Fernandina Beach City Commission and the port - Just stop it!

By Darryl Ford

December 20, 2021

I had a wonderful opportunity to volunteer at a food drive on Friday, December 17^thsponsored by Farm Share, The Coalition for the Homeless of Nassau County, Worldwide Terminals Fernandina, and the Ocean Highway and Port Authority.  While happily loading boxes of wipes into the cars of the nice people I met, I also had a chance to chat with my co-volunteers from many different places, including a group of volunteers who work at the port.

I returned home and thought about the people I met both in need of a hand and volunteering to help and stopped to appreciate the community I have joined once again.  I have been to Christmas parades, listened to a wonderful children’s choir sing carols, avidly followed and supported Foar From Home all in just the last week.  Fernandina Beach is a special place.

The port is part of that special place.  There are 70 good jobs at the port, jobs which provide for 70 families, along with many related jobs in trucking and specialized trades supporting the ships and equipment.  This is an island where we still have good jobs which do not require a college degree.  We have the huge challenge of affordable housing to match, but at least we have the jobs and a fighting chance.

There is also quite a brawl going on between our city commission and the entities at the port.  I do not pretend to understand it all.  I do know that I am tired of it.  Politics in our country have become and are just plain nasty on a national level.  We seem to be doing our best to outdo the rest of the nation by showing just how plain nasty our local politics can be here, however.  The Boathouse, constant controversy about local music venues downtown, Atlantic Seafood, Brett’s, lawsuits, and personal attacks over the operation of the port, taking property by eminent domain et al are just the recent activity in our city commission.

There are significant issues of disagreement between the port and the city commission.  Settle them, mediate them, settle them in court if necessary, but do it with courtesy and respect.  I do not know if the real agenda is to close the port, but I sure am worried about it.   The people who work at the port and the 70 jobs at the port are the real victims here.  Please . . . Just stop it.

Editor's Note: After a 35-year career in Human Resources, Darryl Ford and his wife moved to Fernandina's Historic District in 2018. Darryl now spends his time as a volunteer with the Coalition for the Homeless. We thank Darryl for his contribution to the Fernandina Observer.