There are only a few weeks left to get enough certified petitions to get this amendment on the Florida ballot in 2014. Florida’s Water And Land Legacy Campaign aims to provide a stable, dedicated funding source for the acquisition of conservation and recreation lands in Florida A coalition of leading defenders of the state’s environment today launched a Constitutional amendment petition drive to ask voters to guarantee support for this long-term state priority.
The amendment would take effect July 1, 2015, and for 20 years would dedicate one-third of the net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents to restore the Everglades, protect drinking water sources, and revive the state’s historic commitment to protecting natural lands and wildlife habitat through the Florida Forever Program.
Under the amendment, the monies deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund will remain separate from the State’s General Revenue Fund. The amendment would provide more than $5 billion for water and land conservation in Florida over the next ten years and $10 billion over the 20-year life of the measure, without any tax increase.
The amendment would create Article X, Section 28, of the Florida Constitution. Under the amendment, Florida’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund would receive a guaranteed 33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents. These funds would be dedicated to support financing or refinancing the acquisition and improvement of:
• Land, water areas, and related property interests and resources for conservation lands including wetlands, forests, and fish and wildlife habitat;
• Lands that protect significant water resources and drinking water sources, including lands protecting the water quality and quantity of rivers, lakes, streams, springsheds, and lands providing recharge for groundwater and aquifer systems;
• Lands in the Everglades Agricultural Area and the Everglades Protection Area, as defined in Section 7(b) of Article II of the Florida Constitution;
• Beaches and shores; outdoor recreation lands, including recreational trails, parks, and urban open space; rural landscapes; historic, archaeological, or geologic sites as well as management of lands acquired;
• Restoration of natural systems related to the enhancement of public access and recreational enjoyment; and
• Payment of the debt service on bonds issued pursuant to Article VII, Section 11(e) of the Florida Constitution.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Pegeen Hanrahan about the amendment. Listen to the podcast here.
This is very simple, go to the web site for Florida’s Water And Land Legacy Campaign and enter your email address. A hard copy of the petition will be sent to you. Print it out, sign it, and mail it in. Let the voters decide by getting this amendment on the 2014 ballot.
Following are the August 19 – August 25 North Central Florida Events & Locations for petitioning. Scroll down for your county to see great events locations near you!
ALACHUA
Critical Mass: Plaza of the Americas (UF campus); last Fri of month, Aug 30, 5:30pm; *come early to collect from bicyclists as they arrive; Sign up today!
Gainesville Labor Day Festival: Downtown Gainesville Plaza; Sunday, Sept 1, 5pm-10pm; *we have a table; Sign up today!
Free Friday: Bo Diddley Community Plaza; Every Friday 8pm-10pm; Sign up today!
Paynes Prairie, at La Chua Trailhead (along the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail): Adopt this trailhead! *we have permission to collect from the Park Manager
Union Street Farmers’ Market, 111 E University Ave, Gainesville; Every Wednesday 4-7pm; Adopt this market!
BAY
Bay County Public Library and Government Services Center: 898 West 11th St, Panama City; Wednesday, August 21 from 10am-12pm and 1:30pm-3:30pm. *Ron Houser and others will be there, so let us know if you would like to join them!
CITRUS
Central Ridge Library: 425 W Roosevelt Blvd, Beverly Hills; *most Saturdays the League of Women Voters of Citrus County will have a table.
Inverness Farmers Market: Inverness Government Center (212 W Main St, Inverness); 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 8am-12pm; Adopt this market!
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park; *most Saturdays the Citrus County Council will have a table let us know if you would like to join them!
COLUMBIA
Ichetucknee Springs State Park; *we have permission to gather petitions, and you can join volunteer Jacqui Sulek over the weekend. let us know when you’d like to collect!
DUVAL
Critical Mass: Memorial Park (1620 Riverside Ave); last Fri of month, Aug 30, 5pm; *come early to collect from bicyclists as they arrive; Sign up today!
Riverside Arts Market; Saturday, August 24, 10am-4pm; *we have a table; Sign up today!
Neptune Beach Green Market: Jarboe Park (Intersection of A1A and Fl. Blvd.); Every Saturday 2pm-5pm; Adopt this market!
Jacksonville Public Library. Adopt your local branch!
ESCAMBIA
Critical Mass: End of the Line Cafe; last Fri of month, Aug 30, 5pm; *come early to collect from bicyclists as they arrive; Sign up today!
Palafox Market: Palafox St, Pensacola; Every Saturday, 8am-2pm; Adopt this market!
The Market@ Saint Monica’s: 699 S Hwy 95-A, Cantonment; 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 8am-12noon; Adopt this market!
FLAGLER
Flagler Beach Farmers Market: Downtown Flagler Beach by the ocean; Every Friday and Saturday, Sunrise to Early Afternoon; Adopt this market!
LAKE
Leesburg Saturday Morning Market, Historic Downtown Leesburg; Every Saturday 8am-2pm; Adopt this market!
Mount Dora Village Market, Elizabeth Evans Park, Mt. Dora; Every Sunday 9am-2pm; Adopt this market!
LEON/WAKULLA/JEFFERSON
Volunteer Night: Campaign Headquarters (316 Williams St, Tallahassee); Every Thursday 5:30pm-8:30pm; Sign up today!
Labor Day Picnic – Big Bend Chapter of NW FL Fed of Labor: Myers Park; Mon Sept 2, 11am-4pm;*we have a table; Sign up today!
First Friday: Railroad Square; Fri Sept 6, 5pm-11pm; Sign up today!
Food Truck Thursday: 330 W. Tharpe St, Tallahassee; Every Thursday, 6pm-10pm; Sign up today!
Chain of Parks Downtown Market: Park Ave and Adams St; Every Saturday, 9am-2pm; Adopt this market! *we have permission
Timberlane Farmers Market: Market Square; Every Saturday, 8am-3pm; Adopt this market! *we have permission
Jefferson County Public Library System; Adopt a library branch! *we have permission
LeRoy Collins Leon Public Library System; Adopt a library branch! *we have permission
Wakulla County Public Library; Adopt a library branch! *we have permission
Critical Mass: Kleman Plaza (on Duval, between College and Pensacola); last Fri of month, Aug 30, 5pm; *come early to collect from bicyclists as they arrive; Sign up today!
MARION
Earth Origins Health Food Market: Silver Springs Blvd; Every Tuesday 11am-1pm or 5pm-7pm; Adopt this market! *we have permission to collect, but let the manager know you are there
Downtown Ocala Farm Market: old Chamber Lot; Every Saturday 9am-2pm; Adopt this market! *must stay on the sidewalk
Marion County Public Library System; Adopt a library branch! *we have permission
Rainbow Springs State Park; *we have permission to set up a table with notice so let us know when you’d like to collect!
Trailheads along the Cross Florida Greenway; *we have permission to set up a table with notice so let us know when you’d like to collect!
NASSAU
Fernandina Beach Market Place: N. 7th Street in historic downtown Amelia Island; Every Saturday, 9am-1pm; Adopt this market!
ORANGE/OSCEOLA
Winter Park Farmers Market: 200 W New England Ave, Winter Park; Every Saturday 7:30am-1pm; Adopt this market!
Downtown Orlando Farmers’ Market: Lake Eola Park, Orlando; Every Sunday Noon-4pm; Adopt this market! *learn from the best and join Pat Grierson
Maitland Farmers Market: Lake Lily Park at the intersection of Maitland Ave and 17-92 in Maitland; Every Sunday 9am-2pm, Adopt this market!
Wekiwa Springs State Park: 1800 Wekiwa Cir, Apopka; *we have permission to set up a table with notice so let us know when you’d like to collect!
Orange County Library System; Adopt a library branch! *we have permission at select branches
Critical Mass: Lock Haven Park (corner of Princeton and Eglin); last Fri of month, Aug 30, 5:30pm; *come early to collect from bicyclists as they arrive; Sign up today!
SEMINOLE
St. Juans Pirate Festival: Downtown historic Sanford; Fri Sept 20 and Sat Sept 21; *we have a table; Sign up today!
Wekiva Island: 1014 Miami Springs Dr, Longwood; Every day beginning at 11am; *we have permission; Sign up today!
Sanford Market: Magnolia Square, Historic Sanford; Every Saturday, 9am-2pm; Adopt this market!
Casselberry Farmers Market: Lake Concord Park, 95 Triplet Lake Drive behind Casselberry City Hall; Every Sunday, 10am-2pm; Adopt this market!
Lake Mary Farmer’s Market: Central Park at Lake Mary City Hall (corner of Lake Mary Boulevard & 4th Street); Every Saturday, 9am-1:30pm; Adopt this market!
SANTA ROSA
Habitat for Humanity ReStore- Fresh Farm Market: 6606 Elva St, Milton; Every Wednesday, 10am-2pm; *we have permission; Adopt this market!
Blackwater Trail Heritage Trail: Highway 87 and 90 in Milton by the Visitor Center; best times are weekday evenings and weekends; Adopt this Trail!
ST. JOHNS
Wednesday Market: 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Beach; Every Wednesday, 8am-12:30pm; Sign up today!
Concerts in the Plaza: Plaza de la Constitucin (St. Augustine’s historic downtown);
Every Thursday, 7:00pm-9:00pm; Sign up today!
St. Johns River Farmers’ Market: Alpine Groves Park (2060 State Road 13, Fruit Grove); Every Saturday, 10am-2pm; Sign up today!
Old City Farmers Market: 1340 A1A S, St Augustine; Every Saturday, 8:30am-12:30pm; Adopt this market!
SUWANNEE
Suwannee River State Park: 3631 201st Path, Live Oak; *we have permission to set up a table with notice so let us know when you’d like to collect!
VOLUSIA
NEED VOLUNTEERS!! Fall Home & Garden Show: Ocean Center (101 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach); Fri Aug 23 (12pm-7pm), Sat Aug 24 (10am-7pm), Sun Aug 25 (11am-5pm); *we have a table indoors; Sign up today!
Port Orange Family Days: Port Orange City Center; Oct 3 to Oct 6; *we have a table; Sign up today!
Cruise the Beach Parking: New Smyrna Beach; anytime, but weekends are best. *walk the beach and ask people camped out by their cars to sign the petition; Sign up today!
Volusia-Flagler Central Labor Council Labor Day Picnic; more information to come; Sign up today!
Critical Mass: City Island Public Library; last Friday of the month, Aug 30, 6pm; *come early to collect from bicyclists as they arrive; Sign up today!
Daytona Beach Downtown Farmers Market: City Island; Every Saturday 7am-12pm; Sign up today!
Blue Spring State Park: 2100 W French Ave, Orange City; *we have permission to set up a table with notice so let us know when you’d like to collect!
Sign up for a shift online or give us a call to let us know about an event happening near you!
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