Calling Paul Revere.....

Leading the way into a better future for our economy, community and our environment, bipartisan support is building for a St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway.

Meanwhile, our deeply conflicted St. Augustine City Attorney, RONALD WAYNE BROWN, will present to St. Augustine City Commissioners Monday, June 22nd a controversial proposed compromise on the Fish Island Marina, a project that would destroy the glorious view of the City-owned marshes and bottomlands from the SR 312 Bridge.

St. Augustine City Commissioners rightly rejected the proposal this time last year, by a vote of 5-0. Commissioners should reject it again on Monday night. Commissioners meet at 5 PM in the Alcazar Room, 75 King Street (Lightner Museum and City Hall).

St. Augustine Commissioners ten days ago rejected 4-0 the proposed ugly building that would have destroyed the view from our Cathedral and Government House. Commissioners deserve a hymn of praise when they preserve our history, our environment and our precious cultural heritage.

Monday night St. Augustine City Commissioners again have an opportunity to preserve our history, environment and precious cultural heritage once again, protecting our City property (the bottomlands). Our St. Augustine City-owned marshes and bottomlands are not for sale.

Calling St. Augustine's many Paul Reveres -- please come out and help halt the latest effort by the City Attorney to betray the public interest.

Help protect a view that is as worthy of protection as Nauset Marsh in Cape Cod National Seashore.

Help prevent a dock as big as an aircraft carrier from being built even closer the SR 312 Bridge, which could. destroy island access in a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane.

Help protect our wildlife from destruction.

Help halt the developer (and his business associate PIERRE THOMPSON, former client of City Attorney RONALD WAYNE BROWN) from again destroying wetlands for private gain.

Grandson of the founder of the St. Augustine Record, rapacious developer PIERRE THOMPSON is a sworn enemy of the environment. On October 8, 2001, PIERRE THOMPSON ordered the cutting down of an eagle nest tree not far from the site of the Fish Island Marina project. Last year, THOMPSON BROTHERS REALTY pled guilty to federal crimes for cutting down the eagle nest tree. THOMPSON sold the developer the land for the Fish Island Marina Project. Has the land been fully paid for? Is there a mortgage? Is there a right of reverter? Whatever the City decides will be a precedent for development of other land owned by THOMPSON.

There is a conflict of interest and loyalty on the part of our St. Augustine City ATTORNEY RONALD WAYNE BROWN, the longtime law partner of GEOFFREY DOBSON (also former City Attorney). BROWN once recused himself. He then un-recused himself. How odd.

When the City Commissioners vote on Monday night, they should again tell the developer they are not afraid. The Commissioners' prior 5-0 vote was upheld by the Circuit Court. No one should fear the Bert J. Harris J. Private Property Protection Act (often cited by developers as a way of blackmailing public officials). Nothing in the Bert J. Harris Act requires us to turn over city-owned bottomlands to rapacious developers, or to destroy a view that should be preserved forever in the St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Parkway. Future generations of Floridians will thank City Commissioners for rejecting the fishy Fish Island Marina project (and all of the developers' works and pomps)..

The St. Augustine Record (below) is right on target about our 450th anniversary (and Florida's 500th). Let's preserve the beauty that brought us all here.