(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . 45 Democratic Candidates Stand United: Stop DeSantis from Selling Off Florida [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-08-28 45 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES CALL FOR PERMANENT HALT OF ALL GOP PLANS TO COMMERCIALIZE FLORIDA’S STATE PARKS As Democratic candidates for the Florida State Legislature, we are compelled to speak out against Governor Ron DeSantis’s latest attempt to undermine the natural heritage of our state. Simply “going back to the drawing board” or putting the plans on “pause” is not a genuine commitment; DeSantis cannot leave voters in limbo during such a critical election. This is yet another Republican tactic to mislead and manipulate voters. The recent proposal by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop Florida’s state parks is a blatant assault on the very principles of conservation and public trust that these lands are meant to uphold. Our state parks are not just plots of land; they are sanctuaries for wildlife, refuges for endangered species, and places where Floridians of all walks of life can connect with nature. Governor Ron DeSantis’s hand-picked DEP proposed a deeply concerning plan to allow the construction of hotels, golf courses, and pickleball courts within our state parks. These parks are home to some of Florida’s most iconic and vulnerable species, including the Florida panther, sea turtles, gopher tortoises, and the Florida scrub jay. The introduction of commercial development would irreversibly harm these ecosystems, replacing Florida’s natural beauty with concrete structures and chemically-laden golf courses. The so-called "Great Outdoors Initiative" was completely misleading. It was actually an attempt by the GOP to put corporate interests ahead of the public good. For over 30 years, Republicans have been systematically dismantling environmental protections in Florida, pushing for private development at the expense of our natural resources. This recent proposal to convert our public lands into profit centers for a select few serves as an example of Project 2025’s stated agenda to privatize public agencies and replace their functions with for-profit corporate development schemes. We will not be deceived by the handful of GOP lawmakers who claim to “oppose” the development plan. Their sudden concern does not erase years of support for Governor DeSantis’s broader anti-environmental policies. These same Republican lawmakers have consistently voted to weaken environmental regulations and defund conservation efforts, contributing to the very crisis we now face. They have even gone so far as eliminating the words “climate change” from state law, leaving our state parks unable to address the devastating effects of a warming climate— stronger hurricanes, more tornadoes, and rising sea levels—they can’t even talk about climate change. We refuse to let Florida’s natural treasures be auctioned off to the highest bidder. We demand Governor DeSantis and his DEP Commissioners permanently scrap all plans to commercialize our state parks—immediately. As Democratic candidates, we insist on a legally binding commitment to protect these lands for future generations, not to simply pause the plans. Until that happens, this is still a live controversy, and we’ll keep fighting to keep our parks wild and free. Sincerely, Franscine Mathis Candidate for FL House District 1 Haley Morrissette Candidate for FL House District 2 Keith Gillum Candidate for FL House District 3 Stephanie Lyn Leonard Candidate for FL House District 5 Jerry Wyche Candidate for FL House District 6 Kenny Beasley Candidate for FL House District 7 Bobby Brady Candidate for FL House District 10 Gary McManus Candidate for FL House District 15 Bryson Morgan Candidate for FL House District 17 Keith Matthews Candidate for FL House District 18 Adam Morley Candidate for FL House District 19 Tony Connolly Candidate for FL House District 20 Judith Vowels Candidate for FL House District 23 Fody Merritt Candidate for FL House District 25 Jackie Arndt Candidate for FL House District 26 Andy Ferrari Candidate for FL House District 27 John Hill Candidate for FL House District 48 Ashley Elizabeth Herrmann Candidate for FL House District 49 Karl Cieslak Candidate for FL House District 54 William “Willie” Pura Candidate for FL House District 56 Kelly Johnson Candidate for FL House District 57 Bryan Beckman Candidate for FL House District 58 Dawn Douglas Candidate for FL House District 59 Nick Clemente Candidate for FL House District 66 Lisa Carpus Candidate for FL House District 68 Bobby Kachelries Candidate for FL House District 69 Luther Wilkins Candidate for FL House District 70 Adriaan DeVilliers Candidate for FL House District 71 Lesa Miller Candidate for FL House District 72 Charles “Chuck” Work Candidate for FL House District 81 Arthur Oslund Candidate for FL House District 82 Lisa Stortstrom Candidate for FL House District 85 Alberto Hernandez Candidate for FL House District 86 Laura Kelley Candidate for FL House District 111 Jacqueline “Jackie” Gil-Abarzua Candidate for FL House District 112 Jacqueline “Jackie” Gross-Kellogg Candidate for FL House District 113 Matthew Bornstein Candidate for FL House District 114 Nicolas Ramos Candidate for FL House District 116 Joel Vodola Candidate for FL House District 118 Lisa Newell Candidate for FL Senate District 1 Marilyn Holleran Candidate for FL Senate District 11 Doris Carroll Candidate for FL Senate District 21 Ben Braver Candidate for FL Senate District 23 Randy Aldieri Candidate for FL Senate District 29 Aaron Hawkins Candidate for FL Senate District 31 [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/8/28/2266387/-45-Democratic-Candidates-Stand-United-Stop-DeSantis-from-Selling-Off-Florida?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=community_groups_DK+Fans+of+90+for+90&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/