REP. Gayle Harrell (A letter to an absent Legislator)
Maybe you are aware that the poisonous algal blooms that we've suffered in the past have begun early this spring and already have begun to render the St Lucie waters "UnSafe" and even "untouchable".
I would be even more surprised, if you were unaware of the impact on tourism, fishing and water sports in general threatened by the devastating impact of the Legislatures inaction.
Voters have spoken, you must also be aware of the recently overwhelming demand by Floridians in Amendment One - to purchase the agreed upon Sugar-lands so that Okeechobee waters southward flow can resume.
This will (I'm sure you know this - but since you have failed to give us your full-throated support- Maybe you don't) have a tremendous impact on future water quality.
If the land was purchased and the southern flow of Lake Okeechobee's waters renewed, we would have helped the River of Grass, rescued the St Lucie estuary, revitalized the water related tourism on the Treasure Coast, and incidentally begun to replenish our rapidly depleting aquifer.
But you say, you're ready to come home, thrilled with the accomplishments the House has achieved. Mighty low bar, Representative Harrell, mighty low bar.
I would like to hear why we have not seen you defend Florida from the Frackers, who would despoil our waters for a short term buck, while simultaneously hiding the damaging chemicals cocktail behind a veil of irresponsible "corporate secrecy".
Why have we waited and waited to see you stand with conservationists demanding our waters be made safe for swimming and fishing? Where are you standing, when the public demands the lands be purchased?
I haven't seen you at US ARMY CORPS meetings, at South Florida Water Management District meetings demanding the waters go south rather than pollute Floridians east and west and speaking out against the dumping of even more pollution into the St. Lucie Estuary and ultimately the Atlantic? Where's Gayle?
But you're happy to blame the national government, you're pleased with the efforts of this last session, despite the House not even accomplishing the one task demanded of each legislative session? That of passing a budget? The 2015 legislature was pleased with its abject failure to complete its one required task? So little statesmanship that no compromise could be made? Maybe the wrong people are negotiating? Maybe that job, is not for you, Representative Harrell. Maybe those too stubborn or tpp lazy to find a compromise haven't really found their niche.
So where has your voice been on the land purchases? Why for our grandchildren's sake, are you not standing with us to defend Florida's Waters?
Now that your back in your district, maybe you have time to defend our Florida waters before sea level rise and Frackers make us as dry as Californians?
RW Spisak
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