Ed Slavin: Let's make meaningful changes in this new year

(St. Augustine Record photo on election night 2014, at Mayor Nancy Shaver's celebration).

Ed Slavin: Let's make meaningful changes in this new year
Posted: January 16, 2016 - 6:34pm
By ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine Record Guest Column, Sunday, January 17, 2015

We love St. Augustine! Let’s firmly resolve to resist, reject and report powerful pressures to ruin our beloved St. Augustine and St. Johns County and to transform them into ugly, overdeveloped, unreasonable facsimiles of Richardson, Texas or Broward County in South Florida.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The ground of liberty is gained by inches ... we must ... eternally press forward for what is yet to get. It takes time to persuade [people] to do ... what is for their own good.”

What’s next in 2016? First, inspired by the strong moral character of the late civil rights leader Dr. Robert S. Hayling, D.D.S. and the late U.S. District Judge Howell Melton, Sr., who both died in December 2015, how about naming the soaring Vilano Bridge the “Hayling-Melton Bridge,” a bridge over once-troubled waters, remembering the words of Amos, “Let justice roll on like a river ... ?” Symbols matter.

Second, we need more Florida “Sunshine,” far more public participation and much less smarmy sneakiness from local officialdom. I suggest a series of evening joint town meetings at Flagler College Auditorium between the combined Commissions of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach and St. Johns County. Let’s discuss:

■ Protecting First Amendment and whistleblower rights from government overreach and retaliation;

■ More meaningful public participation in governmental decision-making;

■ Increasing transparency and compliance with Sunshine and Open Records (Article I, Sec. 24 of Florida Constitution, adopted by 3.8 million voters (83 percent) in 1992);

■ Responding to flooding and coastal erosion;

■ Environmental protection, growth management and historic preservation;

■ Enacting a St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore Act, www.staugustgreen.com.

■ Enacting a strong countywide ethics law, including ombudsmen and inspectors general, post-employment restrictions on top employees, gift disclosure and identification of all beneficial owners of all property-owning LLCs requesting zoning and planning favors.

I appreciate officials heeding my prior suggestions for joint city/county meetings.

Imagine: 15 elected commissioners listening to each other and to residents. Let’s hold all future joint city/county meetings in open public fora, friendly to public participation, with live video coverage — at night, not during the workday; and televised on both our government cable stations.

Third, let’s take back local cable television public access for nonprofit groups and individuals — a right that was taken away from us in 2007. In the City of St. Augustine, it happened over public opposition, after a dinner break and apparent commissioner Sunshine violations under Mayor Joseph Lester Boles, Jr. and the “reign of error” of city manager William Barry Harriss.

Let’s transform and reform our dull government cable television stations. We own them. They show occasional meetings and interminable repetitive government propaganda.

Let’s convert them back to true “public access” as before the 2007 Comcast-Time Warner deal — when officials were pressured by powerful interests to stop people from criticizing our governments on cable television (like the late “Bubba” Rowe, later elected County Commissioner)! Lets engage our community with homegrown local access TV programming, showcasing our local artists, musicians, religious, civic and educational organizations — with news and commentary on our government-owned stations. Let us raise the quality of debate and civil discourse.

Fourth, participate in our primary and general elections. Ask questions. Demand answers. Expect democracy.

Report corruption to the FBI Corruption Task Force in Daytona Beach. Encourage unselfish candidates and true civil servants — just stewards who work for “We, the People,” and not the powerful.

It is up to every single one of us to preserve and protect our historic, environmental and cultural heritage and to protect this special place forever. Yes we will! Happy New Year!