With the obstruction of the law in fulfilling the mandates of Fair Districts, Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-led Florida legislature have shown a complete disregard for one of the most important provisions of democratic protections. Their failure to follow a Florida Supreme Court order to draw Fair Districts is not an isolated example: it is the normal practice of a ruling elite that is impervious to criticism.
Consider the following. The state's regional water management districts are powerful entities, supervised by appointees of Gov. Rick Scott.
Although water district governing boards have always skewed towards Big Ag and developers, Gov. Scott takes the micromanagement of district affairs to be a crucial way to enforce loyalty of regulated industries. It is a signature example of one hand washing the other, far from the view of the public.
According to the following news report, today the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District could vote to ignore an administrative law court order, objecting to a permit for mangrove destruction.
This issue is properly filed in the folder: "the devil is in the details". Gov. Scott has proven nearly as skillful in papering over his tracks with those details as he was in private life, where he accumulated a fortune -- buying his way to the governor's mansion -- gaming the medical reimbursement system. Smart, yes. "Good for the public" never enters in the equation.
There are no overarching principles to guide this governor's sense of democracy, other than what is good for a narrow band of special interests who are alternately giddy and compliant, so long as their profits are protected.
In other words, the public interest be damned.
Permit Recommendation Denying Mangrove Destruction for Neal’s Perico Development Could be Approved by SWFMD on Tuesday
Bradenton Times, August 22, 2015
by Staff Report
BRADENTON — Pat Neal’s development needs a permit by SWFMD to destroy mangroves in order to build four homes on Perico Island. SWFMD approved a permit for destroying the high quality mangroves on the island, adjacent to the pristine Florida waters of Anna Maria Sound. Though an administrative law judge has recommended that the water management district's board deny the order, the board will cast a final vote on Tuesday.
Read more »Consider the following. The state's regional water management districts are powerful entities, supervised by appointees of Gov. Rick Scott.
Although water district governing boards have always skewed towards Big Ag and developers, Gov. Scott takes the micromanagement of district affairs to be a crucial way to enforce loyalty of regulated industries. It is a signature example of one hand washing the other, far from the view of the public.
According to the following news report, today the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District could vote to ignore an administrative law court order, objecting to a permit for mangrove destruction.
This issue is properly filed in the folder: "the devil is in the details". Gov. Scott has proven nearly as skillful in papering over his tracks with those details as he was in private life, where he accumulated a fortune -- buying his way to the governor's mansion -- gaming the medical reimbursement system. Smart, yes. "Good for the public" never enters in the equation.
There are no overarching principles to guide this governor's sense of democracy, other than what is good for a narrow band of special interests who are alternately giddy and compliant, so long as their profits are protected.
In other words, the public interest be damned.
Permit Recommendation Denying Mangrove Destruction for Neal’s Perico Development Could be Approved by SWFMD on Tuesday
Bradenton Times, August 22, 2015
by Staff Report
BRADENTON — Pat Neal’s development needs a permit by SWFMD to destroy mangroves in order to build four homes on Perico Island. SWFMD approved a permit for destroying the high quality mangroves on the island, adjacent to the pristine Florida waters of Anna Maria Sound. Though an administrative law judge has recommended that the water management district's board deny the order, the board will cast a final vote on Tuesday.
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