August 14, 2002
CONTACT: Susie Caplowe
TALLAHASSEE—Representatives from civic, homeowner and environmental groups today filed a lawsuit against the State of Florida and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary David Struhs over a bill that silences citizens in critical environmental decisions affecting the state. The controversial anti-citizen enforcement and participation bill (SB270/HB819) was amended to the Everglades (HB813) during the final hours of the 2002 Legislative Session.
The main plaintiffs in the lawsuit are: the Sierra Club, Florida Chapter; Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, Inc. (ECOSWF); The Florida Wildlife Federation; Manasota-88; Save the Manatee Club, Inc.; and Tom Reese. The groups are represented by a legal team that includes Tallahassee attorneys David Guest, Earthjustice; David Ludder, Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation (LEAF); Dean LeBoeuf, Brooks, LeBoeuf, Bennett & Foster; Dan Hendrickson, Public Interest Attorney, and Jacksonville attorney Warren Anderson, Anderson and Howell.
"We're here today for those 103 community and environmental organizations who urged the Governor to veto this anti-citizen legislation," said Susie Caplowe, spokesperson for the Sierra Club and The Florida Consumer Action Network.
"The legislature passed this legislation for the special interests and the Governor signed it as one of his three major environmental mistakes during the post-session approval of bills. We recognize the need for a permanent funding source for the Everglades, and regret that this albatross, the anti-citizen enforcement/participation bill, was hung around the neck of the Everglades, " said Alan Farago, Everglades Issue Chair, Sierra Club Florida Chapter.
"It's been a historic and sad year when the special interests and their legislators very deliberately shut the door on another avenue for citizens to be involved personally to help protect the environment," stated Pat Rose, spokesperson for the Save the Manatee Club.
"The efforts of the law suit announced today is invoking the Florida constitution's "single subject rule" to strike down Session Law 2002-261, which deprived citizens of their rights to protect their communities," summarized David Ludder, General Counsel Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation, and one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs.
Among the people attending the news conference were: David Ludder, Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation; Dan Hendrickson, Florida Consumer Action Network; Nancy Brown, Florida League of Conservation Voters; Pat Rose, Save the Manatee Club; Bobby Billie, Independent Seminole; Leon County Commissioner Bob Rackleff; Anita Davis, Past President, Tallahassee NAACP; Della and Chad Hanson, Tallahassee Green Party; Shannon Larson, Environmental & Human Rights Activists; Larry Block, Lake Carolyn Homeowners Association; Greg Patterson, President Council of Neighborhood Associations (Tallahassee) (CONA); Karen Woodall, activist.
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