Lucas,
Have you ever enjoyed a nature trail or stream that was then turned into a strip mall or parking lot? I know I have. Now Gov. Rick Scott wants to sell off up to 4,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands our tax dollars have already purchased and protected so he can kick back more money to his big business buddies. We can't let him get away with it.
Florida is a fast growing state but one thing we've actually been pretty good at is acquiring and protecting environmentally sensitive lands. Well, no more. Under Rick Scott, our so-called "Department of Environmental Protection" has become little more than a real estate broker helping developers expedite the plunder of our precious natural resources. Scott abolished the entire agency (the Department of Community Affairs) that used to ensure we were growing responsibly, and now, the budget he supported and signed requires the selling off of lands we've already acquired, supposedly in exchange for "better" land. But we know a bait and switch when we see one.
The Miami Herald recently editorialized in opposition to this outrageous scheme, saying "It's a way for the governor and legislators, who approved his haphazard plan, to say they care about Florida's environment while continuing to rob the trust fund, meant to raise money to buy such lands and instead using that money for their own pet projects."1
The original list of lands put up for sale was thrown together in such a haphazard way that already more than 50 tracts have been removed because it turns out they were home to protected species such as rare butterflies and critically important coastal mangrove forests.
Once we lose these lands we'll never get them back. Don't let Rick Scott sell off our state to the highest bidder. Send your email today and let's protect what's left of paradise.
For our future,
Mark and the rest of the Progress Florida team
PS – Here's a complete list of all the lands the state is considering putting on the auction block. Take a look and see if any of them are in your backyard.