure often seems to be running the commission.

Peter Romano would make a much superior mayor and commissioner. Gardner's usually personally pleasant, but he just won't stand up for this community on too many issues of great importance.

David Thundershield Queen
St. Augustine


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