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Jim Tucker

Beach Fanatic
Jul 12, 2005
1,189
497
Governor Scott has taken executive action, signing an order calling on counties to not limit access to beaches.

Executive Order 18-202 urges the counties to protect public beach access and directs the Department of Environmental Protection to support the efforts.

“Florida is home to the world’s best beaches," Scott said. "And every Floridian and visitor has the right to fully enjoy our state’s natural resources. Florida beaches belong to all of us, and people from across the world visit Florida because of them – and we are going to keep it that way."

The Executive Order takes the following action to Protect Public Beach Access:

1. The Governor’s executive order imposes a moratorium on executive state agencies adopting any rule or restriction to inhibit the public’s access to Florida’s beaches, unless there is a clear risk to public safety;

2. The Governor directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to serve as an advocate for the public’s right to public beach access. This includes establishing an online reporting tool so Floridians with concerns about beach access can provide input. DEP will compile this input and submit a report to the Florida Legislature and the Governor before the next legislative session. DEP will also serve as a liaison to local governments to ensure the public’s right to access the beach is protected;

3. The Governor urges all local government entities to not adopt any rule or ordinance that would restrict or eliminate the public’s access to Florida’s beaches. He is calling on every county in Florida to not take any action that limits access to beaches; and

4. The Governor urges State Attorneys in Florida to protect Floridians’ constitutional right to access the beach.

“Today, I am ordering the Department of Environmental Protection to do everything in their power to advocate to keep our beaches open and public," Scott said. "Also, I am putting a moratorium on any new state regulation that could inhibit public beach access and also urging local government officials to take similar steps to protect Floridians’ access to the beach. Government’s job is to help solve problems, and in Florida, when there is an issue or confusion surrounding legislation, we take action to address it. Florida is the most beautiful state in the nation. We have hundreds of miles of pristine coastline and we are known for having the best beaches across the world. We absolutely cannot do anything that changes that.”
 

beachmax

Beach Comber
Mar 29, 2017
36
39
78
30-A
I am not sure what this means. The governor is addressing beach access not beach use. This is very ambiguous and while in South Walton there is plenty of beach access the issue is public use of a private asset.
 

steel1man

Beach Fanatic
Jan 10, 2013
2,291
659
Florida is home to the world’s best beaches, and every Floridian and visitor has the right to fully enjoy our state’s natural resources. Florida beaches belong to all of us, and people from across the world visit Florida because of them – and we are going to keep it that way,” said Governor Scott.
 

steel1man

Beach Fanatic
Jan 10, 2013
2,291
659
Moratorium


“Last session, HB631 was passed with overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans,” Scott continued. “Unfortunately, the legislation has now created considerable confusion and some have even interpreted it as restricting beach access. I’m committed to keeping our beaches open to the public and this executive order makes this commitment clear. Today, I am ordering the Department of Environmental Protection to do everything in their power to advocate to keep our beaches open and public.”

“Also, I am putting a moratorium on any new state regulation that could inhibit public beach access and also urging local government officials to take similar steps to protect Floridians’ access to the beach.”
 

steel1man

Beach Fanatic
Jan 10, 2013
2,291
659
3. The Governor urges all local government entities to not adopt any rule or ordinance that would restrict or eliminate the public’s access to Florida’s beaches. He is calling on every county in Florida to not take any action that limits access to beaches; and
Access in this case means you can access and sit on any dry sand close to the water.
 

justhavinfun

Beach Fanatic
Nov 13, 2008
373
140
Eastern Lake
Read the press release carefully as it says nothing!! Public Beach access is not the issue or the problem and dry sand is not mentioned. This is just another PR stunt or grasp to look good while he runs for the senate while he has lined his pockets from other folks who own oceanfront property just like him... Maybe I am naïve, but this is just a PR campaign for all the backlash he is getting. But I guess bad breath is better then no breath. I'm not impressed or excited..
 

Poppaj

SoWal Insider
Oct 9, 2015
8,149
19,906
Moratorium


“Last session, HB631 was passed with overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans,” Scott continued. “Unfortunately, the legislation has now created considerable confusion and some have even interpreted it as restricting beach access. I’m committed to keeping our beaches open to the public and this executive order makes this commitment clear. Today, I am ordering the Department of Environmental Protection to do everything in their power to advocate to keep our beaches open and public.”

“Also, I am putting a moratorium on any new state regulation that could inhibit public beach access and also urging local government officials to take similar steps to protect Floridians’ access to the beach.”
" I am also ordering the Department of Environmental Protection to protect the public's right to breathe our wonderful Florida oxygen and protect Floridians’ access to the bountiful rays of the Florida sunshine and the ability to stare at hot tourist bodies in bikinis."
 

Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,250
9,279
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
I am glad to see this and hopefully we can get this resolved. This is Florida The Sunshine State for chrissake

Yet I am not sure what this means or what will happen And I don't trust this Florida government which is totally corporate driven and not representative of the people or our economic needs, or our environment.

The new law signed by the governor himself is very self serving for select few property owners. The corruption and greed is eating into our natural resources and tourism and everything good about Florida. The beaches belong to everyone. And that does not include vendors.
 

boomerang

Beach Lover
May 11, 2015
77
36
Huckabee - you LOOSE

trader of the people of Walton County and defender of the ELITE

There is justice in this world...
 

Emerald Drifter

Beach Fanatic
Jun 8, 2018
617
274
Santa Rosa Beach
The Senate sponsor of the bill (631), Kathleen Passidomo is the Senator representing the Governor's homestead in Naples.
  1. The Governor has a beachfront home in Naples.
  2. There is one house between the Governor's house and a public beach access there in Naples.
If the Governor cared so much about "access" why didn't he just veto the bill back in March?
Why is he now urging local governments to not restrict access when the bill took away local decision making and transferred it to Tallahassee?
Is this an election year move so that the Governor can show beachfront property owners that the state preserved private property rights and also claim to everyone else that he "preserved their beach access"?

For the record, I have never voted for a Democrat/Progressive/Socialist in my life, and there is a 99.999999% chance I never will.
 
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