There is no clarification at all in Wayne Marshall's letter to Southwinds as to why certain groups are backing HB 1423. But there's plenty to show why no one should be backing it: NOTHING HAS CHANGED. First he states that cruisers' will not be defined as liveboards. That's not news or progress. That has been that way since July 2006 when Jeb Bush made the differentiation between a non-liveaboard and a liveaboard. Nothing has changed, the definitions are the same as in 2006...but the confusion still piles up. When something reads "other than liveaboards" it is referring to we cruisers! We're all that is left. Therefore, the section of the proposed legislation that begins "Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 327.60..." (that's the section that protects cruisers' rights to anchor and says we are not subject to local ordinances against that right)... that's not a good thing as it means it is EXEMPT from the very law that protects us. Bottom line: the problem is the Pilot Program. It is still the ONLY avenue by which cruising boats can be told to leave a mooring area and not anchor there. Didn't Mr. Marshall see this fact? AGAIN: "Notwithstanding" means disregarding. It means that the powers that be DO NOT have to abide by it. It means the very statute that protects our rights to anchor will be null and void when it comes to the Pilot Program areas. I cannot be more BLUNT. Forgive me, but this is probably the most important issue of your boater lifetime. You have a voice and you will only use it if you understand what exactly is happening here. We MUST get this understood for exactly what it is and act accordingly. It is this simple: If the Pilot Programs are not in place, then our rights as boaters to navigation, anchorage, and safe harbor are NOT in jeopardy. WHY anyone would back House Bill 1423 the way it is is beyond me. We do not have to go along with this. Will one person tell me just why they think the Pilot Program is in the best interest of cruisers. Forget all else...just answer that one question. I can't think of one good reason for the Pilot Program except for doing the bidding of those so greedy they not only want to control the land but also the waters across from their condos and million dollar homes. They are the ones the FWC referred to when they stated on their website the reason the Pilot Program was added at the 13th hour (after all public forums) was "due to pressure from homeowners and some others." The FWC isn't trying to hide the motivation here. It is just that simple. Mr. Marshall, you are not being of help to clarify the situation. In my opinion you've clouded the issue even moreso. I do not see your reasoning for backing House Bill 1423. In fact, you say you are clarifying due to positive developments" and then you never state one positive development or any reasoning at all as to why HB 1423 is in anyone's best interest other than the multi-million dollar home owner who wants the unobstructed view. Charmaine Smith Ladd Marathon, FL Message: 1 Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:54:55 -0300 From: Philip & Marilyn <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] Anchoring Laws Proposed in Florida To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The other link works, Have not the foggiest Idea of how that happened. I hope this one will appears less intimidating. Some clarification of the Florida Anchoring Bill currently in committee in the Florida Legislature. http://www.cruisersnet.net/western_florida/anchoring_rights/ Worth a read. Philip _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected]
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