TCPalm: “Scott left St. Lucie River without meeting with the public so he could campaign,” invented “security concern” to avoid public
Rick Scott’s toxic algae crisis continues to dominate TV news across Florida and yesterday he made a bad situation even worse — after touring the area but refusing to meet with the community TCPalm revealed that “Rick Scott left St. Lucie River without meeting with the public so he could campaign,” and that he invented a “security concern” to avoid interacting with residents and reporters.
From the report: “There were no ‘security concerns’ that kept Gov. Rick Scott from addressing the public or media on a toxic algae boat tour of the St. Lucie River Friday, his office admitted Friday evening.”
And a sample of the scathing comments from Floridians:
See for yourself:
WFOR (MIAMI)
Reporter: the governor refused to speak with residents who wanted to share their concerns with him…his tour boat left from a different place than originally posted, upsetting many who waited hours to speak with him.
Floridian: I’m particularly upset with Scott because every time you see him on tv he’s jobs, jobs, jobs, and everytime I turn around my friends are losing jobs, jobs, jobs.
WTVJ (MIAMI)
Reporter: Protesters who blame the governor for slashing environmental protects tried to get his attention.
Floridian: Over and over again he’s had opportunities to come and hear us, the people that live here, the people that the water is affecting, and he seems to just run away from it, he’s our governor I thought that was his job.
WINK (FORT MYERS)
Reporter: Governor Rick Scott toured the toxic blue green algae on the east coast today but refused to meet with the community or reporters, you can see some of the protesters here holding signs.
WFLX (WEST PALM BEACH)
Reporter: However the governor, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat, did not take questions from reporters and did not meet with the public, some of whom were on the shoreline protesting. Time constraints, his office claimed.
Floridian: Over and over again he’s had opportunities to come and hear us, the people that live here, the people that the water is affecting, and he seems to just run away from it, he’s our governor I thought that was his job.
WPEC (WEST PALM BEACH)
Reporter: Today Stuart locals gathered along the St. Lucie Rive at the Sunset Marina to speak with Governor Rick Scott while he toured the area by boat. But that meeting never happened because Governor Scott loaded the boat for the tour from a different location than originally posted.
Floridian: We’re not very pleased with Governor Scott right now at all.
Floridian: I’m particularly upset with Scott because every time you see on TV he’s jobs, jobs jobs, and every time I turn around my friends are losing jobs, jobs jobs.
WPBF (WEST PALM BEACH)
Reporter: Public outrage has made this issue a key factor in the U.S. Senate race.
Floridians: no to Senator Scott, enough is enough.
Reporter: Protesters line Sunset Marina ahead of the governor’s visit, shouting about the toxic algae’s impact on residents health, jobs and quality of life.
Floridians: the state of Florida has no right to poison our children!
Read more: Washington Post: In Florida, an environmental crisis takes center stage in tight Senate race; Tampa Bay Times, Romano: If you’re looking for a culprit, the slime stops here; Politico: Red tide funding numbers lower under Scott; Gainesville Sun Editorial: Algae blooms are part of Scott’s legacy; Florida Phoenix: Scott visits slimy coast, Democrats call out the governor’s new election-year environmental conversion; Tampa Bay Times/ Miami Herald: As bouts with killer algae rose, Florida gutted its water quality monitoring network; Sun Sentinel Editorial: Gov. Scott’s spotty record on algae crises; Sun Sentinel, Schultz,: Rick Scott tries to change record on Florida’s algae crisis; Florida Phoenix, Hauserman: Yes, this really is Rick Scott, Adam Putnam and Pam Bondi’s fault; Orlando Sentinel, Maxwell: Florida’s great green algae disaster — we asked for it … us and Rick Scott; Miami Herald, Santiago: Red tide and green water? Florida beaches have a problem, and its name is Rick Scott; TC Palm: Gov. Rick Scott wouldn’t commit to visiting Martin County to assess toxic algae bloom; Tampa Bay Times: Leaky septic tanks fuel algae blooms. Rick Scott OK’d repeal of law aimed to prevent that; Ocala Star Banner, Rogers: Rick Scott: Election-year environmentalist; Bay News 9: As Florida’s toxic algae bloom crisis grows, some point finger at Gov. Scott; News-Press: Sen. Nelson links Gov. Scott’s environmental record to algae blooms.
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