Letter: We’re being overrun by tourists

Isabel Dickson
St. Augustine

Dear Editor:

St. Augustine has an organization chart that shows residents at the top of it. Why is it that I feel as though we are on the bottom?

Tourists and just about everyone else seems to be at the top — ahead of what those of us who live and pay taxes.

We have had the same mayor for eight years, and during that time I have seen us chase tourists so that we are now overrun. They don’t seem to be that “heritage tourist” everyone talks about who comes and stays and spends lots of money. We are more than St. George Street.

Our neighborhoods were established long before the college. I love having Flagler College here, but I don’t want to live on their campus. In the last 10 years, I have seen my neighborhood change because Flagler College has been allowed to use PUDs to build giant buildings — even in our historic center.

I like what I hear from Nancy Shaver and I like what I see in her resume’. She is smart, she has the savvy and the skills to get us back on track. She will work with the other commissioners who all bring something to the table, and could be a formidable team with the right leadership.

The mayor sets the agenda and controls the meetings and plays an important leadership role in the dynamic of the commission. I want that agenda to be more balanced and Nancy Shaver can get that done.