Hundreds Come Out in Support of Santa Fe River and Environment: Riverfest a Smash Hit
Posted April 20, 2016 03:30 pm
Folks
came from all over Florida to Riverfest at Rum 138
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – This past Sunday, April 17, hundreds from all over Florida traveled to the Santa Fe River Outpost known as Rum 138. They came to celebrate the Santa Fe River, the environment, listen to original music, and show their support for Our Santa Fe River and its fearless spokesperson and community leader, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson.
Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, a rock star for the
enviornment.
Before addressing the crowd, Ms. Malwitz-Jipson spent a few quiet moments in the shade of an old oak tree listening to the original music.
Then, she addressed the fracking issues that were in front of the Florida legislature this year. "We got them to get rid of the bad bills, but we still need a ban," she said.
Ms. Malwitz-Jipson also addressed the waste water which is produced by fracking, wastewater that has been banned in many states, some of which have found a solution by trucking the chemical laden wastewater out of state for disposal.
She told the gathering to a round of cheers, "And I don't want their treated wastewater coming here."
In
November of 2014, Ms. Malwitz-Jipson, asked the County
to consider an ordinance banning fracking.
In January of 2015, Our Santa Fe River asked the County to ban fracking in Columbia County.
Columbia County's infamous County Commission, known as the County 5, has been blowing off Ms. Malowitz-Jipson and her organization ever since the first request in 2014.
Ms. Malwitz-Jipson also brought up, to another round of cheers, her opinion of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which is also known by many as the Department of Environmental Prostitution. She said, "The Department of Environmental Protection is not protecting us."
Ms. Malwitz-Jipson concluded her remarks by telling the gathering, "Our River has no voice. You are that voice."
