Just read an interesting letter to the editor in this weeks "Sun". Apparently, Seaside security has a problem with photos being taken even in the designated "public" areas of the self proclaimed town. I see a photo posted on this very site that is from the forbidden zone- Tupelo pavillion. Definitely a no-no for photographers, even ones on the approved list. I wonder what the rules are when you are a paying guest. All vacation snap shots need a written permission slip? Even Robert Davis would have to see the folly of being so uptight about images that serve to advertise the property far and wide. I really thought Walton county was something different and special- The overwrought attitude of Seaside (and others) is an embarassment and certainly gives an unfortunate twist to the term "New Urbanism"
photo police at Seaside
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Man, that's crappy. I can't even begin to be politely displeased about even more news regarding Seaside becoming a very closed community. When they start losing money from tourists feeling slighted by the attitude, it will hopefully change. Thanks for posting.
For those of you who haven't noticed, they also removed the steps, which were used for sitting by many people, and replaced them with a banister at the pavilion behind Roly Poly, making it very unlikely that anyone would actually sit in the pavilion anymore, unless it's a function.
I'm in Seaside so much that I think the security guys think I'm an owner, and I take pictures all the time. Even have one or two of the security guys. My next challenge will be to get someone take a photo of me with the Security guys. That will be funny.
I'm in Seaside so much that I think the security guys think I'm an owner, and I take pictures all the time. Even have one or two of the security guys. My next challenge will be to get someone take a photo of me with the Security guys. That will be funny.
Letters to the Editor of the Walton Sun
April 19, 2008
Embarrassed and ashamed by Seaside
It was Sunday morning and my wife and I embarked on our Sunday morning walk. We decided Great Southern Caf? at Seaside would be our destination for breakfast. We sat and enjoyed breakfast, read the Sunday newspaper and greeted friends and acquaintances as they passed our table to be seated for breakfast.
After breakfast I suggested we walk through Ruskin Place on our way home. My wife spotted a new Seaside Times and picked up a copy for each of us to read. I said why don?t we stop at a table in the center of Ruskin Place and sit and read the Seaside Times before our walk home.
On page three of the paper I came to an article, ?The passion for Seaside should connect everyone.? It spoke to the issues of what is public places in Seaside and what is private. Or at least some people?s beliefs.
I remember looking at the map showing orange for ?private? areas and gray for ?public? areas to see Ruskin Place, where we were sitting, was a safe haven for a Seagrove resident to walk and sit. I next turned to page four to view the new ?proposed? Seaside signage. The sign praised Seaside as the ?Birthplace of New Urbanism? and directly below depicts the same orange and gray illustration of Seaside telling all what is private and what is public. I sat and thought to myself, here we go again.
I then paged over to pages six and seven to read ?the letters to the editor.? Five out of seven letters shared my viewpoints. Some were by Seaside owners, some by other locals and several by vacationers. The two I had trouble agreeing with tried to justify their opinion that isolation, privatization and exclusionism would make Seaside a much more enjoyable place. I won?t go any further with this thought because the paper needs some room to print other articles.
Continuing on, I?m finishing the paper as a young couple, obviously newlyweds or to be newlyweds with their photographer, walk by and sit on the Ruskin Place stage steps in each others arms while the photographer clicked away. Next thing I know I hear a red-shirted man approach them and quiz the photographer if she has written permission to take pictures. She tried to explain she is licensed, only to be told by the red-shirted ?SECURITY? man that she would need written permission from the town council. He then escorted the shocked and surprised young couple and photographer out of Ruskin Place, insisting they could not take photos there.
I thought of getting involved in the discussion but knew I would only make a bad situation much worse. My blood pressure had already jumped 20 points just witnessing this ?Gestapo like? police action.
I sat trying to finish my paper and let my blood pressure return to a more normal level when I spotted some children and adults across the courtyard trying to coax their white cat down from a balcony. They tried all type of antics to talk this cat off the ledge only for the cat to sit and stare and roll around having a great time watching all the people below.
My wife and I sat there for 15 minutes laughing as we watched this family?s attempts to save the cat. It fi nally came to me that this is what Seaside is supposed to be about: Families and children making memories. Memories they will remember he rest of their lives.
I would like to ask the Seaside Town Council to represent the wishes of the majority of their homeowners and not the wishes of a few. Remember, your actions can make memories for people to remember the rest of their lives as well.
Jon Miller Old Seagrove Resident, Seaside Lover
April 19, 2008
Embarrassed and ashamed by Seaside
It was Sunday morning and my wife and I embarked on our Sunday morning walk. We decided Great Southern Caf? at Seaside would be our destination for breakfast. We sat and enjoyed breakfast, read the Sunday newspaper and greeted friends and acquaintances as they passed our table to be seated for breakfast.
After breakfast I suggested we walk through Ruskin Place on our way home. My wife spotted a new Seaside Times and picked up a copy for each of us to read. I said why don?t we stop at a table in the center of Ruskin Place and sit and read the Seaside Times before our walk home.
On page three of the paper I came to an article, ?The passion for Seaside should connect everyone.? It spoke to the issues of what is public places in Seaside and what is private. Or at least some people?s beliefs.
I remember looking at the map showing orange for ?private? areas and gray for ?public? areas to see Ruskin Place, where we were sitting, was a safe haven for a Seagrove resident to walk and sit. I next turned to page four to view the new ?proposed? Seaside signage. The sign praised Seaside as the ?Birthplace of New Urbanism? and directly below depicts the same orange and gray illustration of Seaside telling all what is private and what is public. I sat and thought to myself, here we go again.
I then paged over to pages six and seven to read ?the letters to the editor.? Five out of seven letters shared my viewpoints. Some were by Seaside owners, some by other locals and several by vacationers. The two I had trouble agreeing with tried to justify their opinion that isolation, privatization and exclusionism would make Seaside a much more enjoyable place. I won?t go any further with this thought because the paper needs some room to print other articles.
Continuing on, I?m finishing the paper as a young couple, obviously newlyweds or to be newlyweds with their photographer, walk by and sit on the Ruskin Place stage steps in each others arms while the photographer clicked away. Next thing I know I hear a red-shirted man approach them and quiz the photographer if she has written permission to take pictures. She tried to explain she is licensed, only to be told by the red-shirted ?SECURITY? man that she would need written permission from the town council. He then escorted the shocked and surprised young couple and photographer out of Ruskin Place, insisting they could not take photos there.
I thought of getting involved in the discussion but knew I would only make a bad situation much worse. My blood pressure had already jumped 20 points just witnessing this ?Gestapo like? police action.
I sat trying to finish my paper and let my blood pressure return to a more normal level when I spotted some children and adults across the courtyard trying to coax their white cat down from a balcony. They tried all type of antics to talk this cat off the ledge only for the cat to sit and stare and roll around having a great time watching all the people below.
My wife and I sat there for 15 minutes laughing as we watched this family?s attempts to save the cat. It fi nally came to me that this is what Seaside is supposed to be about: Families and children making memories. Memories they will remember he rest of their lives.
I would like to ask the Seaside Town Council to represent the wishes of the majority of their homeowners and not the wishes of a few. Remember, your actions can make memories for people to remember the rest of their lives as well.
Jon Miller Old Seagrove Resident, Seaside Lover
This is incredible. Is this America?
What is their rationale for this policy?
What is their rationale for this policy?
No, it's Seaside. We don't want none of ya'll's types in here.
Well.I took the pictures when I swung back by 30A from the east coast in Feb. I had no idea you weren't suppose to take the pictures. I'd probably taken them anyway!Maybe I shouldn't posted them on here,a public forum. I really just took them for my self.
Please don't turn me in to the Seaside police!!
Please don't turn me in to the Seaside police!!
Seaside is about making memories, not destroying a newlywed's (or anyone else's) memories. I think the question to ask the town council & homeowners is WHY were they drawn to Seaside in the first place?
This morning, I was thinking about the whole idea of New Urbanism & what it has become in Seaside. Isn't "New Urbanism" about living & working in the same place also? How many of the security guards, employees, etc. actually live in Seaside? I know there are some that do but there are also a lot that have to drive in. I guess I was just pondering the idea that it's really a faux New Urbanism that has been developing & now the consequences of that fact are finally showing through with the issues that have developed from the homeowners' elitist attitudes, at least the homeowners that have been pushing the privatization along.
I'm just dismayed at the whole issue.
This morning, I was thinking about the whole idea of New Urbanism & what it has become in Seaside. Isn't "New Urbanism" about living & working in the same place also? How many of the security guards, employees, etc. actually live in Seaside? I know there are some that do but there are also a lot that have to drive in. I guess I was just pondering the idea that it's really a faux New Urbanism that has been developing & now the consequences of that fact are finally showing through with the issues that have developed from the homeowners' elitist attitudes, at least the homeowners that have been pushing the privatization along.
I'm just dismayed at the whole issue.
Be careful when posting about Seaside". They have the name trademarked, you know. 
I stopped spending time in Seaside a couple of years ago (much prefer Grayton and Seagrove,) and the more I read about the red shirts (redcoats?) and no trespassing and such the less I am inclined to revisit. Maybe I'll get frisky and walk around with all my Nikon gear there one day...