March 8, 2010
The governing board of the South Florida Water Management District meets this Thursday, March 11, at 9 a.m. At that time, they may well decide not to move forward with the purchase of the U.S. Sugar Corp. lands. The purchase of these lands is essential to restore the flow of water through the Everglades – in fact, this is the biggest piece of the puzzle to solve our water quality problems. Simply stated, this land purchase HAS TO HAPPEN. If it isn’t done, then the South Florida’s tourist, boating, and fishing industries are done, to name a few. Hundreds of thousands of Florida jobs that depend on these industries are done. Eventually, our economy is done. Our wonderful quality of life is done.
We must act NOW to secure the purchase of this land to convey, store and treat water from Lake Okeechobee. Over the last 20 years, taxpayers have committed billions of dollars to Everglades restoration projects. Our investment will now be secured by Gov. Crist’s initiative in buying this property while it is available from a willing seller. Public purchase of the land currently owned by US Sugar Corp. is the best and most cost-effective option available to ensure Florida’s water and economic security.
Tell the members of the South Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board that you want them to move forward and complete this purchase. Cut and paste the letter below (in blue to make it easier for you to distinguish), and send it to each of the governing board members. It’s very helpful if you add a personal sentence or two. Their email addresses are listed below (two do not have emails, so we have provided their fax numbers). If you would rather phone them personally, go to www.sfwmd.gov, and click on “Governing Board” for all their contact information. THANK YOU for investing this time in the future of Florida’s water quality and economic prosperity.
SFWMD Governing Board Members:
ebeurmann@sfwmd.govjmontgom@sfwmd.gov
Sandy Batchelor doesn’t have email; fax 1-561-682-5029
Glenn J. Waldman doesn’t have email; fax 1-561-682-5029
SAMPLE LETTER TO CUT-AND-PASTE INTO EMAIL OR FAX:
Dear (fill in governing board member’s name):
When it comes time to vote this Thursday, March 11, on whether or not to proceed with the purchase of U.S. Sugar lands for the benefit of South Florida and the Everglades, I urge you to vote ‘yes’ and let the project move ahead for the good of the region’s people, environment, and economy. This land deal, once complete, will be the single biggest achievement in the struggle to improve South Florida’s water quality. It is the best and most cost-effective option available to ensure Florida’s water and economic security – our tourist, boating, and fishing industries and all that depend on them – and our wonderful way of life.
You are the water management district, and we the taxpayers are depending on you to properly manage our water. Moving this purchase forward is the proper way to responsibly manage our water problems. As a taxpayer, I want you to vote to move this deal forward and see it to completion as expeditiously as possible.
Yours truly,
(your name here)
