Vote yes for Amendment 1
To the editor:
On Nov. 4 and Oct. 1 for mail in ballots you will have the ability to vote for a historic Amendment Number 1 which will help to fund any and all environmental projects in the state of Florida. Most importantly, it could give money to help clean up the Caloosahatchee River. It will build reservoirs which act as filtering and cleaning agents to get rid of the nitrogen and phosphorus in the water that makes red tide and algae blooms which kills our manatees, fish and sea grasses and discolors the water and chases our tourists away.
This fund will help beach refurnishment projects, buy lands for water storage, clean up our water, provide for outdoor recreation, help our parks, and restore lands for the public to use.
It will supply money for wildlife easements. It will help all environmental projects.
Amendment 1 will not raise your taxes one cent. It will be funded by the Documentary Stamp Tax which is mainly funded when you get a deed for a new or purchase a house. This money was used traditionally to buy environmentally sensitive lands for wildlife viewing, horseback riding, fishing , and other outdoor recreation through the Florida Forever funds . It will only take one third of this tax money. This equates to about two thirds of 1 percent of the state budget, leaving hundreds of millions for schools and affordable housing, etc.
No other state in the union comes close to Amendment 1 for providing money for the environment. Florida will be a leader for states to follow.
It will take 60 percent of the vote to pass it. Be part of environmental history and vote yes on Amendment 1 !
Carl Veaux
Cape Coral