St. Augustine City Commissioners held a construtive workshop Monday, November 4 concerning the "visioning" process for the future of St. Augustine. Former Mayor Greg Baker led off by describing the trip to Charleston, S.C. and the process followed in 1995. Mayor Baker and Flagler College President William Abare offered their wisdom about planning and the fture of our City. Four local residents spoke (including me, invoking the wisdom of former Mayor Walter Fraser, two U.S. Senators and our then-Congressman, who introduced legislation for a St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore in 1939 -- legislation supported by Mrs. Maurine Boles, our Mayor's mother, which Sheriff David Shoar in 2011 rightly called a "no-brainer.") See www.staugustgreen.com
The only discordant note was from FLAGLER HOSPITAL CEO & President JOSEPH GORDY, who called Sunshine law compliance "stultifying," and advised against it, while saying that in 1995 St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce trained "facilitators" were trained to "shut down" people who spoke at visioning meetings. How gauche. What errant nonsense.
"We the People" -- and our Commmissioners, City Manager and City staff -- all reject JOSEPH GORDY's unwise advice. Our Mayor, Commissioners and City Attorney all agree: this process will comply with Article I, Section 24 of our Florida Constitution, adopted by 83% of Florida voters in November 1992 (3.8 million voted in favor). There are no votes at the table in 2013 for GORDY's backward views, which are antithetical to democracy.
Mossback JOSEPH GORDY's views are a throwback to the "bad 'ole days." Dr. King called St. Augustine the "most lawless" city in America in 1964. In the words of President Lyndon Johnson to a Joint Session of Congress after Selma, "We SHALL overcome!"
JOSEPH GORDY's smarmy, snobby, snooty elitism -- preferring a Chamber of Commerce driven process -- reminds me of Florida Governor RICHARD SCOTT or President RICHARD MILHOUS NIXON.
In the words of Colorado U.S. Senator Gary Warren Hart's 1974 campaign ad, "They've had their turn -- now it's our turn."
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