Fred George Basin cleanup in support of Florida Forever a huge success!

Note: WPS would like to thank everyone who participated Saturday, and especially our friends at FSU Environmental Service Program, The Nature Conservancy, and Save Our Shores. Special thanks as well to WPS intern Rick Ulrich.

Take A Hike, Florida
By Alexis Diao
WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee
February 22, 2010
Related link: Support Florida Forever Coalition

Some local environmentalists spent their Saturday morning picking up trash in the Fred George Basin, a sources for Tallahassee's drinking wells. The basin's clean-up is one of ten events throughout the state collectively called "Take a Hike, Florida." It was hosted by the Florida Forever Coalition.

North Florida is peppered with sinkholes, and for the most part they're all connected. The same water in the Fred George Basin, for example, can be found an hour away in Wakulla Springs.

There's a lot of connectivity here in terms of keeping the groundwater clean. The entire environment supports a tremendous number of threatened and endangered species, including the Woodstork, which is a federally endangered species.

Misty Penton is an environmental activist and founder of the Wildwood Preservation Society. She helped organize this event with the Florida State Environmental Service Program.

"Right now, there aren't any trash traps to keep the trash from draining into the sinkhole area. That means that for 34-square miles, all of the runoff garbage is going down into that sinkhole."

The basin was recently purchased as public land through Florida Forever. Eventually, it will have trash traps, which are large strainers set in the water to catch floating debris.

Until these strainers are put in place to clean the basin water, volunteers are left to do the job. Thomas University student Rick Ulrich showed off black trash bag full of finds.

"Glass bottles, aluminum bottles, some balls, tennis balls, baseballs, that sort of thing."

The Fred George Basin clean-up wasn't your everyday walk in the woods. A month after the Federal Environmental Protection Agency proposed setting tougher standards for Florida's water quality, and about a week ahead of the legislative session, the statewide campaign was sort of a pep rally for environmentalists.

One of them is volunteer and director of Government Affairs for the Florida chapter of Nature Conservancy, Andy McLeod.

"We are participating today in part to call on the Legislature to provide sufficient funding to see that Florida Forever exists next year."

One cooler, thirteen car tires, and countless glass and plastic bottles later, the volunteers call it a day.


Endangered wood stork nesting in Fred George Basin, June 2009.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 5-15-09

FEATURED STORIES

Groups call for growth bill veto
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
Related St. Petersburg Times editorial: Enough of this
Related Palm Beach Post editorial: Growth management bill a disaster
Action Alert from Audubon of Florida: Urge Governor Charlie Crist to Veto SB 360
Environmental groups are calling on Gov. Charlie Crist to veto SB 360, a growth management bill that critics say will weaken state oversight of new development projects.

Sorting Through the Wreckage in Tallahassee
Advocate Newsletter
Audubon of Florida
Today the Legislature finally concludes work on the 2009-10 state budget.

Florida's warm-up drill
Editorial
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Follow-up editorial: The impact of drilling
Proponents of a recent plan to allow oil drilling off Florida's coast came far too close -- in more ways than one.

Manatees in the Midst
By Nick Jans
Defenders Magazine
Are Florida's iconic and endangered marine mammals truly on the rebound?

Endangered Species Day Educates for Protection
Press Release
Environmental News Service
America celebrates Endangered Species Day today and all this weekend at parks, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, museums, libraries and schools.

Green Cities: The Best Investment to Grow Business, Save Money and Enhance Community!
May 19-21 Orlando Conference Info
Green Cities Florida
Florida stands on the cusp of a tremendous emergence in clean technology, water conservation, green building, innovative business growth and wise land use planning.


Endangered manatees

MORE GREEN NEWS

Alabama, Florida and Georgia face off over water
The Associated Press
Tampa Tribune
The states of Florida and Alabama are meeting Georgia in federal court in Jacksonville over the allocation of water from Lake Lanier, which is the city of Atlanta's water supply.

Worsening drought leads to second-guessing water decisions
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Like wildfires flaring up in the Everglades, worsening drought conditions Thursday sparked South Florida water fights over new restrictions as well as how to divvy up strained backup supplies.

Gov. Crist declares wildfire state of emergency
The Associated Press
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Gov. Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency and has put the Florida National Guard on alert to help forestry officials deal with a wildfire threat across the state.

New emergency manager: Florida must prepare for hurricane season
By Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Post
Ruben Almaguer wants to stop calling the people who make it through hurricanes "victims."

Climate Change Could Affect Inland Fla.
By Tom Palmer
Lakeland Ledger
When you think of the danger of sea level rise caused by climate change in Florida, you usually don't think of its having any effect this far inland.

Clear UDB message: Don't move it
Editorial
Miami Herald
Even though his split-the-baby decision allowed one project outside the Urban Development Boundary to go forward, administrative law Judge Bram D.E. Canter basically sided with the majority of stakeholders in the ongoing battle to manage growth in Miami-Dade County.

Environmentalists find bright spots in gloomy session
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
In a legislative session marked by major environmental losses, environmentalists say there were a few bright spots among the bills that passed.

Cabinet approves $1.3M purchase for Fla. Forever
By Paul Flemming
Tallahassee Democrat
Florida's Cabinet on Wednesday approved the $1.3 million purchase of 575 acres in the Blackwater River State Forest as part of an ongoing Florida Forever project.

Yacht owner fined $150,000 for smuggled exotic animal pelts
By Jose Pagliery
Miami Herald
Inside the $26 million yacht: a striped pelt of zebra lined a child's bed, heavy cigar boxes were wrapped in elephant hide and large carved ivory tusks lined the entrance to main quarters.

Jacksonville man charged in bear killing
The Associated Press
Miami Herald
A Jacksonville man has been charged with killing a Florida black bear in the Osceola National Forest.

U.S. Sugar OK's land sale for Everglades restoration
By Paul Quinlan
Palm Beach Post
The board of U.S. Sugar Corp. voted Friday in favor of Gov. Charlie Crist's latest proposal to buy much of its farmland for use in Everglades restoration.

Water managers approve historic $536 million land buy for Everglades restoration
By Paul Quinlan
Palm Beach Post
South Florida water managers today approved Gov. Charlie Crist's twice-downsized but still monumental deal to buy farmland from the U.S. Sugar Corp. for future use in Everglades restoration.


The River of Grass

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Urgent action needed to save Florida Forever funding

UPDATE 4/29/09: Here is the latest, urgent update from the Florida Forever Coalition including suggested action/talking points: http://bit.ly/12y9Eb

Please read the important update below from from our friends at the Florida Forever Coalition and take action.

As we enter the final scheduled week of Florida's legislative session, funding for Florida Forever (FF) funding is still in jeopardy.

The Status: The Senate bill that deals with closing the documentary stamp tax loophole is still on track to pass in the Senate. SB 2430 would provide approximately $46M in additional doc stamp revenue for next fiscal year. A portion of this would be used to provide up to $50M in FF bonds and $50M for Everglades bonds for next fiscal year. The bill makes sure FF bonds are safe (assurance) for investors, and allow the state to issue bonds for $250M for FF for this year.

In an advance-planned, last minute maneuver, the House introduced HB 1219 that would allow oil and gas drilling within three miles of Florida's coast. In an effort to give it an environmental spin, the sponsors are proposing to fund FL Forever through oil and gas lease revenues. The Florida Forever Coalition believes oil and gas drilling lease revenues are not an appropriate, reliable solution to Florida Forever funding, and that the leases could not generate sufficient, predictable revenue to support Florida Forever bonds next year or for several years after that.

Recommended Actions:
Senate - need Senate to approve tax loophole bill (SB 2430) that will fund FF next year, let this year's bonds be sold and ensure environmental bond repayments - contact editorial boards, Senators, etc.
House - regarding the drilling bill (HB 1219) - contact House members/leadership and state that FF funding for NEXT YEAR is critical - drilling revenue will not be sufficient or available next year
Governor - contact Gov. Crist to encourage him to come out against drilling and in favor of FF funding for next year.
Overall message - FL Forever funding is not secured yet - support the Senate's approach in funding FF for next year.

Thanks to Sens. Atwater, Alexander, Baker, Lawson, Gelber for their roles in support of Florida Forever. Continue to forward resolutions, news stories, and elected officials' comments regarding Florida Forever to info@supportfloridaforever.org.

A strong, coordinated final hour effort is essential to obtain funding for Florida Forever.

Thank you,

The Florida Forever Coalition Steering Committee

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Help save Florida Forever

Note: Wildwood Preservation Society assisted Leon County in the acquisition of a $2.35 million dollar matching grant to conserve sensitive land including endangered wood stork foraging habitat in Fred George Basin. The grant was obtained via Florida Forever, the state's successful land conservation program. See the message below from Progress Florida and take action to save Florida Forever from shortsighted, unnecessary budget cuts. When taking action you will be asked for your zip code so the message will be sent to the appropriate lawmakers – you must be a Florida resident to participate. More background and info is at the Florida Forever Coalition website. Thank you!



Our sandy white beaches, magnificent springs, wetlands teeming with wildlife, these are the natural treasures that define our state. Unfortunately, Florida's flagship land conservation program that protects these gems, Florida Forever, is in serious trouble. If the legislature's budget is approved as currently written, our hallmark land conservation program will receive NO FUNDING.


We can't allow that to happen. Click here to contact your legislators in support of the Florida Forever program. Then, please forward this message to your friends and family.
Sprawling development has carved wildlife habitat into smaller and smaller pieces, divided by highways or paved over altogether for shopping malls and office parks -- threatening state symbols such as the Florida panther and the Florida black bear. The Florida Forever program has been a success story in the fight to protect Florida's remaining open spaces, protecting more than two million acres throughout the state.


A new poll released by The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land shows that 81% of Florida voters hold a favorable impression of land protection and 67% support continued funding of Florida Forever. Yet despite such overwhelming public support, the legislature is very close to suspending this critical program, and that's why we need your help right now.


Please take a moment and urge your representatives to continue funding Florida Forever. Then, please forward this message to your friends and family.




Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife action alerts April 2009

FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL AND WILDLIFE ACTIONS APRIL 2009

Act Now to Protect Florida Forever
Attend Florida Forever Day April 6th in Tallahassee
Florida Forever Coalition



Don’t Pave Florida
Support the Florida Clean Energy Trust Fund
Progress Florida



Urge Your Legislator to Add Money to the State Budget for Environmental Programs
Legislative Committee Approves Environmental Ponzi Scheme
Take A Stand On Climate Change: What Does Your Legislator Think?
Audubon of Florida

Calling all shutterbugs: Send us your photos of beautiful Florida
Tell House leaders: dirty energy will cost us
Tell Congress: Clean energy, green economy!
Environment Florida

Proposed Legislation Would Gut Florida's Growth Managment Process
Civic Concern

Please Help Safeguard Florida's Environment!
Save the Manatee Club

Ask Congress: Help Pass a Wildlife-friendly Budget
Florida Wildlife Federation

Act Now to Help Prevent Another Exxon Valdez Spill
Sierra Club

Tell Congress to keep limits on global warming pollution in the budget
Help put an end to pirate fishing
Greenpeace

Help get Hometown Democracy on the 2010 ballot
Florida Hometown Democracy

Oppose HB 189/SB 372 to stop breed-specific bills
American Humane Association

Help Stop Pro-Nuke Budget Amendments: Email Your Senator
Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Urge the EPA to Pave the Way for Cleaner Cars
Union of Concerned Scientists

MORE INFO AND WAYS TO HELP
Click here to find your state legislators.
Consider writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
Contribute financially to your favorite organization(s) as many are in desperate need of funding.
Link to this post on your website, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.


Endangered wood stork in flight over Fred George Basin. Photo courtesy Richard Baas.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Action Alert: Help needed for critical vote to save Fred George Basin

Endangered Wood Stork in Fred George Basin, photo courtesy Richard Baas.

This Tuesday afternoon, the Leon County Commission will vote on agenda item 21 (purchase of Fred George Basin Greenway), approving the allocation of funds already identified through Blueprint 2000 and Florida Communities Trust, to be used for the acquisition of the ‘core’ parcel (76 acres). This parcel is the first of 5 to be acquired which will preserve the last 172 acres of the Fred George Basin that remain of the more than 500 originally identified for conservation in Blueprint 2000.

Conserving this critical land will help protect:

• The quality of Leon County’s drinking water;
• Natural flood storage and aquifer recharge karst area;
• Fragile ecosystems from the closed Fred George Basin all the way to Wakulla Springs; and
• Endangered and threatened species including the American Wood Stork, Little Blue Heron, White Ibis and Gopher Tortoise.

Please take action by:

1. Sending the email below (scroll down and feel free to cut and paste) or, even better, write one of your own to the commissioners and their aides:
proctorb@leoncountyfl.gov; gleer@leoncountyfl.gov; saulsj@leoncountyfl.gov; summerlinl@leoncountyfl.gov; daileyj@leoncountyfl.gov; doughertyj@leoncountyfl.gov; deslogeb@leoncountyfl.gov; tannerb@leoncountyfl.gov; rackleffhsd@earthlink.net; bradyk@leoncountyfl.gov; akinyemia@leoncountyfl.gov; jonesc@leoncountyfl.gov; thaellC@leoncountyfl.gov; greenm@leoncountyfl.gov

2. Calling your County Commissioner:
Bill Proctor (District 1): 850-606-5361
Jane Sauls (District 2): 850-606-5362
John Dailey (District 3): 850-606-5363
Bryan Desloge (District 4): 850-606-5364
Bob Rackleff (District 5): 850-606-5365
Akin Akinyemi (at large): 850-606-5369
Cliff Thaell (at large): 850-606-5367

3. Most importantly, attending the County Commission meeting to show your support:
Tuesday, December 9th at 3pm
Leon County Courthouse, 5th Floor
301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee 32301

Thank you for your support of this critical conservation project. For more information, go to www.myspace.com/wildwoodpreservation or call Wildwood Preservation Society founder Misty Penton at 850-559-9661. The Agenda Item for Tuesday’s meeting may be viewed on the County website here.

Sincerely,

Your friends at Wildwood Preservation Society

PS – Supporters include:
Florida Wildlife Federation
Florida Audubon Society
Environment Florida
1000 Friends of Florida
The Habitat Trust for Wildlife
Cornwall's Voice For Animals
Heart of the Earth
Ochlockonee River Soil and Water Conservation District
Blueprint 2000
Leon County Commission
Apalachee Audubon Society (local Audubon Chapter)
Friends of Lake Jackson
Lake Jackson Protection Alliance
FSU Environmental Service Program
Big Bend Sierra Club
Wildwood Neighborhood
Erin Brockovich
Former State Rep. Loranne Ausley
State Sen. Al Lawson
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered Wood Stork landing in Fred George Basin, photo courtesy Richard Baas.

EMAIL TO COMMISSIONERS Note: please blind copy (bcc) wildwoodpreservation@gmail.com.

Subject: It’s time to bring Fred George Basin acquisition in for a landing

Dear Commissioner:

Two years ago, on December 12, 2006, the Leon County Commission voted unanimously to acquire the last 172 acres of Fred George Basin that remain of the more than 500 originally identified for conservation in Blueprint 2000. On Tuesday, your vision and leadership are needed again to bring this critical acquisition in for a landing. As you know, conserving this critical land will help protect:

• The quality of Leon County’s drinking water;
• Natural flood storage and aquifer recharge karst area;
• Fragile ecosystems from the closed Fred George Basin all the way to Wakulla Springs; and
• Endangered and threatened species including the American Wood Stork, Little Blue Heron, White Ibis and Gopher Tortoise.

The creation of the Fred George Basin Greenway will also provide a much-needed park in northwest Leon County and help reduce traffic and school overcrowding in this area that has been so impacted by intense development.

With the establishment of the Fred George Basin Greenway the Leon County Commission is taking a critical first step toward protecting our way of life and natural resources for generations to come.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Winter 2008-09 Updates

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin Summer 2008.

Winter 2008-09 Update

Thanks to your support Wildwood Preservation Society has helped put the brakes on three potentially disastrous developments in just the past few months!

• Mahan Massacre: WPS assisted Progress Florida in generating over 1,000 online petition signatures from concerned Big Bend area residents opposing the Rockaway development, aka Mahan Massacre east of Tallahassee. Tallahassee City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey rightly called the Mahan Massacre “the poster child for urban sprawl.” This massive development would have been located outside the Urban Services Area, allowing more than 10 times the number of homes than current zoning laws provide. After submitting the petitions to Florida’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the DCA rejected the project citing many of the same concerns we expressed. As noted in this recent Tallahassee Democrat article, the developers have agreed to halt the project but intend to submit a revised proposal in the future.

• Everglades sprawl: WPS teamed up with our friends at Hold The Line and Progress Florida in rallying thousands of Floridians from around the state to sign a petition to Gov. Charlie Crist urging the DCA to reject two developments, including a Lowe's big box retail center that threatened the Everglades. On Friday July 18th DCA did exactly that. But our work isn't done. Lowe's, who still wants to cement urban sprawl to the edge of the Everglades, plans to fight this decision. "We feel confident that the decision will be overturned,'' declared a Lowe's attorney in response to the DCA's decision. There are 111 Lowe's stores in Florida but there's only one Everglades. It’s very easy to email Lowe’s and tell them to protect the Everglades, not pave it – simply click here. Let’s keep the pressure on Lowe’s.

• Thomasville industrial park: This summer WPS Founder Misty Penton helped a group of activists in Thomasville, Georgia prevent a land transfer that would have resulted in a pristine 200-acre forested area being converted into an industrial park. After numerous community members spoke in favor of preservation, the Thomas County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to spare the land, reversing a previous decision. This Thomaville Times-Enterprise story has the details.
  

Meanwhile our commitment to protecting the remaining undeveloped portion of Fred George Basin is stronger than ever. The endangered wood storks completed a highly successful mating season and the Wildwood rookery now sits abandoned – until next spring. With South Florida colonies like the critically important Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on the decline, the conservation of fragile habitat in places like Fred George Basin is absolutely critical.

Flooded meadow in Fred George Basin following Tropical Storm Fay in August 2008.

After battling drought for the past couple years, the Big Bend region was inundated with intense flooding courtesy of Tropical Storm Fay in late August as evidenced by the photo above. With Fred George Sink acting as a tiny drainhole for the entire basin, some flooding is inevitable under extreme conditions. However, as noted in our blog post here, reckless development can greatly exacerbate the problem and is already blamed for flooding in some parts of the county.

WPS is expanding our web outreach. Check out our blog for all the latest Florida environmental and wildlife news. Join other environmental activists from around the state on MySpace at the Florida Environmental Leaders Network group. And Facebook users can now network with us at our newly created page here.

WPS is proud to have been awarded special recognition from A United Journey 4 Humanity for our continuing efforts to save Fred George Basin. WPS joins other outstanding difference-makers in receiving this honor.

Volunteers gather to clear debris from trail easement in southwest Tallahassee July 19th, 2008. Photo courtesy John Kalin.

WPS Founder Misty Penton led a group of volunteers, including members of the FSU Environmental Service Program, in clearing trash and debris from a city-owned trail easement that is slated to become an important addition to the local greenway system. Workers gathered bags of cans, bottles, plastic, bicycle frames, an old truck tire and assorted debris from an old homeless camp. Click here for more photos and information, and thanks to everyone who participated!

Finally, following her appointment earlier this year, WPS Founder Misty Penton has been elected to a full term on the Ochlockonee River Soil and Water Conservation District Board. The mission of the Ochlockonee River Soil and Water Conservation District Board is to annually assess the condition of the soils and waters, both above and below ground, in Leon County; to educate the public about the state of the soils and waters; to educate the public about conservation practices which will enhance the conditions of the soils and waters; and to promote and advocate conservation practices and policies which will benefit the soils and waters of the County.

Wildwood Preservation Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit effort. Thanks to all of our supporters, volunteers and coalition members. Did you miss our last update? Click here. Questions? Email us at wildwoodpreservation@gmail.com.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. View/subscribe to our blog here.

"it's all connected"

Voters can bring politicians to heel

Voters can bring politicians to heel
By Kenric Ward
TC Palm
Friday, July 25, 2008

By the time you read this, Florida Hometown Democracy may have gathered enough petitions to make the ballot. As of Thursday, 607,961 signatures were validated by the state, with thousands more in the pipeline. A total of 611,009 is needed.

In the face of a hostile Legislature, well-heeled corporate opposition, erratic counting procedures by supervisors of elections, questionable emergency rules from the secretary of state and inexplicably blasé (or non-existent) news coverage, FHD marches on.

Martin County activist Joe Florio epitomizes the undaunted spirit of the grass-roots campaign that would empower Floridians by requiring voter referendums on all comprehensive plan changes in their communities. Florio has spent more than two years collecting signatures for FHD, volunteering untold hours of time for the cause. Last week, he and Lloyd Brumfield, another Martin County resident, were in Vero Beach to push the petition drive along.

Setting up shop outside the Indian River County main library, the pair gently approached patrons, asking if they were registered voters. Of those who were, most signed the petition. Florio and Brumfield wrapped up their three-hour stint with 53 signatures, a decent rate of about one every three minutes. 

Surprisingly few people had heard of Hometown Democracy until that moment. For all the supposed political “polarization” over growth in Indian River County, these local library-goers — presumably well read — were unaware of the statewide citizens’ campaign addressing that very issue.

Once explained, FHD (floridahometowndemocracy.com) struck a responsive chord with the passers-by. If the Florio-Brumfield team’s experience is any indication, there remains a vast reservoir of untapped angst about out-of-control growth in this state.

The development industry and the business writers, meantime, have abandoned their unrealistically rosy outlooks for a sober gloom. Where a turnaround was once just around the corner, Floridians now are told that things will get worse before they get better. Bottom line: Growth isn’t a problem anymore. It’s under control. The market is straightening things out.

Don’t drink that Kool-Aid.

Indian River and St. Lucie counties are still cranking out new single-family homes every day. Based on residential permits issued through June, the two counties are on track for more than 1,400 new dwellings this year.

That’s down, of course, but these stucco boxes will be stacked on top of seven to eight months of standing inventory of new, vacant homes.

Martin County isn’t much better off. Analysts at Boca Raton-based MetroStudy report that the “slow-growth” county has more than an eight-year supply of subdivided lots waiting to be built. 

Whatever their rationale, builders keep building — and corporate marketers do whatever it takes to goose the market.

Over in Cape Coral, near Fort Myers, an equity investment firm is selling new homes starting at $86,000.

“They got the creditors to agree to sell at a 40 percent discount across the board. Since then, virtually all the homes have been sold, indicating there are buyers out there for Florida real-estate, but at the right price,” market analyst Jack McCabe told Florida Trend magazine.

Do you feel your property value plummeting?

Michael Grunwald, writing recently in Time magazine, quoted a Miami real-estate sharpie who runs an outfit appropriately named Condo Vultures.

“Eventually, Florida is going to grow again,” predicted Peter Zalewski.

To which Grunwald muses: “The question is whether Florida will grow up.”

The Sunshine State’s relentless boom-and-bust economy has been fueled by real-estate speculation, starting when land was sold by the gallon (a subject with which Grunwald, author of “The Swamp,” is intimately familiar).

Now that there are 18 million-plus Floridians — most of them living south of Orlando — it’s increasingly obvious that a construction industry on steroids is as unhealthy and unsustainable as a mountaintop coal mine. Relying on residential development for continued prosperity is like building a house of cards in a hurricane. 

Few politicians will admit this. Their go-along-to-get-along attitude enables the scrape-and-sell game to continue. They depend on it for their financial support.

Florida Hometown Democracy is the “growing up” Grunwald speaks of. It’s the realization that pliable politicians — incumbent or newcomer — cannot be the ultimate answer. It should be painfully apparent by now that our elected officials are neither endowed with special insights nor unique intelligence.

The voice of the people, ratifying or rejecting via referendum, is the purest form of local governance. Hometown Democracy is the check and balance that’s been missing. That’s why fed-up Floridians keep signing. They’re tired of being treated like children.



WAYS TO HELP
Click on the picture below to visit Hometown Democracy where registered Florida voters can sign the petition and get involved:

Click here to visit Hometown Democracy on MySpace.
Not registered to vote? Click here.