"The problem: He spoke up"

"Richard Harvey was there in 1999 when federal officials unveiled a plan for restoring the Everglades."

For seven years, he was the voice of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at meetings on repairing the River of Grass.

Now, Harvey's bosses have decided their top water quality expert in Florida no longer will work on the $10-billion Everglades restoration program.

The problem: He spoke up.

"EPA removes expert who criticized Everglades program".




Barbarians at "the gates of Disney's Magic Kingdom"

"An unprecedented deal struck this month by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida would, for the first time, bring high-stakes gambling practically to Orlando's doorstep -- clearing the way for Vegas-style slot machines, blackjack and baccarat at a Tampa casino about an hour's drive from the gates of Disney's Magic Kingdom."

Now tourism executives in Central Florida, which has spent billions building Orlando into perhaps the best-known family-vacation destination on the planet, say it is only a matter of time until gambling interests seek access here, too.

"Orlando-area tourism officials fear Crist's gambling compact".




"Business-friendly climate"

"Employers continue to look south to us for our reasonable cost of living, our sunny shores, our business-friendly climate and our talented work force." "Lifelong learning key to high-paying jobs".

What do the St Pete Times editors mean when they say "business-friendly climate".




Dontcha' love "free trade"

"Some Florida tomato growers say they are getting out of the business because it has gotten too difficult to compete with foreign growers not bound by U.S. labor laws and environmental and food safety regulations." "Fla. tomato growers say it's tough to compete with foreign farms".

Don't expect a lot of editorial comment from the free-trade-freaks in the traditional media.




Petitions

"In the grandstands, mall entrances and grocery parking lots, you'll find them smiling and asking you to save Florida from greedy developers, environmental over-exuberance or social decline. ... The next two months are crunch time for petition-gathering groups as they race toward a Feb.1 deadline to collect the 611,009 voter signatures Florida requires to put a citizen-drafted amendment on the statewide ballot." "Groups shift their petition-drive efforts into high gear to meet Feb. 1 deadline in Florida".

This is hardly a surprise: "The National Institute on Money in State Politics has just published a study showing that most citizen-initiative petition campaigns on constitutional amendments are waged by big corporations and political committees that are looking out for their own interests." "Citizen initiatives come courtesy of corporate cash".




Whatever

"Frank Brogan clearly botched the ouster of Florida Atlantic University's fundraising chief, and his bosses should have called him on it. But even that isn't enough to ruin the FAU president's overall record since taking the reigns nearly five years ago." "Brogan deserves his contract extended, but needs constructive criticism, too".




"A great disservice"

"The Florida Legislature did residents, present and future, a great disservice last spring by "

rejecting Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal to increase by $100 million funding for one of the state's most important initiatives - the Florida Forever land preservation and conservation program.

Doing so would have allowed land managers to take advantage of the slow real estate market and reduced land prices.

The nearly seven-year-old program, which receives about $300 million annually in documentary stamp taxes, has less than $35 million dollars in the kitty. Yet state and local officials have identified more than $11 billion in projects worth pursuing. And the program is scheduled to die in 2010.

Lawmakers' refusal to pony up more money wasn't a good sign for the future of land preservation in Florida.

"Continue Legacy By Extending Florida Forever Land Program".




Lake O

"Clean up more of the dirty water pouring into Lake Okeechobee and find ways to better target a wider range of pollutants, a team of scientists told South Florida water managers in a report issued this month." "Scientists call for more cleanup of water draining into Lake Okeechobee".




Here's an idea

"The Jacksonville pioneers believe so strongly in their plasma arc technology and its ability to cleanly convert Tallahassee's garbage into electricity, that they're ready to spend $180 million." "Turning trash into treasure".




To replace Allen ...

"Voters in parts of Brevard and Orange Counties will vote in January and February to elect a replacement for former Rep. Bob Allen, who resigned after being convicted of solicitation." "Tallahassee: Dates set for election to replace legislator".