Florida Department of Environmental Protection proposing major changes to various State Parks throughout Florida

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The old ones do!

Here's who's behind it:

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They should try it... they ain't much good at football.

Do we have a rouge state agency?

: The "Great Outdoors Initiative," which includes proposed development on nine protected Florida state parks has been withdrawn -- announced via August 28 press conference.

Follow @conservationflorida & stay tuned for updates.

We are continuing to do what we have always done: .

To get involved, check out conservationfla.org

Amid statewide backlash, DeSantis calls on DEP to put Florida state park plans on hold​

Gov. Ron DeSantis is shelving – at least until next year – his administration’s plan to put golf course, pickleball courts and lodges in some state parks.

At an event in Polk County on Wednesday, he said he told Department of Environmental Protection officials to rework the proposal, released last week, after it generated intense bipartisan pushback.

"It was not approved by me, I never saw that. They're going back to the drawing board," DeSantis told reporters. "I'd rather not spend any money on this. If people don’t want improvements then don’t do it. That’ll be something that citizens will be able to do."

The governor's daily schedule for April 10 shows he met "with Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney," a charitable group for veterans that previously looked into putting golf courses in Florida state parks.

"They’re not going to do anything this year," DeSantis added Wednesday, referring to DEP. "They're going to go back and basically listen to folks."

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EDITORIALS

DeSantis administration is learning what happens when you mess with Florida state parks

Opinion BY THE MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARD UPDATED AUGUST 28, 2024 2:02 PM

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s proposal to add pickleball courts and other recreational amenities to state parks such as the Oleta River State Park in Miami-Dade has caused controversy. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got a taste of bipartisanship in recent weeks in the form of fierce pushback against his administration’s proposal to build golf courses, pickleball courts and lodging at the state’s beloved parks.

Tree-hugging liberals and MAGA Republicans can agree that the mission of state parks is to be a refuge to enjoy and learn about Florida’s natural habitat, waterways and forests, not to be profit-focused or recreational spaces that interfere with the people’s ability to peacefully enjoy nature.

The public can also sense when there appears to be an effort to keep them in the dark.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection originally unveiled its proposal to add amenities to nine parks just one week before public meetings were scheduled on the matter. All nine individual meetings were scheduled across the state on the same day and time, taking away environmental groups’ ability to organize to give their input.

Faced with public outcry, the DEP postponed the meetings, but that didn’t quell the opposition; protests were held on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, DeSantis acquiesced and announced his administration was dropping the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” saying, “If people don’t want improvements, then we won’t do them,” the Herald reported.

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article291548390.html#storylink=cpy

Tree-hugging liberals and MAGA Republicans can agree that the mission of state parks is to be a refuge to enjoy and learn about Florida’s natural habitat, waterways and forests, not to be profit-focused or recreational spaces that interfere with the people’s ability to peacefully enjoy nature.

That means no highways either!!!

Guess it’s just a matter of perspective. For all the conspiracy theorists and “they’re so evil” chanters, it took what a week and the government folks decide to can this? In other words they listened to people? Definitely wouldn’t have had such an outcome in much the rest of the US of A.

Guess it’s just a matter of perspective. For all the conspiracy theorists and “they’re so evil” chanters, it took what a week and the government folks decide to can this? In other words they listened to people? Definitely wouldn’t have had such an outcome in much the rest of the US of A.

More like smacked down rather than "listening".

More like smacked down rather than "listening".

We can use whatever feel good adjectives suite us but after less than a couple weeks and largely a bunch of internet disgruntleds going wild, they took a step back and listened to people. This doesn’t happened very often anymore. It’s quite rare. So they deserve credit.

Most government related ideas start off well intentioned but execution wise are disastrous because all the good execution people are in private sector. Golf courses are horrible for the environment and 95% are horrible businesses. Putting a mega hotel in Topsail is like putting a church next to a brothel. Doesn’t matter how awesome it might be, it just doesn’t fit. But the idea of investing in state parks is a good one and making them more attractive and accessible to a wider range of people isn’t wrong either. So hopefully they think things through a little better and come back with something a little more viable.

And don't forget he said he knew nothing about it. Possibly the most blatant lie he has told in a long time.

If he uses the word narrative you have to take a shot and know there's a coverup.

Good on him. But would think there’d be a bit more money coming his way. Statewide appreciation not even in the 6 figures is somewhat surprising given all the time and vocalization seemed to indicate a little more passion. Guess that’s where the buck stops.

Donate to Support an Ethical Whistleblower's New Start, organized by James Gaddis

On Friday, August 30, 2024, I was terminated from the Department of Environm… James Gaddis needs your support for Support an Ethical Whistleblower's New Start

www.gofundme.com

Good on him. But would think there’d be a bit more money coming his way. Statewide appreciation not even in the 6 figures is somewhat surprising given all the time and vocalization seemed to indicate a little more passion. Guess that’s where the buck stops.

His goal was $10k he's up over $55k. He plans to find another job or start his own business. Seems like he's got plenty of support plus whatever he gets from his whistleblower lawsuit if that ever goes anywhere.

His goal was $10k he's up over $55k. He plans to find another job or start his own business. Seems like he's got plenty of support plus whatever he gets from his whistleblower lawsuit if that ever goes anywhere.

Perhaps. I have family who work in both FL Fish and Wildlife and DEP, and not only do they make very little, but it’s also quite bureaucratic. The kicker is you often have to be very qualified from a certification/degree standpoint, all of which is very granular.

This guy just committed career suicide. So depending on what he’s looking to get into, barring generosity of strangers or wealthy supporters, he s probably gonna need a rainy day fund to cover more than 3-6 months. Especially if he s looking to start up his own business.

Career changes suck, especially when you’re already a decade or more into the existing career. I wish him well.

His ask is undoubtedly humble. But for something like this, which was advertised as being “incredibly unpopular”; I’ll fend off guessing that “incredibly unpopular” means more than half the population didn’t want it. I’ll refrain from even assuming 20-30% didn’t want it although that wouldn’t really qualify as “incredibly unpopular” given it’s a minority.

However if even one half of one percent, (.005%) of Floridas population found it was “unpopular” and felt this guy should be rewarded for his heroic act of defiance, surely they could cough up like $5 each? Half a million bucks for a guy in a field like that, who did something courageous like that; I don’t think it would be out of line or a bad message to send the world. But I guess as they say, people say a lot, but when it comes to writing checks….dont really stand as wholeheartedly behind everything they say they do.

His ask is undoubtedly humble. But for something like this, which was advertised as being “incredibly unpopular”; I’ll fend off guessing that “incredibly unpopular” means more than half the population didn’t want it. I’ll refrain from even assuming 20-30% didn’t want it although that wouldn’t really qualify as “incredibly unpopular” given it’s a minority.

However if even one half of one percent, (.005%) of Floridas population found it was “unpopular” and felt this guy should be rewarded for his heroic act of defiance, surely they could cough up like $5 each? Half a million bucks for a guy in a field like that, who did something courageous like that; I don’t think it would be out of line or a bad message to send the world. But I guess as they say, people say a lot, but when it comes to writing checks….dont really stand as wholeheartedly behind everything they say they do.

I gave him $50. I think he showed a lot of guts. DeSantis, on the other hand, just tried to lie his way out of it.

I gave him $50. I think he showed a lot of guts. DeSantis, on the other hand, just tried to lie his way out of it.

Yup. This fella should be able to retire and start a new pursuit. Looking at his LinkedIn, it’s obvious he’s one of the good guys.

Donate to Support an Ethical Whistleblower's New Start, organized by James Gaddis

On Friday, August 30, 2024, I was terminated from the Department of Environm… James Gaddis needs your support for Support an Ethical Whistleblower's New Start

www.gofundme.com

Good on him. But would think there’d be a bit more money coming his way. Statewide appreciation not even in the 6 figures is somewhat surprising given all the time and vocalization seemed to indicate a little more passion. Guess that’s where the buck stops.

His Go Fund Me drive is approaching $200K! I see no signs that it's slowing, yet. When I looked this morning it was just over $100K. In just a few hours he has gone to $188K. Not a bad upward trend!

This guy is a ray of sunshine, in my opinion. I hope the leadership of the DEP and ARC are tuning in to this.

Yea happy this is likely going to change his life in a positive way. Sends such a good message on so many different levels.

This continues to evolve into such an awesome story. And Mr Gaddis really seems to highlight this with great humility. Everything these days needs to be sensationalized and turned into a divisive culture war. But the reality is this story is great because its people and government interacting and functioning the way it should. The government is here to listen to and serve the people, not the other way around which is unfortunately what many other places in the country have turned into.



“One thing I will not do with the money is add to political division or needlessly criticize anyone or any organization,” Gaddis said. “This is a rare moment of bipartisanship that we are seeing, and I hope that we as Floridians can turn it into something great.”