Last Stand recently spoke at the April 17th BOCC meeting, expressing opposition to granting 86 early evacuation ("EE") ROGOs to CEMEX Construction Materials, Florida, LLC. Originally, this pool of EE ROGOs was designated for Beneficial Use Only (also known as Takings Cases) or for exchange with other ROGOs. However, the applicant is seeking to acquire all 86 EE ROGOs without providing any affordable allocations in return. This places a burden on Monroe County taxpayers and increases potential liabilities.

Last Stand opposes granting 86 early evacuation ("EE") ROGOs to CEMEX Construction Materials, Florida, LLC. The county's exchange policy, established to maintain hurricane evacuation standards, requires recipients of EE ROGOs to provide affordable ROGOs. However, the applicant seeks to obtain 86 EE ROGOs without returning any affordable allocations, burdening Monroe County taxpayers and increasing potential liabilities. Last Stand urges support for the exchange policy, which has historical backing and potential participants. Amidst concerns over ROGO availability and overdevelopment pressures, Last Stand urges the County to maintain the exchange policy and resist exceptions that endanger residents' financial resources and safety.

Dottie Moses, Last Stand board member, spoke at the Monroe County Commission's ROGO workshop, stressing the need to protect the future of the Florida Keys. She highlighted the Comprehensive Plan's focus on limited growth and environmental preservation. Despite past efforts, overdevelopment threats persist, straining infrastructure and endangering the environment. Moses urged against unsustainable growth, advocating for strategic allocation of remaining ROGOs to address community needs like affordable housing and infrastructure. Each decision must prioritize the well-being of the Keys.

In these remarks, Keys Last Stand emphasizes the importance of policy decisions and their impact on the affordable workforce housing crisis. They express concern that exemptions granted to the Nonresidential Inclusionary Housing Requirement worsen this crisis.

Last Stand Board Member Dottie Moses spoke out against creating the “Tavernier Commercial Overlay District” during the Monroe County Commission Special Meeting on February 15, 2024. This proposed district in Tavernier plans to introduce a 49,000-square-foot supermarket and 86 workforce housing units on a roughly 20-acre lot at Mile Marker 92.5 off U.S. 1. This development ignores County comprehensive plans, especially the community-inspired Livable CommuniKeys plan. It will create increased traffic prompting residents to voice concerns for their safety.

Ann Olsen, President of Last Stand, attended the January 22, 2024 BOCC Meeting and emphasized prioritizing public safety and environmental protection in Hurricane Evacuation Planning. She commends the inclusion of Key West in evacuation modeling. Still, she expresses concern over proposed legislation extending evacuation times and increasing building allocations without properly assessing infrastructure capacity. Olsen highlights the growing threat of rapidly intensifying storms and urges Marathon's leadership to prioritize public safety, contain development, and protect the environment.

Keys Last Stand urges the BOCC and the KWCC to pay attention to the alarming trend of tropical storms rapidly intensifying into major hurricanes, as detailed in the provided articles. With climate change exacerbating these risks, coastal communities like ours face heightened vulnerabilities. In response, Keys Last Stand implores elected officials to maintain the Phase 2 evacuation time at 24 hours and include The City of Key West in evacuation models, considering its significant population.

On December 12, 2023, Roger McVeigh, Treasurer of Last Stand, attended the BOCC meeting, stating that Last Stand acknowledges the BOCC's prompt attention to the concerns and audit findings regarding financial controls at the Tourist Development Council (TDC). He said continued BOCC engagement is crucial, given the significant tax dollars involved. Last Stand urges the BOCC to heed recent public feedback on the TDC, recognizing it as an opportunity for reflection, evaluation, and constructive reforms.