Some 40 residents attended the January 25, 2016 City Commission meeting, with Blake Romeyn Souder expressing their views about certain Commissioners' attacks on Mayor Nancy Shaver.
Blake Romeyn Souder was eloquent and Linolnesque in his brevity and understatement: the Blaise Pascal quote nailed it (“to understand is to forgive"). There were some 40 of us there; the Record demurely stated that there were "some people" (not counting us) and downplayed the event and its effects. Later that night, Commissioners voted 3-2 to deny an extension of the controversial Planned Unit Development for the former Ponce de Leon Golf Course ("Madeira"), shocking observers and showing new-found cooperation between City Commissioners listening to residents and to each other and asking tough questions of staff and developer mouthpieces ELLEN AVERY SMITH and MARK ALAN KNIGHT.
Blake Romeyn Souder was eloquent and Linolnesque in his brevity and understatement: the Blaise Pascal quote nailed it (“to understand is to forgive"). There were some 40 of us there; the Record demurely stated that there were "some people" (not counting us) and downplayed the event and its effects. Later that night, Commissioners voted 3-2 to deny an extension of the controversial Planned Unit Development for the former Ponce de Leon Golf Course ("Madeira"), shocking observers and showing new-found cooperation between City Commissioners listening to residents and to each other and asking tough questions of staff and developer mouthpieces ELLEN AVERY SMITH and MARK ALAN KNIGHT.
After Mr. Souder spoke, some 40 people (demurely called "some people" by the Record) respectfully and silently got up and walked out.
Here's the text of Mr. Souder's statement.
City of St. Augustine City Commission Regular Meeting 1/25/2016
Mayor and Commissioners,
I have been asked to speak for many of the citizens in this chamber tonight and many who are watching from home.
Out of respect for the Board, City Staff and for those with items on this evening’s agenda, we hope you will appreciate our consideration to deliver the following message with one speaker.
The citizens of St. Augustine voted you all into office because the majority believed in your message and your ability to conduct the people's business in a professional manner.
This City Commission has great potential moving forward, with many exciting projects and changes that are currently in the works.
These accomplishments and future initiatives are undermined by the unnecessary rancor between Commissioners and the disrespect occurring toward the Office of the Mayor.
We, the citizens of St. Augustine, respectfully request that this behavior cease immediately, and that you strive for courteous and civil public meetings, where disagreement and various opinions are welcome without spite.
In conclusion, I would like to leave everyone with a phrase to reflect upon, which is “to understand is to forgive.”- Blaise Pascal
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