Articles by: Gil Smart
VoteWater opposes ‘Alligator Alcatraz,” and we’re working to stop it. VoteWater and its partners sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier urging them to halt this ill-advised project. We are helping to marshall opposition to further construction…
VoteWater has joined 13 other conservation groups across Florida in signing a National Park Conservation Association’s letter opposing “Alligator Alcatraz.” “This irresponsible proposal is being pushed forward without any legitimate evaluation of its impacts on the nearby Big Cypress National…
By now you likely know that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wants to build an immigrant detention center — “Alligator Alcatraz” — on the grounds of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. Once upon a time the world’s biggest airport,…
The water in the Indian River Lagoon just south of the Ernest Lyons Bridge and Stuart Causeway in Martin County should be clear, with a sandy or seagrass-covered bottom. But recently, as he’s been collecting water samples for the Florida…
The 2026 elections may seem a long way off, but all across south Florida candidates and potential candidates are already making their pitch to donors – and soon enough they’ll take it to voters, i.e. you. So check out our…
The Southland rock mine proposal, on 8,600 acres of Palm Beach County farmland owned by US Sugar and Okeelanta Corp. (Florida Crystals), has been sailing through the county and state approval process. But at the South Florida Water Management District…
Reconciliation bill looks like another giveaway to the sugar industry Federal lawmakers still haven’t passed a new, updated Farm Bill. But some agricultural programs look like they’ll be part of President Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” — including, you guessed…
Even as opponents of the Southland rock mine (including VoteWater’s Gil Smart, above) were gathered in Belle Glade last Thursday to speak out on the proposal, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a “Notice of Intent” to issue the…
Last week Palm Beach County Commissioners voted to approve the rezoning request for the Southland rock mine on 8,600 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area owned by U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals. VoteWater’s Gil Smart (above) was one of more…
Below is the text of VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart’s comments during the May 22 Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners meeting, where commissioners approved the Southland rock mine rezoning request. Smart will also speak against the rock mine…