Anglers request nothing more than watered down land grab

I hope the citizens of New Smyrna Beach realize that 90 individuals are about to try and take some very valuable property that belongs to you, your children, and your grandchildren.

The Anglers Club has offered the City $795,500 for 2 North Causeway. Plus, they want city government to finance it for 33 years with the city holding the mortgage. Can you imagine that? The city in the banking business for a group of guys with influence who have had a sweetheart deal of a lease with the city since the 1940s at $25 a year on a lease that is suspect to begin with.

In 2008, the assessed land value was $943,677.00. In March of 2009, the appraisal done for the City was $2.145 million.

I know of a purchase for a small piece property on the Intracoastal Waterway for $1.5 million. And guess what? It has just one boat dock.

I do not know about you, but I think this deal with the Anglers smells like rotten fish. What's going on here?

This proposal, if approved, would be a "slap in the face" to every citizen in this city. Waterfront property is limited, especially for a municipality, and this arrangement amounts to nothing more than a giveaway of prime riverfront acreage for which public access would be lost forever.

Go to the commission meeting Tuesday and voice your concerns to stop this attempted burglary of your property.Mayor Adam Barringer, a confessed Angler, has said he won't vote on the issue.

That leaves four others for you to let know your feelings about the giveaway of valuable waterfront city property: Commissioner and Vice Mayor Lynne Plaskett and Commissioners Jack Grasty, Judy Reiker and Jim Hathaway.

Let them know this deal stinks.