Crist signs bill to allow water permits without public input

Gov. Charlie Crist today disappointed environmentalists and signed into law a bill that removes from public input the of water management district boards on surface water and consumptive use permits. Environmentalists had urged Crist to veto SB 2010 arguing that by allowing those decisions to be made by the water management districts executive director, instead of the elected board, they will be shielded from public input and debate.

They also warned that the bill carves out special exemptions for certain large land holders to get 50-year permits to use Florida water with no public review.

Crist said he was sensitive to those concerns and, in a letter accompanying his signing of the bill, urged the WMDs to continue to make their water permit decisions in the open. "I am asking the governing boards and executive directors to continue to include surface water and consumptive use permits on all board meeting agendas or other public meetings for discussion and transparency purposes.''

Eric Draper of Audubon of Florida said they will fight to get the language repealed next year. "In the past at least we've had a chance to get in front of those people and say, 'Hey, this isn't a good idea,'' he said. "We didn't always get the votes...but this takes a decision about resources and puts it behind closed doors, eliminating the opportunity for a public hearing.''

Comments

[Equalizer]

The Tan Man is starting to get his Inside the Beltway corporate groove on. He is going to make a great democrat when he comes out of that closet.

[ticke-off floridian]

I guess Tan-Man must have needed Alexander's support and fundraising prowess.

[What say ye, First Amendment Foundation]

Should that be SB 2080?

If it took a public process and made it private, did it need a public records exemption?

[Paul D. Harvill]

This is but one more example of Gov. Crist's "green period" being dead and over.

[Just unbeleivable]

"paul" you are so right. This was such a horrible bill. I cannot believe he signed it. I canot support him anymore. He is the one that talks about government in the sunshine, that government has to be open to the public. This shows he has really sold us out. How bad this is. I will vote for anyone but him now. He had it all, now he violated the trust of the people at a time they are not willing to take too much more. I will work to get someone else elected to the US Senate.

[Chris]

I'll be so happy not to support Crist. He's done more to destroy Florida in half a term than most can do in several terms. Welcome to retirement Charlie. Rubio has my support now. Thank God for Hometown Democracy in 2010!

[What a shame]

10:45. No way to the religious extremeist Rubio, but now I cannot vote for Crist since he signed the growth anagement bill and now the water permittiing bill that keps the public out. A horrible bill. Looks like the candidate I was never going to vote for is now going to get not only my vote, but my help to get him elected. That candidate is Meek. Unless naother candidate runs, its Meek. Sorry Charlie, you just sold Flrida out and forgot why we had loved you so much. Do you realize how much you blew it?

[The developers' guv]

10:45 Nice try operative "Chris" but Rubio is even worse than Crist. The only way to save our state is to vote DEM - across the board.

[Guv's office got taken]

How quickly does the St. John's River Water Management District permit the applications to take huge amounts of water from the river with this move by Crist. Few things could do more damage to Florida's little remaining resources than this stroke of Charlie's pen.

[Norm]

RE: Crist bows down to developers again
In Print: Wednesday, July 1, 2009

To find to whom we should assign ultimate blame for the mess we are in; we need not look any further than the closest mirror. Voter apathy – by design, in my opinion – has led the majority of us to ignore reality, and elect perception at most every level of our government.

Our perception that name recognition, a nice smile, nice hair, a list of futile appointments, a wall filled with plaques, political experience, and a boatload of special interest campaign cash… somehow equates to the “best choice” to serve in the public’s best interest. Add to that a wayward media whose values, or lack thereof, are failing us dearly – and we now face the reality of our ignorance.

Our saving grace is that we still have the opportunity to change this path by rejecting the perception of honor and integrity, and demanding the reality of it. The only question is; will we?

[have you people learned yet?]

Just curious... How much longer will the people who keep claiming they just "love Charlie Crist" keep professing that love once they realize what a useless sellout piece of garbage he really is and has been for this state? Stop buying into the "polls" and the bogus slanted results people. Wake up and smell the stench wafting out of Tallahassee...

[Paul D. Harvill]

This is but one more example of Gov. Crist's "green period" being dead and over. And now Gov. Crist is in his environmentally "dark period".

Environmental destruction is the game.

See the Florida section of PEER.org for more details.

[Sorry Charlie!]

1:13. Yes, I have learned. I was a real supporter of Charlie Crists. I knew he was political, most are. But I felt he usually landed on the side of right. Not so anymore. I cannot support him anymore. And I can never believe him anymore when he speaks of alternative energy and going green. Now I feel it is not genuine, its all about his advancement and which highest bidder he will sell out to. I had hoped he was the one to get things that needed to be done, done. He has shown that he will sell the people who supported him out just like the other bums. I guess it really is time to just pick an independent. Anybody else will get my voe because I feel used by Charlie Crist. He signed these horrible bills. He has not listened to the people who have been supporting him. Just like McCain. We supported him as the R nominee, because of the moderation, because he was alright until he sold us out and picked the extremist Palin. Charlie Crist had sold us out also. Led us to believe one thing, only to do the opposite. SORRY CHARLIE YOU JUST LOST MY VOTE AND MY ENTIRE FAMILIES ALSO.

[Terry Brant]

Senate Bill 2080 is a travesty of the public trust and smash-mouth politics.

With Senate Bill 360 (growth) and House Bill 73 (expedited water permitting) passed and previously signed by Governor Crist, they had already given the bank to the developers.

Abolishing public hearings, eliminating any governing board oversight authority during the water withdrawal permitting period, and concentrating all withdrawal power into the hands of one man, violates the most basic principles of American government.

It is difficult to believe that Gov. Crist abdicated his pledges to champion open and transparent government and foster public access to all citzens. Senate Bill 2080 flies in the face of the Sunshine Law and is a slap in the face to the people of Florida who deserve better.