By Mark Woods
Jacksonville Times Union
Jacksonville.com
July 23, 2016
Be grateful that the 
wonders of modern technology don’t include scratch-and-sniff newspapers, because this column really stinks.
I know some of you will say that’s nothing new. But today I’m writing about what’s happening this summer in parts of Florida — massive algae blooms.
You’ve probably seen photos and video of the guacamole-thick layer in parts of South Florida, of empty boats docked amid sheets of green sludge, of signs that say: “AVOID CONTACT WITH THE WATER.”
But just seeing the algae doesn’t really do it justice. After talking to someone who recently came back from one of the affected areas — and hearing him try to describe the overwhelming scent — I went through some of the news coverage of the past month, circling quotes from residents, business owners and tourists. Over and over, that’s what they mentioned. The smell.
“… 25,000 times worse than a sewer.”
“… like rotting corpses.”
“… like the landfill times 10.”
“… like death on a cracker.”
Suffice it to say, this is nasty stuff. With parts of “La Florida” (Land of Flowers) turning into La Fetid, it isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s an economic one, affecting hotels, restaurants, fishermen and more.
Here’s what it isn’t, or shouldn’t be: a surprise.
There are some people in Florida who have long raised questions and concerns about our water management, our rising seas and dying springs.
These people are called “scientists.” We have a long history in Florida of ignoring them. But in recent years, state leaders have been particularly dismissive of scientists and science.
It’s one thing when Gov. Rick Scott and others respond to questions about climate change by saying, “I’m not a scientist.” It’s another when the governor tackles issues involving water by ignoring the people who are scientists, removing them from water management positions and appointing people with little or no scientific background.
When Scott declared a state of emergency for several counties affected by algae blooms, he pointed fingers at the federal government for the management of Lake Okeechobee. While the federal government certainly isn’t blameless, this is a bit like me piling up dry wood for years, dousing it with lighter fluid, walking away and then — after you throw a match on it — blaming you for the fire.
We did start the fire.
This didn’t happen overnight, or with any one administration or party. But it is the result of more than 100 years of political and economic decisions, often done in the name of growth and progress.
At the time, such moves often reeked of short-sighted political cronyism.
Now they smell even worse.
Now they smell like … an algae bloom.
mark.woods@jacksonville.com,
http://jacksonville.com/business/columnists/2016-07-23/story/mark-woods-news-really-stinks