See below.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
MICA's control over roads on which you drive, the college degrees you can get, the parks in which you can play and the jobs available
THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ
THE WIZARD OF OZ BEHIND HIS CURTAIN
Read the item below from the website of U.S. Reprobate JOHN MICA, bragging about his "control over the roads on which you drive, the college degrees you can get, the parks in which you can play and the jobs available for you and your family."
Sounds like a fungible dull Republican control freak with tight shoes, a pinkie ring and a yellow tie, spoiling for another fight (he's the one who insulted our Commander in Chief, Bill Clinton, resulting in being found out of order by the House of Representatives, and who head-butt an ABC news cameraman filming him leaving a TOM DELAY lobbyist party in St. Paul, Minnesota at the Republican National Convention.
Anyone who is so insatiably power-hungry that they brag of their power deserves to be defeated.
What do you reckon?
VULGARIAN U.S. REP. JOHN MICA'S WEBSITE TOUTS HIS BEING AMONG THE "MOST POWERFUL" IN CENTRAL FLOIRDA
Survey: John Mica one of Central Florida's
Top Five Most Powerful
OrlandoSentinel.com
The 25 most powerful people in Central Florida
Scott Maxwell
TAKING NAMES
December 30, 2007
As we have worked our way up the year's list of "The 25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida," we passed CEOs, philanthropists, political players and rising stars.
But now we've reached the top and find five people who have control over the roads on which you drive, the college degrees you can get, the parks in which you can play and the jobs available for you and your family.
They are four elected officials and one education leader. And, according to our panel of 16 plugged-in observers, they have more direct impact on our community than anyone else.
5.John Mica. This one is interesting. The senior Republican among Central Florida's U.S. House delegation has never before appeared in the top five. And yet he pops up now -- after his party becomes the minority in Congress. So why did our panelists deem him so powerful? Primarily because he was downright dogged in his pursuit of commuter rail -- and ultimately successful. For more than a decade, the 64-year-old from Winter Park pursued his dream, despite one roadblock (or is that track-block?) after another. One panelist suggested his autobiography be named The Little Light Rail and Congressman That Could. It's worth noting that Mica -- who seems to tick off his own constituents less often than some others in our congressional delegation -- is the only member of the U.S. House to ever make this list . . . or, really, even come close.
NO COMMISSIONER JUSTIFIES CITY MANAGER WILLIAM B. HARRISS EXPECTING WORKERS CITIZENS TO RISK LIVES FOR HARRISS' INEPT DECREPIT REGIME
CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE EXPECTS WORKERS AND CITIZENS TO RISK OUR LIVES FOR CITY MANAGER WILLIAM B. HARRISS' INEPT, DECREPIT REGIME
At last night's City Commission meeting, Mayor JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR. seriously asked City Attorney RONALD BROWN for legal advice about citizens in the audience wearing t-shirts, mentioning, among others, City Commission candidate Judith Seraphin (who was wearing her election t-shirt, stating “I won’t DUCK the issues.”
It was concluded that City Commission had no power to dictate sartorial splendor. But wills, estate and trust lawyer JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR. claimed to have the power to prevent candidates from using the City’s soapbox for campaigning or politicking (as if Commissioner ERROL JONES, et al hadn’t done so before).
BOLES was rude to Democratic Congressional candidate Faye Armitage several months ago, making ungracious remarks when she introduced herself to Commissioners. It seems that BOLES is a Democrat In Name Only (DINO) but supports plug-ugly mean-spirited Republican mugs like Congressman JOHN MICA and Representative WILLIAM L. PROCTOR.
As a result of BOLES’ noting and seeking legal advice about citizens’ attire, I noted the incongruity of his micromanaging t-shirts but not pollution, speaking to Commissioners was proudly wearing an Obama/Biden t-shirt and an “I voted early” sticker),
Mayor JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR. asked for a legal opinion on t-shirts worn by private citizens, but no one ever asked any legal opinions before:(a) dumping 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated solid waste in the Old City Reservoir, resulting in fines; or (b) dumping treated freshwater sewage effluent in our saltwater marsh from the City’s sewage plant, for years, while HARRISS held private briefings delaying replacement of a shredded “pipe” missing 120 feet – that’s not a pipe, it’s a colander.
Remarking at this incongruity, no one defended the indefensible.
Nor did anyone defend the City’s lack of a safety culture, as demonstrated by asking City workers to handle shredded, rusty, sewage effluent pipe without gloves and asking untrained workers to sift through 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated solid waste before moving it from Lincolnville to West Augustine to the Old City Reservoir.
I proposed that St. Augustine agree to abide by OSHA, including Section 11.c., which protects worker rights to raise safety concerns, and agree to an environmental whistleblower policy that protects employee rights to make disclosures to government, the news media and public interest groups.
No one disagreed. No one denied employees are afraid to speak their truths out of fear of the autocratic City Manager WILLIAM B. HARRISS, he who must be obeyed. No one defended HARRISS – not even embattled City Commissioner ERROL JONES, a/k/a ERRONEOUS JONES.
Organized citizens have caught WILLIAM B. HARRISS in two overt acts of environmental crimes, yet he has never apologized, falsely blaming “incompetents” when the fault was with his autocratic, authoritarian, intimidating management style, a stench in the nostrils of our Nation’s Oldest City.
Voters are already voting out other-directed ERROL JONES, a/k/a ERRONEOUS JONES, whose nastiness and intimidation of voters is backfiring. See below.
Elect Judith Seraphin and Jimmy Owens to the City Commission. See my Sunday column in the St. Augustine Record.
At last night's City Commission meeting, Mayor JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR. seriously asked City Attorney RONALD BROWN for legal advice about citizens in the audience wearing t-shirts, mentioning, among others, City Commission candidate Judith Seraphin (who was wearing her election t-shirt, stating “I won’t DUCK the issues.”
It was concluded that City Commission had no power to dictate sartorial splendor. But wills, estate and trust lawyer JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR. claimed to have the power to prevent candidates from using the City’s soapbox for campaigning or politicking (as if Commissioner ERROL JONES, et al hadn’t done so before).
BOLES was rude to Democratic Congressional candidate Faye Armitage several months ago, making ungracious remarks when she introduced herself to Commissioners. It seems that BOLES is a Democrat In Name Only (DINO) but supports plug-ugly mean-spirited Republican mugs like Congressman JOHN MICA and Representative WILLIAM L. PROCTOR.
As a result of BOLES’ noting and seeking legal advice about citizens’ attire, I noted the incongruity of his micromanaging t-shirts but not pollution, speaking to Commissioners was proudly wearing an Obama/Biden t-shirt and an “I voted early” sticker),
Mayor JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR. asked for a legal opinion on t-shirts worn by private citizens, but no one ever asked any legal opinions before:(a) dumping 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated solid waste in the Old City Reservoir, resulting in fines; or (b) dumping treated freshwater sewage effluent in our saltwater marsh from the City’s sewage plant, for years, while HARRISS held private briefings delaying replacement of a shredded “pipe” missing 120 feet – that’s not a pipe, it’s a colander.
Remarking at this incongruity, no one defended the indefensible.
Nor did anyone defend the City’s lack of a safety culture, as demonstrated by asking City workers to handle shredded, rusty, sewage effluent pipe without gloves and asking untrained workers to sift through 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated solid waste before moving it from Lincolnville to West Augustine to the Old City Reservoir.
I proposed that St. Augustine agree to abide by OSHA, including Section 11.c., which protects worker rights to raise safety concerns, and agree to an environmental whistleblower policy that protects employee rights to make disclosures to government, the news media and public interest groups.
No one disagreed. No one denied employees are afraid to speak their truths out of fear of the autocratic City Manager WILLIAM B. HARRISS, he who must be obeyed. No one defended HARRISS – not even embattled City Commissioner ERROL JONES, a/k/a ERRONEOUS JONES.
Organized citizens have caught WILLIAM B. HARRISS in two overt acts of environmental crimes, yet he has never apologized, falsely blaming “incompetents” when the fault was with his autocratic, authoritarian, intimidating management style, a stench in the nostrils of our Nation’s Oldest City.
Voters are already voting out other-directed ERROL JONES, a/k/a ERRONEOUS JONES, whose nastiness and intimidation of voters is backfiring. See below.
Elect Judith Seraphin and Jimmy Owens to the City Commission. See my Sunday column in the St. Augustine Record.
LUHRS LEAVING -- GOOD RIDDANCE? IF CONTAMINATION, WHO WILL PAY FOR CLEANUP?
Not one City Commissioner mentioned Luhrs leaving St. Augustine at last night's Commission meeting. It was eery -- like when Flagler East Coast Railway (a Fortune 500 headquarters) left town, taking 200 good jobs with it (and the impact on our economy is enormous). Perhaps Commissioners have already been privately briefed by controversial City Manager WILLIAM B. HARRISS. Or perhaps they don't give a fig.
Some fifty (50) tons per year in volatile organic compounds was emitted into the sky under Luhrs' reign here, according to the St. Augustine Record and EPA TRI data.
Now that Luhrs is leaving, the City must ask, is Luhrs' site contaminated? How about our San Sebastian River?
If so, who will pay for cleanup? Rich New Jersey boatbuilders? Or those of us here?
Luhrs announces it will close local plant
Luhrs announces it will close local plant
Boat manufacturer to relocate operation to New Jersey
From Staff
Publication Date: 10/26/08
Mainship Corp. and Luhrs Corp. have announced they will close their St. Augustine plant and relocate their operations to Luhrs Marine Group's existing Millville, N.J., production facility.
Ninety employees remained on the payroll after 73 workers were laid off in July during the marine industry's "most difficult time ever," President Roger Yarborough said at the time.
During more prosperous times a few years ago, 250 employees were on the St. Augustine payroll, said Yarborough.
The transfer of tooling from St. Augustine to Millville will begin immediately, the company announced.
The decision announced Friday was made by brothers John and Warren Luhrs "after an 18-month critical evaluation of the production and cost efficiencies that would be realized by the centralization of the Power Boat Division in Luhrs Marine Group's southern New Jersey manufacturing facility," the company announced.
Hunter Marine -- the group's fifth company, located in Alachua -- as well as UK-based Luhrs Marine Ltd., will continue their present operations at their existing locations.
"We had been studying the benefits to our product lines, our present and future boat owners, and to our employee ownership by combining production, product support, sales and marketing responsibilities that have, historically, been autonomous," Warren Luhrs said. "John [Luhrs] and I -- together with Rick Cerami, chief executive officer of Luhrs Marine Group and our general managers -- concluded that our companies will be significantly strengthened by the centralization of design, engineering, manufacturing, parts fabrication, purchasing, and customer service at our Millville plant.
"The decelerated economy, in combination with our previous planning, has enabled us to implement our relocation and centralization planning and become a stronger group of boat-manufacturing companies."
The company expects "enormous efficiencies" as a result of the centralization -- most notably in design, engineering and in purchasing.
In their Friday announcement, John and Warren Luhrs said Luhrs and Mainship models will be manufactured concurrently with Silverton and Ovation units starting in January.
"Centralizing the design and engineering responsibility for all four powerboat lines at the Millville facility will not only enlarge the pool of exceptional talent available to Luhrs, Mainship, Silverton, and Ovation; it will encourage a sharing of technology among lines and models so that every Luhrs Marine powerboat will enjoy an increase in utility, performance, and comfort," said Cerami. "It's also easy to understand how Luhrs, Mainship, Silverton, and Ovation will be able to control and, in many cases, contain the cost of raw materials and equipment."
The "temporary layoff" announced in July was set up to run from Aug. 11 to Jan. 5.
"We understand a temporary layoff will create hardships for the individuals involved, but it is unfortunately unavoidable," Yarborough told the employees. "We have always been a partner with St. Augustine, and we are committed to working with the St. Augustine community for our mutual continued success."
Forty years ago, in December 1969, the Luhrs brothers acquired Silverton Sea Skiffs - a Toms River, N.J.-based powerboat builder. The brothers' "roots," in actuality, extend much farther back in boatbuilding: to the 1930s, when their father, Henry Luhrs, began producing wooden sea skiffs in the coastal town of Morgan, N.J.
"We didn't intend that this first major step in the Luhrs Group's 'Plan for the Future' would coincide with the 40th anniversary of the group's beginnings in New Jersey," John Luhrs said. "But we think our father would be pleased."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102608/news_1026_042.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Boat manufacturer to relocate operation to New Jersey
From Staff
Publication Date: 10/26/08
Mainship Corp. and Luhrs Corp. have announced they will close their St. Augustine plant and relocate their operations to Luhrs Marine Group's existing Millville, N.J., production facility.
Ninety employees remained on the payroll after 73 workers were laid off in July during the marine industry's "most difficult time ever," President Roger Yarborough said at the time.
During more prosperous times a few years ago, 250 employees were on the St. Augustine payroll, said Yarborough.
The transfer of tooling from St. Augustine to Millville will begin immediately, the company announced.
The decision announced Friday was made by brothers John and Warren Luhrs "after an 18-month critical evaluation of the production and cost efficiencies that would be realized by the centralization of the Power Boat Division in Luhrs Marine Group's southern New Jersey manufacturing facility," the company announced.
Hunter Marine -- the group's fifth company, located in Alachua -- as well as UK-based Luhrs Marine Ltd., will continue their present operations at their existing locations.
"We had been studying the benefits to our product lines, our present and future boat owners, and to our employee ownership by combining production, product support, sales and marketing responsibilities that have, historically, been autonomous," Warren Luhrs said. "John [Luhrs] and I -- together with Rick Cerami, chief executive officer of Luhrs Marine Group and our general managers -- concluded that our companies will be significantly strengthened by the centralization of design, engineering, manufacturing, parts fabrication, purchasing, and customer service at our Millville plant.
"The decelerated economy, in combination with our previous planning, has enabled us to implement our relocation and centralization planning and become a stronger group of boat-manufacturing companies."
The company expects "enormous efficiencies" as a result of the centralization -- most notably in design, engineering and in purchasing.
In their Friday announcement, John and Warren Luhrs said Luhrs and Mainship models will be manufactured concurrently with Silverton and Ovation units starting in January.
"Centralizing the design and engineering responsibility for all four powerboat lines at the Millville facility will not only enlarge the pool of exceptional talent available to Luhrs, Mainship, Silverton, and Ovation; it will encourage a sharing of technology among lines and models so that every Luhrs Marine powerboat will enjoy an increase in utility, performance, and comfort," said Cerami. "It's also easy to understand how Luhrs, Mainship, Silverton, and Ovation will be able to control and, in many cases, contain the cost of raw materials and equipment."
The "temporary layoff" announced in July was set up to run from Aug. 11 to Jan. 5.
"We understand a temporary layoff will create hardships for the individuals involved, but it is unfortunately unavoidable," Yarborough told the employees. "We have always been a partner with St. Augustine, and we are committed to working with the St. Augustine community for our mutual continued success."
Forty years ago, in December 1969, the Luhrs brothers acquired Silverton Sea Skiffs - a Toms River, N.J.-based powerboat builder. The brothers' "roots," in actuality, extend much farther back in boatbuilding: to the 1930s, when their father, Henry Luhrs, began producing wooden sea skiffs in the coastal town of Morgan, N.J.
"We didn't intend that this first major step in the Luhrs Group's 'Plan for the Future' would coincide with the 40th anniversary of the group's beginnings in New Jersey," John Luhrs said. "But we think our father would be pleased."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102608/news_1026_042.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
EDIFICE COMPLEX: COUNTY OPENS $16 MILLION TAJ MAHAL -- MEMORIAL TO REPUBLICAN WASTRELS' SPENDING SPREE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY
New County Administration Building dedicated
Staff
Publication Date: 10/28/08
The new $16 million County Administration Building opened to public admiration Tuesday morning.
After the presentation of the colors by the St. Johns Sheriff's Office Color Guard, Chaplain Dick Talbert said this building was "an ambitious undertaking" and he prayed for the commissioners to use "their individual and collective gifts" for the benefit of the county.
"They cannot solve any problem they are confronted with, but they can pledge to do their very best," Talbert said.
Commission Chair Cyndi Stevenson introduced 10 former commissioners, including Edward Cooksey (served 1957-1961), Herbie Wiles (1984-1992), John Hurt (1970-1973), Fred Brinkhoff, Charles Willis, Sarah Bailey (1984-1992), Moses "Coach" Floyd (1990-1998), Karen Taylor (1997-1998), and Karen Stern and Bruce Maguire, both 2002-2006.
These people, Stevenson said, represented "the progress of St. Johns County through time."
She also praised the beauty and utility of the new building.
"As lovely as it is, it's built for service and efficiency," she said, adding that it will be more energy efficient than the old County Auditorium. Mike Rubin director of construction for the county, said the first county administration building dates back to the 1970s and was located in a 2,000-square foot, 2-story home that was on the site where the County Jail now sits.
This new building will take the county into the 22nd century.
"It's predicted lifespan of this building is 70 years," Rubin said. "I predict it will be here for at least 100."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_901.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Staff
Publication Date: 10/28/08
The new $16 million County Administration Building opened to public admiration Tuesday morning.
After the presentation of the colors by the St. Johns Sheriff's Office Color Guard, Chaplain Dick Talbert said this building was "an ambitious undertaking" and he prayed for the commissioners to use "their individual and collective gifts" for the benefit of the county.
"They cannot solve any problem they are confronted with, but they can pledge to do their very best," Talbert said.
Commission Chair Cyndi Stevenson introduced 10 former commissioners, including Edward Cooksey (served 1957-1961), Herbie Wiles (1984-1992), John Hurt (1970-1973), Fred Brinkhoff, Charles Willis, Sarah Bailey (1984-1992), Moses "Coach" Floyd (1990-1998), Karen Taylor (1997-1998), and Karen Stern and Bruce Maguire, both 2002-2006.
These people, Stevenson said, represented "the progress of St. Johns County through time."
She also praised the beauty and utility of the new building.
"As lovely as it is, it's built for service and efficiency," she said, adding that it will be more energy efficient than the old County Auditorium. Mike Rubin director of construction for the county, said the first county administration building dates back to the 1970s and was located in a 2,000-square foot, 2-story home that was on the site where the County Jail now sits.
This new building will take the county into the 22nd century.
"It's predicted lifespan of this building is 70 years," Rubin said. "I predict it will be here for at least 100."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_901.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Courtney says he can lead state in right direction
Courtney says he can lead state in right direction
By KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/28/08
Palm Coast businessman Doug Courtney, a Democrat, wants to win the District 20 House seat and says the state "is heading in the wrong direction."
Courtney is running against incumbent state Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, who hopes to gain his third term.
Courtney has said he likes Proctor, but he believes Republicans are destroying the economy and education with outrageous spending.
"We've had too many jobs lost and too many budget cuts," he said. "(The state) finds more money by eliminating programs for schools. That's wrong."
Courtney said that in 1998, the state budget was $35 billion and it's now $77 billion.
He said the state could gain $100 million for education by eliminating the controversial FCAT.
He also disagrees with how the Republican party has handled issues with the Florida insurance crisis.
He said a short-term solution is to diversify and invite more insurance companies into the market, so there are not so few companies with so much control over the public.
He also wants to see more independent home insurance carriers that would cover the millions of customers flocking to the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Co. He said the Republican majority seems to be in favor of large companies who take out small businesses.
Courtney said he can empathize because he is a small- business owner who works in software technology for the medical field.
Courtney also feels there should be green jobs in the state. He said the state needs to look at using wind, water and solar power for future jobs.
"There are so many more things we could do with jobs in the state," he said.
He agrees with Proctor on some issues, but he says the Republican party is leading the state down the wrong path.
"There are many things we could do improve (the state)," he said.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_018.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
By KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/28/08
Palm Coast businessman Doug Courtney, a Democrat, wants to win the District 20 House seat and says the state "is heading in the wrong direction."
Courtney is running against incumbent state Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, who hopes to gain his third term.
Courtney has said he likes Proctor, but he believes Republicans are destroying the economy and education with outrageous spending.
"We've had too many jobs lost and too many budget cuts," he said. "(The state) finds more money by eliminating programs for schools. That's wrong."
Courtney said that in 1998, the state budget was $35 billion and it's now $77 billion.
He said the state could gain $100 million for education by eliminating the controversial FCAT.
He also disagrees with how the Republican party has handled issues with the Florida insurance crisis.
He said a short-term solution is to diversify and invite more insurance companies into the market, so there are not so few companies with so much control over the public.
He also wants to see more independent home insurance carriers that would cover the millions of customers flocking to the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Co. He said the Republican majority seems to be in favor of large companies who take out small businesses.
Courtney said he can empathize because he is a small- business owner who works in software technology for the medical field.
Courtney also feels there should be green jobs in the state. He said the state needs to look at using wind, water and solar power for future jobs.
"There are so many more things we could do with jobs in the state," he said.
He agrees with Proctor on some issues, but he says the Republican party is leading the state down the wrong path.
"There are many things we could do improve (the state)," he said.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_018.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Southern general's name may come off Jax school
Southern general's name may come off Jax school
By RON WORD
Associated Press Writer
Publication Date: 10/28/08
JACKSONVILLE -- Nathan Bedford Forrest was a millionaire slave trader, a ruthless Confederate general, an early Ku Klux Klan leader -- and the namesake of what is now a majority African-American high school.
After almost a two-year delay, the Duval County School Board next week will consider whether to change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High School to Firestone High, after the street it sits on. The board joins other Southern districts that have hotly debated whether to strip Confederate leaders' names from schools and other buildings.
The squabble is part of the modern South's soul searching over the Civil War and its legacy, a discussion that often finds Forrest at the center.
"This guy was a brutal monster," said Steven Stoll, an adjunct sociology instructor at Florida Community College who is white and supports changing the name of the high school. "Why would you want to keep honoring a person like this? It is an insult to black people."
Forrest is hardly the lone Confederate hero whose name adorns streets, buildings and other public projects, or used to. For instance, Robert E. Lee High School in Birmingham, Ala., became Martin Luther King High School.
Still, efforts to strip Confederates' names and take down memorials to them have mostly been thwarted throughout the South, often after being denounced as part of an effort to remove all references to the Confederacy. In Hampton, Va., for example, attempts to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary School and Jefferson Davis Middle School failed.
Some say Forrest's deeds have been exaggerated and have to be considered in the context of the Civil War.
"Forrest was revered all over the world and his tactics are still studied today," said Lee Millar, president of the General N.B. Forrest Historical Society in Memphis, Tenn. "He became a hero to all."
Born poor in Chapel Hill, Tenn., in 1821, Forrest amassed a fortune as a plantation owner and slave trader, importing Africans long after the practice had been made illegal. At 40, he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army at the outset of the Civil War, rising to a cavalry general in a year.
Some accounts accuse Forrest of ordering black prisoners to be massacred after a victory at Tennessee's Fort Pillow in 1864, though historians question the validity of the claims.
"He did not order a massacre. He did order wholesale killing, but I do believe he lost control of the battle and there were people killed who should not have been killed," said Brian Steel Wills, a professor at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, who wrote a biography of Forrest.
In 1867, the newly formed Klan elected Forrest its honorary Grand Wizard or national leader, but publicly denied being involved. In 1869, he ordered the Klan to disband because of the members' increasing violence. Two years later, a congressional investigation concluded his involvement had been limited to his attempt to disband it.
After his death in 1877, memorials to him sprung up throughout the South, particularly in Tennessee.
Forrest High School in Jacksonville opened as an all-white school in the 1950s, getting its name at the suggestion of the Daughters of the Confederacy. They saw it as a protest of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that eventually integrated the nation's public schools.
Now, blacks make up more than half of the student body.
Two 17-year-old seniors at the school say the consensus among students is to leave the name alone.
"As students, (the name is) not a big deal to us," said Jamal Freeman, a black student, who noted it would cost a lot to change uniforms for the band and sports teams, nicknamed the Rebels.
Sabrina Lampp, a white student, said a change "takes all the memories away."
Jacksonville has three other schools named after Confederate generals, none as sensitive as Forrest.
"He got a bad rap," said L.A. Hardee, a member of the board at Jacksonville's Museum of Southern History. "He was an honorable man. People don't take into consideration the times. It's a Southern thing. They ought to keep the name."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/state_102808_038.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
By RON WORD
Associated Press Writer
Publication Date: 10/28/08
JACKSONVILLE -- Nathan Bedford Forrest was a millionaire slave trader, a ruthless Confederate general, an early Ku Klux Klan leader -- and the namesake of what is now a majority African-American high school.
After almost a two-year delay, the Duval County School Board next week will consider whether to change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High School to Firestone High, after the street it sits on. The board joins other Southern districts that have hotly debated whether to strip Confederate leaders' names from schools and other buildings.
The squabble is part of the modern South's soul searching over the Civil War and its legacy, a discussion that often finds Forrest at the center.
"This guy was a brutal monster," said Steven Stoll, an adjunct sociology instructor at Florida Community College who is white and supports changing the name of the high school. "Why would you want to keep honoring a person like this? It is an insult to black people."
Forrest is hardly the lone Confederate hero whose name adorns streets, buildings and other public projects, or used to. For instance, Robert E. Lee High School in Birmingham, Ala., became Martin Luther King High School.
Still, efforts to strip Confederates' names and take down memorials to them have mostly been thwarted throughout the South, often after being denounced as part of an effort to remove all references to the Confederacy. In Hampton, Va., for example, attempts to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary School and Jefferson Davis Middle School failed.
Some say Forrest's deeds have been exaggerated and have to be considered in the context of the Civil War.
"Forrest was revered all over the world and his tactics are still studied today," said Lee Millar, president of the General N.B. Forrest Historical Society in Memphis, Tenn. "He became a hero to all."
Born poor in Chapel Hill, Tenn., in 1821, Forrest amassed a fortune as a plantation owner and slave trader, importing Africans long after the practice had been made illegal. At 40, he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army at the outset of the Civil War, rising to a cavalry general in a year.
Some accounts accuse Forrest of ordering black prisoners to be massacred after a victory at Tennessee's Fort Pillow in 1864, though historians question the validity of the claims.
"He did not order a massacre. He did order wholesale killing, but I do believe he lost control of the battle and there were people killed who should not have been killed," said Brian Steel Wills, a professor at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, who wrote a biography of Forrest.
In 1867, the newly formed Klan elected Forrest its honorary Grand Wizard or national leader, but publicly denied being involved. In 1869, he ordered the Klan to disband because of the members' increasing violence. Two years later, a congressional investigation concluded his involvement had been limited to his attempt to disband it.
After his death in 1877, memorials to him sprung up throughout the South, particularly in Tennessee.
Forrest High School in Jacksonville opened as an all-white school in the 1950s, getting its name at the suggestion of the Daughters of the Confederacy. They saw it as a protest of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that eventually integrated the nation's public schools.
Now, blacks make up more than half of the student body.
Two 17-year-old seniors at the school say the consensus among students is to leave the name alone.
"As students, (the name is) not a big deal to us," said Jamal Freeman, a black student, who noted it would cost a lot to change uniforms for the band and sports teams, nicknamed the Rebels.
Sabrina Lampp, a white student, said a change "takes all the memories away."
Jacksonville has three other schools named after Confederate generals, none as sensitive as Forrest.
"He got a bad rap," said L.A. Hardee, a member of the board at Jacksonville's Museum of Southern History. "He was an honorable man. People don't take into consideration the times. It's a Southern thing. They ought to keep the name."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/state_102808_038.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Vote Against Amendment 1
See below.
The amendment is falsely advertised. Florida should be free to regulate foreign investors, whose copious quantities of cash are corrupting our political system with Limited Liablity Corporations (LLCs) with undisclosed and even unsavory investors from Japan, Australia, Korea, China, Canada, India, etc.
Everywhere you see environmental destruction in Florida, there's foreign investors hiring the GEORGE McCLURES of the world to flatter politicians and get their way.
Their investments helped create the bubble that's burst. We need to regulate them, instead of insulating them from disclosure and liability.
The amendment is falsely advertised. Florida should be free to regulate foreign investors, whose copious quantities of cash are corrupting our political system with Limited Liablity Corporations (LLCs) with undisclosed and even unsavory investors from Japan, Australia, Korea, China, Canada, India, etc.
Everywhere you see environmental destruction in Florida, there's foreign investors hiring the GEORGE McCLURES of the world to flatter politicians and get their way.
Their investments helped create the bubble that's burst. We need to regulate them, instead of insulating them from disclosure and liability.
Letter: Finds no Asian reference in amendment
Letter: Finds no Asian reference in amendment
Richard Welty
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/28/08
Editor: "Amendment -- Asian Property.'' That was the headline on the first inside page of your election guide. In that I know several Asians who own real property, I was concerned. I went to the source, the Florida Constitution, and lo and below that is not what Article 1, Section 2 reads. Instead it reads "...that the ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated or prohibited by law.'' So, as long as an alien becomes a citizen, or is eligible for citizenship, he or she may own real property. The federal tax code on inheritance has restriction on inheritance by non-citizen spouses. This is nothing new nor is it aimed at any one class of persons, except for the class on non-citizen.
Why would I wish to do away with that? Most countries do not allow non-citizens to waltz into their territory and buy up real property just because they can afford it. I certainly don't want Hugo Chavez or his ilk to have unfettered access to real property in my country.
I think your guide to the general election was truly misleading. How about a correction?
EDITOR'S NOTE: The amendment explanation to which the writer refers was part of a compilation by The Associated Press and published in The St. Augustine Record's Generally Speaking voters guide on Oct. 12. According to a subsequent story by The Associated Press, "Amendment 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot would repeal a 1926 amendment that allowed the Legislature to ban "aliens ineligible for citizenship" -- an old code word for Asian immigrants -- from buying and owning real estate. Although the provision was never enforced and was invalidated by subsequent federal court rulings, backers of Amendment 1 believe the words should still be removed from the constitution."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/opinions_102808_056.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Richard Welty
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/28/08
Editor: "Amendment -- Asian Property.'' That was the headline on the first inside page of your election guide. In that I know several Asians who own real property, I was concerned. I went to the source, the Florida Constitution, and lo and below that is not what Article 1, Section 2 reads. Instead it reads "...that the ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated or prohibited by law.'' So, as long as an alien becomes a citizen, or is eligible for citizenship, he or she may own real property. The federal tax code on inheritance has restriction on inheritance by non-citizen spouses. This is nothing new nor is it aimed at any one class of persons, except for the class on non-citizen.
Why would I wish to do away with that? Most countries do not allow non-citizens to waltz into their territory and buy up real property just because they can afford it. I certainly don't want Hugo Chavez or his ilk to have unfettered access to real property in my country.
I think your guide to the general election was truly misleading. How about a correction?
EDITOR'S NOTE: The amendment explanation to which the writer refers was part of a compilation by The Associated Press and published in The St. Augustine Record's Generally Speaking voters guide on Oct. 12. According to a subsequent story by The Associated Press, "Amendment 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot would repeal a 1926 amendment that allowed the Legislature to ban "aliens ineligible for citizenship" -- an old code word for Asian immigrants -- from buying and owning real estate. Although the provision was never enforced and was invalidated by subsequent federal court rulings, backers of Amendment 1 believe the words should still be removed from the constitution."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/opinions_102808_056.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Putnam ex-candidate faces charges
Putnam ex-candidate faces charges
Investigation looks into whether truck theft was arranged
By MARCIA LANE
marcia.lane@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/28/08
A former Putnam County Commission candidate faces grand theft and insurance fraud charges following an incident involving a reported stolen truck, according to Major Keith Riddick of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
William Ernest Hughey, 33, was arrested Friday on a warrant after an investigation over several months.
Hughey, a businessman, has run unsuccessfully for the Putnam County Commission two times and was defeated in his latest attempt in the August primary election this year.
The criminal charges stem from the investigation into a complaint filed by Hughey on April 21 stating his 1998 Chevrolet truck was stolen from his Pamela Drive residence in San Mateo. At the time it was reported the truck was towed by two suspects, one known to Hughey, and a charging affidavit was filed against that suspect, Curtis Rogers.
Later, Sheriff's Detective James Edgar was contacted by a representative of Geico Insurance, the company that paid Hughey more than $5,000 on the theft claim. The company reported they received a telephone call from an individual who said Hughey arranged for the truck to be stolen, Riddick said.
Edgar spent the next three months following leads and talking with individuals, building a case against Hughey.
On Friday, Circuit Judge Terry LaRue signed a warrant charging Hughey with one count of grand theft and one count of insurance fraud and setting bond at $1,004. Edgar then located and arrested Hughey who promptly bonded out on the charges.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_059.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Investigation looks into whether truck theft was arranged
By MARCIA LANE
marcia.lane@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/28/08
A former Putnam County Commission candidate faces grand theft and insurance fraud charges following an incident involving a reported stolen truck, according to Major Keith Riddick of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
William Ernest Hughey, 33, was arrested Friday on a warrant after an investigation over several months.
Hughey, a businessman, has run unsuccessfully for the Putnam County Commission two times and was defeated in his latest attempt in the August primary election this year.
The criminal charges stem from the investigation into a complaint filed by Hughey on April 21 stating his 1998 Chevrolet truck was stolen from his Pamela Drive residence in San Mateo. At the time it was reported the truck was towed by two suspects, one known to Hughey, and a charging affidavit was filed against that suspect, Curtis Rogers.
Later, Sheriff's Detective James Edgar was contacted by a representative of Geico Insurance, the company that paid Hughey more than $5,000 on the theft claim. The company reported they received a telephone call from an individual who said Hughey arranged for the truck to be stolen, Riddick said.
Edgar spent the next three months following leads and talking with individuals, building a case against Hughey.
On Friday, Circuit Judge Terry LaRue signed a warrant charging Hughey with one count of grand theft and one count of insurance fraud and setting bond at $1,004. Edgar then located and arrested Hughey who promptly bonded out on the charges.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_059.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Conch House project going forward
Conch House project going forward
Owner withdrew PUD application, will build without city approval
By KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/28/08
City commissioners looked shocked and the public gasped Monday when the Conch House owner let it be known he would no longer play ball with the city.
Property owner David Ponce's attorney Ellen Avery-Smith read a letter from Ponce and Michael Seymour, his partner, to the commission Monday stating they withdrew their PUD application and will now build the project however they want.
Avery-Smith said Ponce had bounced the Conch House redevelopment project back and forth from city boards and public meetings and amended it each time in an effort to make everyone happy.
But in September, when the City Commission was split on the project with most leaning toward opposing it, the board told Ponce to once again make major changes to the redevelopment.
On Monday, it seemed he had had enough. Ponce was not at the meeting.
Mark Knight, city planning and building, said Ponce could go ahead with much of his redevelopment plans without the commission's approval because the area's zoning allows it. Ponce could build condominiums and a 30-unit hotel with a banquet room.
Ponce had asked the commission to grant him a Planned Unit Development for a trio of three-story condominium buildings of 32, 20 and 12 rooms staggered along Comares Avenue. The middle one would have served as both a condo and a hotel. The project also included renovating the existing Conch House Restaurant and adding a new marina restaurant and a bar with 177 seats.
Neither the commission nor the public spoke on the issue after Avery-Smith finished the letter. City Hall was filled with residents interested in hearing the outcome of the project.
Mayor Joe Boles only asked, "Is there anything for us to vote on?"
City Manager Bill Harriss answered, "No, there's nothing you can do."
Ponce and Seymour's letter said they had spent 15 hours at one community meeting to work with the Davis Shores neighborhood that surrounds the Conch House and Ponce met with the Planning and Zoning Board three times, which unanimously recommended the Commission approve the project.
"In the past, the city has never gone against a city board," Avery-Smith said, quoting the developers' letter.
Planning and Zoning board member Jerry Dixon, who attended the meeting Monday, said the board had worked hard on the project with Ponce and the city missed a good thing. He said the Conch House is one of the last developments in the county that allows public access to the water, including jet ski and boat rentals, charter fishing fleets, a large marina and a dock. That will all become privatized now, he said.
"We worked to make sure that stayed open to the public. In the PUD, that was locked in," he said. "It would have stayed that way forever."
The public and the City Commission opposed the project's convention center, where Ponce wanted to hold parties such as weddings. Commissioners said this would disturb the neighborhood. They wanted Ponce to take it out of the project.
Ponce had decided to build the convention center because the Planning and Zoning Board and the public wanted Reggae Sunday, a seasonal weekly drinking event, to end. Ponce said the convention center would replace the lost revenue from stopping the popular event.
The Commission and some of the public also were against the buildings proposed height, which would have been four feet taller than the condominium next door to it.
Dixon said he thought it was a fair compromise and there was give and take between the city and Ponce. He said the city lost its opportunity and Ponce no longer has to do what is in the best interest of the public.
"The public's going to lose on this," he said. "Be careful what you wish for."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_015.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
Owner withdrew PUD application, will build without city approval
By KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/28/08
City commissioners looked shocked and the public gasped Monday when the Conch House owner let it be known he would no longer play ball with the city.
Property owner David Ponce's attorney Ellen Avery-Smith read a letter from Ponce and Michael Seymour, his partner, to the commission Monday stating they withdrew their PUD application and will now build the project however they want.
Avery-Smith said Ponce had bounced the Conch House redevelopment project back and forth from city boards and public meetings and amended it each time in an effort to make everyone happy.
But in September, when the City Commission was split on the project with most leaning toward opposing it, the board told Ponce to once again make major changes to the redevelopment.
On Monday, it seemed he had had enough. Ponce was not at the meeting.
Mark Knight, city planning and building, said Ponce could go ahead with much of his redevelopment plans without the commission's approval because the area's zoning allows it. Ponce could build condominiums and a 30-unit hotel with a banquet room.
Ponce had asked the commission to grant him a Planned Unit Development for a trio of three-story condominium buildings of 32, 20 and 12 rooms staggered along Comares Avenue. The middle one would have served as both a condo and a hotel. The project also included renovating the existing Conch House Restaurant and adding a new marina restaurant and a bar with 177 seats.
Neither the commission nor the public spoke on the issue after Avery-Smith finished the letter. City Hall was filled with residents interested in hearing the outcome of the project.
Mayor Joe Boles only asked, "Is there anything for us to vote on?"
City Manager Bill Harriss answered, "No, there's nothing you can do."
Ponce and Seymour's letter said they had spent 15 hours at one community meeting to work with the Davis Shores neighborhood that surrounds the Conch House and Ponce met with the Planning and Zoning Board three times, which unanimously recommended the Commission approve the project.
"In the past, the city has never gone against a city board," Avery-Smith said, quoting the developers' letter.
Planning and Zoning board member Jerry Dixon, who attended the meeting Monday, said the board had worked hard on the project with Ponce and the city missed a good thing. He said the Conch House is one of the last developments in the county that allows public access to the water, including jet ski and boat rentals, charter fishing fleets, a large marina and a dock. That will all become privatized now, he said.
"We worked to make sure that stayed open to the public. In the PUD, that was locked in," he said. "It would have stayed that way forever."
The public and the City Commission opposed the project's convention center, where Ponce wanted to hold parties such as weddings. Commissioners said this would disturb the neighborhood. They wanted Ponce to take it out of the project.
Ponce had decided to build the convention center because the Planning and Zoning Board and the public wanted Reggae Sunday, a seasonal weekly drinking event, to end. Ponce said the convention center would replace the lost revenue from stopping the popular event.
The Commission and some of the public also were against the buildings proposed height, which would have been four feet taller than the condominium next door to it.
Dixon said he thought it was a fair compromise and there was give and take between the city and Ponce. He said the city lost its opportunity and Ponce no longer has to do what is in the best interest of the public.
"The public's going to lose on this," he said. "Be careful what you wish for."
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102808/news_102808_015.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
FAYE ARMITAGE: Why I Can Beat John Mica (R-FL)
August 16, 2008 at 16:48:36
Promoted to column top on 8/16/08:
Why I Can Beat John Mica (R-FL)
by Faye Armitage
www.opednews.com
vote nowBuzz up!
Have you heard people in Florida District 7 tell you: "Good Luck, in a very Republican Congressional District."
Early voting has started for the Florida primary, so let's recap why we CAN WIN in Florida Congressional District 7!
Florida District 7 is not as Republican as people think. Swing State Project considers all district with a Partisan Voter Index (PVI) rating of R+1 to R+5 by the non-partisan Cook Report vulnerable in this election. Well, guess what, Congressional District 7 carries a R+3 rating. And even the NRCC considers no Republican seat safe in 2008.
We will never have a better chance than NOW to unseat John Mica!
I am the only candidate with experience in the political arena fighting for the issues that matter most to the people in District 7. I have been a health care activist for over 12 years, first advocating for Patient Safety, then stem cell research, and most recently for Universal Health care. It was my son's paralysis from a soccer injury at age 7 which ignited my passion for these medical issues and the political process. After seeing the poor response we are getting from Washington and in particular from our sitting US Congressman, I realized we need Citizen Legislators. Not Career Politicians!
I have lived in Central and North East Florida since 1994, currently in Fruit Cove. I'm an economist, with a masters degree in Economics, and have private and public sector experience in education, finance and health care. This is most important at a time when voters point to our ailing economy as their number one concern. Having raised five children on my own, I can really relate to the issues that many in our District are dealing with. Also, my son-in-law is currently serving in Iraq which gives me a personal connection to effectively work toward a responsible end to the Iraq war, which is siphoning 12 billion dollars out of our economy every single month.
I believe that as your Congresswoman, I am accountable to you, the voter. That's why I pledge to do all I can to receive top scores with important organizations like themiddleclass.org, the disabled American veterans (dav.org), and the League of Conservation Voters (lcv.org). My opponent, in office since 1993, scored an F with themiddleclass.org, a zero for three consecutive years with the dav.org, and shamefully for a district with the longest coastline, his score was just 5 out of 100 with lcv.org. We cannot afford "more of the same" with a Bush Republican representing District 7.
Our problems require bold, new leadership to solve them. There has been no tragedy we haven't overcome, no problem we couldn't solve, and there is no wrong in America we can't cure with what is right.
Vote for the People's Voice in Congress!
www.FayeforCongress.com
www.CureParalysisNow.org
A former Economics Professor in Florida, Armitage worked in the healthcare industry in California for about ten years. Growing up on four different continents due to her father's employment for a major multi-national corporation, Armitage received her BA and Masters degree from the University of Amsterdam, in The Netherlands. Her son's paralysis from a soccer injury at age 7, ignited her passion for the issues of Medical Mal-practice, Stem Cell Research, Universal Healthcare and the ADA. Her activism in these areas has earned her coverage in major national newspapers, and she is the founder of Cure Paralysis Now. Armitage is also a full-time caregiver to her now eighteen year old son, and mother to four daughters.
Promoted to column top on 8/16/08:
Why I Can Beat John Mica (R-FL)
by Faye Armitage
www.opednews.com
vote nowBuzz up!
Have you heard people in Florida District 7 tell you: "Good Luck, in a very Republican Congressional District."
Early voting has started for the Florida primary, so let's recap why we CAN WIN in Florida Congressional District 7!
Florida District 7 is not as Republican as people think. Swing State Project considers all district with a Partisan Voter Index (PVI) rating of R+1 to R+5 by the non-partisan Cook Report vulnerable in this election. Well, guess what, Congressional District 7 carries a R+3 rating. And even the NRCC considers no Republican seat safe in 2008.
We will never have a better chance than NOW to unseat John Mica!
I am the only candidate with experience in the political arena fighting for the issues that matter most to the people in District 7. I have been a health care activist for over 12 years, first advocating for Patient Safety, then stem cell research, and most recently for Universal Health care. It was my son's paralysis from a soccer injury at age 7 which ignited my passion for these medical issues and the political process. After seeing the poor response we are getting from Washington and in particular from our sitting US Congressman, I realized we need Citizen Legislators. Not Career Politicians!
I have lived in Central and North East Florida since 1994, currently in Fruit Cove. I'm an economist, with a masters degree in Economics, and have private and public sector experience in education, finance and health care. This is most important at a time when voters point to our ailing economy as their number one concern. Having raised five children on my own, I can really relate to the issues that many in our District are dealing with. Also, my son-in-law is currently serving in Iraq which gives me a personal connection to effectively work toward a responsible end to the Iraq war, which is siphoning 12 billion dollars out of our economy every single month.
I believe that as your Congresswoman, I am accountable to you, the voter. That's why I pledge to do all I can to receive top scores with important organizations like themiddleclass.org, the disabled American veterans (dav.org), and the League of Conservation Voters (lcv.org). My opponent, in office since 1993, scored an F with themiddleclass.org, a zero for three consecutive years with the dav.org, and shamefully for a district with the longest coastline, his score was just 5 out of 100 with lcv.org. We cannot afford "more of the same" with a Bush Republican representing District 7.
Our problems require bold, new leadership to solve them. There has been no tragedy we haven't overcome, no problem we couldn't solve, and there is no wrong in America we can't cure with what is right.
Vote for the People's Voice in Congress!
www.FayeforCongress.com
www.CureParalysisNow.org
A former Economics Professor in Florida, Armitage worked in the healthcare industry in California for about ten years. Growing up on four different continents due to her father's employment for a major multi-national corporation, Armitage received her BA and Masters degree from the University of Amsterdam, in The Netherlands. Her son's paralysis from a soccer injury at age 7, ignited her passion for the issues of Medical Mal-practice, Stem Cell Research, Universal Healthcare and the ADA. Her activism in these areas has earned her coverage in major national newspapers, and she is the founder of Cure Paralysis Now. Armitage is also a full-time caregiver to her now eighteen year old son, and mother to four daughters.
Elect Faye Armitage to Congress
October 28, 2008 at 07:45:54 Permalink
Say YES to the Change we Need: No to John Mica
Diary Entry by Faye Armitage
vote nowBuzz up!
Deregulating Wall Street, cutting Medicare, voting against the GI bill,......Who does John Mica Represent?
Vote for the Change we need.
Turn-out numbers have been terrific in the first week of early voting, which means voters are inspired to seek change. This is not at all surprising given that 91% of Americans feel our country is headed in the wrong direction.
We've all had a rude awakening from the repeated rhetoric on "the magic of the marketplace and the evils of government intervention," and crave a much needed seriousness as economist Paul Krugman writes in his column today: "Desperately Seeking Seriousness"
With almost 50,000 new registrations in Congressional District 7, the Republican share of registered voters has dropped to just 40%, with 60% Democrats and Others making up the remainder!
The total number of registered voters is now over 525,000.
While Democrats showed an increase of 14% over 2006 numbers, Republicans and Other had increases of 5%, and 12% respectively. This bodes well for a WIN in FL-07!!!
Voters in the District finally had a chance to see me answer questions on the issues that are important to them. Today the only debate/forum where John Mica and I faced off, aired on the Orlando PBS affiliate WMFE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5ylBIS5x6Q
Though we appeared together at two other non-televised forums, my opponent walked out of those venues after his opening statement before any questions could be posed by the organizers and the public, claiming he had "other events to attend."
I have made a point of letting the media know that John Mica has been ducking questions, by refusing to appear for debates that were to be scheduled by Orlando's WESH and WKMG tv stations, and the St Augustine Record among others. You can read my letter to John Mica here:
Your Silence is Deafening
But then, it would be tough to distract the voters from the tough economy we're in, since people from all walks of life in this district are suffering from John Mica's unconcionable support of the Bush-Cheney agenda.
Deregulating Wall Street, cutting Medicare, voting against the GI bill........!
Who does John Mica represent?
John Mica has been a loyal rubberstamp for Bush. He voted No to expanding SCHIP, and even NO to the Homeowner Rescue Bill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhbucC8KN-4
The failed special interest policies of Bush and Mica have destroyed the middle class, taken two trillion dollars from the pensions of hard working Americans, undermined all efforts to protect our environment, and diminished our standing in the world community.
Enough!
I am Faye Armitage. I will be the people's voice in Congress:
For Economic Justice
For Energy Independence
For Healthcare Security
Vote for the change we need!
www.FayeforCongress.com
Candidate for US Congress FL-07.
Former Professor of Economics, with previous private sector experience in the finance and healthcare industries. I am a mother of five, and became a healthcare advocate after the paralysis of my son at age 7, from a soccer injury. My son-in-law is currently serving in Iraq.
Say YES to the Change we Need: No to John Mica
Diary Entry by Faye Armitage
vote nowBuzz up!
Deregulating Wall Street, cutting Medicare, voting against the GI bill,......Who does John Mica Represent?
Vote for the Change we need.
Turn-out numbers have been terrific in the first week of early voting, which means voters are inspired to seek change. This is not at all surprising given that 91% of Americans feel our country is headed in the wrong direction.
We've all had a rude awakening from the repeated rhetoric on "the magic of the marketplace and the evils of government intervention," and crave a much needed seriousness as economist Paul Krugman writes in his column today: "Desperately Seeking Seriousness"
With almost 50,000 new registrations in Congressional District 7, the Republican share of registered voters has dropped to just 40%, with 60% Democrats and Others making up the remainder!
The total number of registered voters is now over 525,000.
While Democrats showed an increase of 14% over 2006 numbers, Republicans and Other had increases of 5%, and 12% respectively. This bodes well for a WIN in FL-07!!!
Voters in the District finally had a chance to see me answer questions on the issues that are important to them. Today the only debate/forum where John Mica and I faced off, aired on the Orlando PBS affiliate WMFE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5ylBIS5x6Q
Though we appeared together at two other non-televised forums, my opponent walked out of those venues after his opening statement before any questions could be posed by the organizers and the public, claiming he had "other events to attend."
I have made a point of letting the media know that John Mica has been ducking questions, by refusing to appear for debates that were to be scheduled by Orlando's WESH and WKMG tv stations, and the St Augustine Record among others. You can read my letter to John Mica here:
Your Silence is Deafening
But then, it would be tough to distract the voters from the tough economy we're in, since people from all walks of life in this district are suffering from John Mica's unconcionable support of the Bush-Cheney agenda.
Deregulating Wall Street, cutting Medicare, voting against the GI bill........!
Who does John Mica represent?
John Mica has been a loyal rubberstamp for Bush. He voted No to expanding SCHIP, and even NO to the Homeowner Rescue Bill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhbucC8KN-4
The failed special interest policies of Bush and Mica have destroyed the middle class, taken two trillion dollars from the pensions of hard working Americans, undermined all efforts to protect our environment, and diminished our standing in the world community.
Enough!
I am Faye Armitage. I will be the people's voice in Congress:
For Economic Justice
For Energy Independence
For Healthcare Security
Vote for the change we need!
www.FayeforCongress.com
Candidate for US Congress FL-07.
Former Professor of Economics, with previous private sector experience in the finance and healthcare industries. I am a mother of five, and became a healthcare advocate after the paralysis of my son at age 7, from a soccer injury. My son-in-law is currently serving in Iraq.
DELAND-DELTONA BEACON: District 7 congressional candidates talk about priorities
October 28, 2008 District 7 congressional candidates talk about priorities
Faye Armitage, left, John Mica, right.
By Jennifer Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER
posted Oct 28, 2008 - 8:58:31am
Text Size
U.S. Rep. John Mica, the District 7 representative to Congress since 1993, faces a challenge Nov. 4 from political newcomer Faye Armitage, an economist.
While both agree something must be done to create jobs, that's about where their similarities end.
Mica, a Republican, said he brings to the table experience and a deep knowledge of the communities he serves.
Armitage, a Democrat, is a former economics professor. She said it's time to replace businessmen and politicians in Congress with economists. She said she is more of an average citizen than her opponent is.
Armitage
Armitage said she once was among those who had what she calls "the other AIDs — apathy, ignorance and denial."
Then, she became a community advocate, and began to research the voting records of those in charge.
"I was shocked at what I discovered," she said.
Armitage made the decision to run for office, because she believes Congress currently reacts to crisis; she said it's time to look at real, proactive solutions to old problems.
If elected, Armitage's top three priorities will be creating a universal health-care system, stabilizing the financial market, and using green technology and energy independence to create new jobs.
Armitage has been a single mother; she raised five children, and has a son-in-law in Iraq, and a son who is a quadriplegic.
She said she is an average American, and will be able to better connect to her constituents.
"I want to be the people's voice in Washington," she said.
Once in Washington, Armitage wants people to break out of the "apathy, ignorance and denial" and keep an eye on her.
"I would expect them to hold me accountable," she said.
She suggested voters check out three Web sites that help her keep tabs on elected officials: smartvotes.org, themiddleclass.org and LCV.org.
Armitage on health care
"I believe we're way past time to have gotten a universal health-care system in place," she said. "It's a human right."
Armitage wants to see a Medicare-for-all system that would give people a choice in primary-care physicians, and still encourage employers to offer private insurance.
According to Armitage, universal health care could save Americans $350 billion a year.
"Thirty-one cents out of every dollar spent on private insurance goes to overhead and profit," she said. "Just 3 cents per dollar of Medicare goes to overhead."
In addition, insurers would save big dollars by making primary care accessible to everyone.
"Universal health care will save the dollars spent in emergency rooms, which is far more than preventative care," she said.
Armitage on going green
"I believe we need to invest in green technology, to create green-collar jobs," Armitage said.
She envisions using methods that will lead to energy independence, to stimulate the local job market.
"In the past, in District 7, construction used to be an economic engine," she said. "If we could give government incentives to retrofit older homes with green technology like tankless water heaters and solar panels, we could get those people back to work. It would boost our economy."
Armitage on the financial market
"A No. 1 priority is to stabilize our financial market," she said.
Part of financial stability is enforcing economic justice, she said. Armitage believes there should be penalties and safeguards to prevent practices like predatory lending. Her experience as an economist would give her a leg up in determining good or bad financial plans. she said.
"I am an economist. I would be able to assess good plans. We're had attorneys, doctors and businessmen in office. An economist has the ability for more long-range thinking."
John Mica
Mica said he has been responsive to the community since 1993.
"I've taken priorities from the community that have lingered for years," Mica said.
He said solutions are not created by a single person, but by many people working together.
"We've got to roll up our sleeves and work together," he said.
In his 15 years in Congress, Mica said, he's faced difficult challenges. In
Volusia County
alone, he's reacted to storms, tornados and flooding, brought affordable housing to poor areas, implemented progressive programs in local colleges and universities, and improved services to veterans.
He said he listens to his constituents, and he finds realistic solutions to their problems.
When the shape and size of his congressional district changed five years ago, Mica noted, the number of his constituents with low incomes increased.
"I acquired some of the poorest areas," Mica said. "In Daytona Beach, people talked about replacing pre-World War II public housing. Within 23 months, all 399 units were taken down. We have 320 units completed. It's decent, affordable housing."
Before he began working on the problem, people had talked about the need for decades, Mica said.
Seminole County had a rat problem.
"In Seminole County they brought me rats in a cage," he said.
He worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to rehabilitate the area and get rid of the rats.
If re-elected, Mica's top three priorities will be economic development and job creation, improving transportation, and providing services for veterans and seniors.
Mica on economic development
"The economy is on everyone's mind," he said.
Mica wants to continue attracting and retaining new industry, especially information technology, to the counties he serves.
He listed some examples of successes.
"DeLand Crossings is a good example of one of the economic developments," he said. "We had a successful project in Flagler County. We were to retain Palm Coast Data which is the largest employer in the Flagler/Palm Coast area. We've not only retained Palm Coast Data, we've expanded it."
Mica on transportation
Mica was selected to lead the largest committee in congress — the Transportation Committee.
"We want to provide transportation for folks who don't have it," he said.
Mica said commuter rail is high on his priority list, as is continuing to improve VOTRAN, Volusia County's mass-transit system.
"We've helped VOTRAN acquire new buses," he said.
Putnam County, needs not just new buses, but new types of buses that can travel on dirt roads normal buses can't handle.
"In Putnam, for example, we plan for new buses designed for rural areas," he said. "These are smaller buses with more traction.
He's also been supportive, and will remain supportive, he said, of updating infrastructure, including large projects such as making Interstate 4 and Interstate 95 both six lanes.
Mica on veterans and senior citizens
Mica has systematically worked to replace blighted, unsafe or outdated housing with affordable housing in District 7
In addition to tearing down and replacing public housing in Daytona Beach, he recently was part of relocating more than 100 senior citizens in Putnam County.
"We took down a multistory Soviet-style building that was a blight on the St. Johns River. More than 100 seniors lived there," he said. "We've provided them decent housing."
Mica also said services to veterans have been improved and expanded throughout District 7.
Faye Armitage, left, John Mica, right.
By Jennifer Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER
posted Oct 28, 2008 - 8:58:31am
Text Size
U.S. Rep. John Mica, the District 7 representative to Congress since 1993, faces a challenge Nov. 4 from political newcomer Faye Armitage, an economist.
While both agree something must be done to create jobs, that's about where their similarities end.
Mica, a Republican, said he brings to the table experience and a deep knowledge of the communities he serves.
Armitage, a Democrat, is a former economics professor. She said it's time to replace businessmen and politicians in Congress with economists. She said she is more of an average citizen than her opponent is.
Armitage
Armitage said she once was among those who had what she calls "the other AIDs — apathy, ignorance and denial."
Then, she became a community advocate, and began to research the voting records of those in charge.
"I was shocked at what I discovered," she said.
Armitage made the decision to run for office, because she believes Congress currently reacts to crisis; she said it's time to look at real, proactive solutions to old problems.
If elected, Armitage's top three priorities will be creating a universal health-care system, stabilizing the financial market, and using green technology and energy independence to create new jobs.
Armitage has been a single mother; she raised five children, and has a son-in-law in Iraq, and a son who is a quadriplegic.
She said she is an average American, and will be able to better connect to her constituents.
"I want to be the people's voice in Washington," she said.
Once in Washington, Armitage wants people to break out of the "apathy, ignorance and denial" and keep an eye on her.
"I would expect them to hold me accountable," she said.
She suggested voters check out three Web sites that help her keep tabs on elected officials: smartvotes.org, themiddleclass.org and LCV.org.
Armitage on health care
"I believe we're way past time to have gotten a universal health-care system in place," she said. "It's a human right."
Armitage wants to see a Medicare-for-all system that would give people a choice in primary-care physicians, and still encourage employers to offer private insurance.
According to Armitage, universal health care could save Americans $350 billion a year.
"Thirty-one cents out of every dollar spent on private insurance goes to overhead and profit," she said. "Just 3 cents per dollar of Medicare goes to overhead."
In addition, insurers would save big dollars by making primary care accessible to everyone.
"Universal health care will save the dollars spent in emergency rooms, which is far more than preventative care," she said.
Armitage on going green
"I believe we need to invest in green technology, to create green-collar jobs," Armitage said.
She envisions using methods that will lead to energy independence, to stimulate the local job market.
"In the past, in District 7, construction used to be an economic engine," she said. "If we could give government incentives to retrofit older homes with green technology like tankless water heaters and solar panels, we could get those people back to work. It would boost our economy."
Armitage on the financial market
"A No. 1 priority is to stabilize our financial market," she said.
Part of financial stability is enforcing economic justice, she said. Armitage believes there should be penalties and safeguards to prevent practices like predatory lending. Her experience as an economist would give her a leg up in determining good or bad financial plans. she said.
"I am an economist. I would be able to assess good plans. We're had attorneys, doctors and businessmen in office. An economist has the ability for more long-range thinking."
John Mica
Mica said he has been responsive to the community since 1993.
"I've taken priorities from the community that have lingered for years," Mica said.
He said solutions are not created by a single person, but by many people working together.
"We've got to roll up our sleeves and work together," he said.
In his 15 years in Congress, Mica said, he's faced difficult challenges. In
Volusia County
alone, he's reacted to storms, tornados and flooding, brought affordable housing to poor areas, implemented progressive programs in local colleges and universities, and improved services to veterans.
He said he listens to his constituents, and he finds realistic solutions to their problems.
When the shape and size of his congressional district changed five years ago, Mica noted, the number of his constituents with low incomes increased.
"I acquired some of the poorest areas," Mica said. "In Daytona Beach, people talked about replacing pre-World War II public housing. Within 23 months, all 399 units were taken down. We have 320 units completed. It's decent, affordable housing."
Before he began working on the problem, people had talked about the need for decades, Mica said.
Seminole County had a rat problem.
"In Seminole County they brought me rats in a cage," he said.
He worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to rehabilitate the area and get rid of the rats.
If re-elected, Mica's top three priorities will be economic development and job creation, improving transportation, and providing services for veterans and seniors.
Mica on economic development
"The economy is on everyone's mind," he said.
Mica wants to continue attracting and retaining new industry, especially information technology, to the counties he serves.
He listed some examples of successes.
"DeLand Crossings is a good example of one of the economic developments," he said. "We had a successful project in Flagler County. We were to retain Palm Coast Data which is the largest employer in the Flagler/Palm Coast area. We've not only retained Palm Coast Data, we've expanded it."
Mica on transportation
Mica was selected to lead the largest committee in congress — the Transportation Committee.
"We want to provide transportation for folks who don't have it," he said.
Mica said commuter rail is high on his priority list, as is continuing to improve VOTRAN, Volusia County's mass-transit system.
"We've helped VOTRAN acquire new buses," he said.
Putnam County, needs not just new buses, but new types of buses that can travel on dirt roads normal buses can't handle.
"In Putnam, for example, we plan for new buses designed for rural areas," he said. "These are smaller buses with more traction.
He's also been supportive, and will remain supportive, he said, of updating infrastructure, including large projects such as making Interstate 4 and Interstate 95 both six lanes.
Mica on veterans and senior citizens
Mica has systematically worked to replace blighted, unsafe or outdated housing with affordable housing in District 7
In addition to tearing down and replacing public housing in Daytona Beach, he recently was part of relocating more than 100 senior citizens in Putnam County.
"We took down a multistory Soviet-style building that was a blight on the St. Johns River. More than 100 seniors lived there," he said. "We've provided them decent housing."
Mica also said services to veterans have been improved and expanded throughout District 7.
Monday, October 27, 2008
SENIOR SENATE REPUBLICAN TED STEVENS CONVICTED OF FAILING TO REPORT "GIFTS" --- THIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESS IS A STENCH IN THE NOSTRILS OF OUR NATION!
Alaska Senator Is Convicted of Ethics Breach in Gift Scheme
By NEIL A. LEWIS
WASHINGTON — Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska was found guilty on Monday of violating ethics laws for failing to report gifts and services that he was given by friends.
A federal jury of eight women and four men from the District of Columbia found that the 84-year-old Republican, who has represented Alaska in the Senate for more than 40 years, knowingly failed to list on Senate disclosure forms the receipt of several gifts and tens of thousands of dollars worth of remodeling work on his home in Girdwood, Alaska.The verdict came after more than three weeks of testimony, the highlight of which was Mr. Stevens making the calculated risk of taking the witness stand in his own defense.
Mr. Stevens has long been tied to the rough-and-tumble history of his home state and wields outsized influence over federal spending. Government prosecutors used evidence and testimony to paint a picture in which several of Mr. Stevens’s wealthy Alaskan friends, keenly aware of his status as the dominant political figure in the state, were eager to shower him with gifts. The indictment charged that he received some $250,000 worth from a longtime friend, Bill Allen, the owner of a huge oil-services construction company, as well as a sled dog, an expensive massage chair and other items from other friends.
Mr. Stevens’s defense was largely built on the notion that many of the goods and services he received were unasked for, and were things for which he had no use. In the case of the massage chair, he testified that it was not a gift from Bob Persons, a friend and restaurant owner, but rather a loan — even though the chair has remained in his Washington home for more than seven years and has been used by the senator.
Moreover, he asserted that his wife of 28 years, Catherine, and not he, oversaw the remaking of the Alaska home from a simple A-frame cabin into a grander two-story residence fitted with two decks, a new garage and amenities like a whirlpool, steam room and expensive gas grill.
Besides the federal jurors, Mr. Stevens is also facing a jury of Alaska’s voters, who will decide on Nov. 4 whether to return him to the Senate. Political analysts had said that a conviction would make it highly unlikely he could win re-election, but that an acquittal would provide a major boost to his effort.
Mr. Stevens is certain to appeal the conviction, and his supporters are also likely to explore the possibility of obtaining a pardon from a fellow Republican, President George W. Bush, before Mr. Bush leaves office in January.
The maximum sentence on each of the felony charges is five years in prison, but federal sentencing guidelines could call for much less than that. Mr. Stevens will turn 85 on Nov. 18.
A senator can be expelled only by a two-thirds vote of the entire Senate, so a conviction does not automatically cost a lawmaker his seat. Since 1789, only 15 senators have been expelled, mostly for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War, according to the Senate Web site.
In 1982, the Senate Ethics Committee recommended that Senator Harrison J. Williams, Democrat of New Jersey, be expelled because of his conviction on bribery, conspiracy and conflict of interest charges in the Abscam scandal, and in 1995 the committee recommended the expulsion of Senator Robert W. Packwood, Republican of Oregon, for sexual misconduct. Both men resigned before the full Senate could vote. Mr. Williams was convicted of bribery and conspiracy and served 21 months in federal prison
REPUBLICAN CITY COMMISSIONER ERROL JONES SAID "I'M NOT TAKING ANY BRIBES"
After the St. Augustine City Commission passed the motion to bring contaminated solid waste back to Lincolnville on the morning of November 13, 2007, I leaned over and said to Republican Commissioner ERROL JONES, "does your conscience bother you?"
JONES replied, "I'm not taking any bribes!"
I was referring to JONES having made the motion to bring contaminated solid waste back to Lincolnville. I never mentioned anything about any bribes.
With the indictment of Republican County Commission Chairman THOMAS G. MANUEL, JONES denial of a question that wasn't asked is leaving observers wondering......
JONES replied, "I'm not taking any bribes!"
I was referring to JONES having made the motion to bring contaminated solid waste back to Lincolnville. I never mentioned anything about any bribes.
With the indictment of Republican County Commission Chairman THOMAS G. MANUEL, JONES denial of a question that wasn't asked is leaving observers wondering......
"DELINQUENT": FL DBPR Website Says CPA License of U.S. REP. JOHN MICA's Campaign Treasurer, W. EDWARD LANGDON, IS "DELINQUENT," "EXPIRE[D] 12/31/2007
Licensee Details
Licensee Information
Name: W EDWARD LANGDON, CPA (Primary Name)
(DBA Name)
Main Address: 601 N. FERNCREEK AVE, STE 200
ORLANDO Florida 32803
County: ORANGE
License Mailing:
LicenseLocation: 601 N. FERNCREEK AVE, STE 200
ORLANDO FL 32803
County: ORANGE
License Information
License Type: FIRM
Rank: Firms
License Number: AD0019265
Status: Delinquent Licensure Date: 07/29/1999
Expires: 12/31/2007
Special Qualifications Qualification Effective
Sole Proprietor
Upon searching for any other licenses, DBPR's website stated, "There are no related licenses found for your search."
MEET 7th DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JOHN MICA's CAMPAIGN TREASURER, W. EDWARD LANGDON
From http://www.edlangdon.com/sub2.htm
W. Edward Langdon, CPA
Background
Ed grew up in Southern Ohio, and attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
He worked for Colley, Trumbower and Howell, CPA's (now PriceWaterHouseCoopers) from 1973 through 1980, working in small business tax and audit. He received his CPA certificate in 1973.
In 1980 he was hired as Controller for a national trucking firm headquartered in Orlando. While there he was responsible for the conversion of the company's manual general system to computer, and coordinated the programming of a custom billing/tracking software system for Xerox Corporation, the company's largest customer.
The company grew and was sold to Ryder Systems in 1985. At that time Ed opened a public accounting office in Winter Park, Florida.
In 1990 family responsibilites made it necessary to relocate back to the Ohio / West Virginia area. While there he worked as a manager in the tax/small business department of a large, local CPA firm.
In November, 1998 he returned to Central Florida and has again opened an office practicing public accounting.
------------
W. Edward Langdon, CPA
Services
Emphasis on timely, professional, personalized service.
Business Taxes
Corporations, S Corporations, Partnerships, LLC's, Payroll Taxes
Individual Taxes
Tax preparation
Planning and Projections
Expatriate and non-resident aliens
Accounting
Compiled, Reviewed and Audited Financial Statements
Monthly and Quarterly Accounting Services
Computers
Accounting Software Selection, Installation and Training
Quickbooks Consulting
Database design and production (Microsoft Access)
Part-Time Controller Services
Monthly financial analysis and adjustment of business accounting records
Budgets and Projections
W. Edward Langdon, CPA
Background
Ed grew up in Southern Ohio, and attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
He worked for Colley, Trumbower and Howell, CPA's (now PriceWaterHouseCoopers) from 1973 through 1980, working in small business tax and audit. He received his CPA certificate in 1973.
In 1980 he was hired as Controller for a national trucking firm headquartered in Orlando. While there he was responsible for the conversion of the company's manual general system to computer, and coordinated the programming of a custom billing/tracking software system for Xerox Corporation, the company's largest customer.
The company grew and was sold to Ryder Systems in 1985. At that time Ed opened a public accounting office in Winter Park, Florida.
In 1990 family responsibilites made it necessary to relocate back to the Ohio / West Virginia area. While there he worked as a manager in the tax/small business department of a large, local CPA firm.
In November, 1998 he returned to Central Florida and has again opened an office practicing public accounting.
------------
W. Edward Langdon, CPA
Services
Emphasis on timely, professional, personalized service.
Business Taxes
Corporations, S Corporations, Partnerships, LLC's, Payroll Taxes
Individual Taxes
Tax preparation
Planning and Projections
Expatriate and non-resident aliens
Accounting
Compiled, Reviewed and Audited Financial Statements
Monthly and Quarterly Accounting Services
Computers
Accounting Software Selection, Installation and Training
Quickbooks Consulting
Database design and production (Microsoft Access)
Part-Time Controller Services
Monthly financial analysis and adjustment of business accounting records
Budgets and Projections
Guest Column: Suggests candidates for election
Guest Column: Suggests candidates for election
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/26/08
Abraham Lincoln warned about politicians who "fool the people." Let's not be fooled again. Therefore, I respectfully recommend:
1. Defeating the defective St. Johns County charter again, as on Aug. 26. Supporters admit that their charter-drafting-bee was aimed at former Commissioner Bruce Maguire, whom they loathed. I'm no Maguire fan, but that's a bad reason to adopt a charter. Supporters pretend only developers oppose their poorly-drafted-charter. Vote no if you treasure limited government, accountability, human rights and environmental protection -- none well-addressed in the charter, which would be very difficult for the people to amend and was drafted by a few. Commissioners never explained refusals to adopt pages of proposed strengthening amendments. Starting Nov. 5, let's write a real charter addressing real concerns (like preventing corruption and waste with an inspector general, ombuds and elected county attorney).
2. Voting to change City Hall, Tallahassee, Congress and the White House. America will recover with wise leaders like Obama/Biden, with the courage to protect our health and our wealth, helping heal our nation's wounds.
3. Electing Jimmy Owens and Judith Seraphin City Commissioners. Let's heal our city's wounds, advance liberty and equality, safeguarding our environment, questioning those who wrought waste (secret environmental violations, tens of thousands in environmental fines) and millions in out-of-court settlements for police abuses. It's our money. Vote against those who reflexively, chauvinistically defend City Manager William B. Harriss.
4. Electing Doug Courtney State Representative (District 20). Incumbent William Proctor is out-of-touch, a walking conflict of interest, promoting Flagler College over needy public elementary and secondary schools. Elect Courtney to represent us in Tallahassee.
5. Electing to U.S. Congress Faye Armitage of Fruit Cove -- an economist, mother of five, grandmother of three, she raised a disabled son (her son-in-law is in Iraq). Eight-term incumbent John Mica is way too big for his britches, a national embarrassment. Mica's voted against raising the minimum wage and granting (unpaid) family and medical leave. Mica never apologized for taking money from the likes of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff or head-butting an ABC News cameraman upon leaving Tom DeLay's lobbyist party. Mica's spends special-interest campaign contributions on travel/hotels/casinos/restaurants/bars/private clubs. See www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com. Ungracious Mica's guilty of goading "liberals," President Clinton ("a little booger") and social welfare recipients ("don't feed the alligators"). But as Record Senior Writer Peter Guinta reported, Mica's given earmarks to campaign contributors (that's corporate welfare). Mica wrote that he flew to Tibet to sell airplanes to China for Boeing (whose PAC contributed thousands to Mica's campaigns). Economist Armitage will represent all of us and we can be proud to say that we finally have a Congressman who works to help people like us. No ninth term for Mica.
6. Electing Mosquito Control Commission candidates Ronnie Radford, Paul Linser and Gary Howell. We don't need to buy aircraft -- voters' will was finally heard -- and we don't need an unwise, rushed, unscientific return to aerial organophosphate spraying. AMCD's mission statement mandates scientific peer review and public hearings. Let's do it.
7. Voting against special interests' unfair state constitutional amendments, each of which would require 60 percent of the vote to be enacted into Florida's Constitution. Reject bigotry and greed.
Our founders' vision will prevail over "social dominators" led by the Karl Roves of the world -- the mean-spirited few who boss, bully, divide and gull people.
Leaders will want to discuss Congressional enactment of a St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway, welcoming the world to observe 11,000 years of indigenous Indian history, and 500 years of Hispanic, African-American, British, French, Minorcan, and other world cultures.
Vote.
Ed Slavin first wrote national park legislation for former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser, D-Tennessee at age 20 (the proposed Great Smoky Mountains Wilderness Act) in 1977. On Nov. 13, 2006, Slavin proposed a St. Augustine National Historic Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway Act.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102608/opinions_1026_058.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/26/08
Abraham Lincoln warned about politicians who "fool the people." Let's not be fooled again. Therefore, I respectfully recommend:
1. Defeating the defective St. Johns County charter again, as on Aug. 26. Supporters admit that their charter-drafting-bee was aimed at former Commissioner Bruce Maguire, whom they loathed. I'm no Maguire fan, but that's a bad reason to adopt a charter. Supporters pretend only developers oppose their poorly-drafted-charter. Vote no if you treasure limited government, accountability, human rights and environmental protection -- none well-addressed in the charter, which would be very difficult for the people to amend and was drafted by a few. Commissioners never explained refusals to adopt pages of proposed strengthening amendments. Starting Nov. 5, let's write a real charter addressing real concerns (like preventing corruption and waste with an inspector general, ombuds and elected county attorney).
2. Voting to change City Hall, Tallahassee, Congress and the White House. America will recover with wise leaders like Obama/Biden, with the courage to protect our health and our wealth, helping heal our nation's wounds.
3. Electing Jimmy Owens and Judith Seraphin City Commissioners. Let's heal our city's wounds, advance liberty and equality, safeguarding our environment, questioning those who wrought waste (secret environmental violations, tens of thousands in environmental fines) and millions in out-of-court settlements for police abuses. It's our money. Vote against those who reflexively, chauvinistically defend City Manager William B. Harriss.
4. Electing Doug Courtney State Representative (District 20). Incumbent William Proctor is out-of-touch, a walking conflict of interest, promoting Flagler College over needy public elementary and secondary schools. Elect Courtney to represent us in Tallahassee.
5. Electing to U.S. Congress Faye Armitage of Fruit Cove -- an economist, mother of five, grandmother of three, she raised a disabled son (her son-in-law is in Iraq). Eight-term incumbent John Mica is way too big for his britches, a national embarrassment. Mica's voted against raising the minimum wage and granting (unpaid) family and medical leave. Mica never apologized for taking money from the likes of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff or head-butting an ABC News cameraman upon leaving Tom DeLay's lobbyist party. Mica's spends special-interest campaign contributions on travel/hotels/casinos/restaurants/bars/private clubs. See www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com. Ungracious Mica's guilty of goading "liberals," President Clinton ("a little booger") and social welfare recipients ("don't feed the alligators"). But as Record Senior Writer Peter Guinta reported, Mica's given earmarks to campaign contributors (that's corporate welfare). Mica wrote that he flew to Tibet to sell airplanes to China for Boeing (whose PAC contributed thousands to Mica's campaigns). Economist Armitage will represent all of us and we can be proud to say that we finally have a Congressman who works to help people like us. No ninth term for Mica.
6. Electing Mosquito Control Commission candidates Ronnie Radford, Paul Linser and Gary Howell. We don't need to buy aircraft -- voters' will was finally heard -- and we don't need an unwise, rushed, unscientific return to aerial organophosphate spraying. AMCD's mission statement mandates scientific peer review and public hearings. Let's do it.
7. Voting against special interests' unfair state constitutional amendments, each of which would require 60 percent of the vote to be enacted into Florida's Constitution. Reject bigotry and greed.
Our founders' vision will prevail over "social dominators" led by the Karl Roves of the world -- the mean-spirited few who boss, bully, divide and gull people.
Leaders will want to discuss Congressional enactment of a St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway, welcoming the world to observe 11,000 years of indigenous Indian history, and 500 years of Hispanic, African-American, British, French, Minorcan, and other world cultures.
Vote.
Ed Slavin first wrote national park legislation for former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser, D-Tennessee at age 20 (the proposed Great Smoky Mountains Wilderness Act) in 1977. On Nov. 13, 2006, Slavin proposed a St. Augustine National Historic Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway Act.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102608/opinions_1026_058.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
FOLIO WEEKLY COLUMN BY ANNE SCHINDLER -- NADIR '08 (RE; INDICTED REPUBLICAN COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR THOMAS G. MANUEL)
OPTIMISTIC OR STUPID? IT’S A COMMON QUESTION IN THESE
bleak economic times, as Wall Street buckles and layoffs
surge. Were we optimistic or stupid to believe — post-Enron,
post-dotcom bubble, post-Mission Accomplished — that we
could put our faith in the well-heeled and politically powerful,
and trust their promises of prosperity and success?
Hope springs eternal and all of that, but at what point does a
sucker learn to quit?
The question hits rather close to home
these days, and not just because our 401K
is in the toilet. Last week, St. Johns County
Commission Chairman Tom Manuel was
indicted for bribery. According to the twocount
federal indictment, Manuel accepted
two cash payments totaling $60,000
“intending to be influenced and rewarded
in connection with [county] business.”
The indictment wasn’t exactly unexpected.
Most county officials and observers
have been waiting for it to drop ever since
county Sheriff David Shoar told a reporter
in June that the FBI was investigating
Manuel and that he expected the chairman
to be indicted within weeks. Manuel
denied there was a probe, calling the allegation
“a political hatchet job,” “absolutely
untrue” and “political slander.” In case anyone
doubted his conviction, he added,
“The sheriff ’s a liar.”
When the FBI confirmed an investigation
was indeed ongoing, Manuel told the
St. Augustine paper that it had been “inappropriate”
to call Shoar a liar, and offered
this strange, passive-voice apology: “I was
saddened I called anybody a name,” he
said. “I don’t do that.”
For the record, Manuel
still says he’s innocent of the
charges against him. (He was
suspended from the commission
by Gov. Charlie Crist the
day after the indictment was
announced.) But it’s increasingly
difficult to believe him.
Not just because his initial
denial now seems like a cynical
bit of political theater. Not just
because well-sourced rumors suggest
Manuel’s indictment stems from his effort
to sell out county residents to developers.
But because, at the end of the day, we
think we’ve been Tom Manuel suckers
long enough.
It’s important to point out here that
two years ago, this column made a rare
political endorsement. The Aug. 29, 2006
Editor’s Note fleshed out the controversies
that had emerged in the race between Tom
Manuel and then-incumbent Bruce
Maguire, including some not-so-subtle
insinuations linking Manuel to organized
crime. Folio Weekly had previously
reported on those allegations (Manuel
operated a casino on the Caribbean island
of St. Maarten with Clifford Perlman, a
mob-connected figure considered suspect
enough that the New Jersey Gaming Commission
refused to let him do business
there). We had also reported on Manuel’s
dubious tenure at Sunset Financial, a
Northeast Florida commercial and residential
mortgage business that failed rather
spectacularly in 2004, not long after
Manuel joined as an executive. (Bad investments
in delinquent loans caused the company’s
commercial loan division to tank,
and the company’s stock lost two-thirds of
its value. Manuel, who was on the committee
that oversaw commercial loans, was terminated
soon after.)
Despite Manuel’s considerable baggage,
we endorsed his candidacy. As chair of the
county’s Planning and Zoning Agency, we
noted, Manuel had taken a stubborn, even
combative, stance against unplanned
growth. He’d also refused to accept campaign
donations from developers, choosing
to compete with less than $10,000 in campaign
funds, compared to his opponent’s
developer-funded war chest of $83,000.
Noting that the incumbent, Bruce
Maguire, had already lay down for developers,
special interests and suburban sprawl,
we suggested that the race was between a
known evil and a theoretical one. Even if
Manuel proved to be “a mobster and a
crook,” we wrote, he could at least be relied
upon to fight rampant growth and overdevelopment.
Conjuring the popular
Louisiana bumper sticker from the 1991
governor’s race between the corrupt Edwin
Edwards and former Ku Klux Klansman
David Duke, we wrote, “Vote for the
crook. It’s important.”
Whether that kind of reasoning is
rooted in optimism is open for debate.
What is not debatable is the fact that the
endorsement was wrong. Whatever Bruce
Maguire did while serving as a County
Commissioner — and we still firmly
believe most of it was not good — he did
not get indicted for bribery. He did not get
suspended amid scandal. He did not call
the sheriff a liar for telling the truth.
At a time when everyone is recalibrating
the worth of their investments, it’s pretty
clear that the stock we placed in Tom
Manuel was overvalued. We may not be
able to erase that error, but at least we can
correct the books.
bleak economic times, as Wall Street buckles and layoffs
surge. Were we optimistic or stupid to believe — post-Enron,
post-dotcom bubble, post-Mission Accomplished — that we
could put our faith in the well-heeled and politically powerful,
and trust their promises of prosperity and success?
Hope springs eternal and all of that, but at what point does a
sucker learn to quit?
The question hits rather close to home
these days, and not just because our 401K
is in the toilet. Last week, St. Johns County
Commission Chairman Tom Manuel was
indicted for bribery. According to the twocount
federal indictment, Manuel accepted
two cash payments totaling $60,000
“intending to be influenced and rewarded
in connection with [county] business.”
The indictment wasn’t exactly unexpected.
Most county officials and observers
have been waiting for it to drop ever since
county Sheriff David Shoar told a reporter
in June that the FBI was investigating
Manuel and that he expected the chairman
to be indicted within weeks. Manuel
denied there was a probe, calling the allegation
“a political hatchet job,” “absolutely
untrue” and “political slander.” In case anyone
doubted his conviction, he added,
“The sheriff ’s a liar.”
When the FBI confirmed an investigation
was indeed ongoing, Manuel told the
St. Augustine paper that it had been “inappropriate”
to call Shoar a liar, and offered
this strange, passive-voice apology: “I was
saddened I called anybody a name,” he
said. “I don’t do that.”
For the record, Manuel
still says he’s innocent of the
charges against him. (He was
suspended from the commission
by Gov. Charlie Crist the
day after the indictment was
announced.) But it’s increasingly
difficult to believe him.
Not just because his initial
denial now seems like a cynical
bit of political theater. Not just
because well-sourced rumors suggest
Manuel’s indictment stems from his effort
to sell out county residents to developers.
But because, at the end of the day, we
think we’ve been Tom Manuel suckers
long enough.
It’s important to point out here that
two years ago, this column made a rare
political endorsement. The Aug. 29, 2006
Editor’s Note fleshed out the controversies
that had emerged in the race between Tom
Manuel and then-incumbent Bruce
Maguire, including some not-so-subtle
insinuations linking Manuel to organized
crime. Folio Weekly had previously
reported on those allegations (Manuel
operated a casino on the Caribbean island
of St. Maarten with Clifford Perlman, a
mob-connected figure considered suspect
enough that the New Jersey Gaming Commission
refused to let him do business
there). We had also reported on Manuel’s
dubious tenure at Sunset Financial, a
Northeast Florida commercial and residential
mortgage business that failed rather
spectacularly in 2004, not long after
Manuel joined as an executive. (Bad investments
in delinquent loans caused the company’s
commercial loan division to tank,
and the company’s stock lost two-thirds of
its value. Manuel, who was on the committee
that oversaw commercial loans, was terminated
soon after.)
Despite Manuel’s considerable baggage,
we endorsed his candidacy. As chair of the
county’s Planning and Zoning Agency, we
noted, Manuel had taken a stubborn, even
combative, stance against unplanned
growth. He’d also refused to accept campaign
donations from developers, choosing
to compete with less than $10,000 in campaign
funds, compared to his opponent’s
developer-funded war chest of $83,000.
Noting that the incumbent, Bruce
Maguire, had already lay down for developers,
special interests and suburban sprawl,
we suggested that the race was between a
known evil and a theoretical one. Even if
Manuel proved to be “a mobster and a
crook,” we wrote, he could at least be relied
upon to fight rampant growth and overdevelopment.
Conjuring the popular
Louisiana bumper sticker from the 1991
governor’s race between the corrupt Edwin
Edwards and former Ku Klux Klansman
David Duke, we wrote, “Vote for the
crook. It’s important.”
Whether that kind of reasoning is
rooted in optimism is open for debate.
What is not debatable is the fact that the
endorsement was wrong. Whatever Bruce
Maguire did while serving as a County
Commissioner — and we still firmly
believe most of it was not good — he did
not get indicted for bribery. He did not get
suspended amid scandal. He did not call
the sheriff a liar for telling the truth.
At a time when everyone is recalibrating
the worth of their investments, it’s pretty
clear that the stock we placed in Tom
Manuel was overvalued. We may not be
able to erase that error, but at least we can
correct the books.
Progressive Railroading: House committee to review possible projects
Congressional Oversight 10/27/2008
House committee to review potential infrastructure projects
Transit and transportation officials long have said that infrastructure projects are a boon to the economy. Now, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are hoping to learn about some of the projects that could help stimulate the economy by creating new jobs.
Later this week, the committee will conduct a congressional hearing to review pending and delayed infrastructure projects. Transportation industry experts and public officials are expected to testify about the need to invest in those projects. For every $1 billion committed to infrastructure improvement projects, as many as 35,000 jobs can be created, according to a statement issued by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), the committee's Republican leader.
"We should focus on bringing important infrastructure projects online as soon as possible in order to create jobs, boost the economy and rebuild our crumbling highway, bridge, transit, rail, aviation, port and waterway infrastructure," said Mica.
House committee to review potential infrastructure projects
Transit and transportation officials long have said that infrastructure projects are a boon to the economy. Now, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are hoping to learn about some of the projects that could help stimulate the economy by creating new jobs.
Later this week, the committee will conduct a congressional hearing to review pending and delayed infrastructure projects. Transportation industry experts and public officials are expected to testify about the need to invest in those projects. For every $1 billion committed to infrastructure improvement projects, as many as 35,000 jobs can be created, according to a statement issued by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), the committee's Republican leader.
"We should focus on bringing important infrastructure projects online as soon as possible in order to create jobs, boost the economy and rebuild our crumbling highway, bridge, transit, rail, aviation, port and waterway infrastructure," said Mica.
JOHN L. MICA IS TOO CHICKEN TO DEBATE FAYE ARMITAGE AGAIN
In the immoral words of William F. Buckley, Jr. about someone who refused to debate him on his TV show, "Why does baloney reject the grinder?"
JOHN MICA is full of baloney.
JOHN MICA is all hat and no cattle. He has no ideas and he's a nuisance. Head-butting an ABC news cameraman, insulting voters and currying favors with lobbyists, he's not done anything of substance for the people of our District.
MICA's too chicken to debate Faye Armitage, an economist and soccer mom and grandmom who will represent the people, not the powerful.
CONGRESSMAN JOHN L. MICA IS TOO CHICKEN TO DEBATE FAYE ARMITAGE, AFTER LOSING ORLANDO PBS DEBATE
Faye Armitage, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress 7th District, issued a renewed challenge to Republican incumbent John Mica to debate her. She sent a certified letter to Mica's campaign Friday:
Mr. John Mica:
When I became the Democratic nominee for the 7th Florida Congressional District, in the true spirit of Democracy, I issued you a challenge to seven debates; your silence is deafening.
I believe the people here in the 7th District deserve the opportunity to judge for themselves who will be their choice to represent them in Congress. Your lack of consideration on this point makes it appear that you take your role as representative of the people of Florida’s 7th District for granted. Again, for the benefit of the people of the 7th District, I challenge you to three televised debates between October 20 and 31 on all three of the local affiliate stations. By agreeing to these debates you will allow the people of the 7th District what most would consider the minimum expectations of their representatives, the opportunity that is basic to our Democratic system of government: to make an informed decision for whom they will cast their vote.
It would appear that you have hidden yourself from view instead of making yourself available to the people you represent who are concerned with the many issues that effect their lives, such as why, during the most devastating financial crisis since the Great Depression, you voted ‘no’ for the financial bailout that was put forth by your own parties’ administration? It could appear that you did so for political reasons, i.e. in order to blame the Democrats for the financial crisis, but one might also conclude that you voted ‘no’ for reasons of ideology, i.e. that you believe in no government regulation of markets, which is what has led to this financial mess in the first place. The fact is no one knows why you voted the way you did on this or many other issues because you have yet to stand before your constituents and defend your record. I am beginning to believe that you are afraid to stand before the people of Florida’s 7th District because you are afraid that your record is indefensible. I fully understand that this is how you feel given the dire circumstances which, under your leadership, the country now finds itself.
Your party has had control of both the legislative and executive branch of government for the better part of eight years, diminished only by the mid-term elections that saw so many Republicans get tossed out of Washington. Now you must own every bit of responsibility for the part you played in putting the country in such dire straits. You have been in Congress for sixteen years and the evidence is now in on your leadership: no good. Your ‘Republican Revolution’ ideology has resulted in the utter devastation of the people of this district’s jobs, incomes, and retirement savings. People are hurting and deserve the chance to hear from you. I challenge you to debate me. I stand for change. I will listen to the people, not just wealthy people but people of all walks of life. I come from the middle class and will champion the working people struggling in today’s economy, the retirees who have seen their savings disappear, and the business owners who just want the chance to achieve the kind of prosperity that has been the cornerstone of American life. I come from these people and I understand that they want to hear from those who represent them. So, I implore you to have the courage to stand up for yourself and defend your record.
Sincerely,
Faye Armitage
Democratic Nominee for U.S. Congress
Florida 7th District
Guest Column: Suggests candidates for election
Guest Column: Suggests candidates for election
ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/26/08
Abraham Lincoln warned about politicians who "fool the people." Let's not be fooled again. Therefore, I respectfully recommend:
1. Defeating the defective St. Johns County charter again, as on Aug. 26. Supporters admit that their charter-drafting-bee was aimed at former Commissioner Bruce Maguire, whom they loathed. I'm no Maguire fan, but that's a bad reason to adopt a charter. Supporters pretend only developers oppose their poorly-drafted-charter. Vote no if you treasure limited government, accountability, human rights and environmental protection -- none well-addressed in the charter, which would be very difficult for the people to amend and was drafted by a few. Commissioners never explained refusals to adopt pages of proposed strengthening amendments. Starting Nov. 5, let's write a real charter addressing real concerns (like preventing corruption and waste with an inspector general, ombuds and elected county attorney).
2. Voting to change City Hall, Tallahassee, Congress and the White House. America will recover with wise leaders like Obama/Biden, with the courage to protect our health and our wealth, helping heal our nation's wounds.
3. Electing Jimmy Owens and Judith Seraphin City Commissioners. Let's heal our city's wounds, advance liberty and equality, safeguarding our environment, questioning those who wrought waste (secret environmental violations, tens of thousands in environmental fines) and millions in out-of-court settlements for police abuses. It's our money. Vote against those who reflexively, chauvinistically defend City Manager William B. Harriss.
4. Electing Doug Courtney State Representative (District 20). Incumbent William Proctor is out-of-touch, a walking conflict of interest, promoting Flagler College over needy public elementary and secondary schools. Elect Courtney to represent us in Tallahassee.
5. Electing to U.S. Congress Faye Armitage of Fruit Cove -- an economist, mother of five, grandmother of three, she raised a disabled son (her son-in-law is in Iraq). Eight-term incumbent John Mica is way too big for his britches, a national embarrassment. Mica's voted against raising the minimum wage and granting (unpaid) family and medical leave. Mica never apologized for taking money from the likes of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff or head-butting an ABC News cameraman upon leaving Tom DeLay's lobbyist party. Mica's spends special-interest campaign contributions on travel/hotels/casinos/restaurants/bars/private clubs. See www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com. Ungracious Mica's guilty of goading "liberals," President Clinton ("a little booger") and social welfare recipients ("don't feed the alligators"). But as Record Senior Writer Peter Guinta reported, Mica's given earmarks to campaign contributors (that's corporate welfare). Mica wrote that he flew to Tibet to sell airplanes to China for Boeing (whose PAC contributed thousands to Mica's campaigns). Economist Armitage will represent all of us and we can be proud to say that we finally have a Congressman who works to help people like us. No ninth term for Mica.
6. Electing Mosquito Control Commission candidates Ronnie Radford, Paul Linser and Gary Howell. We don't need to buy aircraft -- voters' will was finally heard -- and we don't need an unwise, rushed, unscientific return to aerial organophosphate spraying. AMCD's mission statement mandates scientific peer review and public hearings. Let's do it.
7. Voting against special interests' unfair state constitutional amendments, each of which would require 60 percent of the vote to be enacted into Florida's Constitution. Reject bigotry and greed.
Our founders' vision will prevail over "social dominators" led by the Karl Roves of the world -- the mean-spirited few who boss, bully, divide and gull people.
Leaders will want to discuss Congressional enactment of a St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway, welcoming the world to observe 11,000 years of indigenous Indian history, and 500 years of Hispanic, African-American, British, French, Minorcan, and other world cultures.
Vote.
Ed Slavin first wrote national park legislation for former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser, D-Tennessee at age 20 (the proposed Great Smoky Mountains Wilderness Act) in 1977. On Nov. 13, 2006, Slavin proposed a St. Augustine National Historic Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway Act.
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Letter: How many times must we vote 'no'?
Letter: How many times must we vote 'no'?
Fred Green
Crescent Beach
Publication Date: 10/24/08
Editor: Since the law was passed in 1968 giving St. Johns County the choice of home rule or adopting charter government, residents have not been keen on changing something that works as well as home rule has.
As a member of the County Commission in the 1960s, I well recall that it was unanimously decided at that time to adopt home rule. We believed that charter government gave the board more power than needed while home rule gave the people a stronger voice in governmental decisions. I still maintain giving the commission more power would not mean better government.
It was no real surprise to me that voters said "no" to charter government when it was proposed in a referendum in the August primary election. What did come as a surprise was the inability of three of the five commissioners to accept "no'' as the response from voters and put the issue back on the general election ballot.
I was equally surprised they could possibly think voters needed to be better educated about charter government. This controversial subject has been around, hashed and re-hashed, for 30 years. The more than $28,000 in postage the commission estimated as the cost of sending educational information to voters is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers' money and what I see as the first step in determination by three public officials to try and ram something down our throats. The majority of voters do not want charter. How many more times do we have to vote "no'' to convince commissioners "no'' is what we mean?
Fred Green
Crescent Beach
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Fred Green
Crescent Beach
Publication Date: 10/24/08
Editor: Since the law was passed in 1968 giving St. Johns County the choice of home rule or adopting charter government, residents have not been keen on changing something that works as well as home rule has.
As a member of the County Commission in the 1960s, I well recall that it was unanimously decided at that time to adopt home rule. We believed that charter government gave the board more power than needed while home rule gave the people a stronger voice in governmental decisions. I still maintain giving the commission more power would not mean better government.
It was no real surprise to me that voters said "no" to charter government when it was proposed in a referendum in the August primary election. What did come as a surprise was the inability of three of the five commissioners to accept "no'' as the response from voters and put the issue back on the general election ballot.
I was equally surprised they could possibly think voters needed to be better educated about charter government. This controversial subject has been around, hashed and re-hashed, for 30 years. The more than $28,000 in postage the commission estimated as the cost of sending educational information to voters is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers' money and what I see as the first step in determination by three public officials to try and ram something down our throats. The majority of voters do not want charter. How many more times do we have to vote "no'' to convince commissioners "no'' is what we mean?
Fred Green
Crescent Beach
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Letter: Political sign thefts going up?
Letter: Political sign thefts going up?
Bea Durand
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/24/08
Editor: I realize that during an election year a few political signs may be stolen or vandalized. But this year the number of thefts and sign defacing in our county seem to be on the rise.
My neighbors and friends have reported having their signs stolen on more than one occasion. A number of them have told me they have replaced their signs up to as many as four times.
It is a criminal offense to steal or deface a sign located on a persons property and is punishable under the laws of the State of Florida and of St. Johns County.
Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of our democracy and this is particularly true during the elections.
Please point out to the citizens of St. Johns county that anyone caught removing or defacing a political sign will be reported to our local law enforcement officials.
My neighbors and friends are committed to advising these officials (via license plate number or physical identification) of anyone seen committing this criminal act.
Let's all work together to help maintain our right to free speech during this election.
Bea Durand
St. Augustine
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Bea Durand
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/24/08
Editor: I realize that during an election year a few political signs may be stolen or vandalized. But this year the number of thefts and sign defacing in our county seem to be on the rise.
My neighbors and friends have reported having their signs stolen on more than one occasion. A number of them have told me they have replaced their signs up to as many as four times.
It is a criminal offense to steal or deface a sign located on a persons property and is punishable under the laws of the State of Florida and of St. Johns County.
Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of our democracy and this is particularly true during the elections.
Please point out to the citizens of St. Johns county that anyone caught removing or defacing a political sign will be reported to our local law enforcement officials.
My neighbors and friends are committed to advising these officials (via license plate number or physical identification) of anyone seen committing this criminal act.
Let's all work together to help maintain our right to free speech during this election.
Bea Durand
St. Augustine
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Letter: Supports Faye Armitage Congress, District 7
Letter: Supports Faye Armitage Congress, District 7
Andrea Conover
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 10/27/08
Editor: The Record's editorial Wednesday, "Return Mica to Congress," says "we see no reason for voters not to re-elect (John) Mica on Nov. 4." I see quite a few reasons to elect Faye Armitage instead.
The first is energy policy and protecting the environment. Mica has voted often against environmental legislation during his 16 years in Congress. He earned a "5" out of a possible "100" (the lowest score of any member) from the League of Conservation Voters. The second is veterans benefits. Even though Mica supports the Iraq war, according to the Disabled American Veterans, he supported veterans benefits less than half the time.
The third is policies that help the "middle class." According to www.themiddleclass.org, which analyzes the impact of legislation on current and aspiring middle class citizens, Mica received an "F" score for his 2007, 2005, 2004 votes and a "D" in 2003 and year-to-date 2008. (2006 votes were not scored.)
Your editorial lists "projects" Mica has brought to our area. He is bringing home some "pork" but is this a good thing? One reason the federal budget is out of control is because all 535 members of Congress get earmarks for their districts.
Armitage, an economist and former professor, is needed in Congress during this economic crisis.
Her son was paralyzed at a young age in a soccer accident so she knows our current health care system fails many families.
She supports alternative energy, environmental protection and getting U.S. soldiers out of Iraq within the next 18 months. Her son-in-law is in Iraq. Look at www.fayeforcongress.com for more information.
The power of incumbency is strong. But being in Congress was not meant to be a permanent position. Mica has been part of the "Bush rubberstamp Congress."
Vote Armitage for Florida's 7th congressional district.
Andrea Conover
Ponte Vedra Beach
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Andrea Conover
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 10/27/08
Editor: The Record's editorial Wednesday, "Return Mica to Congress," says "we see no reason for voters not to re-elect (John) Mica on Nov. 4." I see quite a few reasons to elect Faye Armitage instead.
The first is energy policy and protecting the environment. Mica has voted often against environmental legislation during his 16 years in Congress. He earned a "5" out of a possible "100" (the lowest score of any member) from the League of Conservation Voters. The second is veterans benefits. Even though Mica supports the Iraq war, according to the Disabled American Veterans, he supported veterans benefits less than half the time.
The third is policies that help the "middle class." According to www.themiddleclass.org, which analyzes the impact of legislation on current and aspiring middle class citizens, Mica received an "F" score for his 2007, 2005, 2004 votes and a "D" in 2003 and year-to-date 2008. (2006 votes were not scored.)
Your editorial lists "projects" Mica has brought to our area. He is bringing home some "pork" but is this a good thing? One reason the federal budget is out of control is because all 535 members of Congress get earmarks for their districts.
Armitage, an economist and former professor, is needed in Congress during this economic crisis.
Her son was paralyzed at a young age in a soccer accident so she knows our current health care system fails many families.
She supports alternative energy, environmental protection and getting U.S. soldiers out of Iraq within the next 18 months. Her son-in-law is in Iraq. Look at www.fayeforcongress.com for more information.
The power of incumbency is strong. But being in Congress was not meant to be a permanent position. Mica has been part of the "Bush rubberstamp Congress."
Vote Armitage for Florida's 7th congressional district.
Andrea Conover
Ponte Vedra Beach
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Record Endorsement of Reprobate JOHN MICA Rooted Solely in Pork Barrel Earmarks, Not Any Legitimate Legislative Accomplishments
Letter: Can't afford earmarks for local projects
Todd D. Ritter
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/25/08
Editor: Your endorsement of U.S. Rep. John Mica in your editorial on Oct. 22, was interesting. You mentioned his gaining federal funds for six large projects in the area. That is to be commended if the purpose of going to Washington is to get federal funds.
Unfortunately, we have 435 Representatives and 100 Senators who want all they can get for their districts.
The recent $700 billion "Bailout Bill" only passed because of 140 billion extra for "earmarks." I bet none of them were for defense but for "Bridges to Nowhere" and "Wooden Arrows."
We can't afford much more of this. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, said "Do not ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." That was 48 years ago and completely forgotten.
Todd D. Ritter
St. Augustine
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Todd D. Ritter
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/25/08
Editor: Your endorsement of U.S. Rep. John Mica in your editorial on Oct. 22, was interesting. You mentioned his gaining federal funds for six large projects in the area. That is to be commended if the purpose of going to Washington is to get federal funds.
Unfortunately, we have 435 Representatives and 100 Senators who want all they can get for their districts.
The recent $700 billion "Bailout Bill" only passed because of 140 billion extra for "earmarks." I bet none of them were for defense but for "Bridges to Nowhere" and "Wooden Arrows."
We can't afford much more of this. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, said "Do not ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." That was 48 years ago and completely forgotten.
Todd D. Ritter
St. Augustine
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CHUTZPAH: Republican St. Johns County Commission Chairman THOMAS G. MANUEL, Under Indictment for Taking Bribes, Endorses County Charter He Crafted
Guest Column: Charter would empower the people
TOM MANUEL
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 10/26/08
To understand why I support charter government it is important the voters understand my core philosophy on how government should work. I believe government starts at your house and my house, goes to our neighborhoods, then to our communities, to our municipalities, to our counties, to our state government and then to our federal government. Unfortunately today the process is exactly the opposite. We are a top-down government, not a people-up government as our founding fathers intended.
It is my core belief that we need to have government as close to your house as possible -- to empower you, the citizen, to make the decisions that shape our county. The only way to accomplish this objective is to have our own county "Constitution," a charter form of government.
Today we are a general law county. We live in "mommy and daddy's house" and "mommy and daddy" make the rules. Our county is a unique and special place. The citizens deserve the right to shape their local government to reflect the values and desires of the citizens. In everybody's life they comes a time when you have to move out of "mommy and daddy's house" and live on your own. Now is the time for us, the citizens, to make the "move" to charter and take control of our "house."
In Florida, as a general law county, we have "Government of the few, by the few and for the few." Florida by state law, a law that applies to general law counties (e.g. St. Johns County) has closed primaries. In most county commission elections in general law counties, a significant portion of residents are "disenfranchised." In St. Johns there are approximately 68,000 registered Republican voters and approximately 61,000 "others." In every closed primary County Commission election almost half of the residents can't vote. No wonder primary turn-out is so low. If you want to be a County Commissioner you have to run as a Republican whether you are a Republican or not. The proof you ask: We have a sitting Commissioner (a Republican) who once ran as a Democrat and lost. We have a Commissioner-elect (a Republican) who once ran as a Democrat and lost. We need to empower all voters. County commissioners worry about fixing pot holes not stem cell research. The School Board is nonpartisan. St. Augustine elections are nonpartisan. The only way the county can have nonpartisan election is through a charter government. By adopting a charter form of government we will truly have government of the people, by the people and for the people.
County commissioners are responsible to maintain the character, nature and uniqueness of our county. By voting for the charter and its coastal building height limit of 35 feet, the voters will guarantee the character, nature and uniqueness of the county for generations to come. Today, as a general law county, two commissioners can make the decision to forever alter the uniqueness of our coastal corridor.
What the charter will not do:
The charter will not impact the constitutional officers.
The charter will not impact the cities of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach and Hastings.
The charter will not increase taxes.
The charter will not increase the size of government.
The charter requires that voters approve any future charter amendments not county commissioners.
Empower yourself: Vote "yes" on charter.
Tom Manuel was elected the District 4 County Commissioner in 2006. He was elected last year as chairman of the board. He was suspended from office Oct. 17 by Gov. Charlie Crist after an federal grand jury indictment on two charges of accepting bribes. He wrote this commentary earlier this month before his suspension.
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TOM MANUEL
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 10/26/08
To understand why I support charter government it is important the voters understand my core philosophy on how government should work. I believe government starts at your house and my house, goes to our neighborhoods, then to our communities, to our municipalities, to our counties, to our state government and then to our federal government. Unfortunately today the process is exactly the opposite. We are a top-down government, not a people-up government as our founding fathers intended.
It is my core belief that we need to have government as close to your house as possible -- to empower you, the citizen, to make the decisions that shape our county. The only way to accomplish this objective is to have our own county "Constitution," a charter form of government.
Today we are a general law county. We live in "mommy and daddy's house" and "mommy and daddy" make the rules. Our county is a unique and special place. The citizens deserve the right to shape their local government to reflect the values and desires of the citizens. In everybody's life they comes a time when you have to move out of "mommy and daddy's house" and live on your own. Now is the time for us, the citizens, to make the "move" to charter and take control of our "house."
In Florida, as a general law county, we have "Government of the few, by the few and for the few." Florida by state law, a law that applies to general law counties (e.g. St. Johns County) has closed primaries. In most county commission elections in general law counties, a significant portion of residents are "disenfranchised." In St. Johns there are approximately 68,000 registered Republican voters and approximately 61,000 "others." In every closed primary County Commission election almost half of the residents can't vote. No wonder primary turn-out is so low. If you want to be a County Commissioner you have to run as a Republican whether you are a Republican or not. The proof you ask: We have a sitting Commissioner (a Republican) who once ran as a Democrat and lost. We have a Commissioner-elect (a Republican) who once ran as a Democrat and lost. We need to empower all voters. County commissioners worry about fixing pot holes not stem cell research. The School Board is nonpartisan. St. Augustine elections are nonpartisan. The only way the county can have nonpartisan election is through a charter government. By adopting a charter form of government we will truly have government of the people, by the people and for the people.
County commissioners are responsible to maintain the character, nature and uniqueness of our county. By voting for the charter and its coastal building height limit of 35 feet, the voters will guarantee the character, nature and uniqueness of the county for generations to come. Today, as a general law county, two commissioners can make the decision to forever alter the uniqueness of our coastal corridor.
What the charter will not do:
The charter will not impact the constitutional officers.
The charter will not impact the cities of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach and Hastings.
The charter will not increase taxes.
The charter will not increase the size of government.
The charter requires that voters approve any future charter amendments not county commissioners.
Empower yourself: Vote "yes" on charter.
Tom Manuel was elected the District 4 County Commissioner in 2006. He was elected last year as chairman of the board. He was suspended from office Oct. 17 by Gov. Charlie Crist after an federal grand jury indictment on two charges of accepting bribes. He wrote this commentary earlier this month before his suspension.
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Letter: Says 'no' to proposed sales tax increase
Letter: Says 'no' to proposed sales tax increase
Dan Quiggle
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 10/25/08
Editor: Vote "no" on the proposed $22 million St. Johns County sales tax increase.
In these tough economic times, higher taxes are the last thing we need.
Each day around our great county families make tough decisions regarding their budgets. St. Johns businesses are forced to make tough decisions as well.
Why shouldn't our government have to make the same tough financial choices? We should use priority budgeting methods that put every line-item under review to make sure they are necessary, efficient and the best use of our tax dollars.
We must allow our citizens to keep the money they work hard for.
We must protect our free market system and fight to keep St. Johns County friendly to businesses and working families.
I am definitely voting "no" on the St. Johns County sales tax increase.
Dan Quiggle
Ponte Vedra Beach
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Dan Quiggle
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 10/25/08
Editor: Vote "no" on the proposed $22 million St. Johns County sales tax increase.
In these tough economic times, higher taxes are the last thing we need.
Each day around our great county families make tough decisions regarding their budgets. St. Johns businesses are forced to make tough decisions as well.
Why shouldn't our government have to make the same tough financial choices? We should use priority budgeting methods that put every line-item under review to make sure they are necessary, efficient and the best use of our tax dollars.
We must allow our citizens to keep the money they work hard for.
We must protect our free market system and fight to keep St. Johns County friendly to businesses and working families.
I am definitely voting "no" on the St. Johns County sales tax increase.
Dan Quiggle
Ponte Vedra Beach
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Letter: 'No' vote on charter saves democracy
Letter: 'No' vote on charter saves democracy
Jon Hunt
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/27/08
Editor: It was good that The Record printed the proposed starter charter on Sunday, Oct. 19, but readers should understand that doesn't give the total picture. Voters need to read the state Constitution and Florida Statutes to see the possible impact of a charter government.
There are many fine points to a charter government, assuming it is well-crafted and has wide community involvement.
Campaign finance reform is an idea almost all of us like, but the way the proposed charter reads it only benefits incumbents. Commissioners won't have a problem in raising money and a $250 limit won't hurt. Any smart contributor can have relatives and friends donate. Any challenger will have to work hard to raise money. It isn't reform if it only protects the incumbent.
The charter doesn't say anything about a utility tax. You have to read the Florida Statutes to find that only charter governments can impose a 10 percent utility tax. I asked each of the commissioners to make clear their position on a utility tax. The silence has been deafening. Remember, these are the people who tried to give us a fire tax.
In my opinion a vote for the charter is a vote against hometown democracy.
Jon Hunt
St. Augustine
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Jon Hunt
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/27/08
Editor: It was good that The Record printed the proposed starter charter on Sunday, Oct. 19, but readers should understand that doesn't give the total picture. Voters need to read the state Constitution and Florida Statutes to see the possible impact of a charter government.
There are many fine points to a charter government, assuming it is well-crafted and has wide community involvement.
Campaign finance reform is an idea almost all of us like, but the way the proposed charter reads it only benefits incumbents. Commissioners won't have a problem in raising money and a $250 limit won't hurt. Any smart contributor can have relatives and friends donate. Any challenger will have to work hard to raise money. It isn't reform if it only protects the incumbent.
The charter doesn't say anything about a utility tax. You have to read the Florida Statutes to find that only charter governments can impose a 10 percent utility tax. I asked each of the commissioners to make clear their position on a utility tax. The silence has been deafening. Remember, these are the people who tried to give us a fire tax.
In my opinion a vote for the charter is a vote against hometown democracy.
Jon Hunt
St. Augustine
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© The St. Augustine Record
What's next, will Charter proponents vote to send us to re-education camps, Communist Chinese Cultural Revolution Style?
The letter below raises a very good point. Why is our county spending so much on advertising, particularly taking a position on a matter before the voters?
It's demeaning. It's insulting. It's one-sided. We shouldn't have to pay for it.
In the immortal words of Tom Wicker's Washington bureau chief character, Richmond P. Morgan, in the novel, "Facing the Lions, "Anything anybody has to sell you ain't worth buyin'"
It's demeaning. It's insulting. It's one-sided. We shouldn't have to pay for it.
In the immortal words of Tom Wicker's Washington bureau chief character, Richmond P. Morgan, in the novel, "Facing the Lions, "Anything anybody has to sell you ain't worth buyin'"
Letter: Objects to charter 're-education' dollars
Letter: Objects to charter 're-education' dollars
Dick Hanley
Fruit Cove
Publication Date: 10/27/08
Editor: At a time when St. Johns County is experiencing a projected shortfall of about $12 million in revenue, it is inconceivable that our County Commission found it necessary to spend more than $35,000 to re-educate us on how we should have voted in August.
Also, in my opinion, the one-cent increase in sales tax would go mainly to road construction to benefit developers who have, already made their money and left (e.g. County Road 210, road improvements to International Golf Parkway, etc.), rather than to land conservation.
If we were so misinformed in our vote on the charter that we must immediately reconsider this proposal: Were we not, possibly, misinformed on our voting for County Commission also?
Had the proposed Home Rule Charter passed in August, would we still have been so misinformed?
Wouldn't this $35,000 have been better spent on our parks?
Are the voters so easily led?
Dick Hanley
Fruit Cove
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© The St. Augustine Record
Dick Hanley
Fruit Cove
Publication Date: 10/27/08
Editor: At a time when St. Johns County is experiencing a projected shortfall of about $12 million in revenue, it is inconceivable that our County Commission found it necessary to spend more than $35,000 to re-educate us on how we should have voted in August.
Also, in my opinion, the one-cent increase in sales tax would go mainly to road construction to benefit developers who have, already made their money and left (e.g. County Road 210, road improvements to International Golf Parkway, etc.), rather than to land conservation.
If we were so misinformed in our vote on the charter that we must immediately reconsider this proposal: Were we not, possibly, misinformed on our voting for County Commission also?
Had the proposed Home Rule Charter passed in August, would we still have been so misinformed?
Wouldn't this $35,000 have been better spent on our parks?
Are the voters so easily led?
Dick Hanley
Fruit Cove
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/102708/opinions_102708_068.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
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