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Local officials ignoring infrastructure to promote more tourism Human Feces Killing Florida Keys, Carrbbean Coral written June 18, 2002 |
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Local officials ignoring infrastructure to promote more tourism !
Despite primitive wastewater treatment infrastructure on a par with third world countries, poor freshwater management practices, overcrowding, three million tourists a year and substantial evidence that sewage runoff is one of the primary causes of the collapse of nearby coral reefs, local government officials and business interests have attempted to divert tax funds from sewage-treatment appropriations to projects that will bring even more tourists to the Keys Most recently, Monroe County Commissioner and Spiegel Grove project champion, Murray Nelson, along with fellow commissioners Dixie Spehar and County Mayor Sonny McCoy came under fire from citizens and environmentalists after passing a resolution to loan Grove organizers $300,000 from tax funds set aside for wastewater management. Despite strong opposition, the Monroe County Commission eventually pushed through the loan by guaranteeing it with other tax funds, but the accounting scheme sent a clear message to local citizens that as far as Florida Keys officials are concerned, desperately needed infrastructure takes a back seat to development of dive tourism projects and business proposals from other special interest groups.
Human Feces Killing Florida Keys,Carrbbean Coral Local officials ignoring infrastructure to promote more tourism Despite primitive wastewater treatment infrastructure on a par with third world countries, poor freshwater management practices, overcrowding, three million tourists a year and substantial evidence that sewage runoff is one of the primary causes of the collapse of nearby coral reefs, local government officials and business interests have attempted to divert tax funds from sewage-treatment appropriations to projects that will bring even more tourists to the Keys
Most recently, Monroe County Commissioner and Spiegel Grove project champion, Murray Nelson, along with fellow commissioners Dixie Spehar and County Mayor Sonny McCoy came under fire from citizens and environmentalists after passing a resolution to loan Grove organizers $300,000 from tax funds set aside for wastewater management. Despite strong opposition, the Monroe County Commission eventually pushed through the loan by guaranteeing it with other tax funds, but the accounting scheme sent a clear message to local citizens that as far as Florida Keys officials are concerned, desperately needed infrastructure takes a back seat to development of dive tourism projects and business proposals from other special interest groups. for complete article click on http://www.cdnn.info/eco/e020618/e020618.html
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