* The annual cost for the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration camp: $450 million. That, of course, doesn’t include ecosystem threats. The gubernatorial rationale: “There needs to be more ability to intake, process and then deport,” explained Gov. Ron DisAstrous. “This answers that.”
And the Florida GOP is doing its part. It’s now advertising, no surprise, merchandise branded by the facility’s name. “Grab our merch to support tough-on-crime borders!” These include ($30) “Alligator Alcatraz” T-Shirts, ($27) hats and ($15) beer koozies. Jeers—and one day may “Alligator Alcatraz” be filled by those who built it.
BTW, what could be next after “Alligator Alcatraz”? Serpent Sing Sing?
* That was then: Early on, Gov. DisAstrous credibly positioned himself as a champion of the Everglades. Concern over a fragile ecosystem, however, became less a priority than self-serving deportation politics.
* But there is some good news. The governor signed a bill to ban oil-drilling along the Apalachicola River. “It really shows that there’s power when folks come together,” pointed out Gil Damon, director of the non-profit Downriver Project.
* The Execution State: Florida leads the country with eight executions. So far, a total of 26 men have been put to death this year in the U.S.
* “Connecting to Tampa means extending the system to the next biggest population center in Florida not presently served and will bring approximately 75% of the state’s population into proximity to a Brightline station.”–Ashley Blasewitz, Brightline spokeswoman, on Brightline Florida’s announced plans to extend its high-speed service from Orlando International Airport to Tampa. Such long overdue high-speed rail scenarios, of course, wouldn’t still be in the news had it not been for Rick Scott.
* According to Hillel International, the University of Florida has the largest number of Jewish undergraduate students in the country.