Thursday, August 21, 2014

On what theory, Mr. WEEKS and Mr. BOLES?

FOLIO WEEKYY's devastating cover story this week is about two Fortunate Sons of the St. Augustine aristocracy, LEONARD CLAUDE WEEKS, JR. and JOSEPH LESTER BOLES, JR., and their 25-year old scheme to profiteer from the rest of us.
BOLES' father ran the Lightner Museum.
WEEKS' father ran Flagler Hospital.
BOLES and WEEKS were permitted to build their business on city property and lease it for a song.
This is corporate welfare.
This is corporate socialism.
This is good-ole-boy businessmen ripping off the taxpayers.
This is so wrong.
The initial lease took effect on July 25, 1989.
When the building was built, WEEKS was found in violation of City law, lacking permits.
WEEKS demanded and did not get exceptions from historic building requirements.
The building was built, the restaurant was opened, and these two businessmen made a killing.
At our expense.
It's our money .
The city did not make the profits from its property -- BOLES and WEEKS did.
Some 25 years later, BOLES and WEEKS still have a lease of City of St. Augustine property at less than market rates.
The City has no right to cancel the lease.
It will go on for another ten years.
The theory of the lease, as rubber-stamped by a prior City Commission, was that they would provide bathrooms.
The fact of the lease is that they're ripping us off.
Some $2-3 million in profits over 25 years.
They don't earn it.
They never did earn it.
They got it the old-fashioned way -- these two good buddies ripped us off.
This is typical of crony capitalism in our Nation's Oldest City.
Former Mayor WEEKS and current Mayor BOLES don't do any work -- they just sublease the property at 81 St. George Street to the current owners of their former restaurant, FLORIDA CRACKER CAFE.
They cash twelve checks a year, and write one for some $8000 for property taxes.'
They're laughing all the way to the bank.
As for the bathrooms, check them out -- they're nasty.
They leave a bad impression with our visitors.
In fact: One of the two urinals is covered by plastic and does not work.
Obviously, the theory does not hold water.
The best public-private partnership ever?
Mayor BOLES WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO FOLIO WEEKLY ABOUT IT --- he had business partners WEEKS call.
JUST AS their BUDDY, SHERIFF DAVID BERNARD SHOAR would not talk to the New York Times about the O'Connell case. Just ask his buddy, State's Attorney RALPH JOSEPH LARIZZA would not talk to the Times.
Henry Kissinger once attended a Washington Redskins game as the guest of then-owner Edward Bennett Williams. Kissinger did not like a referee's call. He stood up and yelled, "On vot theory?"
On what theory, Messrs. BOLES and WEEKS?
This is about greed, not need.
MR. BOLES, TEAR UP THIS LEASE!
What do y'all reckon?

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