About Us
Last Stand is a non-profit organization of volunteer citizens who are committed to preserving the Florida Keys’ unique quality of life and our fragile, beautiful natural environment. We have worked tirelessly since 1987 to protect Key West and the Florida Keys. As our environment is impacted by change in our climate and as development occurs in the limited land mass of the Florida Keys, it is essential and beneficial for all of us to work together to protect our fragile environment.
Last Stand promotes quality of life in the Keys by opposing overdevelopment that stresses the environment, impacts residents’ daily lives, and strains the critical infrastructure upon which we all rely. Overdevelopment threatens water quality and hinders growth management policies. Last Stand educates and mobilizes the community to act and affect meaningful change. Working together, we can shape a sustainable future for the Keys and its residents.
Our Mission
● Keeping abreast of current and upcoming issues impacting the Keys and its residents.
● Reviewing public meeting agendas and preparing informed public statements.
● Attending policy and planning meetings at local municipality and county levels.
● Monitoring state and federal actions that may influence the quality of life of Monroe County residents.
● Educating residents and decision makers on the comprehensive consequences of their actions.
● Providing community education through forums and other events.
● Pursuing legal actions, when necessary, to ensure the fulfillment of our mission.
Last Stand has been organized to promote, preserve, and protect the quality of life in the Florida Keys, with particular emphasis on the natural environment.
Last Stand achieves its mission through research, education, outreach, and action. We are dedicated to active engagement with policymakers, advocacy groups and residents alike. Last Stand strives to positively shape our community’s quality of life and the environment by:
Our Initiatives
The Florida keys is an area worth protecting! Both residents and visitors recognize the unique characteristics of the Florida Keys and have a strong desire to protect the area. Unfortunately, the popularity of and love for the Keys may be causing unintended harm. The question is raised whether the Keys is being loved to death or if actions are being taken that may lead to undesirable consequences. Last Stand members strive to educate and mobilize the community to act and affect meaningful, positive change.
Last Stand promotes quality of life in the Florida Keys by focusing on three core concerns:
water quality, land development, and affordable workforce housing
Our water quality in the Keys suffers from unenforced policy and shallow sewage wells that pollute nearshore waters, negatively impacting reef ecosystems, marine life, the fishing industry, and tourism. Last Stand drives awareness with water quality research, identifying shallow injection wells causing nearshore pollution, and partnering with and supporting the Water Quality Protection Program and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Capacity of our critical infrastructure has been exceeded in an Area of Critical State Concern. Last Stand seeks to engage with elected officials and agency staff to support reasonable growth policies, including a safe 24-hour evacuation model.
Last Stand prioritizes affordable workforce housing over vacation rentals. Many local workers struggle to find suitable housing due to the proliferation of vacation rentals, replacing year-round workforce housing. Addressing this issue is important for improving the quality of life for all residents.