A Florida state parks cartographer was fired after leaking Governor Ron DeSantis’s secretive plan to build hotels and golf courses in preserved lands, sparking bipartisan outrage and forcing a retreat.
Richard Luscombe reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- James Gaddis, the fired whistleblower, leaked plans for destructive developments in Florida’s protected state parks.
- The proposals, which included hotels and pickleball courts, were criticized for disregarding environmental preservation.
- DeSantis has since walked back the project, calling it "half-baked" after public outcry.
Key quote:
“It was the absolute flagrant disregard for the critical, globally imperiled habitat in these parks. This was going to be a complete bulldozing of all of that habitat.”
— James Gaddis, former Florida DEP employee
Why this matters:
Developing protected land sets a precedent for environmental degradation. The lack of transparency in decision-making also raises concerns about government accountability.
