Red Tide: Jono and Julie interview Cris Costello - plus an RtCW update

 If you have an interest in understanding Red Tide, or in how some of the local resources like Mote Marine have interpreted red tide phenomena, you might find this interview with Chris Costello of the Sierra Club eye-opening.

Here's the intro from environmentalists Jono Miller and Julie Morris:

Today's Guest: Cris Costello, Senior Organizing Manager of the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club. Get ready to learn about the Legislature and fertilizer, offshore fish farms, and remember that time back in 2014 when 3 out of 4 of us voted to buy more wild land? The government still hasn't complied. 

The show airs Tuesday's at 9 am on WSLR. 

Interview with Cris Costello, WSLR, Tues. July 11, 2023

WSLR archive 

How to listen to WSLR online 

===========

Here's an update on where Petitions to create a Florida Constitutional Amendment for the Right to Clean Water can be obtained and dropped off. 

Questions? Contact Rona Turek.

A local contact for the Right to Clean Water Amendment

A message from Sarasota's local contact point for the Right to Clean Water:

My contact information for The Right to Clean Water is ronaturek@gmail.com —

I'm the county ambassador for the initiative and should be contacted by any seeking more information as well as those wanting to help get this proposed amendment to the state constitution on the ballot for the voters to decide whether they want clean and healthy waters. 

Our legislators have doubled the number of signed petitions required for a citizen-initiated petition drive. By a deadline in this November, we need 900,000 signatures of registered Florida voters on our petitions to qualify for placement on the ballot. So we need your signatures and volunteers who can help for as little as a couple of hours one day gathering signatures, recruiting and informing their neighbors, helping at public venues, and spreading the word to voters in any Florida county.

Anyone may volunteer to help with this initiative, clean water is a concern to all — even if not a registered Florida voter, anyone here is concerned about unhealthy waters — and the other critters will benefit as well. 

website —  https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/

petition — https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/petition

donations of any amount  —  https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/donate 

walkup location - to sign petition or leave signed petitions —

Architectural Salvage

1093 Central Avenue
downtown Sarasota
Monday-Saturday

volunteer petition gatherers will be at many public venues and events

 

local contact   ronaturek@gmail.com 

• get blank petitions   
• return signed petitions to us locally
• get yard signs
• get questions answered  
• volunteer locally  
• arrange for a speaker to your neighborhood, group, organization

Reynolds of Sierra Club: Protect Grand Trees

Please email the County Commissioners and tell them not to weaken protections for Grand trees, and come to the public hearing Tuesday, January 31st at 1660 Ringling Blvd.

From: Gayle Reynolds

To: Michael Moran <mmoran@scgov.net>, <mhsmith@scgov.net>, Nancy Detert <ncdetert@scgov.net>, <jneunder@scgov.net>, Ron Cutsinger <rcutsinger@scgov.net>, <countyadministrator@scgov.net>

Dear Commissioners,

The Manatee/Sarasota Sierra Club urges the Board of County Commissioners not to weaken protective policies for grand trees, to allow developers the right to determine the health, function and value of grand trees and if it should remain or be cut down for housing and commercial development.

There are many reasons to value and protect grand trees in the urban environment:

1. Trees reduce carbon pollution directly through sequestration and indirectly by lowering the demand for energy.
2. Trees reduce the heat island effect and mitigate the effects of climate change.
3. Trees play critical roles in controlling stormwater runoff, improving water quality and protecting surface waters from sediment and nutrient loading. 
4. Trees reduce the amount of runoff flowing into stormwater and sewer systems and decrease soil erosion.
5. Trees provide habitat for birds and endangered wildlife species.
6. Many municipalities consider trees as utilities and include them as part of their stormwater management plans.

Nonpoint source pollution results from stormwater carrying and depositing contaminants into surface and ground waters, contaminating drinking water sources and adversely affecting the health of plants, fish, animals and people. Nitrogen and phosphorus feed Karenia Brevis and destroy sea grasses, marine ecosystems and endangered wildlife.   

Excess volumes of runoff from the conversion of forested lands to impervious surfaces from overgrowth and urban sprawl, cause stream scouring, property damage as well as loss of aquatic habitat and floodplain connectivity.

For the past twenty years, this board has incentivised development to occur through the use of "mitigation." As reported by Sarasota News Leader, Benderson Development recently clear cut every Grand Tree on the 24-acre Siesta Promenade site.  Despite the county identifying grand trees on the property, every tree on the parcel at U.S.41 and Stickney Point Road was removed. Sarasota County conceded to Benderson Development to mitigate the removal of these mature trees with the promise of planting 509 new trees. This mitigation occurred without public input and without transparency, via emails and edits to the original approved site plan.

Eighteen years ago Sierra's Conservation Committee lobbied Sarasota County Commissioners to stop issuing "after the fact" permits to developers who prematurely moved earth, clear-cut land and habitats and killed endangered species without permits.

A reporter for the Pelican Press, Jack Gurney, wrote a series of articles on the plight of Gopher Tortoises, when developers were burying tortoises alive with earth-moving equipment. Jack's articles created an outcry in the community and the Board of County Commissioners sanctioned and passed a Pre-clearing ordinance and an Earth Moving Ordinance.  

The County owes the public an explanation as to why Benderson was allowed to clear the Promenade site without permits, when staff and the developer knew that permits were required.  

• Where is the oversight?  

• When citizens invested untold hours getting these illegal practices stopped in the past, why are developers confident they can ignore regulations now? 

• Because the Promenade property is located in a busy urban area, citizens noted that illegal construction was occurring without the required permits. But what happens when Lakewood Ranch South clear cuts hundreds or thousands of acres of agricultural lands and habitats east of I-75?  

• Jensen clear cut land on Lorraine Road and many miles east out Fruitville Road, out of sight, where public access is denied and no one checks to see if wildlife, grand tree and habitat studies have been done, the required permits issued for preclearing, earth moving and the relocation of endangered species?  

This Board claims that Sarasota "stakeholders" are demanding that protections for Sarasota’s Grand Trees must be diminished, when clearly the rules applied to most trees in this county are inadequate and illustrate that Sarasota County trees need MORE protections, not less. 

Sarasota County Resource Protection and Development Services must be responsible for oversight of land development sites and impose realistic fines for illegal pre-clearing of trees and habitats, earth moving, destruction of grand trees and killing endangered wildlife. Developers break environmental laws and ordinances with impunity, because the fines imposed are so miniscule, they're but a small cost of doing business.

Are citizens expected to trust the developer to oversee themselves and do the right thing, pay mitigation fees and save grand trees that don't benefit their site plans and bottom line?

The Sierra Club urges Commissioners to vote NO on weakening protections for grand trees.

Sincerely,

Gayle Reynolds

Conservation Chair

Manatee/Sarasota Sierra Club

Call to Action - Sarasota’s Grand Tree Protections Are Not Enough

To: Sarasota County Stakeholders

    Email cc: County Commissioners Moran, Smith, Detert, Neunder and Cutsinger, County Administrator Lewis

Call to Action - Sarasota’s Grand Tree Protections

Are Not Enough

Date:   1/21/2023

Dear Friends, Business Associates, Acquaintances, Sarasota Institutions,

What more will it take to open our eyes to the destruction of Sarasota County’s natural beauty?

Despite certain protections for twelve species of Grand Trees, our County Commission will meet on January 31, 2023 to discuss further relaxing current rules to allow the “Grand” developers of Sarasota the right to determine whether a grand tree should remain or be cut down for housing.

Pictured below: Example of current Grand Tree ” preservation” in north Sarasota County.
Surrounding forest of tall pines was cleared to complete a townhouse complex.  

Despite certain protections that are lawful such as existing land planning codes, future land use designations or county preserved lands, time and time again our elected county commissioners have sought “input from stakeholders” and bowed to the recommendations of developers, the “One Percenters” of our beloved Sarasota County. 

For the past twenty years, our commissioners have greenlighted development to occur by use of mitigation. 

As reported by the Sarasota News Leader, Benderson Development recently clear-cut every Grand Tree on the 24-acre Siesta Promenade site. Despite the county identifying grand trees on the property, every tree on the parcel at U.S.41 and Stickney Point Road was removed, including nine maples, 26 oaks, 55 palms, 16 pines (two Grand Trees) and 17 trees of other species.

Sarasota County conceded to Benderson Development to mitigate the removal of these mature trees with the promise of planting 509 new trees. This mitigation occurred without public input and without transparency. This deal was done via emails with tweaks to the original approved site plan.

Mitigation, if you are not familiar, is when a small swath of useless land held by either the county or developer is traded for a desirable piece of land deemed buildable by the developer and the county. It doesn’t matter if the desired property is a bog or home to a bald eagle.Those trees and other natural assets are going to be paved over. It’s a sham of a land trade, and we, Sarasota’s stakeholders, are also getting paved over in a different sense.  It’s all smoke and mirrors. Mitigation ain’t saving a thing.

Turn the page to 2023 and now, in lieu of mitigation, the County Commissioners claim that Sarasota stakeholders are demanding that protections for Sarasota’s Grand Trees must be diminished. Last fall, Commissioner Maio even claimed that Grand Trees are “perishable items.” Apparently he is now a certified arborist.

On January 31, 2023, our Commission will vote to approve an ordinance which loosens protections for “grand trees,” including live oaks. I have read Sarasota Municode in relation to trees and grand trees. It appears that the rules applied to most trees in this county are lax and clearly from the picture above, illustrate that Sarasota County trees need MORE protections, not less.  Those protections must occur today. 

Please email our Commissioners and tell them to vote No on January 31st.

Email to: bcc@scgov.net or commissioners@scgov.net
Individual Commissioners: mmoran@scgov.net, mhsmith@scgov.net, ncdetert@scgov.net, jneunder@scgov.net, rcutsinger@scgov.net
County Administrator: countyadministrator@scgov.net,

Please share this message with friends and neighbors who care about quality of life in Sarasota County. We are running out of time, each day, swaths of trees in Sarasota County are being chopped down.

We, the majority stakeholders, of Sarasota County demand the following regarding Grand Trees:

• The county must retain all current and existing protection for Grand Trees. 

• The county must implement preservation protections designating grand trees as the following:

• Economic value provided by Grand trees are a financial eco-bonus to the county budget.

• Home values remain higher in established old growth-maintained trees.

• Decrease impact of heavy rain and flooding through tree canopies which slow heavy rain and decrease flooding impact.

• Decrease utility costs and overuse of energy resources for tree canopy cooling to most homes and roads, reducing use of air conditioning and watering needs. 

• The county must implement and strengthen Tree Code. Grand Trees must be used as centerpieces of beauty, history and preservation. 

• The county and developers must share and advertise Sarasota County as a destination where Grand Trees are as much of Sarasota culture and heritage as our abundant arts, science, charities, beaches, and natural habitat. 

• It is proven that engineers and planners know how to work and design around grand trees with more than a hundred years of life. 

• Mitigation for Grand Trees is not an option unless:

• Every option to save the tree or trees has been exhausted, reviewed by the stakeholders (Sarasota citizens) and allowed public input to prevent further scraping of trees whether deemed Grand Tree or a someday “Grand Tree” that is growing to adulthood. 

• Fatal rotting, blight, etc. has been verified and documented by a certified and accredited environmental expert/arborist with no connection to the county or land developer.   

Thank you for your consideration of our comments and request. 

Respectfully,

Adrien Lucas

Sarasota County resident

Source: Sarasota County Grand Trees published 2015

Sarasota News Leader published 1/15/2023

Webinar July 25: The Fish Farm Threat to the Gulf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2022
Contact: Christian Wagley   850.687.9968    christian@healthygulf.org

****MEDIA ADVISORY****

Offshore fish farms threaten Gulf of Mexico

• What: The coming threat: Offshore fish farms in the Gulf of Mexico
• When: Monday July 25  6:30 pm CDT/7:30 pm EDT
• Where: online through zoom—register on the Healthy Gulf web page here: https://healthygulf.org/event/offshore-fish-farms-threaten-gulf-of-mexico/

The Federal government is proposing multiple offshore fish farms in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the health of Gulf waters and stocks of wild fish. Join us as we learn about these proposed farms, their specific locations off Florida, Louisiana and Texas, and work being done to keep them from harming Gulf waters and marine life.

Our guests include James Mitchell, legislative director, Don’t Cage Our Oceans; Christian Wagley, coastal organizer, Healthy Gulf; Neal Schleifer, Siesta Key, FL and Andrianna Natsoulas, campaign director, Don’t Cage Our Oceans. Don’t Cage Our Oceans is a coalition of 14 nonprofit organizations working to stop offshore fish farming while uplifting values-based sea-food systems led by local communities.

More information on this event is available on the Healthy Gulf website and Facebook page.

Healthy Gulf is a nonprofit organization that works to protect and restore the Gulf of Mexico and the people and communities along its shores. For more information or questions please contact Florida – Alabama Coastal Organizer Christian Wagley: christian@healthygulf.org or (850) 687-9968.

=====

See Glenn Compton for more:

The value of Florida’s biologically sensitive areas and endangered and threatened species should not be put at risk by floating fish farms.

Fish farms: More info

Suncoast Waterkeeper: A look back and what's ahead

 A newsletter from the group that sued Sarasota County leading to major wastewater plant upgrades:

We want to wish a happy new year to the entire Suncoast Waterkeeper family.  Our waterways and natural areas support the local economy and quality of life.  Together, we fought to protect our water in 2021 and, with your help, will continue to work to preserve what makes the Suncoast special.   Here’s a look back at our work in 2021 and a preview of what we’re working on for 2022: Piney Point Piney Point has been a ticking time bomb.  Due to neglect and inaction, the State of Florida was forced to dump over 200 million gallons of contaminated water into Tampa Bay.  Over the course of 2021, we experienced some of the worst red tides, other harmful algae blooms and fish kills that we have ever seen.  The threat doesn’t end there.  Now the State of Florida and DEP are working to inject the wastewater into our aquifer without adequate testing or filtration.   That is why we launched and are continuing to pursue a federal lawsuit to safely close Piney Point with other partners and organizations in the region.   In addition to the lawsuit, we hosted educational forums and conducted advocacy campaigns to demand better from our local and state elected officials on Piney Point.   Stopping Sewage Spills    Our region has suffered from numerous sewage spills due to poor management of aging environmental infrastructure.  According to the City of Bradenton’s own reports, 160 million gallons of raw and partially treated sewage was dumped into the Manatee River over the last four years.  This contributed to declining conditions in our estuaries.  In 2021, we filed a notice of intent to sue the City of Bradenton over repeated sewage spills into our waterways.  We hope to resolve our case against Bradenton in 2022. Our previous sewage lawsuits have resulted in major investments in wastewater infrastructure and fewer sewage spills.  Together, we’re going to continue our work to reduce sewage spills on the Suncoast.  Water Quality Monitoring  To enjoy our waterways, we need to ensure that they are clean.  We sample water quality weekly to keep our community informed about the water they rely on for recreation, work and more.  In 2022, because of your support, we’ll continue to monitor water quality in our waterways.   Monitoring Public Information & Demanding Accountability In many ways, regulation and oversight in Florida is broken.  Our regulators have repeatedly ignored or failed to address threats to our water quality, quality of life and local economy.  That’s why we regularly monitor public records for information on water quality, pollution, harmful algae blooms and new and existing projects.  Monitoring this information allows us to let you know what is happening in our community and lets us know when we need to take action.   Your support means that we’ll be able to continue to work to protect our water.  We can’t afford to let pollution, contamination and inaction from our government officials threaten our water, quality of life and local economy.  Together, we’ll continue to make a difference in 2022.  Thank you,  Suncoast Waterkeeper http://www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Venice City Council drafts letter on Fish Farm

Update:  Venice City Council approves letter urging more study of Ocean Era aquaculture permit 

VENICE – The Venice City Council approved drafting a letter asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its permit for the Ocean Era aquaculture demonstration project Tuesday, but not before listening to Ocean Era project manager Dennis Peters clarify details about the project. ...

The board specifically did not oppose the aquaculture project. Vice Mayor Rich Cautero noted that the issue had become a political football. [Full story]

Text of Venice Council's letter

A story published in Sarasota Magazine reveals the scale of Ocean Era's ambition:

If the results are positive, you can expect to see another farm with as many as 2 million fish in the Gulf. According to [Neil Sims, Ocean Era’s chief executive officer] that size is an industry standard. “There are certain economies of scale,” he says. “Two thousand tons a year is the minimum for any aquaculture operation.”

Other companies may also join Ocean Era. “By blazing this trail through the permitting process, we want to build an industry,” says Sims. “We don’t want to just be one farm out there.”

=====

May 22, 2021 HT:

The Venice City Council has voted to support a letter authorized by its Environmental Advisory Board urging the EPA to rescind its permit for the Ocean Era fish farm off the coast of Sarasota. 

Venice would join the cities of Sarasota, Anna Maria, Sanibel and Holmes Beach. Apparently the public can observe but not participate -- except to send advance email and mail comments:

Photo from Herald Tribune

Update: Toll Roads, water, and the abandonment of planning

Update on Toll Roads 2.3.21:  Dems want to get rid of them

Citing environmental and fiscal challenges, two Democratic Florida lawmakers are introducing legislation to kill an ambitious yet controversial toll-road building plan dubbed by opponents as “roads to nowhere.” 

Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersburg, held a news conference Wednesday to discuss their proposals to strike the M-CORES project from state law and redirect the millions tapped for planning to other more critical infrastructure.

Despite budget crisis, Florida is doubling down on costly and destructive plans

Nicole Johnson: "two initiatives will change Florida forever. One will result in 330 miles of new or expanded tolled roadways opening up large swaths of our rural Florida to sprawling growth.

Nicole Johnson is the Director of Environmental Policy for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

More on the intentional dismantling of state oversight:

Save Florida’s shreds of growth control

Palm Beach Post:

The state’s most respected smart-growth groups are aiming most of their firepower at the blandly titled HB 7103, “Community Development and Housing.”

There was one safeguard left. Citizens had the right go to court and challenge a bad decision by their local government: a condo tower that exceeds a height limit, an apartment complex in a neighborhood of single-family homes.

But if HB 7103 becomes law, that final right to protest will be crushed. Citizen challenges will face a tilted burden of proof — and the requirement to pay the opposing side’s legal fees if they lose.

More on Galvano's toll roads:

Veto New Toll Roads - Sean Sellers

SB7068 authorizes the construction of three massive toll roads, stretching from Naples to the Florida-Georgia line. However, as nearly 100 business and civic organizations noted this week, the plan is remarkably flawed and must be vetoed.

 

Rights of Nature Webinar

This webinar, presented in November 2020, is one of several on this movement to protect the rights of rivers and of citizens - the right, for example, to not be polluted. 

Corporations have rights - but why do they have the right to pollute, while citizens and Nature have no right to clean water?

Orange County is the largest US municipality to give legal rights to rivers via a Charter Amendment.

Chuck O'Neal of Orange County and Joe Bonasia speak with Thomas Linzey about the Rights of Nature movement in Florida. Direct link to the video.

The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights has more videos about Rights of Nature in other parts of the globe.

Sarasota's new candidates have a lot to say -- but will the public get the chance to hear them?

In our area right now, we are fortunate to have several candidates who are knowledgeable and articulate on a broad range of environmental issues.

Unfortunately, the current state of local media is such that it's likely very little broad public attention will be given to our area's local candidates or issues in the 2020 General Election. More on this below.

Here's a brief intro to five of these challengers, all of whom have made the environment a key plank in their respective platforms:

Andy Mele has a long and strong history of advocacy in both New York and Florida, where he's led Suncoast Waterkeeper as well as taking a lead role in opposing the huge gypsum mining firm Mosaic. Andy is running for Florida House District 71.

Mark Pienkos is running against incumbent Mike Moran in District 1, where large-scale developments are getting approved and moving eastward at an accelerated rate. Pienkos sees serious custodianship of the environment as integral to maintaining Sarasota's highly regarded quality of life.

Cory Hutchinson is running for the County Commission against Nancy Detert in District 3 - the Venice area. One key element of his platform is renewable energy. Hutchinson also wants to prioritize infrastructure repairs, to stop sewage spills into our water.

"Our environment is everything," says Alice White, "it's why we chose to live here." White, who's running for the District 5 County Commission seat, has been a longtime North Port voice for good planning and good planting -- In fact she's known as "The Tree Lady."          

Brian Kelly is a candidate for Venice City Council and a lifelong resident of Sarasota. A co-founder of Hands Along the Water, his focus is to preserve our lands from over-development, to protect our water quality and the environment as a whole, and to extend the reach of public health. "We must protect our natural resources," he says, adding, "our state's fragile environment is at risk from powerful interests. I am frustrated by developers' destruction for short-term gains. Our kids will pay the ultimate price if we don't act now."

There's a lot more about the County Commission districts, candidates and issues at Citizens for District Power.

From the sudden spate of super hotels planned for Siesta Key to the efforts of the Old Miakka Community in the most rural eastern portion of Northeast Sarasota, some of the most significant local issues have to do with the impacts of planning and intense development upon the environment.

Each candidate is following his or her individual conscience and commitment, but behind their concerns looms a larger common question, lurking in Red Tide, in storm surges, in ever-stronger hurricanes, in polluted aquifers, in the disappearance of rural life: Is our way of living reaching a breaking point? 

Where are the public debates?

None of these challengers is accepting developer handouts. All deserve to be better known. Voters deserve sustained, illuminating, in-depth discussion at this critical time.  

No public debates were organized by the corporate media in Sarasota during the August Primaries. The Herald Tribune is not staging any forums or debates for the General Election. And here's no word as of yet from WWSB-Ch 7, or the Observer, or any or our corporate media as to how they will cover the election.

Two local groups are holding online forums: - click the links to obtain their schedules: 

Tiger Bay and the League of Women Voters are organizing Zoom Forum events.

Are our media trying to socially distance themselves from these issues? Some residents think so. If you feel that candidates running without large funding from developers deserve more media attention, please sign this Petition:

Sarasota News Media: Engage our candidates!

Have your say with the EPA - but hurry! Feb. 4 deadline

Citizens at Mote Marine Wave Center for EPA hearing on Kampachi Farms Inc.

Didn't make the EPA hearing on Jan. 28? You still can participate.

Sierra Club and many other environmental groups opposed to Kampachi Farm's proposed operation off the coast of Sarasota County are asking members to email their public comments in opposition to the proposed fish farm to the EPA before FEB 4th   Contact info below!


Comments accepted through: 02/04/2020

You may comment on the proposed action in writing, using Email, FAX or mail.
Submit comments to:
Email: R4NPDES.Kampachi@epa.gov
Fax: 404-562-9772

Mailing address:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 4, Water Division, NPDES Permitting Section, ATTN: Kip Tyler, 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960

More organizations opposed to this proposal:

Friends of the Earth, 

Center for Food Safety, 

Center for Biological Diversity, 

Citizens for Sarasota County

Food & Water Watch, 

Hands along the Water

Healthy Gulf, 

Institute for Fisheries Resources, 

National Family Farm Coalition, 

Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, 

NY4WHALES, 

Ocean Conservation Research, 

Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, 

Sanctuary Education Advisory Specialists LLC, 

Sierra Club Grassroots Network