Crist applauds Florida’s opening of first oil spill response branch office

Courtesy photo.

Here is the latest installment of Gov. Charlie Crist's Notes from the Capitol:

Dear Friends,

I continue to be committed to recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. Last week, I called a Special Session of the Florida Legislature from July 20, 2010 through July 23, 2010, to address a constitutional amendment banning offshore drilling in Florida waters.

This amendment would be put before the people this November. I am confident our legislators will make the choice to protect Florida’s environment and economy from any future disaster like we have seen recently in the Gulf of Mexico.

The connection between Florida’s environment and economy is inextricable. We must do everything we can to ensure a spill of this magnitude cannot happen again.

While visiting with business owners in Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, Apalachicola, St. Petersburg and Miami, I have seen firsthand how they are hurting. That is why I created the Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force that met last week for the second time in Pensacola.

We are constantly receiving and reviewing recommendations for how Florida can recover from the loss of business and revenues due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. I have also been meeting with elected officials and community leaders to listen to ways I can help.

Together, we are working every day to help minimize the economic and environmental impact of this disaster.