Five decades ago, when Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote rabbis that St. Augustine was "the most lawless" city in America, the KKK ran this town and county. Secrecy and corruption prevailed.
Today, there is not a single KKK vote in either our City or County Commission.
Today, GLBT rights are protected by the cities of St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach, the Sheriff, and Mosquito Control.
Today, secrecy and Sunshine violations are no longer tolerated.
Today, Democracy is "On the March," in David Lillienthal's words.
Yesterday, I spoke to our City and County Commissioners, meeting together, about the St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore, as I have since November 13, 2006 (see below). There was not one interruption. Not one hostile statement, whether from Commissioners or audience members. Not one comparison to Hitler, Goebbels, Communists or Nazis. No simulated gun noises and gun gestures. No uninformed comments about national parks or the federal government.
Our City and County still have a way to go. In particular, our County does. With your help, we're making this a better place.
Ed, Signed on to give you this info in the context of your lament to CC that StA hasn't been in the NYT for years! Be careful what you wish for! Pretty amazing coverage. I'm sure you caught the snark when they said that thing about how we "call" ourselves the nation's oldest city. We don't. We call ourselves "the nation's oldest continuously occupied European settlement."
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