The 99% Analogy

Well it seems to have spread (no surprise).  For a community that depends heavily on ecotourism, not wanting to protect the very species that it all revolves around is..well..idiotic!  I now understand the 99% movement. Despite the fact that an overwhelming number of comments on the proposed rule were in favor, the city sides with wealthy Kings Bay homeowners and monied interests with high speed water toys over the interests of small business owners (ecotour operators) and manatees. News that the city does not favor manatee protection is not a great selling point for tourism.

Despite being "buoyed by citizens opposed to the proposed rule", the reality is that of those in Citrus County who bothered to participate,  723 supported the rule and only 145 who were opposed.  Nationwide, 105,050 were in favor vs 189 opposed.  Granted not everyone on either side participated, but coming back now and restarting the process because you didn't like the outcome is like taking a mulligan when you hit a bad shot.

From the October 20th Edition of the Citrus County Chronicle:

CRYSTAL RIVER — City officials are prepared to sue the federal government in what they admit is an uphill battle to stop a proposed King’s Bay manatee-protection rule from taking effect.

The city council on Wednesday voted unanimously to send a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stating its intent to sue if the federal government follows through on plans to make the entirety of King’s Bay a manatee refuge.

In sending the notice, however, officials hope the wildlife service will decide to back off the rule which, among other things, would eliminate a boating summer sport zone in King’s Bay in favor of year-round slow speed restrictions.

Council members embraced the notice-of-intent idea presented by Gary Maidhof, the projects and operations officer for Citrus County government.

Maidhof, who authored the county’s position paper in opposition to the proposed rule, spoke to the city council as a citizen and not in his official capacity.

Maidhof said he could cite numerous instances where the wildlife agency did not follow its own rules or executive orders in developing the King’s Bay rule. Among them is that the agency never conducted an economic impact study specific to Crystal River, nor did it take into account the effect it would have on the Crystal River city government.

The wildlife agency offered the proposed rule in June and conducted a public hearing in July. City Manager Andy Houston said he expects that the rule will be finalized before the winter manatee protection season begins Nov. 15.

Council members, buoyed by citizens opposed to the proposed rule, said the rule would have broad impact on boaters and residents of Crystal River.

“It’s not a rule, it’s legislation,” Mayor Jim Farley said.

Council members said the legal action should be a joint effort with the Citrus County Commission.
Commissioner Joe Meek said he would take that request to his board. “The county stands shoulder to shoulder with you in opposition to this proposed rule,” Meek said.

Attorney Clark Stillwell, who represents the interests of developers and counts on experts when seeking regulative permits, said a federal lawsuit won’t be easy. “Rule challenges are exceedingly expensive,” he said. “Unless you bring your lawyers and your experts, they’re not going to respect you. They’ll walk all over you.”

Listen to Clark!  I'd rather you spend  money cleaning up the mess that is King's Bay.  That will do more to bolster the economy and the value of our waterfront properties than posturing and wasting our tax dollars.