To: Jon Steverson, Sec. Dept. of Environmental Protection, Protectors of Paynes Prairie, The Florida State Senate, and Governor Ron DeSantis
Our Parks are not for sale!
WE WANT TO PAY our admittance fees for the privilege of using our state parks. Bill SB570 provides for free admittance to Fla Parks for a year. Sounds good but.... The Department of Environmental Protection has been adamant that the parks need to be financially self-sustaining. So why give up $20,000,000 in fees? To make our parks fail. The increased park usage, combined with staff cuts and the lower income, will "prove" that the state cannot manage its parks and will throw the doors wide open to private interests like cattle ranchers and timber harvesters to "manage" our state park lands. Save our parks. We will pay the price now so that we can continue to enjoy our parks in the future. VOTE NO on SB570.
Why is this important?
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jon Steverson, whom Gov. Rick Scott appointed to lead the DEP last year, is trying to make the parks pay for themselves by adding in previously banned activities.
He has said that parks pay only 77 percent of their expenses, and he wants that number to be 100 percent.
In March, he told a state legislative committee that he wanted to make the parks pay for themselves by adding timber harvesting, cattle grazing and other money-making activities. Three months ago, "they added stuff like hunting, timber harvesting and cattle grazing," said Ehrbar, who quit her job as a DEP park planner on Oct. 21 because she disagreed with the direction of the division. The goal was to "implement wherever possible" by Dec. 31.
Steverson has had two directors of the state's land division quit in the last two years after questions arose about their efforts to monetize public property.
In August, Steverson was chided by members of the Florida Cabinet for not being forthcoming with the public on how he plans to alter the parks. Even Scott advised his appointee that he should be "sitting down with all the people that use the state parks and make sure we're doing the right thing."
Repeated requests by the Tampa Bay Times to interview Steverson have been declined by his staff. They say he is far too busy to talk to reporters.
--
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
He has said that parks pay only 77 percent of their expenses, and he wants that number to be 100 percent.
In March, he told a state legislative committee that he wanted to make the parks pay for themselves by adding timber harvesting, cattle grazing and other money-making activities. Three months ago, "they added stuff like hunting, timber harvesting and cattle grazing," said Ehrbar, who quit her job as a DEP park planner on Oct. 21 because she disagreed with the direction of the division. The goal was to "implement wherever possible" by Dec. 31.
Steverson has had two directors of the state's land division quit in the last two years after questions arose about their efforts to monetize public property.
In August, Steverson was chided by members of the Florida Cabinet for not being forthcoming with the public on how he plans to alter the parks. Even Scott advised his appointee that he should be "sitting down with all the people that use the state parks and make sure we're doing the right thing."
Repeated requests by the Tampa Bay Times to interview Steverson have been declined by his staff. They say he is far too busy to talk to reporters.
--
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead