Tourists come to Florida for the Billboards, NOT the Palm Trees

[Coexist]

Because, “These billboards are important. They feed lots of families." I am trying to feel their pain. I truly am. But seriously, is the 15th Ron Jon billboard in 20 miles really the one that is going to seal the deal for a potential customer? Will tourists not understand what a magical place the Mouse inhabits without another “Last Stop for the Best Disney Rates” sign? How many enormous Hooters ads does it take to sell mediocre chicken wings?

When does the state, become The State?

I pulled my paper out of its little plastic bag this morning and unfolded it. Then I cursed out loud. The conservative hue and cry over Big Government control, State's Rights, and privacy are as dead as its figurehead, Ronald Wilson Reagan.

This article is what caught my eye.

My State of Florida seems to have ambitions about what The State should be able to do to help its misguided citizens make their decisions. You know, it's hard out here for The Man, trying to skirt local ordinances for the rent.

Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, can relate. You see, “the state's powerful display advertising industry ... feels vulnerable to the political whims of local governments.”

Imagine, those uppity citizens having the nerve to govern themselves. What’s next, telling developers they can’t have old neighborhoods on desirable property for posh condos? Come on now… think of the children of millionaires, being forced to look at crappy views out their Pella’s, whilst youth growing up in trailers get scenic sand and water. That’s just not right.

Peek into the future of Republican-controlled Florida with me, please:

Welcome to the 2006 Florida Legislature, where the Republican mantra of "local control" espoused by Ronald Reagan looks a bit out of date.

Dozens of bills have been filed by the Republican majority this session that, if approved, would usurp local governments' authority on everything from municipal sewer systems to zoning matters. The trend has left local government officials, even Republicans, baffled.

Most are at the behest of individuals or business interests trying to get around local obstacles. And some are politically popular, such as a property tax plan to allow homeowners to keep their tax savings under Save Our Homes when they move, if they buy a more expensive home. It would cost local governments billions in unrealized tax revenue.

Legislators argue it's appropriate. While the late President Reagan preached "devolution" in government - putting authority as close to the voters as possible - he didn't mean the state should abdicate common sense, they contend.

At least most of the beaches are still public… or do they belong to The State?

[wtbymark]

1. Billboards are illegal in Vermont n/t

[mainegreen]

3. Maine too. I don't miss 'em/ nt

[Coexist]

6. what I would pay to NOT have to see 30 "live nude girls" billboards

on my way to Georgia with my family.

[stop the bleeding]

9. lol! you mean Cafe Risque' on I-75 going north, I always thought it

was much more than 30 bb's seems like to me they could compete with the South of the Border ones that are on both sides of N & S Carolina.

30 "live nude girls":rofl::rofl::rofl: - yep that is about it :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Coexist]

10. "South of the Border!"

Oh my gosh - I am choking I am laughing so hard!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

We actually STOPPED there once because the kids bugged us so much every trip.

After five minutes, they quietly asked if we could go. Never spent a dime! It didn't hurt that the first thing they did was use the restrooms.

:rofl:

[Nay]

14. Well, it's better than advertising 30 "dead nude girls." I guess.

[FloridaPat]

8. Which makes driving through Vermont like driving in a picture post card.

Every turn in the highway is another beautiful landscape. Thank you Vermont.

[Warpy]

2. I spent 6 weeks in Florida over the winter (not a vacation)

and on my last day, decided to head to the beach to stick a toe into the Atlantic for old time's sake.

Honey, I couldn't GET to the beach! There is now a SOLID WALL of high rise condos with entrances that lead only to their god damned parking lots, and there is NO PUBLIC ACCESS to the beach left!

I remember that particular beach as being completely unspoiled 15 years ago. To say I was FURIOUS would greatly understate what I felt.

The beaches are WAY overdue for a series of hurricanes to come along and clean out all that overbuilt TRASH and turn them back into what they were supposed to be, land that should NEVER be built on, with access supplied by roads and informal parking and tents for changing and Portajohns for elimination and temporary stands for food, drink, and souvenirs.

To hell with yuppies and their fucking time shares. To hell with retirees who want a VIEW. To hell with anybody who thinks he has a right to block people from entering places that belong to ALL OF US. Fuck Florida and Fuck Jeb Bush for allowing this desecration to happen!

End of rant.

[Coexist]

5. Oh, it gets better! Recently, Ft. DeSoto beach,

a GORGOUS state park, won the North America's Best Beach Award.
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/Dr_Beach_2005_Top_Beaches.pdf

... and it deserved it. Unspoiled beaches, camping, EVERYTHING! It is awesome. So what do they try to do? Make it "better".

One good editorial in the St. Pete Times was all it took to derail that idiocy - but what if people don't hear about these things? I shudder to think about it.

Here is the great column:

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/02/14/Columns/Who_wants_all_that_ic.shtml

Who wants all that icky nature stuff at a park?
<snip>
This past year it was ranked No. 1 nationally by Stephen Leatherman, the South Florida professor who goes by the nickname "Dr. Beach." Here is his description:

It's a long, wide, sugar sand beach with great shelling and thriving natural dunes on the Gulf of Mexico. There's a 105-year-old fort that's a landmark of Florida history. Along with being a wonderful place to swim, there's fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, bird-watching, camping, biking, walking and even a dog park for enjoying the park with your four-legged pals.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Those existing human-made amenities, including covered picnic shelters, restrooms and concessions, are not too obtrusive. The best thing about Fort De Soto, its signature, is its naturalness.

<snip>
But here are some of the things being discussed for the park, which is under the control of the Pinellas County Commission:

--A 225-seat restaurant near the fort, with beer and wine sales and Sunday brunch.
--A second restaurant later, potentially, at one of the park's two fishing piers.
--A trolley service that would travel around the island.
--Portable buildings for expanded concessions at the park's boat ramp and campground.
--Packaged beer sales, even though drinking is supposedly not allowed in the park.
--An ice cream and vending cart that would travel around the park.
--The possibility of more events such as Civil War re-enactments and triathlons.

There's more, but you get the idea.

This deal is not done, but it is two-thirds of the way there. The county already has been through a competitive process and has chosen a South Florida company with which to negotiate a 10-year lease. The County Commission could vote next month.

The county's staff is enthusiastic about the possibilities. The concessionaire is, too. These changes will make Fort De Soto, he said in a recent article in the St. Petersburg Times in which he discussed his ideas, "a real destination."

A real destination. As opposed, you know, to just a bunch of sand."


...ugh.

[FlaGranny]

7. Where's the part about the parking meters

to be placed in the parking lots, which must be fed quarters and effectively making the free beach not free any more?

[Coexist]

11. you are so right.

Coquina Beach (far away but my favorite) has free parking, but I spend 1/2 tank on gas getting there!

[onethatcares]

13. we beat that one back thanks to Howard Troxler of the SPT

then the county commissioners said, wtf???? this reporter had the balls to engage the common folk to the point they were getting emails and letters, phonecalls and faxes tell them, no, leave ft desoto alone.

I've been here in Pinellas for 33 yrs, I thought the ed wright estate was built on a layer of sand and would be wiped away during a hurricane, now it's condos, condos, condos and more condos. Please I pray, do the right thing God, take your land back.

Oh, the other great one is the city of Treasure Ilse, they have a public boat launch ramp where you have to unlock your trailer from your towing vehicle and move the towing vehicle into a metered lot. Used to be .25/hr with a four hour maximum, then they ticketed your vehicle. Cost me 37.50 to find that out.

[Coexist]

15. What Troxler did was heroic

Can you imagine that sweet, old fashioned park as a "major destination"?

Don't mess with perfection.

[katmondoo]

4. You have to get access to them first

You can no longer just walk over to the ocean. You have to go through hotels or find an access area. You cannot go through a condo. You have to pay 5 dollars or more to park on the beach. You cannot go through private property. Unless you get a hotel room the beach is no longer easily accessible

[Coexist]

12. some still are - but you need to ask a local where to go

I have lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Naples and Tampa and I found good public beaches in each city.

The only place that ever really frustrated me, believe it or not, was Martha's Vineyard. It seemed like EVERY beach was private.

[KyuzoGator]

16. Every other billboard on the Turnpike and I-75 is anti-choice.

It really is getting out of control. I especially hate the ones with messages that stretch across several boards.