Dear Vice Mayor Sikes-Kline and Commissioners Freeman, Horvath and Crichlow:
1. Please schedule an Open public Sunshine hearing on the proposed five (5) year renewal of a below-market rate commercial lease benefitting our Mayor and former Mayor. The lease expires July 25th. Please issue an Order to Show Cause to the lessees as to why the lease should be renewed in its current form, in light of economic realities today. Please see http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2014/06/133121month-lease-for-florida-cracker.html
2. Am I correctly informed that the $1331.21/month rental payment for 2500 square feet of prime commercial space on St. George Street is from 1/5 to 1/10 the market rental rate?
3. That is unfair.
4. It is invidiously discriminatory and would appear to violate the Equal Protection and Due Process rights of every other City lessee.
5. It appears particularly unfair to every single one of our City's other bars and restaurants -- small business owners subsidizing the rents of their competitors, who are two City governmental "insiders."
6. This subtle corruption of our government is indefensible, and must be ended at once.
7. Mayor Boles must recuse himself from all discussions and debate and allow our Vice Mayor, Ms. Nancy Sikes-Kline, to preside at a quasi-judicial hearing on the nature, structure and performance of the lease and the lease payments by the lessees of 81 St. George Street. Your fiduciary duty to our City requires it.
8. As Thomas Jefferson said, "A public office is a public trust."
9. How would such a "sweetheart" lease deal look in The New York Times or on PBS?
10. Our City has made so much progress, we look forward to welcoming the Pope, and we don't need this noisome lease renewal hurting St. Augustine's image any longer.
11. Do I understand correctly that the basic terms were set some 25 years ago?
12. It is time for an agonizing review of this and all other City leases for commercial properties.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
904-377-4998
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