Protect our water — block more oil drilling

I’m writing in response to the Nov. 4 editorial “Florida should stand strong against more Everglades oil drilling.” For almost two years, water protection advocates have been very concerned with the risks that oil drilling in South Florida could pose to the drinking water of millions of residents.

A 2017 Duke University study found 6,600 reported oil spills between 2005 and 2014 in just four states. This is why we worked with local officials to send a clear message: No drilling should take place here. In fact, both Miami Dade and Broward County passed binding ordinances prohibiting fracking and over a dozen cities also passed resolutions against it.

Florida statute clearly states that Department of Environmental Protection cannot grant a drilling permit unless a municipality first approves it. A coalition of hundreds of groups is now working to pass a bill that would prohibit fracking in Florida. Our hope is that state legislators like Sen. Lauren Book, a cosponsor of the bill, will ensure that South Florida’s water is protected. traffic by synchronizing stop lights, and this can be done utilizing existing resources. Secondly a countywide moratorium on development must be declared. Lastly, make the transportation network desirable and efficient for commuters.

The present gridlock is a problem of their own creation and local governments are naive to think that throwing billions of dollars at transportation in a shotgun approach will solve the problem. At best it will just shift the pain around. The taxpayers are not gullible and understand traffic problems better than government. Fix what we have first.