Mike Huckabee's Epic Fight to Keep Beachgoers Off His Patch of Florida Sand

[babylonsister]

May 22, 2019
Mike Huckabee’s Epic Fight to Keep Beachgoers Off His Patch of Florida Sand
The former presidential candidate’s legal and lobbying crusade aims to make a once-public beach private.
Stephanie Mencimer


Not long after his failed 2008 presidential bid, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee bought a beachfront plot in the Florida Panhandle and built a three-story, 10,000-square-foot mansion, with six bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, and a pool. By planting his flag in the Florida sugar sand, Huckabee was escaping Arkansas income taxes and joining other rich Republicans who owned houses in this particular part of Walton County, including Karl Rove. The beach house was a sign that he’d made it. As he explained in an email to a state senator years later, “Having grown up dirt poor in Arkansas, I never thought I’d see saltwater in person, much less live on a beach.”

There was just one problem: Huckabee built his dream house on a public beach, a spot where some of the more than 4 million spring breakers and tourists who come to Walton County each year had been parking their lawn chairs and fishing poles since time immemorial. That meant the Fox News contributor had to share much of the 115-foot-long spit of sand in front of his $6 million house with those who helped pay for it—the people who watch his TV show. And he didn’t like it one bit.

So Huckabee, father of White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, lobbied local officials to cleanse it of the riffraff. Now, along with his rich neighbors, he’s taken the matter to court. In doing so, he and the other wealthy beachfront property owners have set off an epic legal battle, one that has Florida cops booting unsuspecting tourists off the beaches just as summer vacation season sets in.

The issue has become so toxic that the state’s Republican governor skipped out on some public appearances to avoid protesters last year. Beach access activists say the legal fight has larger implications, not just for Florida but across the country, as wealthy, powerful people try to annex public beachfronts for their private benefit. “This is just the beginning,” says Santa Rosa Beach attorney Daniel Uhlfelder, one of the activists leading the fight against beach privatization. “If they’re able to pull this off, they’re going to take this to other coastlines around the country.”

more...

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/05/mike-huckabees-epic-fight-to-keep-beachgoers-off-his-patch-of-florida-sand/

[malaise]

1. I hate these people

I mean HATE THESE FUCKING PEOPLE!!!

[Lochloosa]

8. I was born and raised in FL. These bastards have ruined our beaches.

Panama City Beach used to be magical. Now you can't fucking get to it without renting a condo.

I HATE THESE FUCKING PEOPLE!

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are the same...

nothing but condos.

[Cosmocat]

13. Too bad

I had friends who lived down there in the 90s and I would visit and yeah, those Panama City Beaches were wonderful - living in PA I was used to the "dirtier" Atlantic Ocean beaches and it was almost like a caribean beach, they were never too crowded, great access ...

[malaise]

29. It's their global model

Same shit in our tiny islands - they don't want the locals on our beaches

[olegramps]

26. Headline should read: Religious Conman building palace on choice beach property.

[malaise]

30. +1,000

Totally agree

[ooky]

47. Their greed is unfathomable.

[woodsprite]

2. Didn't people like Huckabee lose a similar case in NC recently?

Actually, it was Emerald Isle, and NC Supreme dismisses the case on 12/14/16 “ex mero motu,”

“Town Manager said the dismissal means the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling in the town’s favor stands. “As a result of this dismissal, the November 2015 opinion of the N.C. Court of Appeals is now the definitive law on public beach access in Emerald Isle, and everywhere in North Carolina,” Rush said in the town’s statement regarding the decision of the state’s highest court. “The town is pleased with the court’s decision, which clarifies the public’s historical and continuing right to use the dry-sand beach, from the base of the dunes to the water, everywhere in North Carolina.”

https://www.topsailadvertiser.com/news/20161214/nc-supreme-court-drops-case-over-beachfront-property-rights

[Submariner]

31. Romney built a house with elevators for his cars in California

and wanted the beach in front of his house closed to the public. The last I heard CA told him to shove it, and Romney sold the house.

[mnhtnbb]

39. Emerald Isle, NC--despite being bright red Republican

area of NC--does provide great beach access. Not parking, good luck with that, but there are multiple rows of single family houses and duplexes not right on the ocean. Every block or two there are city maintained boardwalks with access to the beach. Miles of it.

[Tanuki]

3. ..."a foolish man who built his house on the sand....."

Huck should have listened to Jesus.

Matthew 7:26-27

26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

[obamanut2012]

4. Yup, and in CA, too

[CaptYossarian]

6. Climate change was in the Bible?

I was originally thinking that this phony pastor didn't want footprints in the sand.

[Scarsdale]

9. I suspect that the

entire Huckerbee clan does not want people to see them in their blubbery glory, wearing bathing suits. They look like a gathering of "Overeaters Anonymous" when they assemble. Or possible the son who abuses animals wants his privacy?

[rzemanfl]

33. Bookmarking to see if someone calls "fat shaming." n/t

[Scarsdale]

35. Of course someone will, silly.

The Huckerbee clan can hardly be called svelte and healthy looking. Just telling it like it is.

[rzemanfl]

40. I know. They're a bunch of *** frauds. n/t

[obamanut2012]

5. If they want a private beach, they need to buy an island

Like Richard Branson did.

[PWPippinesq]

7. Karma.

The seas will rise.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Huck's come a long way from being a hick preacher and living

in a double-wide trailer parked at the Governor's mansion in Little Rock.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjn85zey7HiAhWEjFQKHd6vAyAQzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Farchives%2Fla-xpm-2000-jul-19-mn-55365-story.html&psig=AOvVaw10-XlVAHjON80o60lKNjXN&ust=1558698822384928

[tblue37]

18. Parked down by the river. . . . nt

[trusty elf]

12. This is what I imagine Suckabee's house to be like.

[sop]

25. Whoo Doggies...that coon mounting the hound dog is special

Huckabee: "When I was in college, we used to take a popcorn popper . . . and we would fry squirrel."

[keithbvadu2]

14. Like the televangelists' private planes, the elite do not want to be amongst the demonic public.

Like the televangelists' private planes, the elite do not want to be amongst the demonic public.

[47of74]

17. Yeah Jeeeeezus wants to talk to them privately

Jeeeeezus has no relation to Jesus Christ

Jeeeeezus is a con-god grifter who shares their love of wealth, McMansions, private jets, and hates the same people they do.

[Achilleaze]

15. republicans like to imagine they are "special"

and need not live like ordinary Americans. Sick.

[TeamPooka]

49. We have rich Democrats trying to privatize their beachfront here in CA too. It's about rich assholes

who can't share.

[Mariana]

55. There's nothing magical about Christianity

that transforms its adherents into decent people.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. "This is just the beginning"

Last edited Thu May 23, 2019, 08:51 AM - Edit history (1)

No kidding, stealing common ground is a huge problem in Florida. Make no mistake, they intend to dig out enclaves of privilege for themselves.

[tblue37]

19. Just like the ongoing enclosure of the commons in England from the 13th century on. nt

[Baitball Blogger]

21. My community is involved in this nonsense.

Mostly driven by Republicans who use their high level jobs in the city and use their military experience like it gives them carte blanche to abuse their community leadership roles. The way I see it, they only serve on community boards to advance their own interests and those of their friends and kin folk. I don't see how this can't go against them in the end nor can I see the military approving how retired military officers shit on fiduciary responsibility to advance an agenda that is very definitely discriminatory in nature.

I will certainly be following the legal arguments on the cases that go against Huckabee.

[Lochloosa]

37. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL is a perfect example

They tried to close off the beach access points, I think there are 12 of them, and when that failed, the county commissioners just made it so you could not park along A1A. Now there are still the access points, just can't park within 10 miles of them.

And don't even get me started on Panama City Beach. That was my playground growing up. We would rent a room in one of the Mom and Pop hotels across the street from the beach. 3-4 per room for 20-40 bucks a night for the room. We play all day on the beach, then sit and drink with the owners or night managers by the pool at night.

Now you can't get to the beach because of the condos.

[Baitball Blogger]

43. Now is the time for action. If someone starts a gofundme page to

Last edited Thu May 23, 2019, 11:12 AM - Edit history (1)

make sure we have good, unconflicted lawyers to fight our cause, I'll contribute. I may even volunteer to go fetch coffee for them at Starbucks!

[Baitball Blogger]

56. Was thinking about this all night.

Why doesn't a uber entrepreneur come up with a taxi'ing service between the parking lot and the beach in Ponte Vedra.

See, if we have better progressive representation in Florida, the beaches would turn into a rallying cry.

[Historic NY]

20. Well hopefully he gets more company.....

[MarianJack]

22. Just to piss off fundie nut job Mike,...

...they should make it a nude beach.

RESIST!

[AllaN01Bear]

23. will be all for naught

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016232344
i aggree if you have the money you can do anything. i hadte mike hukkabie.

[aggiesal]

24. All California beaches ...

have to be public beaches.
No California beach can be private by law.
All beaches belong to the citizens and everyone
gets to enjoy any view, play on the sand or water.

When I read stories like this, just shows me how
selfish people can be.

Beaches are for everyone’s enjoyment.

[lostnfound]

38. Born and raised Floridian, mostly the same way; but too many GOP governors ruining it

Always felt proud of Florida for being a place where even relatively poor people could have a good life, biking to the beaches

[aggiesal]

46. Mitt RMoney purchased a beachfront home ...

in La Jolla, here in San Diego (yes this is the house with a car elevator in the garage).
He didn't like people enjoying the beach in front of his house and tried to get them
kicked off. Obviously to no avail.

But this is an example of the selfish greed the GOP has.
That's why the acronym GOP to me, means "Greedy One Percent".

[lostnfound]

48. Great acronym, never heard it before. 👍

[aggiesal]

53. Feel free to use it as much as you like ...

I do not have a patent or trademark for it.

[Initech]

27. Get off my beachfront property!!!!

Does Mike keep a vintage mint condition Gran Torino in his garage by any chance?

[Javaman]

28. the official start of hurricane season starts next week. Just sayin'...

[dewsgirl]

32. This likely won't work. I have spent my whole life in a town

In Fl. with many wealthy and some famous residents who have tried and failed. Indian River County has some of the strictest beach zoning laws in the state and as far as I know they have not been able to pull it off here.

[czarjak]

34. Besides...

There’s probably some sinners amongst them there Sand Squaters!

[NoMoreRepugs]

36. Is there anything that isn't about money with Repugs??

[Generic Other]

41. Beaches should be open to the public

Once you gain access to a beach, you should have the right to walk as far as you can go. I reject the right of Americans who try to "own" the beach. I have many a time trespassed across such "property." Your right to enforce such a claim would need to include No trespassing signage or barriers on the water's edge (which I would ignore) and calling law enforcement who should have higher priorities. If I gain access to a public part of a beach, I walk as far as I want. I have NEVER been stopped.

Do not let scumbags like Huckabee steal your rights.

[sop]

42. Wealthy landowners have tried privatizing public beaches

in dozens of Florida communities, and they've always lost. It's the perfect example of how the wealthy love socialism for them, and capitalism for the rest of us.

The high cost of maintaining and re-nourishing beach sand lost through normal erosion, constant longshore drift (the movement of material along a coast by waves which approach at an angle to the shore but recede directly away from it) and regular tropical storms along Florida's coastline is paid for by all Florida taxpayers. Without regular beach sand nourishment and maintenance, the ocean Huckabee loves so much would soon be in his living room, or his home completely washed away.

The cost of homeowner's insurance (and federal flood insurance) has increased dramatically for everyone in Florida, even those living inland, just so these wealthy beachfront homeowners can insure their expensive homes at affordable rates. The general public subsidizes the high cost of insurance for these waterfront properties through higher premiums on everyone's homes.

In areas where the coastline has been built up with condos and private homes, blocking access to the public beachs, cities and counties must provide easy public beach access, building and maintaining numerous walkways and ramps along the entire length of beach, leading from the ocean-front highways to the public beach areas. These public easements between the homes/condos have been opposed by property owners, but they always lose in court.

[Farmer-Rick]

44. Florida RepubliCON judges were granting beaches to any capitalist kings who claimed them.

"In 2012, Huckabee hired a lawyer and asked a judge to grant him ownership of the land stretching from the dune at the foot of his house down to the mean high-water line—essentially the wet sand and the Gulf of Mexico itself. No one appears to have protested the request, and the judge agreed, giving Huckabee the public beach for a mere $400. Nearly two dozen of his neighbors have also quietly annexed the beach while escaping any additional taxes. The result is a checkerboard of public and private space along the water’s edge for miles of Walton beachfront. Huckabee’s beach is private, but his next-door neighbor’s isn’t.

In 2016, the rash of homeowners attempting to privatize their beaches prompted Walton County to pass an ordinance declaring all 26 miles of beach in the county open for public use, although many remained privately owned. The county was on solid ground here: The Florida Supreme Court had declared the public’s right to enjoy the dry sand of private beaches back in 1974."

Funny, I thought all of Florida was private beach.

So, they conned some stupid judge to give them ownership for pennies on the dollar and avoided taxes to boot. If that's not a cool little scam I don't know what is. You can bet the tax man would be at our door the minute we gained some more land.

But then all those tourists, who use to hand over billions of dollars to use the beaches found out they couldn't use the beaches anymore. The owners of rental properties lost out on big bucks because their guests couldn't use the beach that was directly in front of their front door.

"Tourism and hospitality are the driving forces in Walton County’s economy, providing 19,500 jobs for area residents and having a $2.8 billion direct economic impact." https://www.850businessmagazine.com/walton-countys-tourism-industry-continues-to-grow/

So if they let those beaches remain private and owned by a handful of tax dodging capitalist kings, the county will lose over $2.8 billion dollars from tax paying tourists. And tourism seems to be increasing by 10% each year. So, are they really going to lock up all that beach front so one tax dodger can have a private view? Another example of how there is no such thing as trickle down economics. It's always trickle up. Huckabee and other scummy rich people take away from the common areas that use to be used by everyone. How feudal of them.

I once rented a townhouse less than a block from the beach along the coast of Florida. This was many years ago when beaches weren't so crowded. It was gorgeous. But every time we went out on the beach we would get weird stares from a group of people who seemed to show up everyday too.

On our 3rd morning to the beach we were greeted by uniformed security guards. My kids smiled and waved at them thinking they were there protecting us all. But no, they came up to tell us we were not allowed on the beach and pointed to some big house sitting up on the dunes. I said but the townhouse landlord said it was all public beach. The guards said no it was purchased earlier that year by the owners of the big house.

We returned to our townhouse and called up the landlord. He was spitting mad. We cancelled the rental and went home. We got a 50% refund since we only stayed half the time. Ever since then. I just assumed all of Florida beaches were privately owned except for a handful of areas the rich didn't want.

[GusBob]

45. Great weight loss plan for these slobs

Once the local tourist economy tanks, they wont be welcome in any restaurants

They will fail in this fight tho

[Brother Buzz]

50. Pete McCloskey, please pick up the nearest white courtesy telephone

https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/03/12/martins-beach-lawsuit-filed-by-former-rep-pete-mccloskeys-firm/

[kskiska]

51. Same in Connecticut, and it goes way back.

Beaches are supposed to be public, but individual towns charge a fortune for parking. Westport has always been notorious for this. A jogger was denied entrance to a Greenwich town beach. He filed suit and won.

Taylor Swift tried it in Rhode Island where she purchased property, then tried to keep the public off her beach. She and her neighbors took it to court. I'm not sure of the outcome.

[Turin_C3PO]

52. Elitist scumbag.