FOLLOW me on my popular Twitter feed. Just click this photo! @hbbtruth - David - Common sense on #Politics #PublicPolicy #Sports #PopCulture in USA, Great Britain, Sweden and France, via my life in #Texas #Memphis #Miami #IU #Chicago #DC #FL 🛫🌍📺📽️🏈. Photo is of Elvis and Joan Blackman in 'Blue Hawaii'

Beautiful Stockholm at night, looking west towards Gamla Stan
Showing posts with label Oceana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oceana. Show all posts

Friday, May 14, 2021

“Don’t Trash Our Treasure” - Local10 News anchor/reporter Louis Aguirre recently brought his plastic pollution series to our area of Broward County, and... surprise! The plastic pollution problem remains as bad as you and I see everyday at the beach and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Fortunately for us, he had a chance to speak to our friend and fellow civic activist Catherine "Cat" Uden, someone who talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to the environment and showing common sense. (Even while on her paddleboard.)


Local10 News anchor and reporter Louis Aguirre recently brought his “Don’t Trash Our Treasure” series to our area of Broward County, and... surprise! The plastic pollution problem remains as bad as you and I see every day at the beach and along the Intracoastal Waterway. 

See this screen grab I made of a recent tweet thread about our mutual concerns about the situation with respect to garbage and plastic pollution at Hollywood Beach, and when things are cleaned up:  https://twitter.com/hbbtruth/status/1384609513366441987


Fortunately for Louis Aguirre and us, he had a chance to speak to our friend and fellow civic activist Catherine "Cat" Uden, someone whom as I've recounted several times on this blog, always talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to the environment and showing common sense. 

(Even while on her paddleboard.)

And as we know to our eternal chagrin, disappointment, and anger, common sense is anything but common in South Florida. It is ever thus...

Louis Aguirre's tweet thread on this subject are at: https://twitter.com/LOUISAGUIRRE/status/1392835191845048321




https://www.instagram.com/p/COtUPinn0sZ/

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CO0-8NLnVv3/?hl=en

Thank you @louisaguirre at @local10news for your coverage on the plastic pollution crisis. Watch his series “Don’t trash our treasure” for an eye opening look at plastic pollution in Florida. Then take action PlasticFreeFL.org (Yes, that’s a sky lantern I’m holding. They are illegal in FL and can entangle marine life. Don’t release balloons or sky lanterns). Thanks Emily Robinson for the photos. 🌍 #breakfreefromplastic #riseaboveplastics #plasticfreeseas #plasticfree #marinedebris @oceana @oceana_in_florida @louiswplg #southflorida #florida #broward #browardcounty #wplglocal10 #daniabeach #hollywoodbeach #oceana #oceanaflorida #protectwhatyoulove

If you aren't able to see the video on Cat's second Instagram post above, please see it here at Channel 10's YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdlc9ttP3aA

A transcript is at: https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/05/12/broward-beaches-are-suffering-and-plastic-is-top-culprit/

Local10 News, Miami, Florida
Broward beaches are suffering and plastic is top culprit
Louis Aguirre, Anchor/Reporter
Published: May 12, 2021 6:28 pm
Updated: May 12, 2021 11:28 pm


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Stop the privatization of public beaches in #HollywoodFL. Get involved and vocal on May 5th and let the Hollywood City Commission know that you want Public Beach Access properly maintained, NOT weakened! Hollywood residents, please oppose Wednesday's agenda item #24. Ocean/beach access is for everyone, including sunrise and sunset.

Stop the privatization of public beaches in #HollywoodFL. Get involved and vocal on May 5th and let the Hollywood City Commission know that you want Public Beach Access properly maintained, NOT weakened!
Hollywood residents, please oppose Wednesday's agenda item #24. 
Ocean/beach access is for everyone, including sunrise and sunset.

Photo of Hollywood City Hall by me, March 2021



https://t.co/l6ht9n2Sxh?amp=1


Reminder: This Washington Post article is almost 4 years old.

The Washington Post

Free the beaches, before it’s too late
America's beaches are for everyone. Let's keep them that way.
By Andrew W. Kahrl
August 3, 2017 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

Andrew W. Kahrl is associate professor of history and African American studies at the University of Virginia and author of “The Land Was Ours: How Black Beaches Became White Wealth in the Coastal South.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/08/03/free-the-beaches-before-its-too-late/


So here's the information on Agenda Item #24 for Wednesday's Hollywood City Commission: 

An Ordinance Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Amending Chapter 72 Of The Code Of Ordinances Entitled "Parking" To Revise The Parking Permit Program And Update Other Provisions; Providing For A Repealer Provision And A Severability Clause.
https://hollywoodfl.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4928396&GUID=6DB1CDE0-0ED5-4395-A27D-B00FCF8B1D4D&Options=&Search=

Below are the three most recent updates on the street parking situation on Hollywood Beach written by my friend and fellow Hollywood civic activist, Catherine "Cat" Uden:



The city is justifying the “Beach Residential Zones” as elderly residents on fixed incomes with disabled spouses having nowhere to park at night. If elderly residents need more parking, then the city should find a way to do that. But, that's not what this is. 

The ordinance says nothing about elderly or disabled people. The ordinance allows ANY condo resident to apply for more spots. Not only can they apply for more spots for themselves, but I think the ordinance states they can ALSO apply for special guest permits so that their guests can have special beach parking.
That is basically privatizing the beach and stealing good street parking from the rest of the Hollywood residents.

In addition, it seems the city won’t have to give the public any warning or allow us to make public comments on zones being created. 
They will just take away our sunrise/sunset parking, and that’s that.
This ordinance passed on first reading, and I’m hoping there’s a second reading where the public can make comments.


For those who enjoy Hollywood Beach- Please make a public comment by the deadline today 4/20. 
🌟Agenda item 14 is Citizen Comments. 

🌟The city plans to take away half of certain streets and turn them into zones for barrier island residents and their guests only from 6 pm until 8 am. No other Hollywood residents or members of the public would be able to park there. 
It’s possible that they could even leave their cars in those zones all day if they purchase another permit. It’s also possible they will be given this special parking even if they already have 2 spots per condo unit. 
The city could create these zones without any warning to the public and we would not get an opportunity or weigh in. 
The privileged who live at the beach could apply for up to 4 permits and 2 for their guests. Residents like me who have paid for a $160 annual sticker would be shut out of these zones.
Please oppose the “Beach Residential Only” parking zones. 
The beach is for all, we all paid for the sand, and they should not be taking away public access or public parking.

http://fl-hollywood2.civicplus.com/FormCenter/City-Clerk-12/2Regular-City-Commission-Meeting-Public--230

You can also choose to speak in person at 5 pm on 4/21 at city hall, agenda item 14.
Check out the @surfriderbroward Facebook event page for more details. 
The final vote is May 5th.
-----


Save our sunrise and sunset parking. Ask the @cityofhollywoodfl to oppose “Beach resident only” parking zones - agenda item 24. 
If this ordinance passes, even Hollywood residents with an annual resident sticker will be excluded from these zones for 14 plus hours every single day. (6 pm until 8 am). 
Beach residents who are already provided spots by their building could also apply for these zones and might get multiple permits and also guest permits. 👎🏾 Save our public street parking. 

May 5th city meeting. 
Make a public comment opposing Agenda item 24 here: Hollywoodfl.org 

-----

REMINDER: For your comment to be read aloud at the Wednesday meeting it must be received BEFORE 6 p.m. on Tuesday the 4th.


Submit a Public Comment:

  • Any member of the public wishing to comment publicly on any matter, including specific agenda items and/or Citizens Comments may do so via the City’s website at the links below or via telephone. 
  • Comments are limited to 400 words and/or 3 minute spoken maximum.
  • Staff will read the comments into the record during the meeting. All comments received during the submission period will become part of the public record.
-----------
For those of you who are new to this blog, I first wrote about Catherine "Cat" Uden in early 2019

The last time I mentioned Cat here on the blog, in June of last year, came in conjunction with  another matter, namely...
Hollywood residents deserve better than this completely inadequate effort at public engagement on big spending issues, via Hollywood General Obligation Bond Advisory Committee
I received roughly 3,000 views from concerned residents and stakeholders, receiving quite a few comments about how spot-on my comments were, and all wondering when the city was going to loosen things at Hollywood City Hall that prevents more of the public from actively participating, including opening up public Civic Association meetings again.

Just something to consider...

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, June 14, 2019

Update on #SUP use at #HollywoodBeach under City of Hollywood's experiment that still falls far short of what Hollywood residents expect and want for using their own beach; Haulover Sandbar - a South Florida slice-of-life that makes people who have never been here wish that they were; Cat Uden, Josh Levy, Surfrider Broward, Standup Paddleboard





















Thank you Caitie Switalski at @wlrn for the article and interview that aired on NPR this morning regarding @surfrider campaign to relax restrictions on Hollywood Beach. Ocean Rescue absolutely did not do an extensive survey of laws in other municipalities, so I did the work for them. I compiled a list of what is enforced on many beaches in south Florida. I gave this data to the city commission and Ocean Rescue. I provided names, numbers, and emails. Ocean Rescue chose not to use this data in their presentation to the commission, and public comments were unfortunately not allowed after the presentation. As far as hitting swimmers, Chief Bruce Wilkie has never been able to present any evidence that SUP’s have hurt swimmers at Hollywood Beach. Lifeguards have never ever separated swimmers from paddlers. There have always been swimmers in the paddle/surf zones on Hollywood Beach. And they’ve never had any issues. Same thing with Dania Beach. Dania Ocean Rescue said they’ve never had a conflicts between SUP and bathers. Stand up paddlers travel at a very slow rate of speed. If they were that worried about paddlers, why have they always let swimmers bathe illegally in the “recreation zones.” If lifeguards were concerned about safety, why were they forcing paddlers 300 yards from shore, not knowing that paddler's physical ability or swimming ability? Bathers are extremely friendly when SUPs are around and often want to engage in conversation. They are not incompatible. SUP is good for citizens and for the city. The benefits of allowing SUP far outweighs any tiny possible risk. We are still advocating for a less restrictive plan, and definitely a less complicated plan. The city's current plan is very confusing, even to paddlers that have studied it. They are unsure where they have to remain because it is a patchwork of regulations all down the beach. Surfrider's compromise is much less complicated, and satisfies Ocean Rescue's concerns about the busy Broadwalk. You can write to the Hollywood city commission through this link: https://www.hollywoodfl.org/89/City-Commission 🌊 And Yes, surfing zones were also expanded. 🏄🏾

A post shared by flipflops365 (@flipflops365) on





More re ./'s common sense proposals for use @ 🌴🏖️🌊 is available at my last two blog post about her:

JANUARY 16, 2019 So proud of two of my newer friends, Morgan Knowles and Cat Uden, for their selfless, enthusiastic and imaginative efforts to keep Broward residents' eyes on the #Environment and natural beauty that sometimes gets taken for granted in South Florida; @mo_seas_, @flipflops365
https://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/so-proud-of-two-of-my-newer-friends.html

 MARCH 22, 2019
One of the Best Things about #HollywoodFL: Positive change is, in fact, possible, even in getting some common sense changes enacted re #SUP/Stand Up Paddleboard use. It's not perfect, of course, but a nice improvement that can be built upon
https://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/one-of-best-things-about-hollywoodfl.html

 Below, Cat's recent recent comments before the City of Hollywood City Commission, from her handout before the meeting. Her comments were even more focused and emphatic in-person!

View this post on Instagram
I'm very happy to see that a very impressive woman I met earlier this year at a City of #HollywoodFL City Commission meeting, someone who's doing some very important #environmental work in #Broward and #SoFL, getting some much deserved attention: Catherine "Cat" Uden. She's on the cover of the new August issue of @hollywoodgazette Cat's fabulous #Instagram page, @flipflops365, includes some amazing photos and videos of her on her #Paddleboard, often with her friends, interacting with the inviting blue and green water and amazing variety of nature that's here that draws so many people to this part of #Florida, and why so many people I know here are #SUP people. This attention befits someone who is such an important voice for positive change in #SouthFlorida, at both @oceana and @surfriderbroward. Cat is currently serving as the Chair of #Broward's Surfrider chapter.
A post shared by Hallandale Beach Blog (@hbbtruth) on


Catherine "Cat" Uden
Twitter: @UdenCatherine, https://twitter.com/UdenCatherine
Instagram: flipflops365 https://www.instagram.com/flipflops365/
Cat- BOGA Ambassador, SUP Gladiator Race Fins Team, Mom, Surfrider Broward, Oceana, dreaming of O’ahu, views are my own, #teamuden
South Florida Campaign Organizer for Oceana, Twitter @oceana https://twitter.com/oceana

More about Cat's activities with Oceana here:
https://oceana.org/about-oceana/people-partners/oceana-staff/catherine-uden
Catherine believes strongly in a quote by David Suzuki, "unless we are willing to encourage our children to reconnect with and appreciate the natural world, we can't expect them to help protect and care for it." 


For those of you reading this outside of Florida, especially my friends in Washington, D.C. or over in Sweden and Great Britain, you with your all-too-short summers, this is proof that, yet again, seeing is truly believing
There's a reason that this venue, the Haulover Sandbar, on the Intracoastal Waterway, between Olete State Park to the north and west and to the east, the beach in Sunny Isles/North Miami Beach that I and my two younger sisters grew up going to remains such a popular place to be.

 For many of us, especially those of us who grew up here and then left and returned, in my case for college at Indiana University and a life in Chicago and Washington, D.C., it's one of the Quality of Life reasons that we choose to stay in South Florida and not accept nice job offers back in DC, even with all the nonsense and chaos that you must endure down here on an almost daily basis, whether it's traffic, transportation, government red tape or the frustrating, second-tier or incompetent status of so many local South Florida institutions that fall short of meeting reasonable expectations.

 Because no matter how nice the DC area is, and no matter how many of my funny and smart friends are still living and working there or how how amazing the museums and attractions are there, you simply can't do this on the Potomac River or Lake Michigan in January, or watch #WorldCup soccer on giant screens while wading in water and eating or drinking with your friends and following the action on the screen and the top shelf people-watching all around you. 






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghem7rrAVw8

 Above is Esther's amazing September 2016 video that she shot one Saturday afternoon while with some #SUP friends, picnicking at Oleta State Park and then chilling later at the Haulover Sandbar, with the Intracoastal and sandbar coming into view at about 0:40 seconds into the video. 
I am especially fond of this video of hers because I remember how excited she was when she got home from this outing just a few miles from where we lived in Hollywood Lakes at the time. 

Later that night, or maybe it was early in the morning because we tended to stay up late on weekends, at one point while Esther was editing this video on her desktop computer, she came running -all excited- out into the living room, where I was at the dinner table writing something on my laptop, maybe even for the blog. 
I asked Esther why she was shaking and if anything was wrong. But she told me that she was shaking because she was so happy with her first edit of the raw footage of the video, and how well it was turning out. There was SO MUCH usable footage. And she just couldn't wait for me to see it!  

 So we walked into the room where she kept her desktop and I sat down and watched the video 3-4 times, with Esther getting progressively more animated and anxious as she watched me intently for any hint of what I thought. After seeing enough of it to have an opinion, I got up from the chair and looked her in the eye. 
I smiled and reminded her for the umpteenth time that nobody she knew or would ever know, knew better than I did how amazing and talented she was. 
Told her that nobody had or ever would believe in her and her talents and dreams more fervently than I did, or would work harder to make them come true. 
And then she flashed that amazing smile of hers, which lit up that beautiful face of hers, because she knew that what I was saying was true. Again.

 I told her that I was very proud of her, but that we both knew that when she was finished editing, it would be even MORE amazing and compelling. She grinned that grin of hers that always gets me and said she would stay up all night if she had to in order to have it be as good as she wanted.
But because she's very talented, she didn't have to stay up all night, proving me right again. 

 That talent of Esther's for capturing what fun can be like in South Florida that's so different than almost anywhere else in the country, because of our area's unique and wacky geography, sub-tropical weather and not-always serious mindset, is perfectly captured in this video she spent a few hours on, doing everything herself. 
A video with a South Florida slice-of-life that makes people who have never been here wish that they were.
She is truly amazing.




--------
In which I get in a quick plug for a friend who offers an amazing Airbnb Experience for a very reasonable price that you and your friends -and visiting family members- won't soon forget. 
A #SUP/#kayak trip along the Miami River at night. #fun

Looking for some out-of-the-ordinary FUN in / 🏖️🌴🌊🍻🍴?
Trust me, this = ! City Lights Night / 🌊 - Experience. Use my code: … … … … And bring your 📸! … …

Dave 



Snapchat: SoBeHoosier

P.S. I was the top tweet on Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Nick Kristof's Twitter feed for about 6 or so hours last Tuesday because of the #Tiananmen 30th year anniversary, which because of his 2 Million-plus Followers, generated MUCH MORE traffic than usual for both me and the blog! :-)
More eyeballs for my blog's ads, obviously.
I even heard from some people I hadn't heard from in many years, who saw my tweet RT'd on other twitter feeds.






Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)