DeSantis blames left-wing activists for the uproar
By Mark Warriner
Original Air Date: August 30, 2024
Host: Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the controversial proposal to build golf courses and hotels in nine state parks. He said it wasn’t his idea, and blames liberals for the uproar. Mark Warriner has more.
Mark Warriner: Governor Ron DeSantis put a controversial plan to build resort hotels, golf courses, and pickleball courts in parks across the state of Florida on hold Wednesday in the wake of widespread, non-partisan protest that was both in person and on social media.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection last week named nine parks, including Hillsborough River State Park in Tampa and Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, to be included in the “2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative.” Construction on development, which called for 350-room hotels, 18-hole golf courses, disk golf, and pickleball courts, was scheduled to begin next year.
Public input meetings were scheduled to happen simultaneously near each of the parks and last a few hours. But they were soon postponed once it was clear the meetings would draw larger-than-expected turnouts, the state DEP announced.
In the midst of the public backlash, a developer pulled out of a project slated for Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, citing it wasn’t the right location for the project, according to its website. The little-known developer is listed as an out-of-state, non-profit organization, which said it planned to donate its profits to the education of veterans.
[sounds of protesters]
MW: The announcement created protests outside of several of the parks last weekend and went viral online. Well known Florida Republicans, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Matt Gaetz, joined with Democrats to criticize the program. Republican State Senator, Gayle Harrell, said she would file a bill to protect the state parks from development. Republican, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, wanted more details about the program going forward. “I think there is some very specific answers that need to come out,” Mast responded. “No. 1 is this a wheel that is already in motion? That being said, there was one request for a proposal that went out, and there was a notice of a public comment period. Is that wheel just in motion and can’t be (brought) to a halt by the governor saying, ‘Hey this will not happen.'”
On Wednesday, Mast got some of his answers. In a press conference, Gov. DeSantis put a hold on the program, saying it was the result of a leak which he did not approve. And that the ideas of the program were “half-baked”. He said they “were going back to the drawing board” as far as the suggested “improvements” to the state parks.
Ron DeSantis: So yes, this was something that was leaked; it was not approved by me, I never saw that. They’re going back to the drawing board, top tier local communities. Here’s the thing: I’d rather not spend any money on this, right? I mean, if people don’t want improvements, then don’t do it. And so, that’ll be something citizens will be able to do, they’re not doing anything this year, they’re going to go back and basically listen to folks, a lot of that stuffed was half-baked, and it was not ready for primetime when it was — and it was intentionally leaked out to a left wing group to try and create a narrative.
MW: While there were no parks initially designated for the Sarasota – Manatee area, there were some residents who were concerned. WSLR talked to Sara Reisinger, president of the Sarasota Audubon Society.
Sara Reisinger: Florida Audubon really headed this up because, as you know, no parks in Sarasota were directly affected, so this was really a statewide initiative. So the Audubon of Florida headed up the initiative on this. Their stance was essentially: there’s plenty of places to play golf in this state. There’s plenty of places that you can play Pickleball. And there’s no shortage of mimosa brunches that you can attend, or continental breakfasts that you can go to in the state of Florida. There is a shortage of places where you can go out and appreciate the magic and beauty of nature. We really need to keep those experiences separate.
MW: This is Mark Warriner reporting for WSLR News.
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