Local governmenttt
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All You Had To Do Is Call Me and Talk About It
The changes introduced by Commissioner Krista Joseph in the St Johns County Board of County Commissioners meetings, including assigning the Pledge of Allegiance to County staff rather than volunteer veterans, have sparked controversy. This shift highlights the tension between disruptive and destructive change, emphasizing the importance of communication and respect in leadership. Continue reading
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The Tactic of Fueling Hatred
The American public increasingly accepts unverified social media claims, often driven by personal agendas or ignorance. In St. Johns County, developers are unfairly demonized, creating division among residents amidst growth frustrations. The new county commission may amplify this division while potentially jeopardizing legal standing with developers, raising concerns about long-term consequences for the community. Continue reading
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The Vote for Fort Mose Funding in October 2023
In a recent social media post, Commissioner Arnold was called out as not being willing to “vote to allocate just $200,000 to Fort Mose which is the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States.” That is an unfortunate and misrepresentative accusation against Commissioner Arnold, who responded Continue reading
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When, and why, did the St Johns County Commissioner Election turn so negative?
Between the memes and the statistics, one might think that St Johns County is such a mess, with such overwhelming development that the entire county is now asphalt. I get hyperbole – using more colorful words to make a situation seem far worse (or better) than it is. I remember the first email I received Continue reading
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Blocked on Facebook
Apparently, I made one post too many for the admin of Fight for St Johns County. She blocked me. Okay, that’s understandable. She’s not running for public office. However, she must have predicted that I might try to comment on her candidates for County Commissioner pages, because the posts that they have copied and posted Continue reading
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Is the world wide enough for all of us?
In the show Hamilton, Aaron Burr makes an observation after he shoots Hamilton in the infamous duel. He says, “I should have known the world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me.” Both men – Burr and Hamilton – were reportedly so grounded in their own narrative and angry at the other for disagreeing Continue reading
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Thoughts on a Commissioner’s Role
I want to share what I have learned about Commissioner Henry Dean. I have called on him for help and have worked with him for about 3 years in his role as a County Commissioner for St. Johns County District 5, where I live. I don’t like the way he is being treated right now. Continue reading
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What are you going to do differently?
St Johns County has three Commissioner seats up for reelection, and the campaigning is already lively. It appears that there is a particular campaign focus – overdevelopment. The current Commissioners are being blamed for too much development which has put stress on our schools, our roads and our infrastructure. As I read statements from the Continue reading
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This bitterness and divisiveness isn’t new but somehow it feels more powerful
We have either forgotten or (like me) we went through life without realizing “stuff” that was going on all around us, thinking that our world was calm and relatively peaceful and, for the most part, people engaged in thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Vietnam and the era of protests came and went while I was in Continue reading
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A Cheerleader?
I have been represented on social media as a cheerleader for four County Commissioners. That may be an accurate characterization. According to Merriam Webster, a “cheerleader is one that calls for and directs organized cheering (as at a football game).” This isn’t a football game, but it is, in some respects, a game. And a Continue reading
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