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SCCF, Advocates Meet with Elected Officials for Everglades Action Day
SCCF hit the road to Tallahassee last week to meet with elected officials on Everglades-related priorities at the height of this year’s legislative session.
Joining SCCF Policy Associate Allie Pecenka on the trip were Kyra Sadat Ruben with The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, Sanibel resident Vijay Sarthy, and Tammy Ash with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
They are pictured above in front of a pod of sculpted dolphins frolicking in a fountain on the Capitol’s west plaza (l to r) Ruben, Sarthy, Pecenka, and Ash. The sculpture, which celebrates Florida wildlife, was dedicated in 2003.
The group attended as part of Everglades Action Day, the Everglades Coalition’s annual advocacy trip, during which nonprofit staff, scientists, students, and passionate citizens present the Coalition’s legislative priorities to elected officials from their districts.
“We had a great team and couldn’t have been prouder to represent Sanibel and Captiva at the Florida Capitol, advocating for protection of our ecosystems and what makes these islands magical,” said Pecenka.
Legislative priorities included:
- Fully funding Everglades restoration
- Further protecting Florida waters
- Building resilience into restoration infrastructure
- Advocating for smart growth while protecting the ecosystems from harmful development
“Given the connection of the Calooshatchee to the Everglades system, advocating for these priorities with local officials is critical for protecting water quality and ecosystems in Southwest Florida,” she added.
Together, the group formed the Lee and Collier County team and met with senators, representatives, and staff from those districts. The team held meetings with the offices of:
For offices busy with committee hearings, occurring daily in the midst of session, legislative priorities were dropped off with their staff for later review.
“When you have Sanibel residents willing to travel all the way to Tallahassee to help toward this effort, I think that shows what a special community we have here,” said Pecenka. “We are grateful to all who aided in making this trip possible and look forward to further advocacy at the local and state levels.”
Keep up with the SCCF’s tracking of the legislative session>>>