Dear Editor:

I just wanted to say how very happy I am that Rev. Andrew Young will be in St. Augustine next week.

One cannot visit the city of Saint Augustine without recalling its long and romantic past under the flags of Spain, France and England as well as its exciting beginning under the American flag.

I wanted to make a few observations and share some comments that I hope Historic City News readers will take to heart. Florida’s not-for-profit arts and culture industry provides Florida with a return on state investment which is substantial.

I’ve often said jokingly that Black History Month should be more accurately called “white people and America sucks” month.

St. Johns County government operates substantially on the taxes and fees collected from residents, property and business owners who are located or invested here. No taxpayer wants those real costs to be lower than me.

The National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action, reported praise for the Supreme Court’s decision last Thursday in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

The leadership of the St. Johns County Republican Executive Committee (SJCREC) dealt a blow to the grassroots and derailed recent attempts to reconcile long standing differences with the Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida (RLCNEF).

As we consider how many people we can send to rebuild Haiti, how many civilian, paramilitary and military personnel we can send to rebuild countries in the Middle East and elsewhere, let’s not forget those in crisis right here in Florida.