Florida Democratic Congress members want investigation into state park plans

In a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday, five of Florida’s Democratic members of Congress demanded a formal investigation into plans to build golf courses, hotels and more on nine state parks, as well as the release of public records documenting how those plans were hatched.

The U.S. representatives addressed the letter both to the governor and the state’s chief inspector general, who is in charge of investigating fraud or other malfeasance in government. The representatives called for an independent investigation “into what state procedures were violated, and which private parties lobbied for and stood to benefit from it.”

Reps. Kathy Castor of Tampa, Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Orlando, Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, Darren Soto of Kissimmee and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Miramar signed the letter.

“Your proposal was quietly rushed into a public hearing process and timed to a summer travel period when residents were less likely to attend,” reads the letter. “Given this destructive, veiled affront, the public is owed peace of mind, honesty and transparency.”

https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2024/09/05/desantis-state-park-golf-course-castor-tampa-florida-jack-nicklaus/