Home » I’m a DeSantis critic, but give him credit for important Florida land deal | Mark Woods

I’m a DeSantis critic, but give him credit for important Florida land deal | Mark Woods

I’m a DeSantis critic, but give him credit for important Florida land deal | Mark Woods

Inthelastyear,I’vefrequentlybeencriticalofGov.RonDeSantis,hisstaffandtheFloridaDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionwhenitcomestoactuallyprotectingtheenvironmentofFlorida. Whenthestatetriedtoquietlyfast-trackplanstobuildgolfcoursesandhotelsonsomeofouraward-winningstateparkslastsummer,Imayhaveevensuggestedthat“protection”shouldbereplacedwith“destruction”or,ifwedidn’twanttochangeallDEPletterheads,“plundering.” Andthen,asifnotlearningalessonfromthestateparkssaga,wesawsomethingsimilarplayoutinvolvingNortheastFloridalastmonth—withaplantoquietlypushthroughalandswapinvolvingtheGuanaRiverWildlifeManagementAreablowingupamidstswiftandbipartisanbacklash. Soitmaycomeasasurprisetoreadmesayingthis:DeSantisdeservescreditforwhatheandhisCabinetdidlastweekwithoutalotoffanfare. Theyapprovedusingnearly$118millionofFloridaForevermoneytopushacrossthefinishlineayears-longefforttoconservemorethan78,000privatel