Elizabeth Duran Gessner
St Augustine, FL
Dear Historic City News editor:
Like everyone else in St Augustine, I have been following the controversy over the monuments in the Plaza. I am concerned not only by the potential loss to St Augustine’s streetscape and sense of history if they are removed, but also by the animosities being stirred up in this dispute. And, like most things, I think it can be solved by education.
On last Monday, August 21st, Historic City News reported that the Board of Directors of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau had terminated their relationship with their president and chief executive officer, Richard Goldman. Today, that action has been reversed.
Twelve local tourism development councils thought they could avoid new state mandated transparency requirements by ending their partnership agreements with VISIT Florida. Oops! Think again, open government laws still apply.
Public Affairs Director Paul Williamson advised local Historic City News reporters that the agenda for Monday evening’s regular meeting of the City Commission “has been amended so as to allow time to receive input from the community regarding the future of a Confederate monument in the Plaza de la Constitutión”.
Historic City News was notified by Florida Department of Transportation Public Information Officer, Debbie Delgado, that traffic will be impacted at the following St Augustine and St Johns County locations where roadwork is being conducted.
Be alert to lane closures and temporary detours, as well as increased congestion in these areas. FDOT employees and contractors will be working on the roadways and need your full attention.
Lance Thate, Chairman
St. Augustine Tea Party
Special to Historic City News
Dear Editor:
St Augustine has a local pastor who is attacking veterans. Confederate soldiers are considered US veterans under federal law, and they would be entitled to the same benefits as Union soldiers, if they were still alive. This is because of an Act of Congress, Public Law 810 passed in 1929 and various other federal laws.
A 31-year-old St. Johns County man was arrested this morning, charged with possession and transmission of child pornography.
The Florida Humanities Council first introduced a free walking tour app that can be downloaded on your Android or Apple phone to kick off St. Augustine’s 450th anniversary in 2015, but the popularity of the app, known as “Florida Stories”, quickly led to its expansion.
