In April 2018, the city had been embroiled in a dispute with Rev Ronald Rawls for a year. The Gainesville interloper argued that he was entitled to demolition permits for the historic 1920’s complex known as “Echo House”. The classic architecture made the buildings contributing structures to the National Register Historic Lincolnville Community.
HK Edgerton
Asheville, NC
Dear Historic City News:
I am heartsick to hear that the City of St. Augustine has voted to remove the Solder’s Cenotaph in the historic Plaza de la Constitucion and that the city manager has the names on the memorial boxed up in plywood. This is extreme desecration and disgraceful.
Ashley Waldron Zapata shared with Historic City News yesterday that her father, St. Johns County Commissioner Paul Waldron, “is currently in the most critical of conditions” as he lay hospitalized with the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Under Roberts Rules of Order, Commissioner Henry Dean could not offer a motion during the County Commission meeting yesterday to mandate the wearing of face masks in the county since it failed last week. So, Historic City News watched as Dean asked fellow commissioners if they would offer a motion. However, when no commissioner responded, the mask issue died.
Historic City News subscribers are invited to attend the next meeting of the St Johns County Civic Association Roundtable on Monday, July 13, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom teleconference. The Roundtable Guest Speaker this month will be St Johns County School Superintendent Tim Forson.
The City of St Augustine Beach held their regular City Commission Meeting on Monday, July 6, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Melinda Conlon, Communications and Events Coordinator, informed local Historic City News reporters that the Commission passed a resolution that requires social distancing while indoors, except for their residence. Otherwise, an approved face covering mask is required.
Michael Butler, who teaches at Flagler College, says people may interpret differently the meaning of the 1879 Civil War veterans memorial. But, he says, you can’t change history.
Although the City of St Augustine Beach announced to Historic City News last week that they would not adopt a similar ordinance, and the St Johns County Commission announced neither would they, the latest overzealous order adopted by Mayor Upchurch and his crew, a mandatory mask ordinance, has triggered a lawsuit against city taxpayers.
