turtle watch volunteer arrested

[Smiling JOe]

It is all about money.

The only reason that the ordiance to keep the beaches clean is not being enforced is that they are afraid to offend a paying guest that wants to be lazy and leave their crap on the beach overnight.

And years ago it probably was not that big of a problem for two reasons. One fewer people came to the area and people were just generally more responsible and caring about the impact their actions have on the area.

Now you have more visitors and more that simply do not care. Until the county truly begins to care, it is not going to improve. You can educate all you want but those willing to be educated are not the ones causing the problems.

A fine is a great idea on paper but will have no effect without enforcement and therein lies the problem.

I disagree with your premise. Having clean beaches will attract more tourists, and that is the number one thing on the TDC's list -- attracting more tourists. It will take less than one season to educate people, if it is done everyday, without exception, along the entire length of the beach. In my opinion, at first, people will balk, but in the end, they will appreciate the correction.

 

[Minnie]

I disagree with your premise. Having clean beaches will attract more tourists, and that is the number one thing on the TDC's list -- attracting more tourists. It will take less than one season to educate people, if it is done everyday, without exception, along the entire length of the beach. In my opinion, at first, people will balk, but in the end, they will appreciate the correction.

Oh I agree, but I not sure those making the decisions are. Because truly if they believed that, why are they not doing it.

Either it is money they don't want to spend to enforce the codes, or money they fear they will lose by offending someone.

Either way it is always about money. I know you can have clean beaches and make money from tourists, I visit too many other beach areas in the country that do not have these problems and see clean beaches and plenty of tourists.

But the TDC is going to have to be convinced of this.

 

[Smiling JOe]

You need a picture that can convey the gravity of the situation without all the captions. Unless I know that stuff has been there a while, it's difficult to be outraged, I'm just being honest. It certainly doesn't look like a major eyesore. For me at least it doesn't have the impact.

Sorry that you find the words on the photo more distracting than I find all of the crap on the beach. Those are just words. How about you walk down to the beach and see for yourself if you live near South Walton. (I think that everyone should get off their lazy-schtick and go to the beach in the morning, to see with their own eyes. You will be shocked, I'm sure. Photos really don't capture the magnitude of the crap left on the beaches. I can take plenty of close up photos, but posting all of them would lose impact. Go see for yourself.

 

[ASH]

Oh I agree, but I not sure those making the decisions are. Because truly if they believed that, why are they not doing it.

Either it is money they don't want to spend to enforce the codes, or money they fear they will lose by offending someone.

Either way it is always about money. I know you can have clean beaches and make money from tourists, I visit too many other beach areas in the country that do not have these problems and see clean beaches and plenty of tourists.

But the TDC is going to have to be convinced of this.

The TDC is not the problem. They were enforcing stuff being left on the beaches. It's the Sheriff department and lawyers that put the halt on picking things up. That needs to be clear. The TDC would do their job if they could.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Oh I agree, but I not sure those making the decisions are. Because truly if they believed that, why are they not doing it.

Either it is money they don't want to spend to enforce the codes, or money they fear they will lose by offending someone.

Either way it is always about money. I know you can have clean beaches and make money from tourists, I visit too many other beach areas in the country that do not have these problems and see clean beaches and plenty of tourists.

But the TDC is going to have to be convinced of this.

I'm not certain, but I don't think it is the TDC who is responsible for the non-enforcement issue. I believe it is the Interim County Attorney who has contacted the Attorney General's Office for their opinion on the legalities of the County Ordinance. It sounds to me as there is question to the legality of the Ordinance as written, so they are suspending collection of crap on the beach until further notice.

 

[BeachSiO2]

I'm not certain, but I don't think it is the TDC who is responsible for the non-enforcement issue. I believe it is the Interim County Attorney who has contacted the Attorney General's Office for their opinion on the legalities of the County Ordinance. It sounds to me as there is question to the legality of the Ordinance as written, so they are suspending collection of crap on the beach until further notice.

From an earlier discussion/thread:

http://www.sowal.com/bb/local-government/36096-county-removing-articles-beach.html#post568252

 

[sullygromo]

This is laughable to me since, if I recall correctly, there was a Republican rally locally that had a pinata of Obama's head that was bashed in front of children. Do you condone bashing an effigy vs. the illegal tear down of inanimate objects left illegally on a beach? I also do not see anything in the article stating she did this is front of her children or grandchildren.

 

[Here4Good]

I believe it is the Interim County Attorney who has contacted the Attorney General's Office for their opinion on the legalities of the County Ordinance.

Does anyone else think it's time we hired an actual county attorney?

 

[Smiling JOe]

here4good, I used to think the same thing, but given the history of some of the other County Attorney's, names withheld, maybe attorney, Mike Burke and team isn't so bad. I don't agree with some of the things they do/say, but they do represent the County as needed. Personally, I think it is good practice to make laws which are Constitutional, so if that is in question in this particular Ordinance, I think the Interim County Attorney is doing the right thing -- protecting the County's interest.

 

[Andy A]

Does anyone else think it's time we hired an actual county attorney?

Yep.