Letter: First America and 450th

Dear Editor:

Community leaders have relegated the 450th initiative to a minor league affair.

Hopefully, not intentionally.

Paying a political favor in the selection of the CEO was the first and, clearly, the worst error.

With respect to Ms. Alvarez, this is a big, BIG project, requiring, perhaps the likes of the former executive director of, say, the Atlanta or Salt Lake Olympic games. This is not just a festival.

I was once in a conversation in which Ms. Alvarez was complaining that the board wouldn’t meet, or do anything. Wrong! The executive is THE leader; knows how to attract major sponsors, plan this event at an international level.

The salary paid to Ms. Alvarez is significant…for her, and for how she has positioned this event.

The person needed doesn’t live here, has done this before, and will command even more … and the accompanying supporting staff to do this.

We seem to be planning this at a minor league level. Time to step this up; WAY up.

David Neal Benson
St. Augustine, FL