Letter: City selectively enforces ordinances

Dear editor:

My wife and I are the former owners of The Prince of Wales restaurant that was located at 54 Cuna Street downtown.

I wanted to send you something a long time ago, but I wanted the new owners of the Prince of Wales a chance to get established.

I would like to send you the same package that I sent the ACLU with regards to abuse of power from certain individuals within the code enforcement department of the City of St Augustine and the lack of concern from our city commissioners and mayor when contacted.

This package includes photographs, statements, everything we need to enter into a court case.

With our experience, we would not advise our worst enemy to open a business in St Augustine. If anyone is thinking of opening a business in St. Augustine, they need to know what they might be up against. It was not the recession that beat us after 6 years — it was the City of St Augustine.

Who would have thought they would be our enemy?

Thru selective enforcement, Nick Andrade and Noel Mahr affected our livelihoods. Through excessive enforcement of ordinances, which were not enforced upon other restaurants, we suffered the devaluation of our business.

With regards to Noel, believe me I had the utmost respect for this man, doing the job he does between the City and the merchants; until he stood there and lied in front of the Code Enforcement Review Board.

The City attempted to fine us $500 for a sandwich board on our property that was there for a 1 hour and 20 minutes. He portrayed us as a repeat offender to justify this fine. The Prince of Wales was the only business in the Historic District that the City attempted to fine under any sign ordnance for the entire year.

Andrade didn’t have the balls to turn up and excused himself with some personal matter the day after a Holiday weekend. Noel was doing his dirty work, I had this out with Noel in the street where it got so heated he threatened to call the Police which I told him to do.

After that, I lost all respect for the man, he slipped in mid argument that what he and Andrade where doing was retaliation for pushing them. That’s when I blew my stack.

Since the sale of the Prince, we have moved to Orlando and are in the process of setting up another business targeting the visitors up and down International Drive — letting them know that the oldest city in America is just up the street. That’s something our beloved city and chamber chose not to do.

Our hope is to bring hundreds of tourist a week to the beautiful town of St Augustine by the end of the year.

Tony and Sharon Woodward
Orlando, FL