St. Pete to Consider “Woodstock Santa” Ordinance
December 19th, 2007 by Alex Pickett in Flashbacks & Updates, Urban ExplorationsIn a recent issue of CL, I reported on Pass-A-Grille gallery owner Evander Preston and his Christmas tradition of handing out bourbon and cigars to the homeless at Williams Park. As online comments revealed, some downtowners are upset by Preston’s gift-giving. Now the controversy has reached the higher echelons of St. Petersburg’s government.
On the City Council agenda for tomorrow, Bill Foster is expected to ask the city’s Public Safety, Services and Infrastructure Committee to review a possible ordinance that would ban handing out alcohol on city streets or parks.
In a memo sent to Council (see below), Foster calls Preston the “Woodstock Santa” and proposes an ordinance that would prevent future gift giving.
He then rails against Preston:
“Mr. Preston is an affront to every business owner and resident of the downtown area, and should not be a welcomed figure in St. Petersburg.â€Â
The debate over Preston’s actions is also fierce in this week’s Going Postal section. Read those comments here.
And if you haven’t heard the audio from a Los Angeles radio interview done by Preston, check it out here.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Mr. Preston is a genius. Bill (bah humbug) Foster should be ashamed of himself for ruining Christmas for St. Pete homeless people. If Mr. Preston gets stopped in DT St. Pete, just move over to DT Tampa, we have just as many homeless hanging out here – they might like crack instead of Bourbon though.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:08 am
To whom it may concern:
Perhaps it would be in the best interest of all if we took a look at Mr. Preston’s impeccable and astonishing business history in St. Petersburg before passing judgement. We are speaking of a man with a notable determination. A man of inspiration with a humble and admirable business ethic. For the record Mr Foster. The Preston Family has been a productive and instructive beneficial participant in the business community of St. Petersburg. With respect to the family, I think it unjust by any means to say he is an “Affront to all business owners and residents of St Petersburg.” The Preston’s have been and are part of the very growth of this city and the surrounding bay area. Many of our citizens will remember Mr. Preston and his Fathers music store previously located in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg. Including Mr. Preston’s 30 years in business at his present location in St. Petersburg Beach. He is very knowledgeable to the existing situation in not only Williams Park but all of St. Petersburg and how it is presently governed. His unselfish act is only a single mans way of extending a charitable moment, not creating a perpetually uncontrollable condition or enhancing a current non existent situation. He is not an advocate nor activist, only a man of decent integrity bestowing a moments happiness.
I believe that a man should not be censored nor criticised for what or how he gives, yet be praised for his generosity. Is it this cities policy to ban charity? to censor generosity? Or is it to solve the real problem? I choose to think St. Petersburg has bigger shoulders than to use one man as a scapegoat for the short coming of its own city officials. This is “OUR” problem and not the consequences of a single mans action. Even Christ said ” you will always have your poor.” How the less fortunate are treated, where they live and any inspirational guidance that they absorb must be presented and handled in a positive fashion. Food for thought, can’t the city put this viable resource of idle manpower in the park to good use? Any Productive ideas? Thank you for reading.
December 21st, 2007 at 5:25 pm
If this passes I am going to make rum balls, killians chili, and for dessert “Bananas Foster” in honor of Bill and his new rule.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:01 am
cheap wow power leveling
my wow gold
June 29th, 2009 at 5:08 am
cheap wow power leveling
buy wow gold