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Dirty Money

We oppose “Alligator Alcatraz.” Here’s why – and what we’re doing about it.

July 3, 2025

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…

Big Sugar’s rock mine gets key DEP permit; but is there a ‘public benefit?’

June 3, 2025

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…

Palm Beach Commissioners took sugar money. Then they voted to approve Big Sugar’s rock mine

May 27, 2025

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…

Here’s how much Dirty Money Big Sugar gave in Q1 2025

April 24, 2025

The state’s campaign finance data for the first quarter of 2025 dropped in recent weeks, and it shows — surprise, surprise — that Big Sugar is still giving big bucks, even in an off-election year. According to the Florida Department…

Digging into Ashley Moody’s ‘Dirty Money’

April 2, 2025

Florida’s newest U.S. Senator, Ashley Moody, was appointed in January and has never run for that seat — so she hasn’t (yet) amassed a treasure chest of federal “dirty money” contributions. But as Florida’s Attorney General from 2017-January 2025, she…

HEY DOGE, wanna cut waste? Kill the Sugar Program

March 6, 2025

As you’ve no doubt seen, the Department of Government Efficiency has been swinging the budgetary ax, cutting a wide swath in its quest to eliminate “waste.” So we have a suggestion for Elon Musk and his crew: Kill the Sugar…

Florida’s Legislature convenes March 4 – here’s what we want them to do

February 13, 2025

For weeks Florida legislators have been meeting in committee, filing and debating bills and preparing for the official start of the 2025 Legislative Session on March 4. This session VoteWater’s Gil Smart will travel to Tallahassee to lobby for clean-water…

DeSantis-legislative feud: They’re ALL too cozy with Big Ag!

February 6, 2025

We’re watching the Ron DeSantis-Legislative feud with a truckload of popcorn. The proximate cause of the recent nastiness is immigration legislation, the fact DeSantis called the Legislature up to Tallahassee on what was supposed to be a week off, the…

Dubious EAA ‘water resource project’ (rock mine) lurches ahead

January 23, 2025

Hey, remember that proposal to build a rock mine… er, “water resource project” — in the Everglades Agricultural Area? Sure you do. Phillips & Jordan, the prime contractor for several massive reservoir projects in the region, is pitching (unsolicited) plans…

New Year’s resolution: Vote water!

December 31, 2024

Award-winning photojournalist, writer, captain and friend to the clean-water cause Rusty Chinnis gives VoteWater a shout-out in the Anna Maria Island Sun: “What better resolution to adopt this New Year? Vote Water,” writes Chinnis. “The future of fishing, Florida’s natural…

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