Because they lie to get what they want. It's that simple. It's an epidemic these days- instead of honestly debating disagreements, just characterize those you don't agree with as "misguided" and lie about them (and while you're at it, fudge a few statistics here and there).

The Jekyll Island State Park Authority is a body appointed by the Governor to protect and manage Jekyll Island State Park. The guy who heads it up, Ben Porter, is a developer by trade. He is also the person Governor Sonny Perdue tried to illegally install on the GA DNR board. That stunt ended up as an ethical embarrassment. Porter landed on a nice little cushion at the JIA.

An earlier diary this week addressed an amendment currently under consideration to protect the island from irresponsible development. Today Porter threw a hissy fit in response to the amendment.

Jay Bookman is a newspaper guy. That must be why he can use such few words to say what it takes me a paragraphs to express.

Sometimes, important government decisions do more than determine the outcome of a particular controversy. They take on a larger symbolic value and make a statement about public priorities and values.

An amendment to Bill 367 by state Rep. Debbie Buckner was approved last week that would protect the main public beach on Jekyll Island State Park from certain types of development. A vote on that amendment by the House Rules Committee was supposed to take place Thursday. But whisperings abound that pro-development Representatives are willing to let the bill die rather than protect the publicly owned beach. Despite the fact that politicians in the Georgia State capital are actually taking notice of what the public has been, to put it politely, screaming.

Jekyll Island State Park is pretty special to Georgians. Bought by the state in 1947 as a park for the "ordinary citizen," many have vacationed there over the years. And they've been shocked by the actions of the Governor-appointed Jekyll Island Authority over the last couple of years.

Those actions- specifically awarding private developer Linger Longer a large new development along the popular main public beach- prompted a grassroots opposition movement (of which I am a member). It's been an uphill battle- LLC has money, a pricey PR firm and friends throughout the legislature and Governor's mansion. But as public awareness rises the issue is getting more and more press, especially in the AJC. Two recent pieces spotlight the controversy; one profiling the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island and the other addressing the whole issue in general.

The controversy over Jekyll Island State Park continues, developers and their enablers versus the public and their elected Senator.

I can't decide what's worse: the developer who defends putting a massive private development on a publicly owned beach by repeatedly citing how "green" hundreds of condos and three hotels on that small beachfront will be; the politicians who derailed bills meant to protect that beach despite large and vocal public support of those bills; or the Governor-appointed Authority, charged with managing Jekyll Island State Park, who at the very least publicly  "misrepresented" statistics and numbers to justify a "partnership" with a developer who happens to give a lot of money to politicians.

It's a damn tough call.

Last Thursday a vote was held in the Ga. State Senate Economic Development Committee on 3 bills aiming at protecting Jekyll Island State Park from inappropriate development. Despite thousands of calls placed to members of the committee, all but two voted down the bills.

A group that supported the bills took out an ad in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution that says "Bills to protect Jekyll Island killed in committee" then proceeds to list who voted "no" and who voted "yes."

Rumor has it that politicians at the capital are a little upset over the ad. Seems that hearing from thousands of angry constituents tends to make people who vote against popular legislation uncomfortable. And asking the public to remember it when they vote in November is downright crazy! Taking responsibility for your vote? Nuts!

I wrote yesterday about the committee vote that killed bills introduced by Senator Jeff Chapman meant to protect Jekyll Island State Park from inappropriate development. Two representatives of the Jekyll Island Authority spent much of their time essentially branding the Senator a liar because he accused the JIA of using misleading figures to justify a development that has garnered much public protest.

But apparently, not all of the JIA board members feel that way. One member has publicly denounced the shameful display that took place in a tiny room at the capital on Thursday.

"We understand that Jekyll Island is a state park. But people don't come there for a state park experience."

That's what it's come to. Apparently the Georgia State Senate thinks people come to Jekyll for condos, timeshares and fancy hotels.

Despite a guest survey by the Jekyll Island Authority just 2 years ago that said "It is clear that the guests prefer Jekyll Island as a travel destination because of the unique combination of natural, seaside beauty, interesting historic sites and limited development;" despite the island authority and developer Linger Longer constantly throwing around misleading numbers to make the situation seem more dire than it really is; despite the thousands of citizens opposed to the development plan who called their legislators and actually forced a vote on bills to protect the island, a vote the chairman of that committe never thought would see the light of day.

That's what it's come to.

Georgia State Senator Jeff Chapman has been a busy guy. Not only has he introduced 3 bills that would protect Jekyll Island State Park, referred to as "Georgia's Jewel," from inappropriate development- he did a lot of homework.

The Jekyll Island Authority has been painting a sad picture of this beautiful state park by claiming that since visitation has dropped 47% and the JIA is barely scraping by, private developer Linger Longer is needed to step in and save the island by plopping 3 hotels, hundreds of condos and a town center along the main public beach- for starters.

But that 47% claim has always been a little squishy. Looking at the raw numbers, it's easy to be skeptical. Senator Chapman, who heard his constituents vocally oppose this blatant give away of a cherished state park, dug a little deeper. And guess what he found?

Do you remember that place you loved to visit? Maybe it was the beach where you first saw the ocean. Or the shores of a dark blue lake where you hiked for hours then relaxed in a bare little A-frame cabin. Or a tiny mountain town where you could ski all day without waiting in mile-long lift lines then hit a local bar for cheap beer.

And now that place has been taken over- by condos, fancy hotels and time-shares. The shop that sold charming and sometimes mystifying souvenirs has been obliterated by store after store selling the same ten t-shirts with the same ten slogans. And the place where you got ice-cream after a long day of sun has been booted by Starbucks.

Do you remember that place? For me, it's Jekyll Island, Georgia. Developers are almost there. Due to a groundswell of opposition, critically important legislation has been introduced to protect the state park from inappropriate development. But can ordinary people win against the big money of developers in this country?

Oh, where to begin? Wait, here's a good place; it's a nice summary of the fight over development on Jekyll Island.

There's a new talking point that those who seek to put a big 'ol development on Jekyll Island State Park are using: there's a "small group of detractors spreading misinformation." Those who support the LLC proposal tend to wax on about how they enjoy a wide swath of support for developing a town center/beach village on this largely undeveloped state park. But in reading the opinion pages, those in favor seem to be in the minority; everyone else pretty much hates it. It's not surprising. When you do a guest survey asking people what type of development should take place on the island and over 50% say it shouldn't go beyond redeveloping in the footprint of existing properties, then you completely ignore that input, well, it's easy to see that it won't be a popular decision.

So a few pieces were published this week, authored by Jim Langford, developer spokesman; and Eric Garvey Director of Marketing for the Jekyll Island Authority.