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