Support an Ethical Whistleblower's New Start
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On Friday, August 30, 2024, I was terminated from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Park Planning after alerting the public regarding a secret, fast-tracked plan to build golf courses, 350-room hotels, disc golf courts, and pickleball courts within critical habitats across 9 of our Florida State Parks. These atrocious proposals, which were not going to be released until the day before the scheduled public meetings, have been suspended for now, and we are all feeling great about that. As a state employee and single dad working a weekend side-job, I knew that sounding the alarm was a risky move. However, I saw myself as a public servant first and felt that it was the only ethical thing to do. This issue became far more important than any individual’s employment status with DEP. As I seek a path forward professionally in coming days and weeks, I would be incredibly grateful for anyone willing to lend a hand; any amount would be appreciated.
I have been with the Office of Park Planning for over two years, serving with dedication while building my skills as a cartographer and specializing in maps of Florida’s mosaic of conservation lands, especially Florida State Parks. After the best two years of my professional career, where I built great relationships with Florida Park Service staff all over the state and enjoyed mapping out a significant swath of our amazing park system, I was directed to create nine maps depicting shocking and destructive infrastructure proposals, while keeping quiet as they were pushed through an accelerated and under-the-radar public engagement process. My decision to make my maps public, along with the accompanying proposal summaries, ended my career with the Florida Park Service. Whether I start my own business or join a more conservation-minded organization, I’m ready to get back to work as a professional cartographer!
Please see my LinkedIn page, which describes my former job duties with the Office Park Planning:
Facebook page below:
Organizer
James Gaddis
Organizer
Tallahassee, FL