Good morning:
The attached Cockroach Bay Users Group (C-BUG) Letter to the Editor is a call to action. You are encouraged to spread the word that this new prop scar law goes into effect October 1, 2009 in Florida waters.
C-BUG has questioned why the prop scar law was placed into the massive 89 page bill titled "An act relating to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission" in the first place. Why was it not a standalone bill? Why wasn't it circulated for public comment in the usual manner?
So far, FWC has mentioned only Mr. Lewis's name in connection with the timeliness of the prop scar bill. C-BUG and many volunteers have spend 14 years lending a hand to protect the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. FWC or Mr. Lewis never mentioned this pending prop scar law was to be stuck into a big bill.
It is hard for C-BUG to understand, and FWC has not really explained, the big rush to get this piece of legislature off the table. Florida has been around for 12,000 years, according to the new Tampa Museum. We been working with EPC for over two years now on the power boat trail through Little Cockroach Bay which would solve prop scarring that Mr. Lewis has cited, and we can't get to first base!
Well I guess if you look real close, it isn't hard to understand: once a good or bad piece of legislation become law and goes into effect, now the problem is solved! The attention can be turned to threats of and calls for law enforcement to enforce the law, and then it's up to the courts, on up to the Supreme Courts, to settle the issue. This is timely and costly route for the public to pursue. In our option as tax payers, this "dirty trick " with the prop scar law is really bad government practice and should stop now.
To inspired your comments to the government and its agencies, the attached article from the WSJ will show that we are not alone. It's now up to you: sit on your hand or stand up and fight back. Call to have the prop scar law October 1st stopped until it is properly reviewed in the public forum.
Charlie Feldschau, President of C-BUG
720 Masterpiece Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573
813-785-5086
