TWO YEARS AGO TODAY, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS ARRiVED AT A CRIME SCENE IN ST. AUGUSTINE

Two years ago today, on February 27, 2006:
1. Criminal investigators from the EPA Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection arrived at the site of the City of St. Augustine's Old City Reservoir and were lied to by city officials, represented by AKERMAN SENTERFITT partner WILLIAM L. PENCE. No one has been prosecuted (yet).

2. We began asking questions about our Nation's Oldest City;s illegal dumping.


Two years later, the City of St. Augustine is still stonewalling the two intervenors and seven petitioners in our challenge to the Consent Order that would allow solid waste to be brought back to the historically African-American community of Lincolnville. St. Augustine and FDEP officials actually wrote a Florida Administrative Law Judge that they should deny us our right to know to "preserve judicial resources." Their demand for secrecy is still pending.

Two years later, our sister City of Aviles, Spain (birthplace of our City's founder) boycotted the annual Pedro Menendez de Aviles Noche de Gala masked ball held on Saturday night. Yes, thanks to the Internet, "the whole world is watrching."

Two years later, the State indicates it has no plans for the 500th anniversary, as reported by ex-Mayor GEORGE GARDNER's recent newsletter.

Two years later, Governor Charles Crist has declined to come here for a bill-signing -- this is a sign of awareness of St. Augustine's corruption on the part of our reform Governor and his brilliant, hard-working Chief of Staff Patricia Gleason (long an advocate for Sunshine and Open Records with the State AG's office).

Two years later, the citizens of the City of St. Augustine in their righteous wrath -- and everyone in Northeast Florida -- is aware of the scandal thanks to Anne Schindler's cover story in the January 24, 2008 Folio Weekly.

Two years later, City Manager WILLIAM B. HARRISS is still on the job, awaiting a sinecure from Sheriff David Shoar.

Later this year, elections may produce a revolution -- four out of five City Commissioners may be replaced.

This is a beautiful city that deserves a government as warm, compassionate and idealistic as the people who live here. As Jimmy Carter said, "I see no reason why bigshot crooks should go free and the poor ones go to jail."

"It takes a village" to unify everyone into an effective reform movement.

A new broom sweeps clean.

"It takes a village" to root out environmental wrongdoing and cleanup our City.
Keep disclosing wrongdoing -- after dumping solid waste in our Old City Reservoir, our Nation's Oldest City has nowhere to go but up!

To the people of the city of St. Augustine, we salute you! Happy anniversary -- as a result of City officials' environmental crimes (and getting caught), our Nation's Oldest City will never be the same again!


Ed Slavin
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-471-7023
904-471-9918 (fax)