GREAT NEWS - public outcry kills bills to put golf/hotels in Florida State Parks!

[nashville_brook]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/legislators-withdraw-bills-that-would-put-golf-courses-in-state-parks/1156708


Legislators withdraw bills that would put golf courses in state parks
Both bills would have required the state Division of Recreation and Parks to hire Nicklaus Design to build courses in state parks in every region of the state, creating a Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail around Florida.



A week after they introduced bills to let Jack Nicklaus build golf courses in state parks, Sen. John Thrasher and state Rep. Patrick Rooney Jr. withdrew it Friday. A Rooney spokesman said that after news reports highlighted HB1239, Rooney's office received lots of calls, letters and e-mails about it.

"After much consideration and listening to the citizens of Florida, I have decided to withdraw HB1239," Rooney announced on his Twitter account Friday afternoon.

"Floridians spoke very clearly over the past several days on this proposal and they are the reason I'm in office," Rooney said in a news release his office e-mailed reporters. "I appreciate their concerns and hope this decision allays some of their fears. Please understand that my sole intention in filing this bill was one of economic development, my main objective in deciding to run for the state house last year."

Thrasher made no announcement, but on the Legislature's website is a notice about SB 1846: "Withdrawal from further consideration pending on Friday, March 11, 2011 4:04 PM." A spokesman for his office said he had left for the day and would have no comment.

The bills grew out of discussions between Hall of Fame golfer Nicklaus, a longtime resident of Palm Beach County, and Gov. Rick Scott, on how to promote tourism.

(snip)


Environmental groups complained about the proposal, and newspaper columnists and editorial pages dubbed it "the worst idea ever" to come out of the Legislature.



Juniper Springs State Park in Florida - safe for now :)

[DirkGently]

1. Thank gawd for small favors! 8)

[Ian David]

2. Oh, noes! NOW where will people EVER find a golf course IN FLORIDA? n/t

[nashville_brook]

3. there's actually an emerging specialty in Commercial Real Estate in FL...golf course REOs

the company i work for is trying to sell 2 that are in receivership...and we just stuck our toe in the market as of last month.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Too funny. Ordinary citizens should cede public lands meant for all over to golfers.

lol...

Fuck that shit.

Glad the idea failed.

K/R

[nashville_brook]

7. and, it's not like Florida State Parks are under-used...they're often closed due to capacity

The state park system has been trying to dial back environmental impact that nearly killed the springs in the 70s. Floridians use the hell out of state parks. We can't get enough of them. And isn't it typical that an idea like this would come from a carpetbagger.

[WinkyDink]

10. Let's be clear: It was to Jack Nicklaus and sons.

[jp11]

5. I wonder if golf is the most destructive 'game' to nature in the clearing of such

large patches of natural spaces for a single specific grass type that is tended better than most people.

[nashville_brook]

8. oh hell yeah it's a problem in Florida b/c runoff is killing our aquifer

just about all of the state parks are based around springs which are arteries into the water supply. then there's the problem of vegetation...the modern history of Florida is full of tragic stories about how draining the wetlands kills everything.

golf courses might not be a problem in other places, but they're really problematic here. and, it's not like there's a shortage of golf in florida.

[fishwax]

6. yay!

:woohoo:

[lonestarnot]

9. Good!

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. I hope that Floridians are now awake and will respond just as quickly

to the crazy ideas that come from these legislators.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. Golf courses are a HORRENDOUS

waste of resources, specifically land and water. Personally, I'd like to tear down 80% of the golf courses and replace them with neighborhood farms and if I ever get to be dictator, well, golfers, you've been warned. :hide:

[NightWatcher]

13. what's their next plan to privatize/giveaway our public lands?