The Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM-NERR) moved a step closer to including the City of St. Augustine at the July 11, 2016 City Commission meeting, as ten local residents urged the City to include itself and Commissioners voted unanimously for staff to finalize legal negotiations to protect the City's interest. Speakers included Frank Usina, Patrick Hamilton, William Hamilton, Carolyn Smith, St. Johns Riverkeeper Neal Arminjean, Dr. Joseph Ryan, Ph.D., Dr. Leonard Pellicer, Ed.D., and me.
Some twenty years ago, local Commissioners refused to join the NERR, making it the only NERR in the Nation with a hole in the middle.
That means for twenty years, scientists did not collect data that would be helpful for policymaking.
Every coastal state has at least one NERR, except for Louisiana. Go figure.
Good day. We, the People just broke a 20 year logjam.
In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!
No comments:
Post a Comment