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From: Rick Bradshaw (no email)
Date: Wed Apr 27 2005 - 22:25:56 EDT
This just came across my screen and is in reference to what I alluded
to a while ago. I know that some may consider this political but it
is good information and for those of you that may be Florida
residents, _may_ be something that you want to respond to. That is
your call completely.
However, I am extraordinarily curious as to how this compares to the
situation in Europe, Central and South American, NZ, Australia,
Africa, and the other places in the world. Is this the coming or
current thing or is this just the U.S. being the U.S.? those of you
out there with any knowledge, p-l-e-a-s-e respond. I'm sure I'm not
alone in my desire to know what is happening around the world that
pertains to cruisers.
TIA.
Rick
>Date-----Original Message-----
>From: SSCA Office Manager [mailto:]
>Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 3:05 PM
>To:
>Subject: URGENT FROM THE SSCA BOD
>
>Miami Beach 72-hour Anchoring Ordinance
>
>On April 20, 2005 cruising sailors suffered another blow to their anchoring
>rights when the Mayor and City Commissioners of Miami Beach, Florida
>unanimously passed a bill prohibiting anchoring within city limits for
>periods longer than 72 hours. The last hurdle before the bill becomes law
>is a second public reading that will take place on Wednesday, May 18, 2005
>at a public hearing in Commission Chambers at Miami Beach City Hall.
>Miami Beach has become a favorite staging and provisioning location for a
>large percentage of the estimated 100,000 boaters bound for the Bahamas, in
>addition to boats headed for the Caribbean and Florida Keys each year.
>Businesses in Miami Beach that serve the cruising community were not
>consulted regarding the economic impact of the action. However, one
>commissioner was somehow able to determine that "the amount of money spent
>[by these boaters] was miniscule."
>For cruising boats crossing the often turbulent Gulf Stream, concerns are
>larger than where to provision. While another commissioner claimed with
>authority that "72 hours was sufficient" time to wait for weather, those of
>us who have made the crossing know that small craft warnings are often
>posted for weeks at a time during the winter months, making the passage
>dangerous for many. This extremely brief window will undoubtedly create a
>situation that will force captains to decide between harassment and fines or
>subjecting their boats and crews to seas neither were meant to handle.
>Fortunately, there is an exception to the 72-hour limit during periods when
>hurricane warnings are in effect or when members of the crew are sick.
>The reason most often cited by the eight or so residents who spoke in favor
>of the restriction was the visual intrusion associated with vessels anchored
>near their expensive waterfront homes. Also cited were theft, trespass, and
>pollution. Dr. Morris Sunshine, Chairman of the Miami Beach Marine
>Authority, an advisory group on marine matters, testified before
>Commissioners that the Commander of the Miami Beach Marine Patrol was
>questioned by the Authority and could not cite a single case of theft
>attributable to the cruising community. The Commissioners ignored Dr.
>Sunshine's request to firmly instruct the City Manager to start planning to
>install a mooring field and to designate a legal anchoring area.
>In contrast to cities like Vero Beach, Florida where forward-looking leaders
>implemented well-thought-out plans that cleaned up derelict boats from the
>harbor, accommodated seasonal boaters, and brought revenue to the city and
>local businesses, the Miami Beach leadership's plan is to spend $1.75
>million over the next two years to enforce a legally questionable ordinance
>that chases legitimate boaters and their business away while leaving the
>real problems behind.
>After last year's hurricane season, the Florida Legislature is being
>pressured to allow marina operators to force boat owners out of the marinas
>during major storms. Therefore, it makes far more sense to spend money to
>provide a harbor with safe, heavy-duty moorings that will protect residents'
>boats during hurricanes in the summer, and accommodate transient boats year
>round. The City can then prohibit anchoring elsewhere, protecting the
>seabed and eliminating derelict boats, if it so chooses. It's ironic that a
>city that spends millions each year to attract tourists, and hosts the
>largest boat show in the U.S., is trying to pass a law that will chase a
>large and responsible group of boaters out of local waters.
>This ordinance is full of holes and could be defeated by a coalition of
>boaters who are losing their rights, local businesses whose profits will
>suffer, and residents who will bear the $1.75 million enforcement price tag
>that benefits a handful of Miami Beach's wealthiest residents. Local
>regulators rely on the assumption that sailors have little interest in
>waging political/legal battles; so in addition to local action, we must also
>address this issue through the state legislature and courts.
>The marine industry is one of Florida's largest - it's time for businesses
>to realize that they must persuade lawmakers in Tallahassee to protect
>boaters' right of access to safe haven before there are no boaters left to
>buy their products. The two primary marine trade associations that may be
>able to achieve a workable solution to this situation are listed below.
>WHAT YOU CAN DO
>Write or e-mail the people or associations below. Tell them about your
>boating habits - where you cruise, how much you spend, what your safety
>issues are, that you're a member of SSCA and what clean wake cruising means.
>You will also find links to other representatives of the marine industry and
>to your Florida legislators on the Seven Seas Cruising Association website,
>www.SSCA.org. Tell anybody you think might be affected - other boaters,
>merchants, local law enforcement agencies, community leaders - and direct
>them to the same resources.
>. Visit www.SSCA.org for links to representatives of the marine industry as
>well as information about the organization itself.
>. Attend the May 18 meeting at Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center
>Drive, Miami Beach FL, 33139
>. Follow movement of the bill at www.miamibeachfl.gov.
>. Find your legislators at www.myFlorida.com.
>. Email or write to:
>Mayor David Dermer:
>City Staff Attorney Gary Held:
>City Manager Jorge Gonzalez:
>Commissioners:
>Matti Bower:
>Jose Smith:
>Saul Gross:
>Richard Steinberg:
>Simon Cruz:
>Luis Garcia:
>. National Marine Manufactures Association (NMMA), Thom Dammrich, President
>200 Randolph Drive, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL 60601-6528
>(312) 946-6200, (312) 946-0401-fax; www.nmma.org and www.discoverboating.com
>The NMMA sponsors the annual Miami Boat Show, held simultaneously in three
>venues in Miami Beach and two venues in Miami. Relocating even one of the
>sites out of Miami Beach and into Miami would send a significant economic
>message.
>. Marine Industries Association of South Florida, 2312 S Andrews Blvd, Ft
>Lauderdale, FL 33316
>(954) 524-2733, www.miasf.org
>MIASF is a marine trade association lobby group.
>
>
>Richard Blackford
>Vice President, at the direction of the SSCA Board of Directors
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