Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tried to distance himself from a controversial proposal to construct golf programs and inns in state parks, saying he didn’t approve the proposals earlier than they have been “leaked.”
“It was not accredited by me, I by no means noticed that,” DeSantis mentioned at an Aug. 28 information convention in Winter Haven. “They’re going again to the drafting board. … They are not doing something this yr. They are going to return and principally take heed to of us. A variety of that stuff was half-baked and was not prepared for prime time. And it was deliberately leaked out to a left-wing group to attempt to create a story.”
The proposal for some state parks sparked outrage amongst residents. DeSantis made it sound as if the “half-baked” plan was leaked earlier than it was prepared. However the division’s tried public rollout reveals this was a proposal in its remaining levels.
The state printed its full plans on a authorities web site alongside an announcement for simultaneous public conferences throughout Florida inside a matter of days. Officers within the governor’s workplace confirmed assist of the plan at first, and state officers made a collection of social media graphics touting it.
The Tampa Bay Instances broke the story in regards to the state park plans Aug. 20, and a number of the particulars had been leaked to the outlet days earlier. By the point the story printed, nonetheless, the Florida Division of Environmental Safety had already issued a press launch and deliberate public conferences.
The division’s Aug. 19 information launch mentioned its 2024-25 “Nice Outside Initiative” would “develop public entry, enhance out of doors actions and supply new lodging choices.”
The subsequent day the division uploaded proposals to its web site for the 9 parks.
The proposed plans included constructing golf programs, pickleball courts, disc golf programs and inns within the parks. A number of golf programs have been pitched for Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County and 350-room inns have been proposed for Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine and TopSail Hill Protect State Park in Santa Rosa Seashore.
The Florida Division of State despatched a notification Aug. 20 asserting plans to carry Aug. 27 public conferences in regards to the proposed plans throughout the state. The division marketed the initiative on its social media accounts beginning Aug. 19.
Information of the proposed plans drew condemnation from each Republican and Democratic politicians and sparked protests all through the state.
The division canceled the general public conferences and withdrew the plans for golf programs at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
The Tampa Bay Instances wrote its first story Aug. 20 and has printed a collection of follow-up stories. In its first story, the newspaper reported it had obtained copies of leaked paperwork detailing the proposed plans and wrote that the leaked paperwork had circulated extra broadly, sparking dialogue on social media.
DeSantis’ feedback on the Aug. 28 information convention reversed his administration’s preliminary protection of the initiative in an Aug. 22 assertion to the Instances.
“Teddy Roosevelt believed that public parks have been for the profit and delight of the individuals, and we agree with him,” spokesperson Jeremy Redfern instructed the newspaper. “No administration has achieved greater than we have now to preserve Florida’s pure assets, develop conservation lands, and preserve our surroundings pristine. But it surely’s excessive time we made public lands extra accessible to the general public.”
On Aug. 29, in response to PolitiFact’s questions on DeSantis’ saying the proposals have been unapproved and leaked, Redfern mentioned, “the governor’s feedback communicate for themselves.”
The governor appoints the secretary of Florida’s Division of Environmental Safety. Statewide initiatives by the company are usually vetted and accredited by the governor’s workplace earlier than being shared with the general public.
Eric Draper, who served as Florida’s state parks director from 2017 to 2021, mentioned usually the state’s Division of Environmental Safety secretary has conversations straight with the governor’s workplace. Typically it’s with the governor’s coverage chief of environmental affairs, or it might be with the chief of workers, he mentioned.
“Both method, these initiatives are run by the governor’s workplace, if not began on the governor’s workplace,” Draper mentioned. “The division doesn’t do something, by way of initiatives, with out getting some route from them.”
PolitiFact contacted the company about its communications with the governor’s workplace however didn’t obtain a response by publication.
Our ruling
DeSantis mentioned the environmental safety company’s proposal to place golf programs, inns in Florida state parks “was one thing that was leaked. … a whole lot of that stuff was half-baked and was not prepared for prime time.”
DeSantis’ remarks depart the impression that the proposed plan to transform state parkland into different makes use of was simply an concept on the chalkboard in its preliminary levels and leaked prematurely.
However the initiative to construct golf programs, pickleball courts, disc golf programs, inns and extra in Florida’s state parks was not simply an undeveloped concept. There have been plans, paperwork and public conferences scheduled concurrently throughout the state.
This got here to the general public’s consideration as a plan in its remaining levels that was first reported on publicly by the Tampa Bay Instances, and it was later acknowledged and promoted by an company DeSantis oversees as governor. The Instances acquired suggestions for its reporting, nevertheless it didn’t report on the leaked paperwork till the state introduced the initiative was forthcoming.
DeSantis’ assertion incorporates a component of reality however ignores important info that may give a distinct impression. We charge it Largely False.
