Confederate Memorial Presentation John P. Regan, P.E., City Manager City of St. Augustine

Transcription

1 Confederate Memorial Presentation John P. Regan, P.E., City Manager City of St. Augustine City Commission Meeting October 23, 2017

2 City Commission Directive to Staff: On August 28, 2017, the City Commission heard 4 hours of public comment from 73 speakers, received 56 written comments, and received over 200 s. The City Commission then asked City Staff to provide the following: Present the current public policy of the Plaza de la Constitución, as it is defined by city ordinance or currently understood Provide benchmark scenarios and actions being taken by other cities in the state of Florida Develop options for a solution for the City of St. Augustine Offer a recommendation of specific action

3 Memorial location and ownership State-owned City-owned Gen. William Loring Memorial Confederate Memorial

4 Definition of Terms: Monument: A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or as an example of historic architecture. [Wikipedia] Example: Spanish Constitution Monument Memorial: A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks. [Wikipedia] Example: The War Memorial We erect monuments so that we shall always remember, and build memorials so that we shall never forget ~ Arthur Danto, Philosopher of Art

5 Timeline of Confederate memorial/monument proliferation: Source: Southern Poverty Law Center

6 Facts about the Confederate Memorial Ladies Memorial Association requested permission June 12, 1871 (denied) Constructed in 1872 on church property, permitted by Bishop Augustin Verot Petition to Street & Lane Committee with 10 pages of signatures to support moving to the plaza, July 18, Thomas House asked to construct a similar Union memorial, August 25, 1879 Relocated in 1879 Current Memorial 1872 Memorial

7 Confederate Memorial Inscriptions: Erected By The Ladies Memorial Association Of St. Augustine In May 1872 They Died Far From The Home That Gave Them Birth By Comrades Honored And By Comrades Mourned In Memoriam They Have Crossed The River And Rest Under The Shade Of The Trees Our Loved Ones Who Gave Up Their Lives In The Service Of The Confederate States

8 History in the Plaza: Spanish Constitution St. Augustine Foot Soldiers War Memorial Andrew Young Crossing Public Market Place Civil War-era cannons Prisoners of War Plaque Spanish Public Well

9 Current Plaza Policy: Pertinent Ordinances: and Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) City Commission is the final arbiter for addition, removal, and artifact loan agreements

10 Benchmarking Other Cities: Nationally: named entities with reference to the Confederacy, including schools 700+ memorials/monuments to the Confederacy State of Florida: 42 cities with monuments/memorials to the Confederacy 6 cities removed or relocated them

11 Benchmarking Other Cities:

12 Benchmarking Other Cities:

13 Cities That Took Action Florida Cities Monument Date Type of Monument What Action Tampa (7) 1911 Confederate Memoria In Aeterna Obelisk with two stone soldier statues Proposed relocation, paid by privately raised funds Gainesville 1904 In Memory of the Confederate Dead Bronze figure on stone pedestal and Relocated bronze plaque attached to courthouse wall West Palm Beach 1941 Confederate Memorial Stone block with etched Confederate flag Removed St. Petersburg (2) 1939 Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway plaque Plaque Removed Daytona Beach 1961 Confederate memorial plaques Dedication plaque Removed Bradenton National Cities Charlottesville (2) New Orleans (4) Boston 1924 In Memory of our Confederate Soldiers 1924 Memorial to Gen. Robert E. Lee 1921 Memorial to Gen. Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson Monuments to the Confederacy 1963 In memory of 13 Confederate POWs who died there Obelisk that includes the names of confederate generals Bronze figure of General Lee on horseback Bronze figure of General Jackson on horseback 3 statues (Lee, Beauregard, Davis) 1 obelisk (Liberty Place) Granite block/marker Relocated Removal of Lee is pending a court decision; Removal of Jackson was voted unanimously, but action is pending. Removed Removed

14 Option 1 : Do Nothing Missed opportunity to tell our complete history

15 Option 2: Remove/Relocate Memorial Technical Challenge how to move it without physically destroying it Cost Challenge Who Pays for it? Where does it go? Installation when it gets there Bishop Felipe J. Estévez suggested the city work together with other institutions to find ways to address racism, inequality and reconciliation

16 Option 3: Contextualize Memorial (Staff Recommendation) Fort Myers, Clayton Keep the memorial where it is Tell the whole story This decision keeps us in line with our Vision St. Augustine will be a diverse, livable, authentic waterfront city that builds upon its rich history and environment to create a distinctive community character founded on a healthy and vibrant economy, a diverse mix of people and experiences and a valuing of its natural assets.

17 The path to social justice Zora Neale Hurston Park Andrew Young Crossing Foot Soldiers Dr. Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park Dr. R.B. Hayling Place General Biassou Frederick Douglass Fred Waters Way Leo Chase Police Boat Boys & Girls Club 450 th Celebration Journey Tapestry Lincolnville Museum Riberia Street Galimore Pool LCRA Fix-It Up West Augustine Utilities Development incentives City Employment Diversity (Accountability Group)

18 Proposed Framework for Implementation Contextualization Advisory Committee Criteria Public application process 5-7 individuals Historians, educators, heritage tourism professionals, artists Final approval by City Commission 18 months Scope Identify gaps in history and how to reconcile Seek public input on contextualization Recommend a contextualization plan/implementation Provide order of magnitude cost and financing options

19 Santa Fe, NM Photo credit: sangres.com 2007

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