Ron DeSantis

DeSantis and the Everglades: What will be his legacy?

September 11, 2025

We’ve recounted many times how Gov. DeSantis came into office with a bang, replaced the entire South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, appointed red tide and blue-green algae task forces and set about securing massive funding for Everglades restoration.…

VoteWater asks appeals court to deny stay in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ lawsuit

September 3, 2025

VoteWater has joined a coalition of Florida conservation organizations asking a federal appeals court to affirm a lower court ruling that effectively shuts down “Alligator Alcatraz.” Attorneys with The Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at…

Rock mine could get DEP permit Aug. 11 unless ‘Everglades Governor’ steps in

August 8, 2025

Barring some legal challenge, the Florida DEP (“Don’t Expect Protection”) is scheduled to issue its permit for Phase 1 of the Southland rock mine project on Aug. 11 — and the one person who can stop it, Gov. Ron DeSantis,…

Alligator Alcatraz: When Political Theater Costs Millions

July 17, 2025

When the Florida Legislature passed a budget last month that cut spending by 3%, elected leaders crowed. “Floridians,” said Senate President Ben Albritton, “expect us to spend their tax dollars wisely.” Absolutely. But what about “Alligator Alcatraz?” While Florida Attorney…

Did ‘dirty money’ help win ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ contracts?

July 10, 2025

What we are witnessing, with “Alligator Alcatraz,” is a master class in how “dirty money” works. As multiple media outlets have reported, several companies involved in the construction and operation of the Everglades detention center have donated to Gov. Ron…

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…

An open letter to Gov. DeSantis: EAA rock mine could destroy your legacy

May 15, 2025

Dear Gov. DeSantis: You’ve been called “America’s Everglades Governor.” Since you took office in 2019, Florida has allocated record funding for Everglades restoration projects. This spending has helped generate significant momentum, spurring progress on key CERP components, including what you’ve…

2025 Florida Legislative session winds down; last-second drama for state parks bill

May 1, 2025

We’re in what was supposed to be the final week of the Florida legislative session, but as of this writing the House and Senate budget proposals were still billions apart. That means the session will either be extended, or legislators…

Back to the bad old days with DeSantis picks for SFWMD board

April 16, 2025

When Gov. Ron DeSantis came into office in 2019 one of the first things he did was dismiss the sitting South Florida Water Management District Governing Board and appoint a new slate. No longer was the board dominated by special…

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…

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