Guest: Don’t allow Commission to ignore Code, Comp Plan and PZB

Lee Geanuleas
St Augustine, FL

On June 4, 2017, Historic City News published a guest column titled, “Impact of San Marco Hotel will be felt forever” by Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) member Sue Agresta. She explained in her column how she reached her decision to vote to deny developer Kanti Patel’s request to rezone three parcels on West Castillo Drive from Historic Preservation 5 (HP-5) to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a hotel parking lot.

Letter: Politics comes to the beach

Clay R. Seay
St Augustine, FL

Dear Historic City News editor:

Recently, the St. Augustine beach City Commissioners voted themselves into the City healthcare system, saying it was discrimination if they were not allowed participation as City employees.

Some of the precinct committeemen and women in the St Johns County Republican Party have drifted so far away from the party platform over the past 15-years, that it no longer resembles the party of Lincoln. We are supposed to be about the inherent ability of the people to be self-governed — not the election of unaccountable, self-serving tin pot Napoleons like we have today.

Letter: Where is the compassion in Compassionate St. Augustine?

Casey Eugene Leydon
St Augustine, FL

Dear Historic City News editor:

Why does an assembly of good people, gathered under the banner of “Compassionate” and “Saint Augustine”, proudly celebrate the genocide of the people of this land. Why?

Robert Olsen
Vilano Beach
Special to Historic City News

Looking back at the St Augustine Airport, it’s hard to imagine that the airport was closed for several years after serving a military function during World War II.  It was reopened in 1955 and has grown to become a hugely important regional asset — much more than a place to land an airplane. Few other 668-acres in Florida have as intense a concentration of high-paying jobs and economic activity.

John Barnes
Hastings, FL

Dear Historic City News editor:

Four months ago, the Hastings Town Council was asked to reach out to the administration of St. Johns County and to request a feasibility study to see if the citizens of Hastings would be better off by dissolving the town charter.

Defending the public’s access to our government has never been more important – and rarely has that access been more threatened.