US - South

www.ecowatch.com - October 14, 2013 - Brian Foley - Sierra Club

Florida Chapter's Panther Critical Habitat Campaign is partnering withe Preserve our Paradise to stop Big Oil from leaving its dirty footprints all over Golden Gate Estates in Naples, where a Texas-based oil company wants to drill an area just one mile from the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and within 1,000 feet of residences.

Grassroots opposition is growing.  Last month, more than 100 people protested at the Naples Pier, erecting a symbolic oil well in front of Gov. Scott's (R-FA) beachfront home.  The controversy has prompted the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to agree to hold a public hearing later this year.

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Sent to Michael Berkowitz, Managing Director, 100 Resilient Cities, Rockefeller Foundation on October 9, 2013

Hello Michael and the 100 Resilient Cities ChallengeTeam,

Kudos and thank you for all you are doing!  I have a quick question/proposal and if you have a moment to reply,  I'd like to know your thoughts:

The Q&A sessions led me to believe that the intention is for cities to apply, rather than regions.  I would agree that the CRO's position might appear more manageable if it were based in one municipality.  My only concern is that if we want to maximize the benefit of the 100 Resilient Cities Network, to increase resilience in as many cities as possible that are facing similar challenges, that perhaps a regional approach would be worthwhile, at least in South Florida.

Once you review the applications from South Florida cities such as Pompano Beach and Miami, please consider the possibility of designating these cities as joint winners on a regional front where the cities, and their respective counties, would be able to work together with the guidance of a strong CRO to make this entire region more resilient.

Thank you for your consideration.

- Susan Steinhauser, a concerned citizen living in Coconut Creek, Florida