I had to schlep down to County Hall with my friends Mabel Miller and Blanca Mesa to get some funding for the program in that stupid 2004 GOB bond, that you all shouldn't have voted for.
We begged and got $40 million allocated to EEL. EEL received an allocation of $40 million from the larger allocation of $680 million to parks and open space. I am pretty sure if we didn't go there, EEL would have gotten zip. It is a program close to my heart because I don't go down to the County for fun. The program buys endangered land and manages it. It was started in 1990 with about $90 million. Natacha Seijas was a big proponent of the program. I suspect it was really her Chief of Staff Terry Murphy.
Their official purpose:
Acquire, preserve, enhance, restore, conserve, and maintain threatened natural forest and wetland communities located in Miami-Dade County, for the benefit of present and future generations.
EEL needs volunteers. Read the flyer and send it around. It is a great way for your kids to get community service hours.
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3 comments:
I've been to several volunteer workdays at EEL areas. My son always has a great time, and I love showing him these special places . The staff is great too.
EEL is a rare example of the county doing something right. I remember voting to create the program in the early 1990s. Since then, the program has been quietly and effectively working to protect our environment. Good job!
Anyone who has had a good experience volunteering for EEL and/or cares about continued existence of the EEL Program should be writing both the Mayor and their Commissioner to express support for continued funding. Continued low interest rates on the remaining trust fund investments (anyone living off a 401(k) can relate) have starved the program of funding and the promised GOB funds will not materialize anytime soon. Neither the Commission nor the County Administration will consider his program important enough to find a long term solution unless people speak up.
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