What's Next?

WE DID IT!! On Tuesday August 13th, the County Commission voted 4 to 1 for final adoption of the amendments. Thanks to everyone for working to make this happen!

Now we need to send emails to the state agencies!

THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT EMAILS OF ALL! THEY NEED TO BE FROM YOU, AND THE EMAILS NEED TO GO OUT NOW.

The Dept. of Economic Opportunity, the Dept. of Environmental Protection, the South Florida Water Management District, and the Dept. of Agriculture all filed comments on the Martin County Comp Plan changes to Chapters 1, 2, and 4.

The first three agencies are under Gov. Rick Scott. Agriculture is under Cabinet member Adam Putnam. All of their comments opposed the amendments on the basis that they interfered with state authority on environmental protection.

See "State Agency comments" on this website.

Don't laugh out loud. They actually suggested that there are no problems because the state takes care of everything and we shouldn't interfere. Those same agencies will decide this week whether to challenge the amendments in court and deny our right to protect and preserve the things we care about. They need to hear from us. You can contact them all at once with the following emails:

Politicians and political appointees:

rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com, KPowers@sfwmd.gov, adam.putnam@freshfromflorida.com.

Or go to the Facebook pages for: Gov. Rick Scott and Secretary of Agriculture Adam Putnam

Plan reviewers:

ray.eubanks@deo.myflorida.com, compplans@freshfromflorida.com, Plan.Review@dep.state.fl.us, tmanning@sfwmd.gov

Write your own message telling them not to challenge the amendments and to LEAVE US ALONE!

A sample email:

"Dear State Agencies,

Martin County residents have made the choice to strengthen the environmental protection policies in our comprehensive plan. The amendments had tremendous public support. The Commission voted four to one to adopt them.

Your agencies have questioned our right to do so.

Adjustments have been made in the amendments to make it clear that they will be consistent with state law.

Our estuary is dying because of lack of state protection. Please let us protect ourselves. A challenge from the state would be a slap in the face and a knife in the heart of our estuary."

Maggy

(You can contact me at maggycplan@ gmail.com)