Historic City News subscribers need drive no further than Ponce de Leon Boulevard to see proof that the Florida cannabis industry has its eyes on the potential $6 billion industry and comparatively small local communities like St Augustine are not exempt from its focus.
Historic City News founder Michael Gold got bad news in the mailbox this week, and he finds out that he is just one of many local homeowners facing soaring homeowner insurance premiums this year. The personal lines manager at Ancient City Insurance had already warned that “there was a significant increase in the premium” charged by Gainesville-based Tower Hill Insurance Company. The annual premium under the former policy was about $1,200, however, under the renewal in another program through Tower Hill, this year’s coverage would be nearly $2,500 if accepted.
City of St Augustine Beach Communications and Events Coordinator, Melinda Conlon, gave notice to local Historic City News reporters that the commission is accepting resumes and letters of intent to fill an interim vacancy created on the board by the resignation of former commissioner Ernesto Juan Torres-Perez.
City of St. Augustine Beach public information officer Melinda Conlon reported to Historic City News Monday afternoon that effective January 31st, St. Augustine Beach Commissioner Ernesto Juan Torres-Perez has resigned after a police report alleged that he berated and tried to use his elected position to gain favor with local officers during his wife’s arrest for driving under the influence and refusing to take a breath-alcohol test when stopped, just before midnight on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
On Friday, January 21, 2022, St Johns County Civic Roundtable Chairman Jim McLane provided Historic City News with a copy of 35 suggestions for how to better handle growth in St Johns County, as submitted to the Board of County Commissioners. The purpose of the Roundtable is to preserve and improve the quality of life in St Johns County, and to that end, they spoke with various stakeholders to solicit their ideas.
In 1973, the Florida Legislature enacted the Municipal Home Rules Power Act, giving cities and counties the power to enact their own laws — unless state law overrides them. This legislative override, or “preemption”, is either the trampling upon local rights – or – a bulwark against a patchwork of parochial laws, depending on who you ask.
The annual assault on Florida’s popular open government laws continues this legislative session. Even as the public clamors for greater transparency and access to their elected officials and government, our own Representative, Cyndi Stevenson, has added to the problem by introducing a bill that would hide voter registration records from media and members of the public.
Counties across Florida collectively bring in hundreds of millions of dollars a year in hotel bed tax revenue — but the uses for that money are limited. Historic City News has reported when controversial organizations have used pressure locally to influence who the recipients of that money will be in St Johns County and what percentage of their “ask” will be funded.
