Eye Opening Video of the Debate in the Florida Senate Concerning the “Margolis Amendment”
By now, just about everyone who has visited the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net within the last 24 hours knows that an effort was mounted in the Florida State Senate yesterday by Senator Margolis from Miami, that would have allowed Broward and Dade counties to pretty much institute any local anchorage regulations they wished. That amendment was withdrawn, BUT there is a new effort TODAY (4/23/14) to attach the same amendment to a Florida House bill. For more on this, please see /?p=139367.
Courtesy of the Seven Seas Cruising Association’s “Concerned Cruisers Committee” we can present to you a video of the debate which took place in the Florida State Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday. THIS IS VERY REVEALING, particularly when Senator Margolis states that “we certainly don’t want to hear from the public,” or words to that effect.
To make this work, without having to watch the entire 8 hours worth of video, you must follow this procedure.
First, go to:
https://www.flsenate.gov/media/VideoPlayer?EventID=2443575804_2014041245
When the page opens, there will be a video window on the left side of the page. Click the play arrow. Let the video begin, and then hover your pointer near the bottom of the video window. A slide will appear. You will need to keep sliding this slider button to the right, until you reach the 462.30 minute mark. The debate concerning the “Margolis Amendment” is shown between time reference 462.30 and 469.5.
It’s not often that members of the cruising community can actually see their “enemy” in regards to Florida anchoring rights, but this is an exception. We urge all cruisers to take advantage of this opportunity. And, oh yes, PLEASE let us know what you think, by using the “Comment” function below!
Claiborne,
I believe it is also important to recognize Davis Childs (NMMA rep.) and Bonnie Basham (Boat US rep.) both were there and both had cards in to speak if necessary.
R, Phil
I agree totally with Captain Phil’s comment above. Both NMMA and Boat/US have been invaluable and responded at light speed to this “out of the blue” situation! So, THANKS Bonnie Basham and Davis Childs!
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I’ve not heard of an instance of a complaint from the boating community when a waterfront private property owner builds a pier or dock out over navigable water that belongs to the boating public. So why should a waterfront private property owner complain when those public boaters are enjoying the navigable waters that were not obstructed by his pier or dock?