Skip to content
NOWCAST WPBF 25 News at 11 p.m.
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Sen. Nelson holds round table discussion on algae

Community members speak out about algae crisis

Sen. Nelson holds round table discussion on algae

Community members speak out about algae crisis

WEBVTT STORY THAT'S ALL NEW HERE AT 5:00. >> THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE OUTSIDE A FLORIDA SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE. THIS IS THE FIRST WEEK THEY HAVE BEEN OPEN SINCE THEY CLOSED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND TODAY, SENATOR NELSON, HE HOSTED A ROUND-TABLE WHILE SOME WERE HAPPY, SOME WERE NOT SO HAPPY. >> HEY, HEY, BILL NELSON'S GOT TO GO. REPORTER: DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE THE HEADQUARTERS IN STUART HELD SIGNS WITH A CLEAR MESSAGE TO SENATOR BILL NELSON. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. >> IT'S A LITTLE IRRITATING WHEN IT'S ELECTION TIME, YOU DON'T SEE SOMEONE FOR SIX YEARS, AND HE SHOWS UP. WE'VE SEEN BILL NELSON IN THE LAST MONTH MORE THAN WE HAVE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. REPORTER: WHAT USED TO BE AN EMPLOYEE LUNCHROOM TODAY WAS A STOP ON SENATOR BILL NELSON'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO DISCUSS THE ALGAE CRISIS. >> THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE, THAT GOVERNOR SCOTT IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS H SYSTEMATICALLY DISMEMBERED AND DISMANTLED THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. REPORTER: NELSON LISTENED TO CONCERNS MOSTLY ABOUT GOVERNOR >> INSUFFICIENT PROGRESS ON THE PART OF THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS TO MOVE LAKE OKEECHOBEE WATER SOUTH. REPORTER: WHILE NELSON WAS ON THE TREASURE COAST, SCOTT WAS PROMOTING HIS WATER PROJECT RUNNING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THE OWNER OF FLORIDA SPORTSMAN IS NOT LOOKING TO SIDE RED OR BLUE. RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY COLOR THAT'S TROUBLING IS GREEN. >> THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, WE ARE HOOKING UP OUR HOUSES TO SEWERS. WE ONLY WATER TWICE A WEEK. WE DON'T FERTILIZE. WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO FERTILIZE. THEY BANNED FERTILIZERS, A CERTAIN ASPECT OF FERTILIZER. WE'RE DOING OUR PART. >> EVERYONE THAT I SPOKE WITH HERE TODAY SAY THEY JUST WANT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND TAKE CONTROL OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW, IT'S BECOMING A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
Advertisement
Sen. Nelson holds round table discussion on algae

Community members speak out about algae crisis

After being closed for nearly week, the Florida Sportsman Magazine opened its doors to the community. Sen. Bill Nelson hosted a round table discussion Friday to listen to the community's concerns. While many sat down at the table, demonstrators were outside holding signs that read, "Too Little, Too Late."Demonstrator John Miller said the round table is just a political stunt. “It’s a little irritating when you don’t see someone for six years and then they show up. We’ve seen Bill Nelson here more in the last month than in the last six years,” Miller said. Nelson sat at the head of the table inside the Florida Sportsman lunchroom. He told the room they have a choice to make this upcoming election."The people of Florida have a choice between two people. That Governor Scott in the last eight years has systematically stopped, dismembered and dismantled the environment agencies of the state of Florida," Nelson said. While Nelson was on the Treasure Coast, Scott was promoting his water project that is currently ahead of schedule. It will reduce the water releases from the Army Corps of Engineers from Lake Okeechobee by allowing water to move south of the lake. Drew Wickstrom, with Florida Sportsman Magazine told WPBF 25, "This is not about choosing blue or red. Right now the only troubling color is green.""We as citizens are doing our part. The people in the city are hooking our houses up to sewer. We only water twice a week. We don’t fertilize. We are doing out part," Wickstrom said. Governor Scott's statement in response to Senator Nelsons accusations:“Governor Scott has invested record amounts in Florida’s environment and has stepped up time and time again when Washington politicians like Bill Nelson failed to meet their commitment to our state. Under Governor Scott's leadership, Florida established the most comprehensive nutrient pollution standards in the nation and last year, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested to help local communities transition from septic to sewer, and last year, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had a near-record high compliance rate, which means businesses and facilities are following the law and preventing environmental harm. Clearly, Bill Nelson has no choice but to continue to use misleading and negative attacks in order to hide the fact that after nearly half a century as a career politician, he still has no accomplishments to run on.”

After being closed for nearly week, the Florida Sportsman Magazine opened its doors to the community.

Advertisement

Sen. Bill Nelson hosted a round table discussion Friday to listen to the community's concerns.

While many sat down at the table, demonstrators were outside holding signs that read, "Too Little, Too Late."

Demonstrator John Miller said the round table is just a political stunt.

“It’s a little irritating when you don’t see someone for six years and then they show up. We’ve seen Bill Nelson here more in the last month than in the last six years,” Miller said.

Nelson sat at the head of the table inside the Florida Sportsman lunchroom. He told the room they have a choice to make this upcoming election.

"The people of Florida have a choice between two people. That Governor Scott in the last eight years has systematically stopped, dismembered and dismantled the environment agencies of the state of Florida," Nelson said.

While Nelson was on the Treasure Coast, Scott was promoting his water project that is currently ahead of schedule.

It will reduce the water releases from the Army Corps of Engineers from Lake Okeechobee by allowing water to move south of the lake.

Drew Wickstrom, with Florida Sportsman Magazine told WPBF 25, "This is not about choosing blue or red. Right now the only troubling color is green."

"We as citizens are doing our part. The people in the city are hooking our houses up to sewer. We only water twice a week. We don’t fertilize. We are doing out part," Wickstrom said.

Governor Scott's statement in response to Senator Nelsons accusations:

“Governor Scott has invested record amounts in Florida’s environment and has stepped up time and time again when Washington politicians like Bill Nelson failed to meet their commitment to our state. Under Governor Scott's leadership, Florida established the most comprehensive nutrient pollution standards in the nation and last year, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested to help local communities transition from septic to sewer, and last year, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had a near-record high compliance rate, which means businesses and facilities are following the law and preventing environmental harm. Clearly, Bill Nelson has no choice but to continue to use misleading and negative attacks in order to hide the fact that after nearly half a century as a career politician, he still has no accomplishments to run on.”