Sally Swartz, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Sally SwartzNovember 2, 2015

You could call Jeff Wittman an eternal optimist. The Hobe Sound resident never has stopped believing that a 46-acre chunk of Florida scrub wilderness between U.S. 1 and Alternate A1A, south of Bridge Road, should belong to the people forever. For almost a decade, the land has been the prize in a tug of war […]

Sally SwartzOctober 27, 2015

A nightmare development scenario playing out in Palm Beach County is bad news for proponents of local control statewide. It’s almost unbelievable: new developments with thousands of homes in preserve areas that now provide drinking water for cities and water for a wild and scenic river. Ten-lane and 12-lane highways, including double-deck, high-rise roads and […]

Sally SwartzOctober 20, 2015

About 150 of James Hutchinson’s friends braved a stormy night in Stuart last week to hear their favorite celebrated artist talk about living with the Seminoles and Miccosukees half a century ago. Hutchinson’s paintings from those six years, well known statewide and nationally, capture not only a gone-forever way of life, but also the disappearing […]

Sally SwartzOctober 13, 2015

A retired licensed practical nurse, who recently spent a week as a patient at Martin Medical Center in Stuart, confirms that I’m not the only one who’s noticed the hospital is dirty — really dirty. It could use a housekeeper like Downton Abbey’s Mrs. Hughes to oversee its cleaning staff. Two years ago, I complained […]

Sally SwartzOctober 7, 2015

A proposed new gated community of 92 upscale “row houses,” priced from the high $200s to the middle $300,000s, has south Martin County residents talking. The townhouses would be built between U.S. 1 and the predominately African-American neighborhood of Banner Lake, in Hobe Sound’s Community Redevelopment Area. Some wonder whether expensive row houses belong in […]

Sally SwartzSeptember 28, 2015

Two members of Martin County’s legislative delegation listened for hours last week while more than 30 residents buttered them up, begged for money, griped about the Florida Legislature’s recent bad decisions and brought wish lists for 2016. Republican Rep. Gayle Harrell of Stuart turned the annual event, held at the Martin Commission headquarters in Stuart, […]

Sally SwartzSeptember 22, 2015

Deposit play money labeled “Martin mobility bucks” in boxes labeled with road projects. Or play a big screen computer game, voting for projects on a hand-held clicker. Martin County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization gets an “A” for effort in trying to get residents involved in deciding how the state should spend money building roads, bike paths […]

Sally SwartzSeptember 13, 2015

Victories in the ongoing battles between Martin County residents and governments and Lake Point – plus an unrelated win upholding Martin’s protective growth plan – gave county residents reason to celebrate last week. Forbes 400 billionaire George Lindemann Sr. and his millionaire son, George Lindemann Jr. are developers of the Lake Point rock pit in […]

Sally SwartzAugust 24, 2015

Florida lawmakers did one thing worth celebrating in this year’s Legislative Session: They approved, at long last, a law that protects residents from SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Two champions deserve special credit for the success of the anti-SLAPP campaign: the Florida Press Association and the Motion Picture Association of America. On the Treasure […]

Sally SwartzAugust 4, 2015

It’s skunk week in Martin County. Not to malign Florida’s real skunks, but their human imitators have left an odiferous trail countywide this week. On the hit list: A respected environmental group, Martin County government, and residents who have fought developers who don’t want to follow the county’s protective growth rules. The stinkers: Sugar industry […]

Sally Swartz
Image via Carlton Ward Jr.

Sally Swartz: Long-delayed land buy now turns to Joe Negron, Amendment 1

Sally Swartz: Development runs rampant without state controls

Sally Swartz: Accomplished artist recalls life with Seminoles, Miccosukees

Sally Swartz: In this case, hospital clean is filthy

Sally Swartz: Gated community could set precedent

Sally Swartz: Constituents still want environmental action

Sally Swartz: Are real changes or just distractions coming from FDOT?

Sally Swartz: Lake Point project opponents get some wins

Sally Swartz: Free speech victory rose from Session morass

Sally Swartz: Stinky lawsuits befoul Martin County development fights