Articles by: Gil Smart
President Donald Trump’s decision to tear down the White House’s East Wing and build a huge ballroom has been hugely controversial; but in fact the President had some help in the form of donors contributing to the cause. And take…
Since 2020, when the state authorized the use of “innovative technologies” to combat harmful blue-green algal blooms, the South Florida Water Management District has added chemicals known as algaecides to its toolbox — and to the water. Over the past…
VoteWater, a South Florida clean-water advocacy group, has endorsed Omar Jimenez for Miami Beach Commission Group 1. “Omar Jimenez puts clean water at the top of his agenda — because he’s seen first-hand the effect dirty water can have on…
Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Martin County Tuesday to talk about python hunting, but briefly addressed the proposed Southland “Water Resource Project” (rock mine) in response to a reporter’s question. “Our Department of Environmental Protection is not going to allow…
Given the continued breakneck pace of growth in Florida, we highly doubt that rogue local government regulators are roaming Florida, coming down like a ton of unjust bricks on the head of poor, persecuted developers. But you might be tempted…
Statewide elections are still a year away — but Florida’s sugar industry continues to spend like there’s no tomorrow. The latest state campaign finance data shows that Big Sugar has given at least $2.48 million in “dirty money” — political…
In Dania Beach, Broward County, a controversy has erupted over a company’s plan to build a warehouse on a 3+ acre piece of land that had been characterized by the county as a “Local Area of Particular Concern.” The site teems with…
The Florida Legislature is soon in session, and we’d like to think clean water will be atop the 2026 agenda. We’re not putting money on it, though, so we’ll be watching our lawmakers very closely this session – and we…
During the 2025 budget negotiations, state legislative leaders pleaded poverty and stiffed Florida’s marquee land acquisition program, Florida Forever, allocating just $18 million. But turns out the state actually has plenty of money to spend on land conservation — so long…
Biscayne Bay is in crisis, and the next Mayor of Miami has their work cut out for them. Ken Russell gets it — and that’s why he’s our pick in the 13-way race for the city’s next Mayor. Russell, a…