Letter: Think about the residents too

Marty Miller
St Augustine, FL

Dear Editor:

Our city commissioners, tourist board and administrators seem to be focused on how to bring ever more tourist dollars to downtown businesses at the expense of the city residents.

Ever since Francis Field was taken from the youth of St. Augustine for the benefit of downtown merchants and tourist-based businesses, this town has been on a downward spiral when it comes to quality of life.

How much more gridlock can our streets handle? How many more special events can you create to fill the town every weekend?

Residents can’t leave on weekends without fear of getting caught in traffic gridlock trying to get back home. Who decided it was OK for noisy ghost trains to travel quiet residential streets after 10:30 p.m.?

We put up with noisy drunks and tourists speeding, or blocking our driveways for every special event. Should we have to suffer these nuisances for the benefit of the St George Street merchants or for your parking garage?

Please think of the residents when you plan events, and try to give us a break.

Can all of the vehicles you are inviting fit on our city streets? How are your plans going to impact the residents of St. Augustine?

Please give residents a break. You are destroying the very thing that you are selling to the world. We don’t want to become another Key West, New Orleans or Savannah. Please remember that downtown businesses didn’t vote you into office — we did — because you promised to listen to us.