Gov. DeSantis,
My wife and I own a small business in the city of Bradenton Beach located on Historic Bridge Street on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County. As we headed into 2025, we hoped to celebrate the business’ 100th anniversary with our loyal patrons and visitors to the area. Unfortunately, the hurricanes last fall had a huge impact on our area. Our building sustained some minor damage and together with the city’s building department we set out to repair and reopen expeditiously.
The business, known as “The Drift” or Drift-In AMI LLC, is a local Island dive bar once owned by New York Yankee George Herman “Babe” Ruth. The property/building and parking lot (two parcels) are also owned by us separately, 1715 Ventures LLC. My in-laws owned the business since the late 1990s but due to each of their recent cancer treatments, my wife and I stepped in and purchased the property in 2021 and business in 2022.
With the direction of city officials, we began the process of cleanup and repair immediately. Daily we consulted with the city’s Building Official and Code Enforcement as the process for permitting was dislocated temporarily. We were directed to create a “narrative” and scope of work. Using resources immediately available, we created concept drawings to review with officials and acquired engineered drawings. Most importantly, we were given a permit and proceeded forward.
What has unfolded since that time stinks of government overreach, corruption, property right violations and the tarnish of my family’s good name. As natives of Bradenton, Florida and lovers of the ‘Old Island Charm’ that once was AMI, we are highly disgusted by the actions of local government. From last minute meetings, vague agendas, guarding of questionable easements not used in decades to special titles given to the city’s independent contractor workforce so that contractor can be paid “FEMA dollars;” the same contracted city worker who set up a Florida not-for-profit corporation with the largest developer on Anna Maria Island, and to that same person presenting biased information to commissioners that rule on the fate of our business. We are fed up, sadly disappointed and frustrated to the extent that I write this letter to you for IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Please help us, as we have over 15 employees looking to get back to work. It looks to the public, the local media and patrons that our officials are covering their tracks and hastily running over anyone in their path. We love our state, our community and our businesses. We are asking for justice and transparency.
Derek and Helena Williams
Bradenton Beach
Ed. note: The Drift reopening has been stalled by ongoing permitting issues with the city that will be addressed during two city meetings on Thursday, March 6.
