Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) recently appeared on Spectrum News, criticizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the perpetual easement requirement that delated hurricane risk reduction in the area ahead of Hurricane Ian.
"The Army Corps is essentially asking property owners in Pinellas to sign over their land at the expense of our economy, environment & livelihoods. That’s not a winning argument," Rep. Luna stated on Twitter.
Late last week, Senators Rick Scott (R) and Marco Rubio (R) also criticized the USACE for the same reason.
In her Spectrum appearance, Rep. Luna calls out government dysfunction, specifically in how the USACE's policy seems to be under scrutiny now after thirty years of "over actively" pursuing their methods.
The Army Corps is essentially asking property owners in Pinellas to sign over their land at the expense of our economy, environment & livelihoods.
That’s not a winning argument. pic.twitter.com/phYoZEafHH
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 24, 2023
"First of all, I literally work in government and I can tell you that it is hands down one of the most dysfunctional taxpayer-funded things in the country, right? And so all of a sudden the Army Corps, who by the way, when our office asked specifically if they could point to a letter or memorandum or a change in their legislation, all of a sudden had them decide that now this cycle of over actively doing this over the last three decades, what has changed? They couldn't prove anything," said Luna.
From here, Rep. Luna reminded the Army Corps if they "did something illegal over the last three decades," then it is their issue to solve, not Pinellas County. Moreover, not only is the USACE "trying to strongarm property owners," but interfering with the local economy and "an area that provides habitat for endangered species."
"And so our office actually reminded the Army Corps in the letter that we sent them, "Look, if you guys did something illegal over the last three decades, that's not our problem, that's your problem." But you're also now not only trying to strongarm property owners, you're impacting our economy, our beaches locally, and you're also interfering with an area that provides habitat for endangered species," Luna continued.
While her argument appears to be at odds with the criticism leveled by Senators Scott and Rubio, Florida Daily quoted Luna's letter, where she called the perpetual easement requirement by USACE "outrageous" and "unnecessary."
Luna warned the USACE that with both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the people of Pinellas County against them, "They're not going to win that argument."
"And I got news for the Army Corps of Engineers. When it comes to the EPA and endangered species, as well as the amount of people in Pinellas County that support not only the renourishment but also to have great respect for our environment, they're not going to win that argument," she concluded.
