Latest news with #OfficeofPlanning
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawsuit: DeSantis administration retaliated after leaked development plans for state parks
A new lawsuit alleges that Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration last summer worked to keep secret a plan to build golf courses, pickleball courts and luxury hotels at nine state parks. The suit, filed in Leon County by whistleblower James Gaddis, includes details of how public protests sent the Florida Park Service's Office of Planning scrambling to rush approval of new rules to allow such development at all of the state's 175 parks. It says Gaddis was the victim of "retaliation" by DeSantis, former Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Shawn Hamilton and the department's human resources director, Jake Vick. He seeks damages of at least $100,000, among other things. Gaddis was a park planning consultant, fired last August after he leaked details of the Great Outdoors Initiative – a plan to build lodges, tennis courts, flying disc courses and other amenities at state parks. Public outrage over the proposal led the Legislature earlier this year to unanimously pass a new park protection law that DeSantis signed in May. In his complaint, Gaddis – represented by Tallahassee civil-rights attorney Marie Mattox – says he was wrongfully terminated after he wrote a letter exposing plans for the 'destruction of state parks throughout Florida.' He's protected under the state's whistleblower law, his suit says, because he "reported and disclosed violations of rules, regulations and laws, and/or malfeasance, misfeasance and/or gross misconduct to persons both inside and outside of his normal chain of command ...." A complaint in a lawsuit tells one side of a story. A DEP spokesperson said the state agency is unable to comment on pending litigation. Gaddis said he was tasked with creating 'secret maps' in August 2024 for development that he says would have destroyed 'globally significant' habitats. When given an assignment to transform 1,000 acres of scrubland in Jonathan Dickinson State Park into three golf courses, he alleges, the instructions included 'not talk to any colleagues about these plans.' Two weeks into the job, he 'felt as if he was mapping out a future crime scene,' according to the complaint. Gaddis admits he loaded maps and documents, including an explanatory memo, onto a flash drive. He passed it to an unnamed intermediary, who then gave the information to reporters. After the Tampa Bay Times broke news of the initiative, public protests swept the state and DeSantis pulled the idea from consideration. And in the face of those protests, Gaddis' suit describes a state agency in "a panic." He says Assistant Park Service Director Danielle Terrell on Aug. 14 told staff how DEP intended to get rules and plans for the Great Outdoors Initiative approved by the end of the month. The plan involved in a flurry of activity, including maps and drafts of proposed new rules to be released Aug. 26, required public hearings for the new rules to allow development on Aug. 27, and eight public hearings to be held starting Aug. 27. Staff was not to answer questions from an 'angry mob,' the complaint says, and to 'record feedback.' But the public hearings were cancelled Aug. 25 and DeSantis later dismissed the development plans as 'not ready for prime time.' Gaddis says Vick confronted him with the memo that accompanied the maps and documents that made public DEP's plans. In a recorded meeting, Gaddis admitted he wrote the memo, expressed no regrets and immediately went on administrative leave. The next day, Gaddis received a letter of termination that said he had 'intentionally released unauthorized and inaccurate information to the public.' He now says his firing was retaliation and prohibited by Florida law. The suit also seeks injunctive relief that includes Gaddis' reinstatement as a park planner, a court order mandating that DEP obey state employment laws, and an order for DEP to pay all of Gaddis' attorney fees and court costs. After his firing, Gaddis set up a GoFundMe with an initial fundraising goal of $10,000. As of June 11, he had raised nearly $258,000. His next professional goal is to make "high-quality maps of conservation lands within the State of Florida, which has given me so much to be thankful for," he wrote on his GoFundMe page. "Once I am further along with next professional steps, I will be ready to explore my options with respect to giving back and advocating for additional conservation of Florida's wild spaces, which is especially critical as our state's population continues to increase." James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis named in lawsuit over 'secret' plan to develop Florida parks
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Washington AG sues after Trump administration freezes $71 million program for EV charging stations in Eastern Washington
May 7—Washington is leading a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration for terminating billions in funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, which stifled plans to expand electric vehicle infrastructure in Eastern Washington. The program, included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, would distribute $5 billion to states to install electric vehicle charging stations and "establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability," according to the Federal Highway Administration. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program was set to award $71 million in grant funding to install electric vehicle charging stations along priority "alternative fuel corridors" throughout Eastern Washington. According to the lawsuit, President Donald Trump froze all funding included in the Inflation Reduction Act, including the funds for electric vehicle infrastructure, on his first day in office. "The president's illegal claw-backs aren't spending reductions — they're cash grabs that rob taxpayers, steamroll Congress, and stifle critical economic development," Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement. "Washingtonians are switching to electric vehicles at one of the highest rates in the nation. They deserve safe, reliable infrastructure to get their families from Point A to B." In a Jan. 20 executive order, Trump wrote that "In recent years, burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations have impeded the development of these resources, limited the generation of reliable and affordable electricity, reduced job creation, and inflicted high energy costs upon our citizens. "These high energy costs devastate American consumers by driving up the cost of transportation, heating, utilities, farming, and manufacturing, while weakening our national security," the executive order states. Eliminating subsidies and other funding for electric vehicles, the executive order states, "is essential for economic growth and innovation." In February, Emily Biondi, associate administrator of the Office of Planning, Environment and Realty at the Federal Highway Administration, notified the heads of state transportation departments that new leadership at the agency has "decided to review the policies underlying the implementation" of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. "Effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new State plans are submitted and approved," Biondi wrote. According to the request for proposal for the program, the Washington State Department of Transportation previously identified five priority "Alternative Fuel Corridors" in the state, most of which would have filled gaps in charging stations for motorists driving to or through the Spokane area, and planned to install between 14 and 19 fueling stations along the corridors throughout the state. Department of Transportation has identified U.S. Highway 195 from Spokane to the Idaho border, U.S. Highway 395 from Spokane to the Canadian border, U.S. Highway 2 from Leavenworth to Newport and Interstate 90 from Seattle to the Idaho border as priority alternative fuel corridors in the program. Under the program, grants would have covered up to 80% of the project costs, with applicants required to cover at least 20%. "WSDOT is tracking existing and planned stations that meet port, power, and distance requirements to ensure deploying NEVI infrastructure meets the most critical gaps on our Interstates and US Routes," the request for proposal states. While Washington received 40 applications for the program by a January deadline, the complaint states that "because Washington does not have funds to cover these projects in the absence of its share of the NEVI Formula Program funding, the State has not been able to select a single awardee." A coalition of 16 other states has joined the lawsuit, which seeks a court order to restore the funding.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Email Mistake Exposes Dark Trump Plan on Child Welfare Programs
The Department of Health and Human Services plans to end research into how to improve child welfare programs like Head Start, according to an email mistakenly sent by an HHS employee to grant recipients. The email contained a spreadsheet listing 150 research projects on HHS's chopping block, including grants funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. The office's mission is to build 'evidence to improve lives' by helping to examine programs helping low-income children and families. Other research grants under consideration for termination are related to child care policy, child development, foster care, preventing child abuse, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Over 50 universities were listed as having their grants terminated in the document, with state agencies and nonprofits also at risk of losing funding. The possible cancellation of these grants comes after HHS already made heavy cuts to its Administration for Children and Families, which is closing five regional offices and fired hundreds of employees last month. In January, the office had 2,400 employees, and now it's down to just 1,500. Head Start, which provides preschool and other education services for low-income children, was one of the first programs to be hit by the Trump administration's federal funding freeze in February, which later ran into legal trouble. The White House then weakened the program with mass layoffs, and earlier this month even suggested eliminating the program entirely. Now, the news that research examining and supporting Head Start could be cut is an ominous sign. The Trump administration seems intent on cutting the program and everything connected to it, even though it has widespread support from the public. Already, Head Start offices have closed around the country. What will fill the void for low-income families in America?
Toronto Star
02-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
Email mistake reveals secret plans to end research on Head Start and other child safety net programs
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Trump administration could gut research on the effectiveness of child welfare programs, with plans to terminate dozens of university grants studying improvements to Head Start and child care policy, according to a spreadsheet mistakenly made public this week. The document listed more than 150 research projects under consideration for termination by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It covered grants funded by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, which says it 'builds evidence to improve lives' by helping policymakers evaluate programs that help low-income children and families.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DC 2050: DC to rewrite Comprehensive Plan for first time in nearly 20 years
WASHINGTON () — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of Planning (OP) launched DC 2050 on Monday, announcing the first rewrite of the District's Comprehensive Plan since 2006. The plan is a long-term roadmap for the District's future, providing guidance on a range of city decisions, from housing and job locations to investments in transportation and public resources. officials called it a 'once-in-a generation opportunity to collectively imagine a future that reflects our values.' Power outages at BWI cause flight delays 'DC 2050 is our chance to lay out a vision for both current and future residents—one that ensures we have the affordable housing, good jobs, and world-class amenities needed to support a thriving city,' Bowser stated. 'This plan will help us build on our successes, address challenges, and create a roadmap for a strong and dynamic DC – and we want residents to be involved in the process.' The Comprehensive Plan was updated in 2021, but will now be entirely rewritten to identify the challenges and opportunities faced by the District – as well as how to meet them in the next two decades. There has been an increase of 120,000 residents in the District since the last Comprehensive Plan in 2006. Officials said the population is expected to grow from 680,000 to 845,000 by 2050, adding about 235,000 jobs in that same time period. 'As the city grows, we must meet the increased demand for housing, transportation, civic facilities, and environmental conservation. DC 2050 will focus on policies that increase access to housing along with the essential services that make neighborhoods healthy, livable, and walkable,' OP officials . Not only is DC 2050 a plan to accommodate an increase in city residents and their needs, but it is also an opportunity to 'strengthen the District's long-held commitment to racial equity,' officials noted. The median income for Black households in D.C. is less than half of the median income for white households. A total of 21% of Black residents also live in poverty, compared to 6% of white individuals. DC 2050 intends to put D.C. on a path where race and ethnicity do not determine life outcomes. WATCH: First responders make 'ladder arch' in front of Capital One Arena ahead of 'Legacy on Ice' event D.C. residents are encouraged to visit to take a survey and participate in the following upcoming public meetings: Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m. at MLK Library (901 G Street NW) Tuesday, March 25, 6 p.m. at Barry Farm Recreation Center (1230 Sumner Road SE) Thursday, March 27, 6 p.m., Virtually Timeline: September 2024 to December 2024: The OP identified conditions, trends and issues to inform community conversations and develop a racial equity framework that will guide DC 2050's development. January 2025 to September 2026: The OP will ask residents to identify goals and priorities for the new Comprehensive Plan. October 2026 to June 2027: The OP will collect public input, refine DC 2050 and prepare the plan for review and approval by the DC Council. July 2027 to December 2027: The DC Council will consider approving DC 2050. From 2028 to 2050: Agencies in the District will work with federal and community partners to implement the policies and track progress on DC 2050. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
