The Christian Monitor writes about people getting sick from swimming in the gulf ( After Gulf swimmers report illness, questions about opening a beach ). Santa Rosa Island Authority manager Buck Lee is criticized for reopening the beach to swimmers without any scientific basis for his action.
From the article: “This week, health officials in Escambia County, Fla., which includes Pensacola Beach, reported that about 400 people claimed they felt sick after visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf.”
Lee wants to help the beach hotels, but did his desire to please those owners endanger the those who swim in the gulf last weekend?
What was Lee’s response to the Christian Monitor when asked about the people who have gotten sick: “People have different reactions. You and I may go in the water, swim around, look for shells and come out of the water and your eyes may be burning and mine may be fine. It affects different people different ways.”
Lee isn’t the only official telling people the oily water is fine:
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist told the “CBS Morning Show” this week that he went for a swim on Pensacola Beach after BP crews cleaned it up. He said continual testing done by the county has shown that the waters are clean. “There isn’t a toxic nature,” Governor Crist said. “It’s much more of a nuisance than anything at this point. But it is safe.”
So here is the SRIA message: Come swim in the Gulf. Spend your money at our hotels and condos. Ignore the workers in Haz Mat suits, gloves and rubber boots that have been told to stay out of the water. If you get sick, it’s your fault that you aren’t like Gov. Crist.
This is insane. You can’t put icing on a brick and make it a cake.