Local governments can support Florida's Right to Clean Water
It's true! County commissions, city councils, water & soil conservation districts and other public bodies have the ability to speak to and support various issues through resolutions.
On February 14th, 2023, Alachua County was the first local government to pass such a resolution, in support for the citizens' initiative to amend the Florida Constitution with the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters. Review their resolution here!
On April 12th, 2023, residents and credible conservation organizations requested the Sanibel City Council do the same. Here's the video of Matt DePaolis of Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) speaking in support of the initiative with clear, compelling words. Other speakers can be heard here (resident Bob Moore) and here (Joseph Bonasia of the FL RTCW initiative).
Let us know if you (as a member of the government board or a resident) would like to pursue this opportunity!
This is an example of how organizations can sign on in a letter to local government bodies in support of the FL Right to Clean Water initiative. It provides a great overview of why it's so important everyone, to include direct representatives of the people, should step up in support. Please feel free to use it for your own communications.
This is an example resolution as drafted by staff at the Alachua County Commission (with no collaboration with the Florida RTCW effort) that was voted in unanimously, supporting the Florida Right to Clean Water initiative on Feb 14, 2023.
Blair Wickstrom, Senior Editor of The Florida Sportsman Magazine, generously provided permission for us to make copies and share his Call to Action and issue feature (written by Natalie Van Hoose) from the Magazine's February issue. It's compelling; something to share far and wide.
This is a one-pager (pdf) identifying and describing twelve points of failure, with references, demonstrating why systemic problems require a systemic solution.
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See also this graphic.