A Bowl of Stupid

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

-Margaret Mead

I’m plagiarizing from the Miami-Dade County Surf Forecast website, but it seemed appropriate given that: (1) there was surf this week in the ol’ MIA, and (2) the Florida Office of Citizens Services has responded to the inquiry and letter campaign of the South Florida Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation (see my earlier post, “Haulover Inlet Beach Accessway“, about how a local developer and the Village of Bal Harbour have conspired to appropriate public parking and access to the local beach).

In response, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent out the following e-mail:

Governor Charlie Crist received your e-mail and asked me to respond about closing the public access and parking area at the Village of Bal Harbour.

The Florida Department of Transportation owns the public access and parking area and leases it to the Village of Bal Harbour. In 1999, the Department of Environmental Protection provided funding to Miami-Dade County for the Bal Harbour Shore Protection Project. The amount of funding was based on public access and 65 parking spaces located under the Haulover Inlet Bridge. The funding contract with Miami-Dade County for the Bal Harbour Shore Protection Project has expired.

The Department of Environmental Protection will visit the site in the next 30 days to assess the condition of public access and parking. If our site visit confirms there is no longer a public parking area or public access, the Department of Environmental Protection will notify Miami-Dade County that it is unable to provide similar funding for shore protection projects in this area unless parking and public access is restored.

The Florida Department of Transportation, as the owner of the property, is also conducting a separate review of the location under its authorities. Thank you for your interest in Florida’s beaches.

Sincerely,
John R. Peterson, Director
Office of Citizen Services
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

It’s typical non-committal legalize, like the stuff I would write if I were in their position. However, given that the evidence supports our claims, it seems likely that the FDEP will enforce the relevant access provisions, and we will have our surf break back. Niiiiice.

I’m heading back out into the water this afternoon to celebrate.