The first thing we might as well acknowledge is that in the battle between sea and shore, the sea will always win. It’s not even a battle. It’s natural history. We’re not helping. We’re causing the warming that’s precipitating catastrophic effects from coast to coast and across the world. Thanks to climate-denialism in Washington and Tallahassee, we’re fueling warming’s effects with idiotic accelerants like “resiliency” instead of taking the only measure that makes a difference: reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Ultimately nothing will be so catastrophic as sea rise. You can build back from a hurricane or a forest fire. You can’t build back on water. According to the Florida Climate Center at Florida State University, the state’s 8,400 miles of shoreline are being redrawn as we speak.
After stable sea levels for thousands of years since the last ice age 20,000 years ago, sea levels rose 7 to 8 inches since 1900, with half that rise happening since Bill Clinton and Al Gore were elected in 1993. The projection is that the sea will rise roughly from 2 to 7 feet by 2100, and from 2.6 to nearly 13 feet by 2150. That’s higher than the highest dune and the highest seawall in Flagler Beach.
Put another way: Flagler Beach’s days are numbered. If you think 2100 and 2150 are beyond your horizon, they’re not much beyond that of your children and grandchildren, and even that bit of self-absorbed absolution may be misplaced. NASA and its European equivalent are seeing a much faster acceleration of sea rise, making likelier and sooner the upper end of those projections, or worse. Exact projections aside, the flooding catastrophes won’t suddenly begin in 2050, 2100 or 2150. We’re already there. Remember Hurricanes Matthew and Ian and the transformation of parts of the barrier island into rivers and lakes. That’s our normal now.
Resilience as define by Florida government (rebuild, just rebuild higher and thicker) is an illusion. It is as absurd and useless as the fallout shelters of the 1950s. Everything from here on is prevention. Or at least delaying the inevitable. If we can buy another century of relative safety, by which time maybe technology will have caught up enough to reverse climate change’s course, it becomes our imperative to do so.
I realize that I am contradicting what I wrote in 2018, when I called it futility. It may yet be. But the cost of delay and the bet on a future solution is worth the price.
That’s the price Flagler County government is proposing we all pay–all of us, from the barrier island to west Flagler. County Administrator Heidi Petito and Deputy Administrator Jorge Salinas have produced a plan that would have the county bear the responsibility of all beach renourishment and maintenance from here on.
It’s unfortunate that the administrators did not get this vetted and approved by the County Commission first. The administration has often had a blind spot when it comes to strategy, although this may be by design. It allows the commission to take the credit for the plan if it succeeds, and to blame the administration if it fails. It’s cynical and short-sighted. But courage in government is rarer than astatine. So it’s not a perfect rollout and it’s not a perfect plan.
But don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. This is a deliberative process. It gets better with time, cooperation and good will. The way there is to focus on the substance of the plan rather than the trappings of its politics. As such, Petito and Salinas should be commended. They’ve done the near-impossible: they’ve produced a pragmatic and reasonable plan.
The county is willing to rebuild the beaches with existing funds that don’t implicate the cities. But maintaining and renourishing them will be more expensive. That plan needs an additional $12 million a year.
Revenue would be drawn from a variety of sources. No one’s property taxes would be affected beyond the fraction the county is already appropriating. Revenue from the existing tourist tax would account for $2 million ($1 million of it from the capital fund, at least for three years). Only barrier island residents would have to pay an extra $160 a year as part of a special taxing district, since they stand to benefit most from the protection of their property. It seems like a lot. But that’s less than one month’s water bill, less than a thirtieth of what some people pay in property insurance on the island, if they can even get it. The barrier island tax would net $1.7 million a year.
The bulk of the revenue, and the political third rail ahead, centers on a half-penny increase in the local sales tax, which would generate over $10 million total. Flagler Beach would have to cede all its share to the county. Palm Coast and Bunnell would have to cede half. The county itself would appropriate all its revenue from the half penny to beach management. (Shares from the other half penny, already in place, would not be touched.)
It’s not a lot to ask, except politically. None of the cities lose money. Palm Coast and Bunnell gain revenue, in exchange for supporting the county’s new sales tax. Flagler Beach and the other barrier island burgs don’t get a penny from the new tax. But they get a far bigger windfall. They no longer have to worry about beach maintenance, and they get their beaches rebuilt and maintained. Not bad for $277,000 a year, if you’re Flagler Beach (the amount the city would be ceding in new sales tax revenue, which it can make up and double if it got off the pot and enacted an overdue paid-parking plan).
For Flagler Beach especially, that guarantees the next round of Army Corps renourishment. Without the cities’ agreement, that project and any other beach management in Beverly Beach and Marineland is dead, as will soon be their beaches.
The future is not a mystery, because it’s already a few decades old. Unfortunately, Palm Coast is already killing the plan by deflecting to a referendum–the indemnifying catch-all for leaders who don’t have the guts to do what they know must be done, and who know that they can guillotine the proposal at the ballot box. (Palm Coast has experience: its bond referendum just failed.)
If Palm Coast and Flagler Beach turn down this plan, as now seems likely, they’ll be assisting in the beaches’ suicide. Without beaches, Flagler Beach itself is a city economically crippled and geographically term-limited.
Palm Coast and Beverly Beach have previously insisted that they won’t put up a penny for the beaches. Here’s their chance not to do so, while still coming out ahead, with an additional $2.7 million a year for Palm Coast. A more equitable plan that still gets the job done is not likely. And time is not on anybody’s side.
“Old Florida is a glassy figment in the minds of the soon to be deceased,” goes the line in the Karen Russell short story about a submerged Florida but for a few Venice-like spots. When fiction becomes our children’s reality, perhaps it’s time to realize that it won’t be long before even the sand burying our heads is gone.
The Beach Management Plan in Details:
- Flagler County’s Coastal Erosion and Management: Comprehensive Report
- Flagler County’s Coastal Erosion and Management: Executive Summary
- Flagler County’s Coastal Erosion and Management: Slide Presentation to Local Governments
- Palm Coast Throws Cold, Brackish Water on County Beach Tax and Management Plan, Calling for Referendum
Pierre Tristam is the editor of FlaglerLive. A version of this piece airs on WNZF.
Deborah Coffey says
You make a good argument, Pierre.
Are You Sure says
8,400 miles of shoreline seems a bit high.
FlaglerLive says
It’s the geographic contours that include every bay, crook and gulf, Gulf of Mexico included.
Joe D says
Bravo for putting the facts and the selfishness out in the open.
Non-Flagler Beach residents want it ALL: FREE beach access/FREE (at the moment at least) parking/ and they don’t want to pay for it! They want the Flagler Beach residents to pay for it all!
As I said when I commented on the prior discussion in this blog after the proposal was essentially “quashed” by the majority of the County Commissioners pushing for a referendum (which of course will be dominated by Palm Coast voters)….
Unfortunately, no functional beach, no tourism money or FREE recreational beach for Palm Coast!!!
At my age, and with a townhouse elevated 20 ft above (current) sea level on 8 ft elevated concrete…I won’t PERSONALLY have to worry about sea level! My kids are interested in Living here….but such a SHAME!
Billy says
Palm coast destroying everything that it touches!
NortonSmitty says
You nailed it Pierre. You came to the obvious conclusion that I came to 8 years ago and bailed on the town I loved.
The only thing that gives me a warm fuzzy about the situation is all of the New Yawkers, Connecticu*z and Jersey pigs who bought up all the property and made it too expensive for the native working people to live in a place way too beautiful than they deserved will get to watch there property values tank as their overpriced winter homes float away on every minor hurricane.
Small condolence for ruining a place I loved and hoped to spend my last days.
Harry says
Just build a seawall and jetties !!!!
Gary Flamingo says
The shoreline borders a State road and for the most part private property owners. This sounds like a private party and State problem. NOT OURS.
Pierre Tristam says
The beach past the hightide waterline is ours. It’s public. We lose that, the rest goes. Not just the one private property, but everything else. Meanwhile you’re still entitled to using the lowtide sands, even though they’re private property. It’s called customary use, which the county secured for you. (Specifically, county attorney Al Hadeed, whose ordinance to that effect the commission passed a few years ago.)
Good money after bad says
Are they out of sand to dump into the ocean???
Pierre Tristam says
Smitty! Damn man, where gave you been hiding? Smitty gave me one of my great experiences in Flagler: a boat ride through all the nooks and crags of the Intracoastal years ago. It was like that trip Edward Abbey took down Glenn Canyon before it was damned up. Seeing history disappear. (He was also Flaglerlive’s best uncensored commenter. Then Pennsylvania claimed him.)
Pierre Tristam says
I think the paragraph on the county’s rollout came out harsher than intended. To call it flawed is not the right word. The commission directed the administration to come up with a plan. It did that. The commission didn’t want to look like it was imposing the plan unilaterally before hearing the cities’ input, which required Petito to go on a presentation/listening tour. She’s doing that. The plan is sound. But the mechanics of whether the commission approves of it or not should not be used as a shield to shoot it down before its airing. There’s a catch-22 at work here: Petito and the commission are damned if they do (approve the plan upfront) damned if they don’t (outline it to the cities first to hear their opinions). Let’s set aside the political mechanics and focus on the plan on its merits. It’s as good as it’s going to get. The commission and the cities are in this together, as are we all. Let’s debate and refine the plan from that perspective without using the mechanics of the rollout as a cynical way to shoot it down. I’m not saying this as a fan of Petito: we’ve had our issues. Plenty of issues. But fair is fair: this plan is balanced, fair and far-sighted. She and Salinas deserve credit for crafting it and presenting it. It’s certainly more than the commission, or anyone, has done to date. Let’s put all that aside and debate it on its merits, which are not lacking.
Doug says
Jane Mealy has been a city commissioner nearly 20 years too long, and what has she done lately that’s significant to the beach residents? Maybe it’s time to step back Jane, and enjoy life without politics. That might help Flagler Beach.
Pierre Tristam says
Doug, you ignorant slut. Having known Jane Mealy almost as long as she’s been on the commission, I can say without reserve that if the sands of Flagler Beach could be carved into a Rushmore (Rushmore’s ghastly desecration of the Black Hills by its KKK-sympathizing sculptor aside of course) Jane Mealy’s likeness would be far more deserving of immortality than TR’s or—gasp—than that of the more recent Orangina suggestion.
The Villa Beach Walker says
The Flagler County Beach Management plan as presented by Ms Petito is a good initial proposal. But don’t ignore that the Flagler Beach Commission and now former Flagler Beach Commissioner Kim Carney developed a management plan years ago.
Flagler Counties current plan calls for the 3300 tax paying Flagler Beach barrier island property owners putting up $160 each. These are smaller lots separated from the Atlantic by A1A. A handful of Flagler Beach residents have purchased and pay taxes for littoral rights to the small dune on the east side of A1A. In Beverly Beach and points north there are property owners on the east (ocean) side of A1A whose much larger properties include littoral rights. The current proposal has them paying $160 too. As we learned from the recent renourishment project, just one littoral rights holder can hold up the entire project. Properties that include littoral rights ( east of A1A) should pay more.
The only local responsibility Flagler Beach has over A1A is to issue tickets when drivers speed, park facing the wrong way or parking on the dunes. Anything else has to be run by FDOT (FL Dept of Transportation). FDOT may not be ‘local’ but they have a great track record of maintaining A1A.
Ms Petito ends her presentation with ‘Flagler County will manage the beaches’. But the presentation makes the point that Flagler County wants to manage the money needed to re-nourish the beaches. Not the dune walk overs. Not dune preservation. Not lifeguards. Tourists come to Flagler County for the beach. That’s more than 50% of tourist revenue. Increase the sales tax 1/2 of a cent and allocate it all to managing the beach. Bunnell and Palm Coast benefit from tourism too and shouldn’t get a kick back. If the County leadership does a lousy job managing the beaches; Flagler Beach alone won’t be able to vote them out of office.
Crusty Old Salt says
Well said Pierre. Obviously Doug does not attend or watch any of the Flagler Beach Commission meetings on YouTube. Ms. Mealy is the most prepared of all of the Commissioners at all workshops and Commission meetings. She always asks the most pertinent questions. As Ms. Mealy dissects the agenda packet page by page no matter how many dozens or hundreds of pages ( yes sometimes depending on agenda items it can be that many pages) one can clearly tell during the meeting who just shows up without any preparation, who has scanned the agenda backup material or who has actually studied the agenda packet. She also is the only Commissioner who consistently attends all of the Planning and Architectural Board meetings. Most all of the other commissioners have never attended a PARB meeting or maybe only attended one or two at best.
Doug, I would suggest you educate yourself by occasionally attending a Commission meeting or two or at the very least watch a couple on YouTube. You might also attend a PARB meeting or two and look who is consistently in the audience quietly taking notes of the PARB meeting.
Ms. Mealy has dedicated her life as a “full time” Commissioner in Flagler Beach. We have been fortunate to have had her on the Board all of these years.
Pierre thank you for your astute comments regarding Ms.Mealy’s dedication to Flagler Beach. Your comments were right on point.
Tom Hutson says
Simple statement regarding the Flagler county beaches. PUT A REFERENDUM on the 2026 ballot. Let the voters decide, after all it’s their tax money!
Al says
So a bunch of self centered idiots build homes on a sandbar, who would have thought it could erode. Now start crying that millions can’t constantly be spent to replenish beaches that wash away with the tide. Miles of the coast in Flagler is either no parking or private beach access, it’s your personal beach fix it yourself but stop wasting everyone else’s money on shifting sand.
Ben Hogarth says
Florida’s days are numbered, not just Flagler Beach. I’ll probably need to take some serious time to write my own “end of days” article regarding the coming “storm” but for now, Pierre hits the nail on the head regarding Flagler. Everyone would do well to heed the facts and move on from any notion of solving this existential problem with sand movement.
The key word you will see in future conversation is “retreat.” There is absolutely no other viable, economically pragmatic, or functionally possible solution except to retreat from the coastlines. There is no amount of dune restoration or earth moving that we can accomplish to prevent the inevitable. And that inevitability is coming much much sooner than 2100.
Skibum says
I wasn’t a fan of earlier suggested fees to help take care of our local beaches, but I for one think this latest proposal from the county is fair for everyone, and I would support it wholeheartedly. I believe it is folly for Palm Coast to put it up for a referendum because I agree this is simply an easy way for the city to sidestep and avoid their public duty to cooperate with other local government bodies in agreeing to a plan that will protect our beaches for everyone’s enjoyment. Nobody would be getting away without some minor financial investment in one of our primary assets we all have here, whether you live right on the barrier island, or inland within the county. I hope Palm Coast officials come to their senses and decides to cooperate in this plan, which would benefit ALL of us in the long term.
Ed P says
Pierre,
Thanks for the nudge.
Even though sand and oatmeal are different…
“It’s the right thing to do”
Wilford Brimley-rip
My Take says
This guy is so small minded. The United States covers 1.87% of the worlds surface, and has 4.2% of the worlds population. And he thinks the US is causing, or could in any way affect a reversal of climate change. I got news for all of you, climate change has been happening since the Earth was formed, way before humans were even on Earth. I can’t believe people fall for this line anymore.
FlaglerLive says
The United States is responsible for roughly 20 percent of greenhouse gases spewed since the middle of the 19th century.
Laurel says
Well, Mr. Tristam, “Equity” is certainly a dirty word these days, isn’t it? You, along with Ms. Petito and Mr. Hansen, believe that the current beach re-nourishment plan is “reasonable.” You, along with Ms. Petito, and Mr. Hansen, do not live in the Hammock, but you do know what’s best for us who do. You, along with Ms. Petito, and Mr. Hansen, know what’s best for the City of Palm Coast, where y’all live, about which Ms. Petito stated “Palm Coast doesn’t have a beach.” So I guess y’all don’t benefit from it the way ALL of us do.
You know our topography, here on the barrier island, better than we do. You know the drainage of our properties better than we do. You want to assess us in an inequitable manner for our own good. Y’all are worried about climate change, affecting our properties, now that it may affect your pockets, Gosh, thanks!
I guess those who are looking for a “reasonable,” not necessarily equitable, solution have not noticed that the homes near the inlet seem to have the opposite sand problem. The sand is coming in. Nothing to learn from that? Flagler County has proven, on multiple occasions, its lack of desire to learn.
I asked for the definition of “parcel” regarding assessments, and got no answer. Would the 7,711,325.668 square foot, profit making Dunes parcel, directly on the ocean, be assessed the same as a 5,000 (50 x 100 ft lot) square foot parcel with no private beach access? This is “reasonable”? So that y’all can understand, because I wonder if you do, would a project that mitigates flooding in Palm Coast, assess the parcel of a home the same as the parcel of BJ’s? Would that be equitable? There’s that word again.
To be frank, my husband and I can well afford to pay the $160 dollars a year, though we only have public park access by car. Today, that’s just one trip to the grocery store. What bothers me is, not everyone has the same fortune, yet very few others care. It’s all about them, and them only. There is no principle considered, or interest in equity here.
Years ago, I had a supervisor who told me “You care too much!” Yes, he was right then, and is still right to this day. My bad. Maybe I’ll learn now.
So go ahead, Palm Coasters, go to your commission and say “Hell NO!” Tell them you and your family, friends, and tourists don’t go to the beach. They come for the splash park. Just be takers. We have takers here on the island as well, and they have private beach access, and are being very mum about the topic.
This needed money could be spread more equitably across the county, and the parcels with direct access could be assessed more (stating that “The beach past the hightide waterline is ours. It’s public.” maybe true, if you access it by being dropped in by helicopter).
But, “equitable” is a dirty word these days.
JimboXYZ says
Sooner or later one has to realize that the front line as the beach is a line that can’t be held financially and a retreat is the only option. Those properties were good while hey lasted, but like anything that wears out, beach included, it becomes worthless at that point. We do that with roofing, HVAC systems. hot water heater tanks. This just happens to apply to the dwellings and sand they are built on. The peninsula there, barrier island, whatever anyone wants to describe it as, will become narrower as the planet Earth starts to reshape itself. Nobody was ever compensated enough to start throwing their reserves into the Atlantic Ocean. Decades & centuries for that plan is always going to be late & short of the impossible. We’re basically trying to insure that barrier island, much like the hurricane insurance for any homeowner regardless of where they are. This is nothing more than a Ft Myers Derangement Syndrome, force the rest of us to pay for the “wealthiests” folly for mansions, beachfront property, boats/yachts, exotic cars that get wiped out every fall when the 2-3ish hurricanes reset the haves & have nots. That’s why premiums for homeowners is outlandish. Those that have more modest lifestyles paying for the wealthiest as usual. Maybe the wealthiest need to absorb their losses for their arrogance that they “need” all that ? If the poorest & middle class are deemed to not need that level of personal property, the wealthiest don’t need nor deserve it in their lifetimes either. End of the day, we all die, all of that goes back in the box. Enjoy it for what time you had it, because it was never your’s, stop clinging to that much, nothing lasts forever. same holds for a beach. A beach that needs walk ways to even access for 99% of the beach anyway. There’s a reason the sand dunes have become impassable barriers to just casually walking from A1A to water’s edge. Any beach that requires dune climbing skills like a mountain climb, maybe Mother Nature’s/Planet Earth’s way of saying you aren’t supposed to access the beach there, regardless of mankind’s denials & warped desires to plop down anywhere. Flagler Beach and pretty much anything North of Granada has been like that for my lifetime of Volusia & Flagler county lifestyle. There are place where driving on the beach can happen, where it can’t. There was a little area North of Granada that one could drive, but that last beach approach was pretty much Granada/SR40. I’m certain there were those, decades ago that were for building a bridge over Ponce Inlet to NSB too. Thank God that stupidity of the human race never happened. Matanzas Inlet Bridge severely limits what size vessels can enter/exit the intracoastal.
Larry says
City of Palm Coast should have agreed to the 1/2 sales tax to be used for saving the beaches.
Everyone in the City of Palm Coast benefits from being close to the beach.
Take a look at all the real estate listings. Proximity to the beach is mentioned in nearly all MLS listings…even for City of Palm Coast properties that are near US-1. City of Palm Coast property values are higher and they hold in value because the beach is nearby. The area is desirable because the beach is nearby. Visitors to the City of Palm Coast pay to stay in hotels and pay to eat at restaurants and pay to shop at City of Palm Coast businesses because they are visiting due to the the beach being nearby.
Sherry says
@ my take. . . please, for the sake of every person on our planet. . . Get Educated Beyond Fox:
https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence/
PeachesMcGee says
FB/FC need to find revenue from the non-residents when they visit our beaches.
My Take says
I’m not denying climate change, or that humans accelerate it. But the Earth is a living object, and it changes just like every other living thing. Humans don’t “cause” climate change, we accelerate it. Human beings would not even be on this planet without climate change. And the earth is going to keep changing long after we’re gone.
My point was that unless you get every other country in the world on board with “climate change” initatives we are just throwing money down the toilet.
Outsider says
I for one do not think the County can manage any large-scale project successfully. That’s problem number one.
I do not think many people actually go to the beach who live on the mainland. Many are retirees that cannot physically traverse the open sands any longer. Others have work and simply no time for beach going. I would surmise many of the beach goers are tourists and property owners on the island. Much of the beach is simply inaccessible to the public who do not live on the island.
How is this a good investment? What is the cost-benefit of investing over a hundred million dollars for sand? Will Palm Coast die or lose so much value if the beach is further eroded? Can we put numbers to this to make a decision as a community?
You acknowledge the island is ephemeral. Is the argument to save the beach long enough for investors to make their profits? Science tells us that the causal effect from excess greenhouse gases will continue to raise temperatures, sea level, and the occurrence of hurricanes. I caution people not to confuse science with statistics. Science attempts to explain observations with facts. Statistical models are probabilities, they do not reflect future knowledge. I say all this because the changes from climate change will not happen on anyone’s timeline. In chemistry, physics, and even biology, change can happen suddenly after appearing static. In chemistry, it is called energy of activation. It’s like adding one more grain of sand that causes the whole pile to collapse.
So again, what are we trying to accomplish? What cost are we willing to pay? Is it really even worthwhile?
Doug says
Pierre, it’s clear that my comment has stirred some strong feelings in you. However, resorting to name-calling, especially in your role as the editor of Flagler Live, is not the most professional response. I simply asked about her long tenure as Flagler Beach Commissioner and her recent activities, and suggested it might be time for her to enjoy life. If you truly know her as well as you claim, a simple highlight of her achievements in Flagler Beach politics would have been more appropriate than calling me an “ignorant slut.”
I appreciate your high regard for her, but it’s important to maintain a balanced perspective. While she may have made significant contributions, it’s also crucial to acknowledge areas where she may have fallen short. After all, Mount Rushmore isn’t Flagler Beach, and we should be mindful of that.
Billy B says
Just put toll booths on the 100 bridge and both ends of A1A !!!
Pierre Tristam says
Oy. Must it be spelled out for you Doug? You too were being complimented if you could see past taking humor out back and clubbing it with baseball bats sanded in Corsica. But Curtin on that. And no, If you insist on seriousness, I’m not about to condescend to a condescending, ageist, sexist and–well, ignorant–comment by legitimizing it with an answer you can glean for yourself (like, say, next Tuesday.)
PeachesMcGee says
Can someone give the council my suggestion? (me too weak)
Add a 1% county sales tax for anything EAST of the intracoastal.
Jack Howell says
Jane is a dear friend of mine! She is a terrific person who puts Flagler Beach’s needs first! Doug, it is unconscionable for you to malign her!
Doug says
Pierre, no disrespect, but I took your comment to be an attack on my opinion with your choice of words. And FYI, I’ve watched very few SNL episodes, and that wasn’t one of them.
Mo says
So many naive climate change scam believers. Even if you actually pumped the trillions of our tax dollars that dems pretend to be putting into the phony climate change hoaxes but are nothing but money laundering operations going into NGOs financing radical leftist groups and the dem party itself for their reelection coffers. Doge is proving this is the lefts scam being disguised as fixing climate change. Try going after the real planet polluters China India Russia and Brazil. Or doesn’t those facts fit your phony narrative ad you would like?
Florida Cracker says
Flagler county’s days are numbered. The flood of humanity will wash away what this county used to be long before the ocean swallows up Flagler Beach. Every tree will be pushed down so another cookie cutter house can go up on a another postage stamp sized yard. Pickleball courts will sprout up where sprout up where wildlife used to thrive. Convience stores, big box stores, and chain resturants will take the place around pristine ponds, lakes and creeks.Westward expansion of Palm Coast is championed as if Palm Coast isn’t a weed that has grown out of control, engulfing everything it can get it’s gnarly vines around. On given day you can enjoy spending time on two of our newest parking lots, one is called Palm Coast Parkway and the other one is called SR 100. The roads here can’t handle anymore traffic and they can’t be fixed to. But by all means, Palm Coast and Bunnell should continue to grow until the county is fully engulfed. At every turn old Florida is being destroyed and the “New Florida” is taking it’s place and we’re told it should be celebrated. Flagler Beach may be washed away by the sea but Flagler county will be long gone before that happens.
Atwp says
Talk about Flagler Beach being nonexistent some years down the road, what about the State of Florida? If sea is rising on the Atlantic side what about the Gulf of Mexico?
Denali says
I doubt you would have been around when that episode played originally (Summer 1979). As for your initial comment and the follow ups, Pierre was 100% spot on – however, I would have not stopped at ignorant.
Jane has put herself out there for 20-some years for the betterment of her community. She does it not for the glory or adoration and certainly not for the money. She deserves better than to have people who have never lifted a finger demean her. Do I know her personally, no. Have I always agreed with her votes or opinion, no. But I do believe that she has represented the people of Flagler Beach very well.
Just me says
I mean, I hear you but I choose to live in Palm Coast, you choose to live at the beach. The beach wouldn’t be so expensive to keep up with it if it wasn’t for all of the development over the years. Your view is not my burden.