A few months later I got a called from the TC Palm about my petition.
“What Petition?”
“Your Petition has 2000 signatures.”
“OH! It’s not mine it belong’s to Tiki Steve”
So like everything else in this movement that started off to save our Indian RIver Lagoon and morphed into saving Caloosahatchee River, saving the everglades, saving the water of south florida , saving south florida it organically had 2000 signatures and its grown to over 13,000 since then.
Tiki Steve “I have children I hear excuses all the time!”
Nothing has changed. Now we have the same thing with SFWMD. They have constraints. Same difference.
Tiki Steve “He’s got to stand up for the people of Florida.”
He’s not! He is standing up for BIg Sugar and so are the people on the board of south florida water management who are so lazy they haven’t read any of multitudes of reports about building a reservoir and sending clean water south. I suspect because they have been told to ignore all the scientific reports and we will all go away after the option on the land runs out. Who your sugar baby?
We’re looking for an appraisal on 46,800. BS gave it us when they were going broke but now that they are being subsidized and have no worries they changed their minds.
We can’t change the guts of the petition but we have over 13,000 names and we want it to continue in the spirit in which Steve started it.
The discharges have got to stop. The reservoir needs to be built. (BS actually wanted this. It would be good for all involved) The money is there. With out a flow way the rest of Everglades Restoration won’t work.
Rick Scott, our local legislators and SFWMD refuse to do anything about this. Refuse. Nothing they are doing will stop the discharges.
We need all of you to sign our petition. STOP THE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF FRESH WATER SENT OUT TO TIDE.
STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR LAGOON AND THE NORTHERN ESTUARIES.
SFWMD Engineer Jeff Jeff Kivett wrote a report with all the constraints as to why we will never ever ever ever ever be able to buy the land and send the water south. It reminded me of my son when he was 16 and he told me the million reasons he couldn’t clean his room. A huge task yes but certainly not impossible. This is the position favored by Big Sugar and they let every person on the Board of Governors know that this is what they had to do. Do nothing. The option will run out and meanwhile our legislators are planning how to use our Amendment 1 money as their slush fund. I find Florida a very frightening place this week. Apparently there is no such thing as climate change.
Constraints is what your sixteen year old has when they don't want to clean their room, #buytheland
I thought about how my entire day as a nurse is finding solutions. I hardly doubt I would keep my job if I went around telling people “I’m so sorry. I have constraints.” Most of us have jobs where we need to come up with solutions. The job of the Government is to protect us. The job of SFWMD is to protect the water. These people need to be replaced. They clearly don’t work for us.
Millions of gallons of fresh water are being sent out to tide daily. Is this taking care of the water? There are unusable wells in Hallandale. Salt Water Intrusion. Death of the Miccosukee Tribe tree islands.
“Recently US Sugar Corporation, and even some members from the Governing Board of the SFWMD itself , (http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/xweb%20about%20us/governing%20board) “hijacked” Mr Kivett’s document, to make it seem like it proves everything is “in stone,” justifies the atrocities of the plumbing system, and makes the idea of buying land south of Lake Okeechobee null and void….Nothing, could be further than the truth….and was not the intention of Mr Kivett’s document.”
According to SFWMD we will be getting toxic discharges forever, the water of South Florida will be destroyed, salt water will continue to intrude. They have no intention of doing anything about this. That means Rick Scott has no intention of doing anything. According to Kevin Powers he is our best friend and we should listen to him.
With friends like that who needs enemies? Same goes for our legislators that voted for the water bill. You are all complicit. Every single one of you.
I don’t need to review the past. I’m sure all these people including Rick Scott, Adam Putnam, and the entire board of Governors are having a good laugh at our expense.
Here is a piece from the Daily Show about Chris Christie who been known to hang out with Rick Scott. Apparently the same thing goes on in New Jersey.
When a person on the SFWMD board has no idea who Maggy Hurchella is we are in deep trouble.
We were told if we clapped, or were disruptive they would be removed by a deputy. So we raised our signs and by doing so made the most haunting sound. It was sad and hysterically funny at the same time.
GO there and sign the petition. You can tweet or facebook Rick Scott. Tell him to buy the land. Share the website with your friends and family. This website is a gift. It’s a miracle. So please break twitter and facebook. lets do this folks. This petition needs thousands of signatures.
According to the Scientists at the Everglades Coalition meeting “The most important thing to prevent sea level rise in MIami is to send the water south.”
75% of Floridians voted in amendment one. This land was written into that.
If you have any questions watch this video presentation.
Here are all the videos. If I spelled anyone’s name or didn’t include your name please send me an email at clenz@mac.com and tell me which video you were in and send me a link to your organization. Much apologies I don’t have a list of speakers.
After you watch the videos please go here and follow the directions to sign the petition.
Advocates came from all over South Florida. Representation from Everglades Coalition (The awesome Cara), The Everglades Foundation, The Sierra Club, The Conservation Alliance of Martin County, The Indian River Keeper, The Audubon Society , Tropical Audubon, Mark Perry, Dawn Shirreffs, Julia Hathaway, Maggy Hurchella, George Jones, Donna Melzer, a kick your butt blonde fisherwoman, and of course our awesome River Warriors of the Indian River Lagoon. Even Me. Even the video girl.
All saying the same thing #buytheland #sendcleanwatersouth
Make sure you watch Eileen DuClau’s impassioned speech. You don’t mess with Gramma’s from Providence, RI.
45 speakers. All saying the same thing to a stoned faced board who because of political reasons has no interest in doing this. For us Science has trumped politics. For them politics has trumped Science.
I have only one question. What will South Florida look like if this doesn’t happen? Will these people be held responsible?
Last night the Indian Riverkeeper had an awards banquet to recognize all the great River Warriors that have been working so hard on our water issues. It was a wonderful celebration and we really needed a fun evening out because we got a lot of work a head of us!
“Everywhere you go this group of advocates is the most educated advocates in the state.” Marty Baum, River Warriors Award Ceremony.
The Indian RiverKeeper Awards Banquet January 18th, 2015
Katy Lewey River Warrior of the Year
Here’s a little video
Tiki Steve Cottrell and I were honored with an award.
The First Act. River of Light … Cyndi Lenz and Steve Cottrell
For those who know me I have a hard time patting myself on the back. Most of us do. We see ourselves as a group and everyone has a job to do. So when someone compliments me it makes uncomfortable because without the rest of the group there would not be anyone to document. But I was good with this. When we, Tiki Steve and I, started off we just wanted to document the issue with the discharges. We started way before the discharges. Tike Steve started the petition to the Govenor Rick Scott. https://www.change.org/p/rick-scott-stop-the-lake-okeechobee-discharges-into-the-st-lucie-river-and-estuaries
Then the discharges started. The Protest happened when thousands of people showed up. I shot that protest and put it on online and thousands of people saw those videos. 2500 people watch Marty Baum call for an end to this. (original video posted on UVU)
The petition took off with thousands of people signing. A Riverlution was started by the good people of Martin and St Lucie County.
This year we added our you tube page and “Ten minutes with Tiki” and we were blessed to be able to roll it out with out Congressman Patrick Murphy.
Our first “Ten minutes with Tiki” with Congressman Patrick Murphy
Last November I was fortunate enough to get a new camera and it makes my life so much easier to do what I love the most. Short and sweet video blogging for the highest good.
We’ve been the documentary, we meaning you guys, and with out you guys there would be no River of Light. There would be nothing really.
We have lots to do but for a moment pat yourself on the back ( and folks these people are not back patters. They are unselfish doers who constantly do not bring attention to themselves but to the issues of our Indian River Lagoon and St Lucie River and this is how we have gotten to where we are right now. Ever person’s contribution is important. Sticking to this was so well worth it because now WE HAVE TO SEND THE WATER SOUTH! Doing this will not only save us, but it will save the Everglades, Miami and the Keys.
Here is a list of awards/recognition recipients
Spouses;
Benji Hinkle
Jennifer Brand
Laura Appel
Kathy Glenn
Patricia Conner
Jody Collelo
Emily Grande
Noah Lewey
Kevin Mason
Tom Roberts
Bob Gomes
Tony Polito
James Hurchalla
Gary Neal
Jason Bryan
Howard Fatzinger
Larry DuClau
Political Friends (who admit it) of the Indian Riverkeeper and the River Warriors
Political Friends;
Chris Dzadovsky
Eula Clark
Mary Westcott Higgins
Charlie Grande
Mark Pafford
Larry Lee Jr.
Supporting Businesses;
Snook Nook Tackle and Bait .. Henry and Fred Caimotto
Fredgie’s Hot Dogs .. Jo Neeson
Newitt Jewelers … Tom Newitt
Uncle G’s .. Sebastian Brusco
Becks Furniture .. Becky Bruner
Seamaid Boat Lettering … Pamela Dade
Joyful Printing…. Joy De La Vega
Appel Roofing .. Ezra Appel
Terra Fermata … Ron Hart
Original Tiki Bar … Mike Phillip
The Deck …Hillary Runge
Cassidy Ice…Shawn Cassidy
Sweetwater Brewing Company …
Shrimpers …
Fresh Catch.. Eric Olsen
Shakra’s Deli .. Jeff Shakra
Bullsugar .. Kenny Hinkle Jr.
Boots on the ground
Linda and Don Curtiss
Gunnar Johnson
Mike Glynn
Captain Larry Hasek
Barbara and Wayne Januszewski
Michelle Richey and Tony Parish
Darcy Flierl and Gary Neal
Lorena Teal
Linda Miller
Julie Williams
Jill Gantz
Rebecca Fatzinger
Jodi and Drew Colello
Christina Maldonato
Jerry Hitchcock
Pamela Joy
Marcia and Stan Buys
AniYa A. Period
Alicia Hill
Eileen and Larry DuClau
Darby Monroe
Trena Merendino
Sandy Van Kirk
AWARDS
The First Act. River of Light … Cyndi Lenz and Steve Cottrell
STIRL; Save the Indian River Lagoon; Keri West
Defining Moment; Megan Remick, Lorena Teal, Keri West, Katy Lewey, Jo Neeson
Bright Ideas and Creativity; Solidarity Fish Art; Janeen Mason, Marjorie Shropshire, Marcia Moore
Devotion Above and Beyond the Call of Duty; Gayle Ryan
Unsung Hero; Your Efforts, Education and Strength Inspire Us All; Captain Mike Conner
Environmental Education; You have mentored, and educated us all. Mark Perry, Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, Dr. Gary Goforth
Peacekeeper We could all learn from your fine example.; Ezra Appel
Good Citizenship; Promoting Positive Morals Through Actions of Good Spirit; Katy Lewey.
Make it happen; Michelle Robert’s, Becky Bruner, Jo Neeson
Engaging children, promoting participation and ownership through media; Youth Driven Cinema; Crystal Lucas, Benjamin D’Avanso
Leadership; For growing into an outstanding leader, right before our eyes. Kenny Hinkle Jr.
Sergeant at Arms; or Leadership, organization and loyaly. Jo Neeson
Our Heroine and Mentor of the Year; Maggy Hurchalla
Our River Warrior of the Year 2014 For Your Leadership and the Empowerment of our Children. Katy Lewey.
cyndi lenz 