Mayor Jack Seiler's Curt Email Response to Sea-Turtle Activists: "Your Facts Are Wrong"

• Lets be real Marni who in their right mind would vandalize vehicles or anything else in complete view of a 100 or so cameras in and around the building please...

• You are a completely mindless blabberer. Firstly, you stated that nature will take care of itself?  Nature isn't the one involved in this ordeal Connie.  It's not nature that lights up the FTL streets, it's us.  It's the City of FTL. Nature has NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.  If nature had anything to do with it, these damn turtles would walk right into the water where they belong, being guided by the light of the moon.  The hardships that you speak of are natural hardships. Yes, the turtles can obviously endure that.  They can endure THOSE HARDSHIPS indeed, just like your Christian GOP god intended.  However, they cannot endure the needless, superficial and ridiculous things that bobble head humans do.  They cannot endure those kind of hardships...(i.e., streetlights that are completely unnecessary and disrupt the natural habitat of an endangered species).  The point is Connie, that we humans can barely endure OUR own actions to EACH other. We are jeopardizing ourselves on a daily basis (i.e., sending our sons and daughters to war, murdering each other with our firearms, shoving overprocessed ecoli ridden/hormone-filled food in our mouths, annihilating our family lives and intimacy by using texts and phones and technology over simple human interaction, I can go on and on Connie, but I'll stop for the sake of brevity and knowing full well that you won't give a simple shrug of a damn).  You see, Connie, these people don't need to get a life.  They have a life. You want to know why? They care about something. They fight for a something that matters to them. Caring for vulnerable creatures is something even a Christian god would be proud of...as you know, the meek will inherit the kingdom of god, etc...well, these turtles stand for that. They are the meek. NO one will help them. Other turtles can't stand up for them. Who will?  Here is where these people come in. They defy speciesism and stand for the proposition that even when something isn't OF your kind, it still matters. We are all part and parcel to this planet, whether you can get that in your pea brain or not. IN the meantime, try to avoid texting while driving and flipping South Florida Real Estate, because if you don't stand for something, the least you can try to be is responsible. 

• I have written to Jack several times, asking him to take some action. Time and time again, he sends me his generic letter with the same generic response.   These are Federal laws. He needs to enforce and uphold the City's regulations and ordinances and take immediate action. This is an endangered species and if something is not done immediately to remedy a VERY SIMPLE PROBLEM, thousands more hatchlings will perish.  It's hard enough for these turtles to survive, without these senseless lights causing them to crash into traffic. Now, because of a completely trivial issue (streelights, which can be easily dimmed or altered to fit within the purview of the ordinance), these endangered species are being slaughtered.  It's an easy fix and one that requires little effort by the City. They just DON'T care.  I am not an activist. I am just a South Florida Attorney who cares about this community and the fact that an endangered species is needlessly being annihilated without reason, or excuse.  If he insists on being careless or lazy about this issue, someone needs to get him to do his job and Ana Campos is surely trying here.  

• Nothing is achieved if no one opens their mouth.

• Let's bake cookies. Lol

• Very well sAid

• The only ones working outside the LAW is mayor jack seiler and code enforcement officials. With out acitvists who refuse to live with eyes shut I would have never known this existed. Watching over these creatures and being their voice should come hand in hand. When it comes to something as serious as a third degree felony, it should be brought to the attention of law making officials and if not resolved, pressure needs to be applied and those involved must be contacted. I really wanna thank the writer of the article for standing up and bringing this up to thesurface.

• Nature would of taken care of itselfs if humans didn't move in on the turtles territory. It's because of us showing up and building where turtles have been laying eggs before we even exsisted that has caused All of our species of sea turtles to become endangered. And organizations like S.T.O.P. are preventing this already serious issue from becoming an even more serious issue, like having the turtles become extinct. And do you think that once they are extinict it's not going to have an impact on this world and you directly? Sea turtles are part of our ecosystem, "if you lose one part of the ecosystem the rest will follow".  http://www.bonaireturtles.org/explore/are-sea-turtles-worth-saving/

• are you sure you want to rest because your case is pathetic. this is for your family for 4: it they can't afford to fix it, and they're killing an endangered species, the lights go off. and people are justifiably going to hold the people responsible in the public square just like on tuesday. shame on apathy.

• This is the only Turtle nesting beach that has no Landscape barrier between the beach and A1A.This is a major problem,along with the business people that just have no education about the turtles or dont care.I have been in the environmental business 37 years and this is the worst case of neglect and non-educated peolpe I have ever seen.D.O.T. lights are on when they should be off.Business lights are not turtle freindly at all.And then you have the politicans who dont want nothing to do with the problem.I know of 1 case where I personally went to a business that was a major problem with lights,and was told they would correct the problem.I also know a fellow activist went there and asked to turn off the lights and within 30 seconds the lights where off.So again its a matter of educating the publix.I want to thank all the media involved in reporting these problems,because it helps with education.Espically the New Times.

• Why can't the city codes just be followed to prevent unnecessary deaths of innocent sea turtles? If one code isn't enforced, why should ANY of them be? I like cookies by the way.

• Thank you SO MUCH, Stefan Kampf, for this excellent article! And my heartfelt gratitude  to ALL of the activists who spend their nights on the beach, and take time contacting officials and businesses in defense of theses poor endangered creatures that cannot speak for themselves. Please continue your important work--together or separately, but please don't let your different approaches overshadow what's important here. The fact that this is even still an issue,  let alone that there is such vitriol, astonishes me. The sea turtles are endangered. There has been an ORDINANCE on the books for EIGHT YEARS. Many other areas have made adjustments, some years ago. I, too, received one of those dismissive messages from the Mayor. I really hope that with the help of activists and wonderful articles like this, the city officials and the businesses will see how the goodwill they could generate by doing the right thing for these endangered creatures would more than make up for the minimal cost to comply. And if not, they should be helped to understand the bad PR and the FINES. Seems to me it's not such a difficult choice.

• >> For your info he has lost alot of weight and looks great. Are you guys now dating?  Ain't that special.  I can see you being a "power bottom".

• Please make this very clear. Ana Campos, her facebook page, picketing demonstrations and tactics are in NO WAY affiliated with Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, Inc. STOP has been around for five years, staffed with volunteers who are permitted by FWC. They have done phenomenal work working with the law and within the law AT ALL TIMES. Ana Campos appeared on the scene a few weeks ago, after leaving a trail behind her of disrupting conservation groups and organizations with her rude and unprofessional tactics. The author of this article in New Times was very irresponsible in not obtaining correct information and in connecting this woman and her behavior with Sea Turtle Oversight Protection. Please view STOP's website and FB page. SeaTurtleOP.org.

• Walsh... Really...  How about once you get a grasp on reality, you also learn to properly use the language. Case in point. You are pathetic.   Not you is pathetic.  But then again, you definitely is pathetic.

• I volunteered with this guy one night last year, and it was pretty cool. Mainly just ran up and down the beach watching nests (like watching grass grow), but then actually saw this huge sea turtle come up on land, dig a nest, and lay eggs. Probably one of the neatest things I've seen all year.  I don't know who this Ana person is, but I do know that neither Justin nor any of the STOP people that I met seemed in any way, shape, or form like the type to take extremist action for the public hype. They were passionate, but calm and professional. Documented their claims on video which they then sent to various media organizations, and made clear, cogent points, almost placing more emphasis on following federal law and city ordinances than moral obligation to the turtles. I am fairly conservative, supportive of the rights of hunters and fishermen, and guess I would probably disagree with many STOP members on a whole host of political and social issues. However, my experience with them was with a professional, dedicated group of environmentalists, doing everything they can WITHIN THE LAW to further their cause, while making a hands on difference to this issue. Thier law and order approach, combined with a do-it-yourself mentality (they are out there working, not wringing their hands and waiting on the government to do it for them), truly impressed this young conservative, and I hope people will differentiate between this professional group of activists and any yammering trouble-makers attempting to do mischeif in the name of the same cause. P.s. -  Justin, you should link to that video (i think you sent to the ny times) showing the blatant violations of city, state, and federal law. I can't stand people thinking that they are above the law just because they are wealthy enough to live on the beach. Also, should explain how easy it is to comply. No one is asking these businesses to go dark, as I understand it, all they'd have to do is put the equivalent of lamp shades so that their lighting is directed rather than wastefully shining in all directions for a few weeks.

• When did you become such an advocate for the turtles Chaz Stevens?. And your digs on Mayor Seiler is pathetic. For your info he has lost alot of weight and looks great. Besides you are no Adonis . I know Activist of the year(joke).....

• Once again Walsh you prove to the world that you're utterly whack. >> Explain your cause Turtle People to a family of 4 living on 200bucks a week. What are you suggesting?  We feed them Jack Seiler Turtle Soup du Jour?

• Chris, it is sad that you are spending your Saturday morning trying to slander Ana Campos.  While I can appreciate your determination, sadly you have failed.  Everyone within the South Florida activist community knows Ana, and who she is as a person. As a community organizer myself, I have been honored to work with someone who possess such integrity and compassion. If someone is proud of what they have accomplished, it does not mean they have a big ego. Maybe you are a failure in your life, and I could see how this could be upsetting. Move on. Ana Campos and other residents are working tirelessly to help prevent endangered baby turtles from getting run over on A1A.  Her efforts are appreciated by the community. Also a thank you to all the countless volunteers who have spent the last 5 years of their lives on the beach rescuing newborn turtles.

• Chris, it is sad that you are spending your Saturday morning trying to slander Ana Campos.  While I can appreciate your determination, sadly you have failed.  Everyone within the South Florida activist community knows Ana, and who she is as a person. As a community organizer myself, I have been honored to work with someone who possess such integrity and compassion. If someone is proud of what they have accomplished, it does not mean they have a big ego. Maybe you are a failure in your life, and I could see how this could be upsetting. Move on. Ana Campos has spent the last few months working tirelessly to help prevent endangered baby turtles from getting run over on A1A.  Her efforts are appreciated by the community and more importantly the countless number of turtles she has saved.

• Joy Cooper loves puppies! When she gets behind the wheel after too many Harvey Wallbangers -- or as she likes to call 'em Dry Comfortable Screws Against the Wall -- she'll play Doggie Frogger with Little Fido. Last time she played, she missed nailing Fluffy but did manage to ricochet off a firetruck. No really, she did.

• He's more of a waddler than a runner.  Think of the original Bat Man Penguin...

• I hate cookies by the way. :) But appreciate your take.

• LOL. I love New Times posters. This comment is by 'Chris' aka 'Marni1990' aka "Marcella Mays' and are all the same person. Please see the comment below by Marni1990 and you will see similarities. I am sorry that you feel sending me emails and messages threatening me with violence are OK,  Chris, Marni 1990, Marcella Mays. I'm happy to repost disproving your each of your statements. I have taken appropriate steps to protect myself from you in the past and am doing so currently with each of your messages. Anyone who knows me knows who I am and what I do. I am a huge advocate for anti-bullying and the prevention of violence (domestic, elderly, children) and you know that. I also co-organized Hands Across the Sand on Las Olas and A1A Boulevard this year and last year and both had an amazing and peaceful turnout. Which also lead to the formation of the Clean Energy Coalition of South Florida which I am one of the founders of. And that was on the heels of a brutal oil spill that in essence killed the Gulf. So I take your 'spin' with a grain of salt and your 'stalking' to the police. You leave me no choice but to protect myself. Violence is never OK. Please get help. I also co-organized the 350.org, GreenFest. Remember that? I believe I invited you there. I know, you know me and are having a personal reaction most likely because I know who you are. This isn't about any turtles is it? You can continue to stalk me. I don't hate you. I just don't want to date you. I will continue to be very proud of the volunteers, residents, strangers and supporters who took the time to stand up for what they believe in and speak up for those poor dying turtles and the proactive actions we all have taken part in. I asked that Mayor Seiler have compassion and empathy and as you can see by his emails above he just won't. He needs to do the right thing. These emails were how he handled the situation and not very caring.There is still time for him to do the right thing. It's my hope that eventually he will. These turtles have been dying a painful death on A1A Boulevard and throughout Broward County for decades. Now that other Broward cities are understanding and have shown compassion for an endangered species, that leaves just Fort Lauderdale who refuses to comply with the 'lighting' ordinance they created eight years ago. Mario Sotolongo of Code Enforcement gave Eric the owner of Primanti Brothers a certificate just last week, before 27 turtles were killed in front of his store, saying all his lights were in compliance. Needless to say, the majority of his lights are not in compliance. Ignorance or Corruption in the Government is always unacceptable.Although they bought a handful of city streetlights (I'm not sure they are the correct ones or enough) with 'grant' money two years ago they will not be installed until next year. Time is of the essence. Everyone seems to understand that, except the Government. 

• >> However,the person speaking out and leading must have integrity,not be a cyber bully,trouble maker and complete fraud. Man, for a moment there I thought you were talking about me... Personally, I beg to differ. As former NT reporter Tom Francis wrote about my efforts to erradicate corruption in Deerfield Beach, he indicated "who are we to want activists who are effective and polite."  That seemed to him to be a bit greedy. So who fucking cares if Campos flames people in the comments.  It's just name calling -- so man up you complete pussy.  (See what I mean?) Does it matter that if Campos's ego is as large as mine?  Does that really matter? What matters is saving the fucking creatures and not making this into some camp fire circle jerk love affair. Oh, and if you want a large ego, you should meet Jack Seiler. The only thing larger on Seiler than his ego is his rotund Santa Claus belly. Two things before I leave. 1)  I don't know Campos.  Never met her.  Don't know anyone who knows her.  Never spoken to her, gotten an email or call from her, text message, smoke signal, Miss Cleo mental telepathy news alert.  Nothing of the sort. 2)  Until Campos came on the radar screen, I also didn't know about the plight of the turtles in Lauderdale. Never heard of STOP. So, say what you want about her, she did something that you failed to do -- and that is, brings lots of awareness to this situation to folks who would have not known about it before hand. 2a)  When was the last time the NT wrote about STOP? Personally, I think you should apologize to Campos and make nice with her.  In fact, you should send her a basket of cookies.  Perhaps make her in charge of your press department. Finally, if you are thinking who the fuck is this guy, I will say this.  I am THE GENIUS.  A guy who makes folks in charge mind their fucking P's and Q's.  Oh and I was also 2010 NT Activist of the Year, sent three elected officials to jail, on the Sunday front page of the Miami Herald, made the TV news, etc etc etc. Campos:  Keep at it.  Don't let the ankle bitters get to you.  It's just jealousy. Genius out.

• Bob; You are close to the truth, but since you are out west, you haven't had the "pleasure" of experiencing the Full Monty of Jackie Boy Seiler. See, when you say he's a blithering idiot, that's only part of the truth. Now had you said Mayor Jack Seiler is a Blithering Fucking Idiot you'd be that much further along. But to really capture his essence, the Jack Spuge if you will, you'd have needed to write <strong>Mayor Jack Seiler is a World Class Blithering Fucking Idiot</strong>. However don't just take me word for it, ask his wife and family.  They'll all agree. Chaz Stevens, Genius 2010 New Times Activist of the Year

• Oh,here's something we have never seen before Ana Campos threaten people with stalking  and harassment on a FB page.Isn't that calling the kettle black? And stirring the pot??? Ana Campos is the queen of stirring the pot and attempting to intimidate .For someone who supposedly is against the spread of violence in America ,her posts against her rivals and people she doesn't even know but chooses to attack,are always very bullying and threatening in nature.Look carefully at the nasty tone on the post to Marni1990.Is that tone indicative of someone trying to "reduce the violence in America" or of a professional? And my God,the way she toots her own horn talking about "I am the person that led this successful demonstration",etc,etc,is nauseating.Talk about ego! This cause is a just and critically important one and needs people speaking out for the turtles plight.However,the person speaking out and leading must have integrity,not be a cyber bully,trouble maker and complete fraud.Sadly,this campaign is just,but the leader is not.

• When someone's mind is made up, their response is curt, dismissive and impolite.  Normally, a Mayor would deserve our respect and the courtesy of his dignity.  In the case of Mayor Seiler, he deserves neither.  He has shown himself with not a single modicum of consideration, with defensiveness and with an inability to hear that makes him totally unable of leadership.  We are sorry for you, Mayor, but more than that we are sorry for Fort Lauderdale and we are sorry for the sea turtles who deserve no less than your compassion.  Come time for reelection, remember the turtles.  Those who show no compassion, deserve none!

• Ana Campos is 100% correct. 

• Jack Seiler is a blithering idiot. I don't even live in Florida, I've been following this story from Nevada. 

• It is puzzling that Mayor Seiler has become so personally defensive about this issue, when solutions are readily available, and only positive outcomes would come of his supporting it. He is shaping a reputation for being anti-wildlife, & squandering an opportunity to come across as a caring leader & good guy. (Were a celebrity to latch on to it via Twitter or Facebook, it could quickly become a PR disaster.) The Mayor has the power to make this a win-win if he wanted to.

• And to Stefan Kamph for covering this story. :)

• I would like to thank the press for letting the poeople know the truth.Cause the city is not going to,I dont know what the mayor's problem is but it is a simply soulation.Just comply with your own codes and federal laws.Its not rocket science.I also want to thank the volunteers that have worked endless hours to help in anyway they can.I have 22 volunteers that some work a full time job and some work for me full time.Without the press and my volunteers I couldn't do my job and be sucessful.And a special thanks to the New Times and Ron Mills for his blog.

• Please make this very clear. Ana Campos and her facebook page are IN NO WAY associated with Sea Turtle Oversight Protection.  The official STOP facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/SeaTurtleOP STOP spends countless hours on the beach collecting data and recovering thousands of hatchlings. For STOP's credibility to be questioned due to the actions of people outside of the organization is outrageous. STOP does not support these tactics. Please see the statement posted on the STOP website and Facebook. http://seaturtleop.org/broward/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=293 Founded in 2007, STOP is a non-profit, sea turtle conservation organization of volunteers with no paid staff. STOP rescues hatchlings, documents hatchling disorientations and records and publishes hatch data for research and educational purposes in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. STOP works within the law and explicitly for the law under a special marine turtle permit issued by FWC to recover disoriented hatchlings, collect hatch data and documentation which is then provided to the appropriate authorities, research institutions and the general public. While STOP advocates that citizens communicate with their city officials, STOP does NOT support, endorse or tolerate any harassment, inappropriate or unbecoming behavior of any kind within its volunteer organization or on its behalf.

• I think you have me confused with someone else. I rarely comment on New Times articles, and I certainly have never written about DCF or the turtles.

• You're an uneducated idiot if you actually believe what you wrote. It's clear you have no real experience on the beach at night nor do you value anything other then yourself. Statements like yours show not only a lack of what is going on and compassion but a child like foolishness into thinking what went one centuries ago can still work. Next you'll be saying the climate isn't changing. As for getting a life we HAVE a life dear. One that your small minded narrow view of the world you live in can't fathom. Our life is saving an endangered species what's your life dear? Does it even compare...

• First of all there approach is all wrong. They where extremely rude Tuesday night. I mean it was funny once the cameras were gone so where they. i mean there is a process you can do a Citizens presentation, to pulling an item off the Agenda. For them to scream, and call the Mayor and City Manager names etc, was just not accetable. Explain your cause Turtle People to a family of 4 living on 200bucks a week. I rest my case. This City has allready spent alot of money on this issue.  Shame on them.

• You know Stevens I've seen you copy and paste this exact post all over these blogs. Instead of crying about this and copying and pasting this same post, why don't you be that group or join the groups that already do this.

• Very true...

• I'll be saying that to Jack Seiler when he runs for re-election. Thanks for the idea. A Mayor that hates baby sea turtles and the homeless will not be reelected. buh-bye

• Marni must have asked me out on a date and been rejected. I do love the idea of bringing baby turtles to the Mayor, but sadly they're gone. He probably scooped them up and had them for breakfast. Baby Turtle Hater that he is.

• *yawn* Your comment is kind of funny. Boring, but funny. It's a federally protected endangered species. It's not 3 or 4, it's around 12,000 newborn turtles every year that are walking towards City of Fort Lauderdale Beach city street lights, FDOT streetlights, business and hotel lights all along A1A Boulevard. To begin with it's an ordinance. So break it and face fines. We're not reinventing the wheel nor are we asking for anything out of the ordinary. Just reduce the lights and comply with the lighting ordinance. For more details read this: http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=604b32dddf1448653a7cf7393&id=cac86f2dc8 Every year it's the same battle with the City of Fort Lauderdale and it's escalating. Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Pompano, Deerfield and Lauderdale Lakes are all working to resolve their lighting problems. Why does mayor Seiler believe he is above the law? It's our own ordinance. Not only will it cost nothing to enforce but in this economy it is insane that Code Enforcement won't fine hotels and beachfront properties. Almost all of them have code violations and some of those can be up to $15,000. The City of Fort Lauderdale is the MOST non compliant city in all of Broward County and the government should be embarrassed. This is a federally protected animal that is dying directly due to the City, Jack Seiler and Lee Feldman's lack of empathy and ability to follow the law.

• I say "What are you waiting for?"

• Wow. I can't believe the lies you are trying to perpetrate on facebook and now here. There was no vandalism. I know these people, they are people who care about the world and these small endangered creatures. They care about others, and they are people of PEACE. They are trying to see that an ORDINANCE that is on the books, is ENFORCED.  It's really sad to see the selfishness and hatred that folks must have to try and thwart efforts to save these creatures whose world we have altered to suit our profit line and convenience. We are not asking to close the road and the restaurants and hotels, just make some adjustments  in the lighting so that we may all live together on this planet.

• To begin with it's an ordinance. So break it and face fines. We're not reinventing the wheel nor are we asking for anything out of the ordinary. Just reduce the lights and comply with the lighting ordinance. For more details read this: http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=604b32dddf1448653a7cf7393&id=cac86f2dc8 Every year it's the same battle with the City of Fort Lauderdale and it's escalating. Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Pompano, Deerfield and Lauderdale Lakes are all working to resolve their lighting problems. Why does mayor Seiler believe he is above the law? It's our own ordinance. Not only will it cost nothing to enforce but in this economy it is insane that Code Enforcement won't fine hotels and beachfront properties. Almost all of them have code violations and some of those can be up to $15,000. The City of Fort Lauderdale is the MOST non compliant city in all of Broward County and the government should be embarrassed. This is a federally protected animal that is dying directly due to the City, Jack Seiler and Lee Feldman's lack of empathy and ability to follow the law.

• @Chaz. Wow. Maybe he should get together with Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper who hate puppies as much as he hates turtles. They need to GO!!

• I don't think there's any reforming DCF...society has to learn to take care of itself in both cases. Thanks in part to press exposure we have already had a number of successes with getting some beach business to take action about their lights, we have to also teach society that we can't toss away our children and we have to support parents who can't do it on their own in our communities. In both cases, gov't is making things worse and not even remotely interested in making beneficial changes. cut out the middleman.

• I wonder if a group like this could be formed to beat on the doors of government and shake the justice trees to get the government to reform the way the foster system and DCF is run in this state. I wonder if children would stop being abused, neglected and lost by the system. I wonder if the amount of effort that was put into saving baby sea turtles was put into saving neglected and ignored children, the system would pay attention? Probably not, since they aren't paying attention to the turtles. 

• Hey Marcella Mays! Thank you for your credible threats of violence against me and for stalking and harassing me on my facebook page. Now that I have blocked you've slid over here to attempt in vain a vandalism spin? I understand you need my attention. Well here it is. Your spin is meaningless but I appreciate it. I am fully responsible for this direct action campaign. Those who know me, know I am an advocate for the reduction and prevention of violence in America. If there is any violence I will hold you personally responsible since I have copies of your threats against me.  As you know I am the person who called for the successful and powerful demonstration at the Commission Meeting at City Hall. I watched the entire chamber laugh and the Mayor squirm and giggle uncomfortably when we asked him 'Why does Mayor Seiler hate Baby Sea Turtles' and then we held up signs at the bay windows for two hours. I have never laughed so hard in my life and a good time was had by all. We also sent Mayor Seiler text messages while he snuck on his cellphone during the commission meeting. You and I both know you are simply trying to stir the pot and create some controversy. I don't even think Mayor Seiler would stoop as low as you my Tea Party foe. So on some level I do appreciate the attention you are attempting to create whether it is positive or negative. It's still attention. I would encourage the community to join us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Stop-the-Massacre-of-Baby-Sea-Turtles-in-Fort-Lauderdale/184776658255539 There are photos of our peaceful demonstration and future calls for action on this page. Thank you Marcella for your efforts. If I had a bag of sea turtles I would definitely present it. But I choose to give people the benefit of the doubt first and communicate. Thanks for the spin, Ana Campos

• It seems there's a good deal of anti-turtle sentiment in these comments. Who'da thunk it. I'm curious to know whether you guys are trolling these earnest activists for sport, or whether you have a reasoned position that leads you to contempt for sea-turtle protections. Please feel free to elaborate here.

• His response to Cervone should have been "Goodbye and good riddance"

• Really?  You do know that these turtles are already endangered thanks to mankind right?  All they need to do is block the lights for a week or so in order for these turtles to find the moonlight and follow it to the ocean.  Damn tea baggers are idiots.

• so encouraging to see that there really is a "let's justify slaughtering what's left of our wildlife" crowd when it comes to this clearcut issue. i'd REALLY like to ridicule some of you (members of the foot clan, no doubt) in person sometime, so see you on the beach soon i hope!

• same person bullshitting ana on facebook....begone troll

• the ground-level lights that are on all night where there is no dune blocking the light on the beach have to be replaced w/ lights that do not disorient the turtles, or turned off. there are a few hotels that are problematic but most of them have dunes built in front of them. there are also places like restaurants and t-shirt shops that beam fluorescent lights out of their windows all night long while they're closed straight onto the beach. and secondly, the idea that people's convenience is more valuable than animals and environment has to be struck from humanity's collective consciousness, with a big fucking bat if necessary. if i had a big light that for some reason has a very, very good chance of murdering your child that's not even there for a particularly good reason, would you take "its not going to happen" for an answer?

• http://www.lovetoshopping.org

• what exactly does the turtle rescue propose?  no lights?  fencing?  whats the plan? you're not going to get every hotel and restaurant to shut off the lights.  its not going to happen. what is the plan please? 

• I heard that these people brought that buckett of dead sea turtles into primanti brothers to harass the people having dinner and staff. Also heard there were cars vandalized at their last protest at city hall. I agree with protecting the sea turtles but harassing innocent people and vandalizing cars is not civil disobedience, its not cool at all.

• Wow. Now that is callous and fallacious.

• May Gawd Bless the GOP!

• Turtle activists:  GET A LIFE!  The turtles made it to the sea through hardships before you showed up, they'll make it to sea after you quit your silliness.  There are serious issues to address in this world, other than getting these babies to the water where the birds are waiting to pick them off anyway.  Redirect, please!  Nature will take care of itself.

• Th real problem is that Fort Lauderdale has no natural sand dunes which would curb much of the problem.  We Built TOOOOO close to the beach and it is disappearing at an alarming rate which local officials do not want to acknowledge for fear of loss of tourist revenue. HOWEVER we desperately need a sustainable beach renourishment project in Fort Lauderdale that will not DEGRADE our valuable reef resources off shore. FACE THE FACTS, Whats good for the turtles is good for Fort Lauderdale and Florida and Jobs and Tourists. ACT NOW.

• Indeed, maybe the turtle activists should try this: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2010/10/mayor_seiler_running_office_hours.php

• Stefan; Jackie doesn't hate turtles.  He loves them in his soup. How else do you think he powers those long marathon runs of his?

• does he think all the data and videos are just made up? please..

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