Page 33 - Southern Exposure - October '24

Southern Exposure, Page 33

Commissioner’s Update

Advocacy And Civic Engagement In Government

By Vice Mayor Maria Marino

Advocacy and civic engagement are fundamental It often involves educating decision-makers and the engagement occurred in
to a healthy democracy. These practices allow citizens public on specific issues, persuading them to adopt Palm Beach County when
to influence government policies, hold officials certain policies or actions. the Florida Department of
accountable, and actively shape the decisions that impact Civic engagement is a broader concept that encompasses Environmental Protection
their communities. When citizens and organizations any activity that allows citizens to be involved in public ( FDE P) un v e i l e d i t s
engage, they can drive government responsiveness, life. This ranges from voting and participating in town 2024/25 Great Outdoors
transparency, and effectiveness. halls to volunteering and joining community boards. Initiative. This initiative
Advocacy refers to the efforts of individuals, groups, or Civic engagement emphasizes collective action to address is aimed to increase
organizations to influence public policy and government societal issues and fosters a shared responsibility between public access, recreation
decisions. These efforts can take various forms, such as citizens and their government. and lodging at Florida
lobbying, public campaigns, and grassroots mobilization. A recent example of effective advocacy and civic state parks. However, the
proposal to amend the Unit
Management Plan of Jonathan Dickinson State Park
(JDSP) to develop environmentally sensitive lands into
a golf course sparked wide concern.
Local residents, outraged by the potential environmental
damage, quickly mobilized. They reached out to elected
officials at the local, state, and federal levels, voiced
their concerns, and organized protests. In a matter of
days, thousands of residents had signed petitions and
coordinated protests. As a result, the outcry attracted
attention from officials across the state, including
Florida Cabinet members, U.S. Congress representatives,
and state senators. These leaders called for increased
transparency and urged FDEP to withdraw the proposal.
As Vice Mayor of Palm Beach County and a member
of the Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating
Council, I was acutely aware of the proposed plan’s
potential impact on the Loxahatchee River, a designated
National Wild and Scenic River. Protection of water
quality and lands has been a hallmark of our success
as a county, much of which is a direct result of various
partnerships between the county and FDEP. However,
the plan amendment was directly detrimental to
environmentally sensitive lands and water quality to the
Loxahatchee River. Along with my colleagues, I penned
a letter to the secretary of the FDEP, expressing our
opposition to the proposal and requesting its withdrawal.
Advocacy empowers individuals to take action on
issues they care about, fostering a sense of ownership
over the direction of government policy. As an elected
official, I often have the opportunity to hear from
constituents daily through letter writing, phone calls,
public comment on agenda items, and additionally once
a month during Matters by the Public. When individuals
realize that their voices can have an impact, they become
more involved in the political process. Advocacy and
civic engagement are crucial to the health of a democracy.
As demonstrated in Palm Beach County, when
ADVANCED citizens come together to advocate for change, they can
profoundly impact their government and community for
CANCER CARE the better. Thank you for staying engaged and making
your voices heard. If you’re interested in learning more
about the Palm Beach County boards and committees that
citizens may participate in, please visit https://secure.
co.palm-beach.fl.us/ABC/Pub_ABCReports.aspx. As
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