Protesters rally against Stretch plan
BY STEVE GIBBS
Upper Keys Staff
Writer
PLANTATION KEY — A Key
Largo man who chained himself to the Jewfish Creek Bridge on July 4 was
at the center of a rally at the Plantation Key Courthouse on Friday
morning.
Ron Miller had been
issued a citation to appear in court July 30 on a single charge of
obstruction of traffic, but his attorney had filed a not guilty plea
with the court the night before. Consequently, Miller, a Metro-Dade
firefighter, was free to join the protesters outside the courthouse next
to the detention center.
About 35 residents
wielding signs and chanting slogans gathered at the courthouse for about
40 minutes to protest the Florida Department of Transportation's plan to
spend $180 million on improvements to the 18-Mile Stretch.
Saying the public has
been purposely misinformed by FDOT, Tavernier airline pilot and safety
advocate John Hammerstrom explained the reason for the protest.
"The public has been
misinformed about the facts of this project, and the governor and
regulatory agencies have chosen to ignore the facts," he stated.
Three deputies from the
Monroe County Sheriff's Office stood by in case they were needed, but
the protest was orderly and peaceful.
"They have the right to
exercise their First Amendment rights," said Islamorada Capt. Joe Leiter.
"We told them the rules — they can't block the road or the entrance to
the courthouse — and they protested within those rules. There were no
problems."
Led by Hammerstrom, who
used a bullhorn, the protesters chanted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, the Army
Corps should just say no."
The Army Corps of
Engineers must issue a permit so FDOT may alter wetlands, and protesters
say they have written letters and sent e-mail messages of opposition to
Corps officials.
"This project fails to
achieve its stated purpose while causing the destruction of 106 acres of
wetlands," said Mike Chenoweth, a Key Largo homeowner.
Miller, who pled not
guilty to blocking traffic, is requesting a trial by jury.
sgibbs@keysnews.com |
