The main public beach on Jekyll Island State Park suddenly has a reprieve. And I have to say, I'm shocked. Thrilled. Cautiously ecstatic.

After a lengthy fight in the Capitol and with residents on the coast, a public-private partnership to remake state-owned Jekyll Island has backed away from plans to place hotels and condos on a massive parking lot that for decades has given Georgia vacationers access to a popular beach.

Instead, the acreage will be changed to include a park and an environmental conservation center, the latter originally planned for elsewhere on the island. The condos and hotels will be relocated.

Holy cow. For some time now I've been writing about the attempt by Linger Longer Communities and the Jekyll Island Authority to put a large and unwanted development of hotels and condos on a stretch of publicly owned beach that currently contains four public parking lots. And Wednesday? A small taste of vindication for the little guy.

Quick, answer this question: What do you think is more important to Georgia State Senator Russ Tolleson? Protecting the Coastal Zone Management Act which "works with the Federal Coastal Management Act to generate funds for conservation, rehabilitation and education efforts along Georgia's coastline?"
Or protecting a huge 63-acre private development on the main public beach of Jekyll Island State Park?
If you said "private devlopment"- and I'm guessing you did- you are correct!

What do you win? Depends on who you are. If you're Russ Tolleson, you win the gratitude of Linger Longer Communities, big Republicans contributors. If you're Ben Porter, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority, you win the gratitude of Governor Perdue, a man mentioned as a possible VPOTUS. If you're Gov. Perdue, you win the gratitude of Mercer Reynolds, owner of Linger Longer and currently John McCain's national finance co-chairman. If you're Mercer Reynolds, you win one of the most coveted pieces of public coastal land left in the state.

And if you're a Georgia resident and owner of the Jekyll Island State Park? You win a development thousands of you said you don't want.

Because they lie to get what they want. It's that simple. It's an epidemic these days- instead of honestly debating disagreements, just characterize those you don't agree with as "misguided" and lie about them (and while you're at it, fudge a few statistics here and there).

The Jekyll Island State Park Authority is a body appointed by the Governor to protect and manage Jekyll Island State Park. The guy who heads it up, Ben Porter, is a developer by trade. He is also the person Governor Sonny Perdue tried to illegally install on the GA DNR board. That stunt ended up as an ethical embarrassment. Porter landed on a nice little cushion at the JIA.

An earlier diary this week addressed an amendment currently under consideration to protect the island from irresponsible development. Today Porter threw a hissy fit in response to the amendment.

Jay Bookman is a newspaper guy. That must be why he can use such few words to say what it takes me a paragraphs to express.

Sometimes, important government decisions do more than determine the outcome of a particular controversy. They take on a larger symbolic value and make a statement about public priorities and values.

An amendment to Bill 367 by state Rep. Debbie Buckner was approved last week that would protect the main public beach on Jekyll Island State Park from certain types of development. A vote on that amendment by the House Rules Committee was supposed to take place Thursday. But whisperings abound that pro-development Representatives are willing to let the bill die rather than protect the publicly owned beach. Despite the fact that politicians in the Georgia State capital are actually taking notice of what the public has been, to put it politely, screaming.

Jekyll Island State Park is pretty special to Georgians. Bought by the state in 1947 as a park for the "ordinary citizen," many have vacationed there over the years. And they've been shocked by the actions of the Governor-appointed Jekyll Island Authority over the last couple of years.

Those actions- specifically awarding private developer Linger Longer a large new development along the popular main public beach- prompted a grassroots opposition movement (of which I am a member). It's been an uphill battle- LLC has money, a pricey PR firm and friends throughout the legislature and Governor's mansion. But as public awareness rises the issue is getting more and more press, especially in the AJC. Two recent pieces spotlight the controversy; one profiling the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island and the other addressing the whole issue in general.

The controversy over Jekyll Island State Park continues, developers and their enablers versus the public and their elected Senator.

I can't decide what's worse: the developer who defends putting a massive private development on a publicly owned beach by repeatedly citing how "green" hundreds of condos and three hotels on that small beachfront will be; the politicians who derailed bills meant to protect that beach despite large and vocal public support of those bills; or the Governor-appointed Authority, charged with managing Jekyll Island State Park, who at the very least publicly  "misrepresented" statistics and numbers to justify a "partnership" with a developer who happens to give a lot of money to politicians.

It's a damn tough call.

Last Thursday a vote was held in the Ga. State Senate Economic Development Committee on 3 bills aiming at protecting Jekyll Island State Park from inappropriate development. Despite thousands of calls placed to members of the committee, all but two voted down the bills.

A group that supported the bills took out an ad in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution that says "Bills to protect Jekyll Island killed in committee" then proceeds to list who voted "no" and who voted "yes."

Rumor has it that politicians at the capital are a little upset over the ad. Seems that hearing from thousands of angry constituents tends to make people who vote against popular legislation uncomfortable. And asking the public to remember it when they vote in November is downright crazy! Taking responsibility for your vote? Nuts!

I wrote yesterday about the committee vote that killed bills introduced by Senator Jeff Chapman meant to protect Jekyll Island State Park from inappropriate development. Two representatives of the Jekyll Island Authority spent much of their time essentially branding the Senator a liar because he accused the JIA of using misleading figures to justify a development that has garnered much public protest.

But apparently, not all of the JIA board members feel that way. One member has publicly denounced the shameful display that took place in a tiny room at the capital on Thursday.

"We understand that Jekyll Island is a state park. But people don't come there for a state park experience."

That's what it's come to. Apparently the Georgia State Senate thinks people come to Jekyll for condos, timeshares and fancy hotels.

Despite a guest survey by the Jekyll Island Authority just 2 years ago that said "It is clear that the guests prefer Jekyll Island as a travel destination because of the unique combination of natural, seaside beauty, interesting historic sites and limited development;" despite the island authority and developer Linger Longer constantly throwing around misleading numbers to make the situation seem more dire than it really is; despite the thousands of citizens opposed to the development plan who called their legislators and actually forced a vote on bills to protect the island, a vote the chairman of that committe never thought would see the light of day.

That's what it's come to.

Georgia State Senator Jeff Chapman has been a busy guy. Not only has he introduced 3 bills that would protect Jekyll Island State Park, referred to as "Georgia's Jewel," from inappropriate development- he did a lot of homework.

The Jekyll Island Authority has been painting a sad picture of this beautiful state park by claiming that since visitation has dropped 47% and the JIA is barely scraping by, private developer Linger Longer is needed to step in and save the island by plopping 3 hotels, hundreds of condos and a town center along the main public beach- for starters.

But that 47% claim has always been a little squishy. Looking at the raw numbers, it's easy to be skeptical. Senator Chapman, who heard his constituents vocally oppose this blatant give away of a cherished state park, dug a little deeper. And guess what he found?

Do you remember that place you loved to visit? Maybe it was the beach where you first saw the ocean. Or the shores of a dark blue lake where you hiked for hours then relaxed in a bare little A-frame cabin. Or a tiny mountain town where you could ski all day without waiting in mile-long lift lines then hit a local bar for cheap beer.

And now that place has been taken over- by condos, fancy hotels and time-shares. The shop that sold charming and sometimes mystifying souvenirs has been obliterated by store after store selling the same ten t-shirts with the same ten slogans. And the place where you got ice-cream after a long day of sun has been booted by Starbucks.

Do you remember that place? For me, it's Jekyll Island, Georgia. Developers are almost there. Due to a groundswell of opposition, critically important legislation has been introduced to protect the state park from inappropriate development. But can ordinary people win against the big money of developers in this country?

Oh, where to begin? Wait, here's a good place; it's a nice summary of the fight over development on Jekyll Island.

There's a new talking point that those who seek to put a big 'ol development on Jekyll Island State Park are using: there's a "small group of detractors spreading misinformation." Those who support the LLC proposal tend to wax on about how they enjoy a wide swath of support for developing a town center/beach village on this largely undeveloped state park. But in reading the opinion pages, those in favor seem to be in the minority; everyone else pretty much hates it. It's not surprising. When you do a guest survey asking people what type of development should take place on the island and over 50% say it shouldn't go beyond redeveloping in the footprint of existing properties, then you completely ignore that input, well, it's easy to see that it won't be a popular decision.

So a few pieces were published this week, authored by Jim Langford, developer spokesman; and Eric Garvey Director of Marketing for the Jekyll Island Authority.

Senator Jeff Chapman has 3 bills up for consideration by the Economic  Development Committee of the Georgia State Senate. It's a very developer friendly lot. It's important to keep calling these guys to let them know that Senator Chapman's bill deserves to be heard by the Senate.

Please call:

Chip Pearson, head of the committee;

I have been writing about this issue on kos because it's a perfect example of what I consider the greed of developers, the over-development of this country and the complete disregard of public input and wholesale give away of public land by politicians. It's all showcased in the fight over a particular development in a state park proposed by a company with close ties to the Governor, approved by an Authority entirely appointed by the Governor.

It's also an example of a politician who actually listens to and acts on behalf his constituents, a grassroots movement that has given the public a voice and the people of the state demanding that their voice be heard.

Senator Jeff Chapman introduced legislation that will protect the main public beach of Jekyll Island State Park from development. The legislation bans any new development east of Beachview Drive. Information on the legislation can be found in the AJC and Jacksonville Times-Union.

According to the Times-Union:

The first bill limits beachside construction to the footprint of existing hotels. The second prevents any new construction from being used as permanent residences. The third clarifies language from earlier legislation, including how Jekyll should achieve a mandate to keep its amenities affordable to average-income Georgians.

UPDATED: It's imperative that anyone interested in this issue call Senators on the Economic Development Committee:

The IPJI will host a town meeting in Decatur on Thursday, January 31, 7-9 PM at the Maloof Auditorium. Discussion will center around the controversial Linger Longer proposal for development of the State Park detailed here.

There's more information on the topic. Wilson R. Smith had people with viewpoints from both sides of the issue sit down to a radio debate January 25th.

On Sunday the Washington Post speculated about possible Vice Presidential partners for each party. Sonny Perdue, GA’s Governor, was included on the short list of Republican VP Candidates. His strength, according to the Post, is that he’s a southern Governor re-elected with relative ease. That was pretty much it.

But consider this- how much would his chances be enhanced if he were able to bring powerhouse fundraisers Jamie and Mercer Reynolds to the ticket?

Linger Longer Communities, the developer involved in a controversial proposal to develop Georgia’s Jekyll Island State Park, is owned by Jamie, Mercer and Harold Reynolds. The Reynolds have a long, chummy history with Governor Perdue. And Perdue's office played a key role in opening the island up to private developers. All of which makes one wonder... could roads being rerouted on Jekyll actually lead to the Vice Presidency?

I’ve spent a lot of time pointing out what I obviously feel is a land grab by Linger Longer Communities in regards to Jekyll Island State Park, the publicly-owned barrier island in Georgia. The pro-development crowd has been using language such as “tarnished jewel” and “run-down” in their quest to get their hands on it. They’ve cited inaccurate and inflated visitation numbers to support their argument. And in my opinion, they haven’t been publicly honest about their true intentions for long-term development.

But for this post I’d like to talk about real revitalization. Of course the JIA and LLC talk about the need for redevelopment. But Jekyll Island is a state park, not a resort. The JIA needs enough money to SUSTAIN the island. It was never intended to be a profit center for the state, much to the chagrin of developers and politicians. Its purpose is to be an affordable park for the average citizen.