Hello, everyone.  I hope all the Historic City News family of subscribers had a wonderful Christmas holiday.  We rang out the old year and rang in the hope and opportunity that comes with the new.  Honestly, I think the old year will probably go down as one of the worst.  I am concerned now that unless things change, and change soon, we are doomed to repeat some of our ugliest history.

How would you feel if you were babysitting your grandchild on Saturday night so that your 20-year-old son, who is working a double shift for minimum wage in a downtown tourism-driven business, tells you that he is not coming back to pick up his daughter until 10:30 – 11:00 p.m. at night?

I told Mayor Upchurch that I took the opportunity to watch his interview with Tracey Eaton yesterday.  He said some things that needed to be said – or, at least, I needed to hear him say.  In the heat of battle, we can say or even do things that we would not normally say or do. 

The City of St Augustine has a problem with systemic racism and the town is run by white supremacists if you believe what you hear from Ronald Rawls of Gainesville.

The fallout continues after our brilliantly overpaid city manager, John Regan, ensconced in the support of three-of-five St Augustine City Commissioners, delivered (un)expected relocation costs, above those approved by the commission, a boat ride via a rented barge, vandalism and arson against the memorial at it’s new home — closer to Clay County and Mandarin (Jacksonville) than the sacred ground where it stood peacefully for more than 140-years.

These were the direct threats made by Ronald Rawls Jr, aimed at the elected officials of the City of St Augustine and its city manager.  Instead of tapping him out right then and there, without hesitation, placing him under arrest and transporting him to the St Johns County Detention Facility, the actions that would have been taken against you or I, the police, chief of police, and city manager, capitulated. They folded in cowardice and allowed this common thug to take over the city and force his agenda on the rest of us.

Lance Thate, Chairman
Town Crier Committee
St Augustine, FL

Once upon a time in Old St Augustine Florida, Historic City News readers will recall a stucco covered brick-and-mortar structure that stood tall when boats still accessed the Plaza Market.  It was a structure that stood tall and watched St Augustine’s only high-rise bank building being built.