Why Palm Beach County Commissioners Approved a Controversial Everglades Project Despite 7,000 Emails

Why Palm Beach County Commissioners approved a controversial Everglades project despite 7,000 emails

County leaders say their unanimous vote in favor of a sugar industry-backed mining and water storage plan was driven by legal requirements—not public pressure or corporate influence. Environmentalists call it a dangerous precedent.

Palm Beach Commissioners took sugar money. Then they voted to approve Big Sugar’s rock mine

VoteWater’s Gil Smart testifies during the Palm Beach County Commissioners’ hearing on the Southland rock mine, May 22. Last week Palm Beach County Commissioners voted to approve the rezoning request for the Southland rock mine on 8,600 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area owned by U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals. VoteWater’s Gil Smart (above) was one of more than three dozen people who spoke in opposition; here’s a link to the text of his …