Update on Florida’s Anchoring Restrictions Bill
Below is an update provided this morning from the team working on defeating the proposed anchoring restrictions in Florida. Thanks to all the Loopers and our Sponsors who have taken steps to help with this issue. We’ve made
a lot of progress!
1. There are 8 days left in the regular session.
2. On the House side, there is currently no remaining bill that includes the anchoring ban. The bill that most logically could have been a vehicle for such a provision passed 119-0 this morning on the House floor (i.e. vote by the full House). This was after the anchoring ban amendment was defeated in its last committee hearing. Therefore, when it was brought up for a vote of the full House (on the floor) it contained no anchoring ban provisions. Unlike last year, no anchoring ban amendment was filed on the floor although our team was poised, ready to respond rapidly ‘¦ as were the House members who have become champions for the boating and cruising
community. That bill is now going to the Senate for a vote.
3. On the Senate side, the bill containing the anchoring ban made it through the 2nd of its 3 required committees 2 weeks ago. With 8 days left, the bill is not currently scheduled for a 3rd committee hearing.
Currently, that 3rdcommittee is not scheduled to meet again, although that could change.
4. We are working continuously to monitor and track every bill and every potential amendment to a bill that could create the anchoring ban. We are in constant communication with a full host of House and Senate members who are with us.
5. At this stage, broad messaging from the boating community to legislators is not an effective strategy. If, however, any threatening bill or amendment emerges, we will again engage promptly with messaging that is tailored, timed and targeted.
6. The boating and cruising community has done a great job throughout this session. It has strengthened its voice and its effectiveness. It has broadened and diversified its sources of messaging. For example, recently
there was effective proactive messaging from the veterans boating community and the Boy Scouts/Sea Scouts boating community that was influential in conjunction with the balance of the boating and cruising community family.
7. We still have 8 days. Readiness is the key.
Kim Russo
Director
America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association
Comments from Cruisers (1)
I would like to echo the statement made earlier about the dockmaster being overwhelmed. 10 boats from our yacht club arrived on Friday, March 13th (we should have known) with a stiff wind out of the east. The dockmaster, who was alone, did not answer his radio, or the telephone. I had to telephone the cityside marina, only to be told the dockmaster might not respond. Between the wind and the current, we were lucky to back in, but many of the other larger boats were nearly overwhelmed. Even the giant excursion boat was blown into shallow water and grounded. If not for other boaters in the marina, and our fellow yachters who’d previously gotten in, it could have been a real disaster. When asked why he didn’t request additional help on a busy weekend he said he did, but was denied. That still doesn’t explain why he wouldn’t answer the radio. To me, this is an example of a bad city government employee, and a city government that just doesn’t care. And because they are civil servants instead of privately employed, it will never improve. I wouldn’t return.