"What if it's an immoral industry!?" That's what Professor James G. Tigner, my Contracts professor at Memphis State University, ask in 1983 of a law student from Missouri, who had glibly suggested a loose-as-goose non-standard for determining what constituted an "unconscionable contract."
David Brian Wallace and moved here on November 5, 1999. Within a month, Brian rightly concluded, "It's crooked around here!"
Two further conclusions:
1. Historically, under KKK rule, with LAWRENCE O. DAVIS, a corrupt political boss and bootlegging corrupt St. Johns County Sheriff removed by the Florida Senate in 1971, St. Johns County was one of the most corrupt counties in Florida. To this day, SJC has lousy, louche low ethical standards and low expectations and standards for business regulation and government transparency. SJC won't even require lobbyists to register.Commissioners voted 3-2 to hire a connected corporate law firm, BRADLEY, GARRISON & KOMANDO, P.A. to be our St. Johns County Attorney on April 15, 2024, a firm co-owned by the new Florida Speaker of the House. SAMUEL PAUL GARRISON. Jesus wept.
2. So-called real estate "development" here is an "immoral industry," to use Prof. Tigner's phrase.
Thanks to SJC's lax standards under one party rule, the Magic Beach Motel is being demolished.
Next time, SJC officials need to jawbone, as City of St. Augustine officials, including Dana Ste. Claire, then-HARB Chair, once did when a "developer" wanted to demolish an historic building. Mr. Ste Claire used the words "eminent domain," and scared the stuff out of grifters.
Passive, St. Johns County residents and our tolerating one-party rule is the root cause. This not-so-subtle corruption of our government is indefensible and must be ended at once. It is so wrong.
In Earth in The Balance, Al Gore wrote that the root cause of most of the the world's environmental problems is corruption. That's the case here with what we here call "overdevelopment."
We have in what we here call "God's country" sadly suffered and permitted hick hack meek, weak, wimpy elected officials to "sell their wares," as Georgetown University Professor Jan Karski put it, quoting reform Venezuela politician Romulo Betancourt.
We have only ourselves to blame.
To so-called "developers," and your enablers, do you have what H.L. Mencken would call "a libido for the ugly?" Does your conscience bother you? What do your kids think of your devious tactics destroying wetlands and destroying all the trees to make more money? Is it ever enough? As Senator Robert F. Kennedy once wrote to segregationist Senator James O. Eastland, "Repent now, there's still time." RFK said, "It is not enough to allow dissent. We just demand it, for there is much to dissent from. We dissent from the willful heedless destruction of natural beauty and pleasures."
As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
From First Coast News:
Demolition starts on iconic Magic Beach Motel in Vilano Beach after years of pushback
VILANO BEACH, Fla. — For its final trick, the Magic Beach Motel is going to disappear.
On Wednesday, a First Coast News crew swung by the motel and spotted crews in the process of conducting the demolition. With an excavator and front end loader, crews were seen demolishing the motel's pool and the vinyl fence surrounding it.
The iconic motel located in Vilano Beach was built in 1951 and designated a significant cultural resource in 2021.
"I've never stayed at the Magic Beach but some of my friends have," said Carl Miller while watching the demolition. "I have swam in the pool they're tearing down right now."
It turns out the pool would be the first thing to go in the demolition process, bringing up plenty of memories for Carl Miller.
Miller says his friend would rent the same room at the Magic Beach Motel every time he'd come for a visit.
"Used to stay in the room all the way at the end because he could see the ocean and check the waves to go surfing in the morning," said Miller.
It may seem like the heavy machines were pulled out of a hat, but they're no sleight of hand. The vanishing trick has been in the works for quite a while.
St. Johns County approved a demolition permit back in August, but that was after a developer unveiled plans for condos at the site in March.
Miller is hoping there's a chance some of the iconic pieces - the sign, the clock, the flamingos - don't go down with the demolition.
"We've been talking about coming and chiseling one out, but you'd need a jackhammer to get one of those out," said Miller. "Maybe just a piece of rubble for a souvenir would be enough."
St. Johns County reports the property owner included a voluntary plan for "documenting, salvaging and commemorating" parts of the motel, and there is certainly plenty of history to document.
Like when the Magic Beach hosted part of the production of the 1999 TV series Safe Harbor, which coincidentally took place in the fictional town of Magic Beach.
Or even the more recent filming of Netflix's Three Body Problem.
Or simply the neon sign that became synonymous with Vilano Beach.
"We'd always come out here as kids, especially at night, it's neon, lit up, very cute," said Madeline George while watching the demolition. "We loved it. It's going to be missed, that's for sure."
Miller's relatives will have to stay at a different hotel for their next visit, but at least they'll have their memories.
"We fought to save the Magic Beach, but developers won out, so we just have to go with progress and the future," said Miller.
Miller pointed out that despite demolition underway, the iconic clock still shows the correct time and lights are still on by some of the rooms in the far building - perhaps a little magic left in the motel after all.
Rick Johnston, a developer, looks to build condos and retail on the historic site.
Miller's relatives will have to stay at a different hotel for their next visit, but at least they'll have their memories.
"We fought to save the Magic Beach, but developers won out, so we just have to go with progress and the future," said Miller.
Miller pointed out that despite demolition underway, the iconic clock still shows the correct time and lights are still on by some of the rooms in the far building - perhaps a little magic left in the motel after all.
First Coast News reached out to Johnston Wednesday regarding the demolition, but he didn't have any comment.
However, most of it is still standing at this point, so folks still have a chance to flock here to get one last look at all of the flamingos.
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