Monday, January 06, 2014

St. Augustine Beach Must Reject Overbearng MARRIOTT Franchisee Demand to Reduce Drainage Payment by Marriott

Yesterday's New York Times revealed that Marriott, one of hte largest hotel corporations in the world, had net income of $475 million on revenue of $9.6 billion during the first nine months of 2013.
MARRIOTT and its franchisee don't need a reduction in the amount they are contractually obligated to pay the City of St. Augustine Beach to pay $566,000 for drainage improvements associated with its proposed Courtyard by Marriott.
Admitting the hotel will be built with or without the proposed concession, the developer should be told that the City of St. Augustine Beach will not renegotiate to its disadvantage.
The City of St. Augustine Beach needs vigorous, independent legal advice -- not lap doggery from DOUGLAS BURNETT, JR., the City Attorney, who mostly represents developers, and also represents a few governments (SAB, Airport) in the lapdog spirit of lawyer GEOFFREY DOBSON, longtime City of St. Augusine Beach City Attorney, longtime lawyer for nearly every other government in the county. DOBSON was a walking conflict of interest representing deveopers, an unjust steward who never saw a developer he did not kiss up to, while nearly saddling our Mosquito control District with an unneeded $1.8 million n-bod helicopter (which he claimed was "sole source").
No matter how charming the developer, no matter how generous he is with causes or candidates, his request must be DENIED.

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