From a vigilant reader...

Reason to worry? Time to explain the 'threat' of sea level rise in the 2020 debate

On June 20, 2014, Steve "Fire Ant" Ellman wrote a story in the Broward New Times in a clear attempt to bolster the argument against the Lake Worth 2020 bond issue. Commissioner Christopher McVoy and ex-Commissioner JoAnn Golden warned, at a public meeting, that spending money on infrastructure improvements was unwise taking into account the supposed imminent 'threat' of sea level rise.

Ellman is clearly using the bullet points Commissioner McVoy used from the commission dais opposing the bond issue: Sea Level Rise lawsuits, drainage problems, an insurance company "in Illinois," and other twisted logic to make his point.

Mr. Ellman in classic fashion begins his fiction with a quote: " 'Apres moi le deluge,' Madame de Pompadour supposedly said, shortly before the people of France rose up and removed her head: 'After me, the flood.' "

Possibly Mr. Ellman had two or more stories going at the same time and got the opening pull quotes mixed up

Anyway, Ellman goes onto say in a burst of lucidity, "South Florida's coastal cities are beginning to say the same. But one hopes there will be better results. They're recognizing that climate change is for real, that sea level rise will follow, and that precautions are in order."

The Lake Worth 2020 bond issue up for a vote this August has nothing at all to do with coastal protection. Most of the infrastructure improvements will occur at least one mile from the beach. For some reference, the Lucerne building on Lake Ave in Lake Worth is at 18 feet above sea level. Most areas west of Dixie average 19 feet above sea level. Commissioner McVoy lives in one of the highest elevations in the city.

For some reference how sea level rise will affect Lake Worth I present the "Anticipated Impacts of Sea Level Rise" from the Sea Grant Florida.

Here is how Sea Grant Florida presentation explains Sea Level Rise:

Let's do the math:
3 Millimeter each year times 30 years = 90 mm
90 Millimeter converted to inches = 3.5 inches

And it is quite germane to point out that Mr. Ellman is not a reporter making independent observations from Broward County. It is customary for reporters to inform the reader of pertinent facts such as these. But then again we are referring to the 'Fire Ant' and for this reporter facts are merely inconvenient truths.

Also interesting to note are the massive beach renourishment projects in Broward and Miami Dade counties. FPL will be building two new nuclear power plants at Turkey Point. Miami also has several major projects being built.

Oh, that's right - we are the hill.