Starck’s Wheel Ditch, another boat ramp, more baseball, & traffic updates 💙
Well folks, we have another jam packed week ahead in Village Council meetings:
Tuesday, June 10, 5:30pm, Founders Park Community Center: Tomorrow's regular Village Council meeting's agenda can be found here.
Thursday, June 12, 5:30pm: Land Use agenda here.
We will receive a transportation update from Monroe County Transit Executive Director Richard Clark and updates from Village Manager Ron Saunders on the baseball field at Founders Park and the Fills.
Also the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority will update us on the Plantation Key Transmission Main Replacement Project.
One issue we have been championing since the reckless ouster of our former Village Manager Rob Cole, has been updating our HR policies as they relate to elected officials and officers. We are hopeful these new procedures will be approved tomorrow night!
Attention Captains & Fishing Guides!
A few issues of note for our guide community:
Environmental Resources Manager Peter Frezza will present a proposal for the Blackwood Drive Boat Ramp.
Tomorrow we will be considering a resolution for the design and permitting for a Slow Speed/Minimum Wake Zone at Starck’s Wheel Ditch.
Thursday we will consider a resolution allowing Boater's World use of the marina at 73501 Overseas Highway on Lower Matecumbe Key.
Questions, comments, concerns? Let us know!
We look forward to seeing everyone out making their voices heard this week!
Stay vigilant,
Councilman Steve Friedman
Islamorada news.
Town Hall Meeting: Traffic, an issue that impacts everyone — Islamorada Community Alliance
... For nearly two hours members of the public discussed the very dire impact traffic is having on the life of residents, businesses, schools, and the workforce. It was noted that Islamorada Councilman, Steve Friedman, and Village Manager Ron Saunderswere the only government officials in attendance.
Legislature wants to make it impossible for local governments to build back better after hurricanes — Florida Phoenix
... The bill will “not only limit our ability to responsibly manage development, flooding, and ensure public safety… but also could expose local governments to attorney’s fees and costly litigation if local government regulations, enacted in good faith, are challenged,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava wrote to the governor this week...
#NowOrNeverglades
Palm Beach County Greenlights Big Sugar’s Rock Mine, But the Fight Isn’t Over
... Palm Beach County Commissioners embarrassed themselves, approving Big Sugar’s Southland rock mine in a 6-0 vote, despite overwhelming public opposition and expert testimony urging delay...
... This broken system isn’t just bad politics, it’s a direct threat to everything we’ve fought to protect: our waters, our communities, Florida’s economy, our way of life, and America’s Everglades.
But this fight is far from over. It’s only just begun...
The Southland rock mine is not approved — and far from it. At today’s SFWMD governing board meeting, Executive Director Drew Bartlett confirmed that the controversial Southland rock mine proposal is still under review and could take a year or more to evaluate... — Friends of the Everglades
Palm Beach Commissioners took sugar money. Then they voted to approve Big Sugar’s rock mine — VoteWater
Let’s be clear: This rock mine is not about water. It’s about profit — at the expense of Everglades restoration, clean water and public trust... — Friends of the Everglades
The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ contains an ugly favor for Florida’s sugar industry — Florida Phoenix
... “It’s egregious that this polluting industry — which Florida taxpayers have paid well over $2 billion to clean up after — is poised to reap even more profits if this budget bill passes the U.S. Senate,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades.
WATCH: John Morales on National Weather Service cuts and how it will impact hurricane season — NBC 6 South Florida
VICTORY!
The people win. Sneaky government (and developers) lose — VoteWater
... That audacious and obnoxious proposal involved the state trading 600 acres of the state-owned Guana River Wildlife Management Area in northeast Florida to some recently-formed, fly-by-night company for a total of 3,066 acres in four counties...
... Protests sprung up, conservation groups mounted letter-writing campaigns that resulted in tens of thousands of emails to the ARC. And sneaky government and the developers blinked.
Keep it up, people. This is how we won the battle of the state parks. This is how we win against future bad development proposals on public lands...
VICTORY!
Florida’s prized state parks are shielded from golf courses and hotels as DeSantis bows to backlash — Associated Press
... Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law curtailing his administration’s plans to allow more kinds of development on conservation lands. The law is a direct response to a bipartisan wave of protests last summer when the plans became public...
... Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, declared it a “huge win” over powerful development interests. “People really want to build golf courses on some of our more protected lands in the state...”
Prepare for America’s Summer of Pain
The Trump administration has hollowed out the parts of government that secure our summers.
... Some 1,000 National Park Service personnel were fired this spring as were about 5,700 probationary employees at the Department of Agriculture — and while the Park Service has been one of the mass firings that kind of sort of has been undone, it’s unclear if any of the ones brought back by court order are actually working, since many across government were just then put on administrative leave... — by Garrett Graff
Now, Let's Save our National Parks!
CALL Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez: (202) 225-2778
Fishing news.
"Everybody wants to be a captain until it's time to do captain shit!" — Capt. Steve Friedman
Hat tip to Capt. Greg Poland for capturing this video of us during the Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament last week in Islamorada.
Could a Historic Boat Ramp Return in Islamorada? Village Officials Explore Possibility to Help Guides — Upper Keys Weekly
... Councilman Steve Friedman, a backcountry guide, said the rapid takeover of marinas by larger corporations is threatening the livelihoods of many fishing guides...
RELATED: Islamorada boat launch for guides remains possible, Newsbreak
Shout outs for the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association & Lower Keys Guides Association!
... Keys fishing guide organizations, including the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association and the Lower Keys Guides Association, have taken leadership roles to encourage catch-and-release policies for recreational fishing... — An Eco Traveler’s Guide to The Florida Keys & Key West, Flamingo Mag
‘No One’s Immune.’ Tariffs Set to Wallop the U.S. Fishing Gear Industry — Outdoor Life
If you’ve been eyeing any fishing gear purchases for the upcoming season, you might as well pull the trigger now. Because U.S. anglers are set to start feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs. Industry experts say that any way you look at it, the price of fishing gear will increase in 2025 as a result and, in some cases, it already has...