|
Two Groups, Twice The Results
Over the past several years, you’ve probably become accustomed
to Florida PIRG working on a wide array of public interest issues. We’ve won victories to protect consumers
from identity theft and predatory lending; we’ve defended our pristine coastlines from oil companies; and we’ve worked with other state PIRGs to convince President Bush to sign a new accounting and corporate reform law, holding executives liable for the accuracy of company books and the actions of their auditors.
Yet, the challenges we face from special interests
are mounting. That’s why we’ve decided that the best way to advance our work is to separate
into two organizations that will together address the threats to our public interest.
Environment Florida (www.environmentflorida.org) will be the new home of our environmental work, while Florida PIRG will focus on consumer protections and good government
issues. Florida PIRG’s renewed focus will allow us to be more effective consumer advocates and government watchdogs. By zeroing in on problems like prescription drug affordability and safety, along with media and democracy reform, we can provoke greater public debate on these issues, giving Florida’s citizens
and legislators more reasons to support
our work.
This is also a good opportunity to thank Mark Ferrulo, who has successfully led Florida PIRG for the past eight years, and will now be the director of Environment Florida. I joined Mark’s team in 2005, after working for Florida Common Cause, where I focused on issues like ethics in government and election reform. As the public interest advocate with Florida PIRG, I’ll be spending time in the state Legislature lobbying, but you’ll also see me on TV and in the newspaper speaking out for consumers.
So, what can you expect from me and from Florida PIRG? You can expect expanded and invigorated consumer and government watchdog programs. You can expect rigorous research. You can expect practical solutions. As always, you can expect effective action on behalf of the public interest.
Thanks to the support of members like you, Florida PIRG has grown into one of the most effective public interest groups in Florida. As we move into an exciting new era of action in the public interest, I look forward to your continued support of our work.
Brad Ashwell is Florida PIRG’s Public Interest Advocate.
|
