WHO DECIDES?: Lawmakers push bills to override local communities

This year there are multiple bills in the state Legislature with a single goal: Taking power away from local communities.

Some of them involve straight-up preemption: Rep. Randy Maggard’s House Bill 479, “Land and Water Management,” sought to prohibit local governments from enacting any rule regarding water quality or wetlands or pollution control. Thankfully that bill was amended and the worst provisions removed, but it was typical of the type of bill we see so often out of Tallahassee: Hey, it may be YOUR community, but WE will call the shots.

Other power grabs aren’t quite so explicit. But preemption by another name is still preemption.

An entire “suite” of pro-development bills have been filed this session which seek to shackle local governments’ ability to regulate growth. Consider HB 1143/SB 948, “Local Government Land Development Regulations and Orders”: this creates the “Florida Starter Homes Act,” and prohibits local governments from adopting certain land development regulations on residential lots unless they meet specific state-set criteria.

It also prohibits local governments from regulating lots tied to public water or sewer systems in many ways; and local rules could no longer require minimum parking requirements for some lots. The goal, supposedly, is to facilitate the creation of more affordable housing by reducing government red tape.

But that “red tape” amounts to local control; this bill, if passed, would significantly curb the ability of cities and counties across Florida to write their own rules on residential land use, development standards, and procedural requirements. Many decisions that today are made locally would be subject to state minimums or prohibitions on local variation.

And as noted, this is just one bill; there are many more. Because Tallahassee knows best. According to Tallahassee, that is.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Drop your state Representative and/or state Senator a line and tell them to oppose any bill that preempts home rule. As noted, they'll have many opportunities to do so this session — and send a message that one size in Florida does NOT fit all.

Big Sugar's favorite bill hits a roadblock

Senate Bill 290, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services omnibus proposal that’s undoubtedly Big Sugar’s favorite bill this session, hit a roadblock this past Tuesday.

The bill was supposed to have been heard by the Senate Rules Committee, its final stop on the way to the Senate floor. However, the bill sponsor — Sen. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares — asked for a temporary postponement, as he was still in the process of talking to stakeholders. There likely will be amendments, but what those amendments look like is currently unclear.

There are multiple provisions to the bill, some of them worrying — but none more alarming than language that would allow agricultural producers to go after critics. The bill would expand Florida’s “food libel law," which currently prohibits critics from disparaging Florida’s perishable agricultural products; SB 290 would let producers sue for disparagement of non-perishable products — like sugar. And, it would outlaw disparagement of farming methods — like burning sugarcane fields before harvest.

The bill will be heard at the next Rules Committee meeting, which as of this writing has not yet been scheduled.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Call or email members of the Rules Committee (here’s the list) and ask them to either vote “no” on SB 290, or to amend the bill to remove the provisions that would let Big Sugar go after its critics.

The Story of the Everglades — and why we must ‘Rescue the River of Grass’

The Everglades is the heart of life in Florida, worth protecting and restoring. Join former WPTV anchor Michael Williams and our friends at Friends of the Everglades for a video series that will explore the challenges facing this one-of-a-kind ecosystem and what can be done to ensure we Rescue the River of Grass.

Worst idea of the week: Hey, let's destroy nature to accommodate cruise ships!

It’s a little beyond our South Florida stomping grounds, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t notice the terrible proposal to build a massive new cruise port north of Rattlesnake Key and seaward of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Terra Ceia Bay.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the site is next to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, “considered one of the most environmentally sensitive and ecologically diverse areas in the Tampa Bay estuary.” Which ought to be enough to end the debate right there.

But no. Cruise ship terminal operator SSA Marine and Slip Knott LLC want to rezone the area to “industrial” to allow dredging, backfilling and massive infrastructure to accommodate newer, larger ships that can’t fit under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The rationale — and you knew this was coming — is that it will “bring additional tourism to West Central Florida,” SSA Marine said on its website.

Sure it would. But at what cost?

Already the community has sprung into action, and as of this writing a Change.org petition had collected just under 12,000 signatures opposing the plan. From that petition: “This region boasts pristine seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and shallow estuarine habitats that serve as essential nursery grounds for fish, shellfish, manatees, and countless other species… We call for responsible development that protects rather than endangers our shared waters.”

Amen.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Sign the petition; check out the Save Rattlesnake Key and the People Protecting Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve groups on Facebook for more info.

The very things that make Florida special are under constant attack, and always for the same reason ($$$). But your voice can help make a difference.

Discounts continue in the VW shop

Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite water warrior? We've got the answer...

Our embroidered Flexfit trucker mesh caps are now just $19.99, and our Koozie cork can coolers are only $4.99. Every purchase helps fuel our fight for Florida’s waters — look good, stay cool, and make a difference all year round!

This is what we're fighting for

You love paddleboarding — and you should be able to do so without worrying about what's in the water. That's why VoteWater holds politicians accountable, challenges polluting special interests, and fights for policies that protect Florida’s waters, communities, and future. Donate today to keep Florida’s natural beauty alive for generations to come. Or help us turn the tide by becoming an annual member for $60, or a WaveMaker for $1,200.

Become a WaveMaker!