Lately, we’ve been buzzing about oil drilling and how that will impact Florida’s beaches, tourism, the ecosystem, and the economic bottom line. However, there is another issue related to Florida’s beaches and the case is being heard by the United States Supreme Court. The case is Stop the Beach Renourishment Inc. v. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 08-1151.

The issues involve beach erosion, beach renourishment, and the rights of private property owners of beachfront homes. In September, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the state’s Beach and Shore Restoration Act. The homeowners have taken this case to the highest court in the land based on the premise that this lower court decision violated rights to private property under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Now, let me make it clear, I am not an attorney. I am, however, a Florida homeowner and taxpayer. As a taxpayer, I am willing to pay for beach restoration. However, I want to enjoy that beach once I have paid for it.

Now, you might argue that the homeowner has the same argument. You might be right. But if my property is damaged, my insurance company pays for it…or, in Florida, my insurance company pays or denies the claim …and then drops my coverage. Then, I turn to the state for insurance coverage. (This is hypothetical in my case but similar cases are well-documented…) In this case, the state restored the beach. What a nice gift to these homeowners…where is my thank you card?

So I am going to go out on a limb and get really radical here…I would like to see legislation that would prohibit corporate and private ownership of any beach in Florida. I would like to see a provision that would make all beachfront become a state park.

That would mean that all new resorts would have a beach view and private homeowners would have beach access but that no one would be beach front any longer.

I say this after watching multiple hurricanes destroy beaches and homes. I believe part of the reason Florida has been hit so hard by the national economic downturn is because we were already dangling over the precipice after being hit by back to back storms in multiple years.

What brave legislator wants to take this on during session?

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