Everglades Day participants said they didn't come just to hear "Cheeseburger in Paradise," but certainly Jimmy Buffet was a lure to the lunchtime event in the Capitol courtyard Tuesday.
Buffett played to a crowd numbering in the hundreds, including mostly state lawmakers, environmentalists and tropical-print shirt-clad Parrotheads as part of a rally to advocate for the state to complete the purchase of some 47,000 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land -- price tag: $500 million. Florida has until October to make the buy before the price rises dramatically. But neither the South Florida Water Management District nor the Legislature has shown much interest, preferring to concentrate on Everglades restoration projects already under way.
Buy that land! shouted Buffett from the Old Capitol steps. Tuesdays concert venue might have been a little unorthodox, but attendees were singing and swaying to the island beat as Buffett advocated for restoring and cleaning Lake Okeechobee.
Im happy to be in Tallahassee on Everglades Day, Buffett told the crowd. The singer has long been an Everglades patron. We have come here today to hopefully change the attitudes of the Legislature and the governor [to] remind them to do the will of the people. Buffet was referencing Amendment 1.
The Everglades Coalition, an environmental group -- focused on restoring the ecosystem of the Florida Everglades -- has advocated for the purchase of the land, only a little more than half of which has been called suitable for a reservoir.
Prior to the concert, Buffett met with Senate President Andy Gardiner to talk about the Everglades. Some of the states highest officials, including Gov. Rick Scott and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, have vehemently opposed the deal.
Environmentalists said Buffett would be a big boost to their cause.
We should all be supporters of water, but [Buffett] is obviously a big supporter of water and of Florida so he will bring some much-needed attention today, said Maria Bolton-Jobert of Orlando.
Bolton-Jobert was one environmentalist who hopped on a bus paid for by the Everglades Coalition to attend Tuesdays rally. She told Sunshine State News there were at least 30 other people who boarded the bus from Orlando to Tallahassee to take part in the rally. Buses came from other locations throughout the state. The Everglades Coalition, whose co-founder is billionaire Paul Tudor Jones, ate the cost of the bus trips, sending rally participants to the Capitol for free.
Buffett incentivized people to come to the state Capitol, Bolton-Jobert said.
I think when celebrities get involved, especially in environmental issues, its really a big coup for whatever issue ... theyre going for, and I love that hes working for ours, said Jill Pinkham from the Rivers Coalition in Martin County.
Pinkham also traveled to the Capitol on the Everglades Coalitions dime, but told SSN she had to pay for her own hotel room in town.
Environmental activists ultimately aimed to send a message to Gov. Scott to join their cause.
Hopefully, our governor, wherever he is, is watching us, said Bolton-Jobert.
As for Jimmy Buffett, he gained a few new devotees after Tuesdays appearance.
Said Bolton-Jobert:I am [a fan of his] now.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
