Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Ed Slavin response to Sierra Club on Anastasia Mosquito Control of St. Johns County Commission (2024)

Here's my response to the March 2024 Sierra Club questionnaire re: Mosquito  Control Commission;


Good evening:
Thank you for your patience!  Excellent questions. 


Questionnaire to Candidates for St. Johns County 
County Commission 2024

Please provide answers to the following questions below, or on a separate sheet:

1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the least important and 10 being the most important), where do
environmental issues rate when compared to other critical issues facing St. Johns County and
Northeast Florida? Please include a brief explanation of your rating.

Most important: 10.  Our frail planet, our city, county, state and nation are all threatened by pollution and climate change. Overdevelopment is destroying our quality of life.

2. What are the most significant environmental issues and challenges in St. Johns County? 

* Proposed St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore deserves our County's support.  First proposed by the Mayor of St. Augustine, Walter Fraser, both U.S. Senators and our Congressman in 1939, this is an idea whose time has come.  https://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2023/10/support-st-augustine-national.html
* Developers demanding to be free of fair impact fees.  

* Secretive PACs and campaign contributions, corruption and conflict of interest. Corruption, as Al Gore wrote in 1992, in Earth in the Balance, often leads to environmental devastation.  

* Proposed 25 ideas for local government reform in 2022, one (1) heeded (County Sheriff body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras, long opposed by Sheriff David Shoar). County Commission has STILL not responded to 25 suggestions on government reform. Why not?




+ Support meritocracy amidst one-party rule by mediocrities in St. Johns County Commission





3. What actions have you taken in the past to demonstrate your concern or interest regarding our environment?
 

  2. Helping end pelagic whaling of endangered sperm whales by promoting development of jojoba oil seed crops, an exact duplicate for the oil of the sperm whale. The market system worked. (Working as intern and staffer for Senator Ted Kennedy, 1974-76).  
  3. Helping defeat coal slurry pipeline eminent domain legislation in U.S House of Representatives, helping preserve and protect precious scarce water from Madison Formation aquifer.  (11,500 word Crossroads Magazine (formerly Coal Patrol) investigative article, inserted into Congressional Record by U.S. Rep. Joe Skubitz, Republican of Kansas, except for parts on campaign finance).  July 19, 1978: House Defeated Coal Slurry Pipeline Eminent Domain Legislation



  4. Exposing U.S. Tennessee Valley Authority purchasing and policies that encouraged steep slope strip-mining, corruption, coal quality fraud, antitrust violations and and conflicts of interest. With support from Fund for Investigative Journalism, helped secure GAO investigation verifying  concerns of Appalachian activists, led by Save Our Cumberland Mountains.  TVA's Coal Procurement Practices--More Effective Management Needed



  5. Winning declassification of world's largest mercury pollution event (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) and testifying about it in Congressional investigation.  July 11, 1983: Al Gore's Mercury Pollution Hearing in Oak Ridge, Tennessee -- Largest Mercury Pollution Event in World History (4.2 Million Pounds). 



  6. Security clearance reforms protecting environmental, nuclear anjd other whistleblowers, and LGBTQ, people working for federal agencies and government contractors.  Helped win American Bar Association House of Delegates vote in February 1990, endorsing security clearance reforms that were implemented under President Clinton, halting a proposed Bush Executive Order that would have erased rights to fair hearings and due process.
  7. Environmental whistleblower law victories and precedents at U.S.Department of Labor, including landmark whistleblower case protecting federal environmental crimes investigators against retaliation for recusals or refusing to coverup wrongdoing.  FBI, HUD, EPA Senior Special Agent Robert E. Tyndall (Ret.), R.I.P.



  8. Exposed intimidation of nuclear weapons plant whistleblowers. February 5, 1992



  9. Questioned aerial pesticide spraying program and winning reversal of illegal, no-bid SJC Mosquito Control Board purchase of $1.8 million luxury Bell Jet helicopter unadorned by nozzles, tanks, pilots, hangar or any plans for aerial spraying, winning 100% refund of deposit.
  10. Defeat of multiple unwise development projects in St. Augustine and St. Johns County,
  11. Adoption of employee whistleblower policy and sexual orientation nondiscrimination policies for Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County. 
  12. Successfully reported City of St. Augustine illegally dumping a landfill in a lake to National Response Center, resulting in fines and consent decree, after City Manager William B. Harriss had said he would not agree to put the contaminated solid waste in a Class I landfill without a court order.  2008 Folio Weekly cover story by Anne Schindler called me an "environmental hero."
  13. Reported City of St. Augustine illegal sewage pollution to National Response Center, resulting in fines and consent decree.
  14. Helped elect Nancy Shaver as in St. Augustine Mayor and Krista Keating-Joseph as County Commissioner, defeating pro-developer incumbents. 
  15. Helping secure preservation of historic iconic Fish Island as city park with state funds, rejecting proposed ruinous development by D.R. Horton, with fifty (50) witnesses, including former St. Augustine Beach Mayor Sherman Gary Snodgrass.




4. What organizations do you belong to? 

1000 Friends of Florida
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Democratic Party
St. Augustine Historical Society
Fort Mose Historic Society
Florida Historical Society
Sierra Club
Investigative Reporters and Editors  
American Assn. For Advancement of Science  
Florida Adventures in Railroading
WJCT

5. What is your position and suggested solution on these key issues affecting our county?   
- Climate change and sea level rise
+ Support federal, state and local legislation to preserve and protect us from carbon and methane pollution, protect our coasts and wetlands, promote biodiversity, restore balance,
+ Support County's acceptance of federal grants on climate change. 
+ Oppose Florida Governors' attacks on environmental protection, with frequent blog posts.
www,cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
+ Support a St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore. Spoke to every St. Johns County Legislative Delegation meeting since 2006 on National Park and Seashore.


- Growth management and development
+ Strongly support reform of our Land Development Code as we know it.  
+ We must have fair hearings, with full disclosures, lobbyist registration, expert testimony, cross-examination of all witnesses and background investigations of developers.  
+ Are our current local and state procedures are a honky-tonk medley of "regulatory capture," farce and kabuki dance?
+ James Madison wrote, "A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. "
+ Affordable housing: we must reject "snob zoning," and allow duplexes and other auziliary dwellling units, preserving land and advancing affordable housing. 
+ We must adopt a Public Housing Agency.
+ We must comply with Fair Housing Act.
+ Let's start by re-writing our LDC and quasi-judicial hearing procedures.
+ For transparency, Commissioners must never meet with zoning applicants ex parte.  
+ St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver refused such meetings during her 1550 days as Mayor (making an exception when an applicant was allegedly being treated unfairly).
+ What kind of administrative judicial system lets zoning applicants meet secretly with elected officials?
+  Reject this corrupt system and will not be embroiled by it. 
+ We must require fuller corporate disclosure and better data. 
+ Require background investigations on zoning applicants -- know your customer! 
+ Are any zoning applicants involved in money-laundering,  
+ Environmental violations by zoning applicants must be researched by County staff and discussed publly in hearings.
+ We need full information on ex parte contacts with Commissioners, disclosed before hearings.
+ All ex parte meetings with Commissioners and staff must be videotaped and made a public record.  
+ As Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, "Secrey is for losers, for people who don't understand the value of the information.


- Trees and the proposed 14 point tree ordinance
+ Support proposed tree protection ordinance and spoke in favor of it, as did dozens of residents.  
+ I objected to four Commissioners' harsh response to First Amendment protected activity, evident retaliation against reform Commissioner Krista Joseph..

- Management of traffic and infrastructure
+ Support transit, impact fees and reform of zoning and planning as we know it.

- Septic tanks
+ Explore ban on new septic tanks in new construction
+ Monitor septic tank inspections and code enforcement.




6. What is your motivation for running to be a County Commissioner?
+ My first American ancestor escaped the British government-caused Irish potato famine in 1849, immigrating to Philadelphia with Irish neighbors at age six, the rest of her family died in famine.  My father taught me, as JFK's father taught him, that "if you don't stand up to people in power, they walk all over you."   JFK was killed 22 days after I proudly wore a JFK costume on Halloween, at age six. At age 17.5, I went to work for his brother, Sen. Ted Kennedy, the day before my first Georgetown class, inspired after hearing Ralph Nader speak on August 28, 1974 (Feast of St. Augustine).   
Love this magical place. We need to preserve what we know and love, with National Park Service help.  http://www.staugustgreen.com 
Moved here November 5, 1999, after falling in love with St. Augustine when we visited in August 1992, right after first environmental whistleblower trial against Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  
Faster than a speeding dump truck, what we love about St. Johns County is being destroyed. 



7. If you are elected or re-elected, what initiatives would you introduce or promote to protect the environment of St. Johns County?
* St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore
* Environmental Regulatory Commission.
* Independent environmental impact statements for government project, as under NEPA.
* Lobbyist registration and background investigations.
* Video of every County Commissioner "ex parte' meeting with putative "developers."
* County whistleblower protection ordinance
* Reform zoning and planning as we know it. 

Thank you. 
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
www.edslavin.com
(904) 377-4998


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Monday, October 12, 2026

ANNALS OF TRUMPI$TAN: ILLEGAL POLITICAL ADS STRUCK DOWN BY FEDERAL JUDGE JENNIFER L. ROCHON

Huge victory for the public interest.  Three cheers for Article III judicial independence, to a federal judge who was once General Counsel to the Girl Scouts and law clerk for President Trump's late older sister, Maryanne Trump Barry when she was an appellate judge.  Thanks and praise to the indefatigable attorneys with the Public Integrity Project and to their CEO, lawyer Brendan Ballou. Read the full text of JUDGE JENNIFER L. ROCHON's October 11, 2026 ORDER:

Case 1:26-cv-08882-JLR Document 41 Filed 10/11/26 Page 1 of 4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

COMMON CAUSE, ROBERT HUNTER,

SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL

UNION LOCAL 32BJ, and EMPIRE STATE

32BJ SEIU PAC,

Plaintiffs,

-against-

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

SECURITY; MARKWAYNE MULLIN,

Secretary of the Department of Homeland

Security, in his official capacity; OFFICE OF

MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET;

RUSSELL VOUGHT, Director of the Office

of Management and Budget, in his official

capacity; EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE

PRESIDENT; and SUSIE WILES, White

House Chief of Staff, in her official capacity,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:26-cv-08882 (JLR)

ORDER

JENNIFER L. ROCHON, United States District Judge:

Plaintiffs Common Cause, Robert Hunter (“Hunter”), Service Employees International

Union Local 32BJ (“SEIU 32BJ”), and Empire State 32BJ SEIU PAC (“Empire PAC”)

(collectively, “Plaintiffs”) bring this action against Defendants Department of Homeland

Security (“DHS”), Markwayne Mullin, Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), Russell

Vought, Executive Office of the President, and Susie Wiles (collectively “Defendants”). See

Dkt. 1. Plaintiffs challenge the alleged use of federal appropriations of taxpayer funds to finance

a television advertisement campaign featuring President Donald Trump in the weeks before the

November 2026 midterm elections, contending that the expenditures, among other things, exceed

the purposes authorized by Congress and violate restrictions on publicity and propaganda. Now

before the Court is a motion filed by Plaintiffs Hunter, SEIU 32BJ, and Empire PAC (theCase 1:26-cv-08882-JLR Document 41 Filed 10/11/26 Page 2 of 4

“moving Plaintiffs”) on the evening of October 8, 2026, for a temporary restraining order and

stay under Section 705 of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), 5 U.S.C. § 705. Dkt. 25

(“Mot.”).

The Court held an initial conference to discuss the request for immediate injunctive relief

on Friday, October 9, 2026, the morning after the motion was filed, because the moving

Plaintiffs sought relief before the weekend when the advertisements would continue to be shown.

The Court afforded the parties an opportunity to highlight or present any arguments or

information related to the motion for expedited relief. Defendants did not have any relevant

information at the conference and the Court permitted them additional time to respond to the

motion, ordering expedited briefing through the weekend and a follow-up conference on October

13, 2026. Such briefing concluded by mid-day on October 11, 2026. Dkts. 37-40.

Based on the materials provided, the Court does not require the additional conference on

October 13, 2026 and such conference is adjourned. The Court finds that (1) the present motion

is not moot, (2) there is standing to proceed, and (3) the moving Plaintiffs have demonstrated that

they are likely to succeed on the merits, will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an

injunction, the balance of the equities tips in their favor, and an injunction serves the public

interest. A full opinion shall follow shortly. Therefore, the Court GRANTS the moving

Plaintiffs’ motion, and IT IS HEREBY:

ORDERED that under 5 U.S.C. § 705, the purchase order entered into on or about

September 20, 2026 between Customs Border Protection (“CBP”) and Lepugh, Inc., doing

business as LMD Agency, Inc., (“LMD”) (“September 20, 2026 purchase order”) is stayed,

including all future payments made thereunder; it is further

ORDERED that under 5 U.S.C. § 705, the Office of Management and Budget’s

(“OMB”) apportionment of $20 million to fund the development, creation, and/or airing of the

2Case 1:26-cv-08882-JLR Document 41 Filed 10/11/26 Page 3 of 4

advertisements covered by the September 20, 2026 purchase order, including but not limited to

The Country He Loves, Celebrating the Enduring Spirit, Final Battle, To the Great Proud People

of Iran, and Maduro (collectively “the challenged advertisements”) is stayed; it is further

ORDERED that Defendants are enjoined from using, disbursing, or transferring funds

appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to develop, create, disseminate,

place, distribute, publish, or air the challenged advertisements; and it is further

ORDERED that Defendants shall cancel or cause to be cancelled any slot, placement,

reservation, or arrangement for the airing or dissemination of the challenged advertisements,

including those placements for the evening of October 11, 2026;

ORDERED that Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement

authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged

advertisements; and it is further

ORDERED that the foregoing instructions bind Defendants’ officers, agents, employees,

contractors, and anyone acting in concert with them. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(d)(2).

ORDERED that Defendants shall immediately provide a copy of this order to LMD,

under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2)(C), and that LMD, as a contractor that is in

active concert and participation with Defendants, is enjoined from continuing to run or place the

challenged advertisements; and it is further

ORDERED that Defendants will file a status report within 24 hours of the entry of this

temporary restraining order and Section 705 stay, confirming compliance with this Order; and it

is further

ORDERED that this Order shall remain in effect until 14 days from today, subject to an

extension of this Court; and it is further

ORDERED that, in the Court’s discretion, Plaintiffs shall not be required to post a bond.

3Case 1:26-cv-08882-JLR Document 41 Filed 10/11/26 Page 4 of 4

This Order shall be effective as of 6:45 p.m. on October 11, 2026 and the Clerk of Court

is respectfully requested to close the motion at Dkt. 25. The Court will reschedule the October

13, 2026 conference to discuss next steps in this matter.

Dated: October 11, 2026

New York, New York

SO ORDERED.

JENNIFER L. ROCHON

United States District Judge

4

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