Concerned Citizens of the Glades

For Immediate Release                                                                              Contact: Sarah Bascom

March 2, 2009                                                                                                      or Kristen Bridges

                                                                                                                                   (850) 222-2140

Hendry County, Fla. – Concerned Citizens of the Glades, Inc. today unveiled the results of a statewide poll regarding the proposed U.S. Sugar buyout. 

The statewide poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon, Polling & Research, Inc. and commissioned by Concerned Citizens of the Glades, Inc., found that 60 percent agree with opponents that spending $1.3 billion is not a top priority now given the state’s financial situation, 61 percent feel that waiting would produce a better deal and 64 percent feel the time is not right given the state of the nation’s economy.  A majority of state voters (62 percent) say they have heard little or nothing about the deal, and when given additional arguments from both sides, opposition to the plan increases.

“This is not surprising, as only 2 percent of Florida voters currently feel protecting the environment should be the highest priority of state and local government,” said Brad Coker, with Mason-Dixon.  “Higher priority is now placed on creating jobs, providing healthcare, improving education and resolving the state’s budget deficit.”

When given the basic details about the proposed purchase by the state of 180,000 acres of land from U.S. Sugar for $1.3 billion in order to help restore the Everglades, Florida voters are about equally split over the deal.  Based on what they currently know, 45 percent statewide say they are opposed, while 44 percent support it and 11 percent are undecided. After hearing arguments about the deal, both pro and con, a majority of state voters (56 percent) then say they disapprove of it, while approval drops to just 37 percent.

“This explains why proponents are trying to rush this deal, why they are holding secret meetings and why they are trying to push for taxpayers to pick up the billion-dollar tab,” said Chris Shupe, president of Concerned Citizens of the Glades.  “They know that the more taxpayers learn about this 1.3 billion dollar bailout, the more they oppose it.”

Concerned Citizens of the Glades sponsored the poll in an effort to stress the importance of considering the will of the people, as opposed to the loud cries of special interests.  The coalition has stressed that the deal would cause 1,700 local residents and 10,000 Floridians statewide to lose their jobs, while destroying the rural communities and jeopardizing one of Florida’s most stable economic sectors – agriculture.

“We’ve known all along this was bad economic policy, bad fiscal policy, bad environmental policy and bad for the workforce of Florida.  But now we know that the people of Florida agree that this is a bad deal,” concluded Shupe.

Concerned Citizens of the Glades, Inc. is comprised of a group of Glades-area citizens, business people and farmers who came together to unite in an effort to protect the area’s local economy, jobs and future.  The group was spurred to action after the Governor’s announcement on June 24, 2008, of the sale of U.S. Sugar to the state for purposes of Everglades Restoration.