Plaza de La Constitucion Public or Private?

As the controversy over the Artists in St. Augustine's historic Plaza de La Constitucion rages on after an appeals court judge threw out the city's latest ben on art sales in the Plaza, a rich property owner and political power broker named Henry Whestone wrote an op-ed piece in the St. Augustine Raggard complaining about these no-rent merchants setting up in the Plaza that is surrounded by the Potemkin Village he and his associates have created.

I wrote a reasoned response to his letter and I am posting my response here:

Mr. Whetstone, you, your family and associates began back in the sixties a campaign or a conspiracy to construct a Potemkin Village out of a bunch of rundown tourist traps and convert and privatize downtown St. Augustine to a design of your own making. You all did commendable work in creating a very interesting tourist experience that was in fact educational even if somewhat pseudo-historic. So much so that I've heard every 4th grader in Florida is required to come to see the Fort and The Oldest City. The biggest mistake you folks made was creating your theme park in what was in fact public property. You succeeded in closing a public street to traffic but it still remains a public street in a city in The United States. Similarly the Plaza de La Constitucion is and has been from ancient times, a public place in a city in The United States. This fact confers certain rights on the citizens and certain responsibilities on the government to provide free and equal access to all citizens (even including alien visitors) as well as the constitutional rights of Free Speech, Freedom from government interference and the right to peaceably assemble. Those of you who richly benefit from the public support you receive in the form of advertising and marketing, the city's historical significance, the tolerance of a local populace who suffer much inconvenience and financial burden to allow your enterprises to thrive and prosper in our lovely little community and the natural resources with which St. Augustine is so richly endowed, should perhaps shut up, take the money and quietly thank the humble folk who support you. Have you no conscience? What of appreciation and where is the soul of charity?
J.D. Pleasant

Let me know what you think.

LEON RUSSELL CONCERT PHOTOS

A few pics from the Leon Russell Concert in St. Augustine on 4-4-09 to accompany the post below.

No Flash Photography

"No Flash Photography During the Concert" said the lovely lady on the stage. "Take all the pictures you want but no flash!" she elaborated. "Curses foiled again!" said I with my Canon XTi mounted on a flash bracket holding my new TTL strobe hanging from my neck.

As the sun set on Francis Field in St. Augustine and Leon Russell came out and took a seat at his keyboard I couldn't help but think that he could still pass for my brother with all that gray hair and wizened faces we'd both grown after all the years since I'd seen him last. Fortunately there was a very good spotlight shining on Leon and his keyboard. I was able to get a few decent shots with my long zoom lens and even tho I'll probly get sued and go to hell for it, I'm uploading a few here to see who notices.

More about this later but I have since paid just under $100. each for 2 tickets to see James Taylor at the St. Augustine Amphitheater and cameras of any kind were forbidden. I left mine at home yet there were many people shooting pics (probly bad) even using built in flash with their pocket digital cameras. My question is since when do Rock Stars not want to be photographed? They must not want publicity as badly as they used to.

Anyway I humbly submit the photos above for your enjoyment, hoping you remember the great Leon Russell.