Here's Tom Reynolds' 2026 New Years column

Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist Maureen annually gives her brother, Kevin, an opportunity to express his own personal views in her New York Times column.  Once upon a time, in 2017, a Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times investigative reporter called me to ask, at 10:30 pm on a Sunday, asking me ""Who the Hell is Tom Reynolds?"  Ladies and gentlemen, don't know. I still search for the answer.   From my friend, local government watchdog, Tom Reynolds:

• Thu, Jan 8 at 8:12 AM

  Good day Elected Officials of St Augustine Beach Florida 32080 

  It is with super sadness and huge disappointment that I must give you St Augustine Beach EOs an .... F ..... grade for your first meeting of 2026.  

  
  

  Why? 

  
  

  1) The tone of voices, what I was hearing, and the disrespectful attitudes coming from all Commissioners in regards to Mr. Royle s VERY GENEROUS OFFER to extend his contract. Mr. Royle has been doing three jobs for the City of St Augustine Beach and has saved the City MILLIONS of dollars in salaries and lawsuit prevention! YES, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and City Risk management Manager all for one salary for way more than 3 decades. The City of St Augustine Beach, as you EOs know very well, is the MOST BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BEACH CITY in the United States of America PERIOD! Yes Folks ... that is because of Mr. Royle s Leadership, Management skills, and positive TEAM Captain style approach.  

  
  

  When Mr. Royle s was speaking about his generous offer (my words), contract extension,  he stated something so important I KNEW he was on TOP of HIS GAME! Yes, Mr Royle spoke about the Florida Legislators and what might be coming. I sure hope you SAB City EOs heard/read between the lines when he said those words. Mr. Royle knows that the City of St Augustine Beach est 1959 is facing VERY SERIOUS challenges for the City to survive. YES SAB City Commissioners ... SURVIVAL .... !!!!!!

  
  

  Redress: Extend Mr. Royle s contract to 6-30-2028 as he has offered! Put the BEST in charge of running the Most Beautiful Little Beach City in the World. YES, for the worst STORM of the Century coming directly at City of St Augustine Beach and for the survival of St Augustine Beach est 1959! The future of SAB City needs the BEST CAPTAIN to survive this category 5! 

  
  

  WHY a FAILING GRADE? 

  2)  Serious FAILURE to address the VERY conflicted SAB City Contract Attorney, the Douglas Law Firm. Why didn't one of you address the FACT that the City Contracted Attorney is suing the City Residents and our fellow St Johns County Residents? The Douglas Law Firm is violating several rules of the Ethical Standards by disregarding plain old common sense Ethics for doing business with the City of SAB. Are you five SAB City Commissioners afraid of offending the Unethical Lawyers, but OK looking the other way while the City Residents get CHEATED? YES, the SAB residents/taxpayers are getting Unwanted sexual intercourse by the HIGHLY Unethical contracted Law Firm and the PROVEN Unethical Lawyers that are part of the Douglas Law Firm. 

  
  

  Redress: Confront the Douglas Law Firm and speak up for the Residents. Ask them to either drop out of the Lawsuit or give them a notice of termination. Then authorize the City Manager to put out an RFP for an Ethical Lawyer or Ethical Law firm for the deserving SAB Residents. 

  
  

  WHY a FAILING GRADE? 

  3) Failure to address the WAY OUT of CONTROL Police Department spending, over hiring, dereliction of duties, lack of a 5 % budget reduction, and suspicious death of the Police Department K9. It is very obvious that you 5 SAB City Commissioners lack courage to confront what NEEDS to be confronted for City financial survival and most of all the best SAFETY for city Residents! When a City Commission has a chance to save money, improve safety, and save the city from future receivership, but chooses to look the other way, ITS a COWARDLY COMMISSION!  Please don't be Coward Cop Suckers! ( gullible or easily deceived persons) 

  
  

  Redress: 1) Set a date for a workshop to discuss contracting with the SJCSD.

                 2) Demand that the SABPD put all Officers on 4 ten hour shifts for SAFETY and SAVINGS 

                 3) Demand that all SABPD supervisor positions be on five 8 hour shifts.  

                 4) Demand an immediate HIRING FREEZE 

                 5) Implement SABPD policies to eliminate wage theft, gasoline theft, and overtime abuse/theft. 

                 6) Demand the current Chief layoff or transfer one of the SABPD office workers to City Hall. 

                 7) Eliminate the not needed Assistant Chief of Police position.   

                 8) Demand a stop to getting a new K9. (SJCSD has K9 s if needed) 

                 9)  Eliminate the K9 officer position.   

                 10) contact the State Attorney Office about a Grand Jury review of all SABPD expenses.

  
  

  Thank you for your immediate attention to these SERIOUS failures! 

  The future of St Augustine Beach est 1959 is what is at stake! 

  
  

  Tom Reynolds, SJC Gov Watch 

  Lawfully, Legally, and Always Peacefully ... helping better the City of St Augustine Beach since 2012