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DeSantis tries to slip one past Floridians [1]

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Date: 2024-08-25  

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, under the guise of the Florida State Department of Environmental Protection (FL DEP) is right now attempting to push through major development within 9 Florida State Parks.

He is trying to do this as quickly, and with as little public notice or participation as he could get away with.

A short timeline of of very recent events:

Aug 15, 2024 – An internal State Park memo regarding plans for development of 2 golf courses at Jonathan Dickenson State Park in South Florida leaks…it raises some hackles, but it’s only one park, and there have been failed attempts to develop golf courses in the park previously, so it goes relatively noticed throughout the state.

Aug 19, 2024 – A second internal State Park memo leaks, revealing that Office of Park Planning has development plans for 9 State Parks throughout the state , and states that, since they are required to have public meetings to discuss the proposal, they will have public meetings “as quickly as possible”. The memo states that public meetings which will consist of “pre-recorded presentations…without answering questions”. The memo further states that it is the intention to have Office of Park Planning complete the entire process and have it approved for construction “by September”.

Aug 19, 2024 – On that same day, the Fl DEP (reactively) issues a press release admitting their development plans and announcing a public meeting to be on Tuesday August 27 at 3:00 PM. This is only a 1 week notice. There will be 8 separate meetings, all at the same time in 8 different locations in the middle of a weekday afternoon, all being presented with the same pre-recorded presentation. No questions.

This seems like a process that is deliberately intended to avoid public participation. Eric Draper Former Director of Florida State Parks

They totally left all local interests in the dark, until the leaks forced them to admit their plans. There has been a rapidly growing pushback from locals throughout the state.

My local park, Anastasia Island State Park is slated for a 350 room hotel, which would make it the largest hotel in the county.

On Friday Aug 23, 2024 it was announced that the original public meetings that had been scheduled have been postponed.

Let’s hope DeSantis can be forced out into the open for a fair fight.

For fellow Floridians who may not be aware of this situation, the following video has a good explanation of events. (Has in-video advertising from 3:08 to 3:56)

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