The Willing Seller is about environmental terrorism by our government. It is fiction based on truth. Here's how to access previous chapters on line: Visit www.kwtn.com/news/fiction. That will take you to our fiction index. Double click on "Willing Seller." That will take you to the index of chapters. Click on the chapter you want to read. To get back to the chapter index, click on your "back" arrow.
The first interview was with Dr. Paul Williams. Dr. Paul stood flanked by his children on the deck of his splendid ocean front mansion shortly before they were forced to move out. Dr. Paul facing the camera and spoke in a monotone, recounting the entire story of his battle with DEP. While he was talking, the room was absolutely hushed. When he finished, he hugged his boys and said, "I just wanted the property safe for the kids . . . that's why I cleaned it up. You couldn't tell what was hiding in all that trash." Then the picture faded to black and was replaced by cross-cuts of the house standing empty and deserted, Dr. Paul and his family gone.
Jack pressed the `Pause' button and filled people in with the rest of the story: that the state had succeeded in taking Dr. Paul's home away from him in retaliation for his alleged `environmental crimes'— which were bogus charges; how the Good Doctor and his children were living in a small rental house in town; that he'd been ruined financially— he'd lost the house and teetered on the brink of bankruptcy— and labeled a felon.
"And now, friends, it may interest you to know that, behind the scenes, the Conservation League was orchestrating the siege against Dr. Paul. Like I said, this group happens to be plugged into most of the egregious land acquisition activity going on in the Keys. How's this for an interesting fact? Dr. Paul's neighbor, the man who originally turned him in to the enviro-cops? He happens to sit on the board of the League, has for four years. The plot, as they say, thickens. Now, let's go on with the stories."
He clicked on the tape. On the screen was Billy Ray Johnson in his orange prison coveralls. In the background, his mug shot and a copy of the arrest order. Then came a closeup of Billy Ray in a pink tie-dyed t-shirt, worn cut offs and shades, out on his property on Little Torch. With him was his mother, a plump little woman with curly reddish hair.
They were standing close together on his beach, just before sunset, with the water behind them. Staring into the camera and keeping his voice low, Billy Ray told the story of his ordeal with the League. From their early solicitation of his three lots— which he did not want to sell, to his run-in with Code Enforcement, to his subsequent arrest. He ended up with his recent release, after he'd signed over an option on the property.
"$10,000 for all three, prime beach front property. When I paid $30,000 each," Billy Ray said, shaking his head. "They called it a plea bargain, I call it extortion. You know, I still got a mind to get me an attorney and fight it." This drew applause from the audience and shouts of "Right on!"
When Billy Ray finished, it was Dixie's turn. She said the county had abused her boy because they wanted his property. He didn't do nothing wrong. And as far as she was concerned, every last thing they did was illegal, including that option they made him sign.
"It would never hold up in court, I'm sure of it. They want to get his property for nothing, when he doesn't even want to sell. But, no one'll listen to him. All Billy Ray wants is to build us a nice little house out there, for my retirement."
"It's all I ever wanted, to build us a little house and enjoy my property. I love that place . . . " Billy Ray said, his voice trailing off as he turned his gaze out to sea.
Then came an interview with Frankie and Lloyd, footage that had been shot out on their island. They described their problems since they bought Pirates' Key— the duplicity of the county, the constant harassment, their battle to keep their land. They showed some of the plans for the camp project and allowed as how they'd probably never get it permitted now.
Frankie was quite candid about their legal bills and how much the stress had cost them emotionally. "It has put a strain on the relationship," he admitted, giving Lloyd a look. Lloyd nodded in agreement, but kept quiet. The piece ended with a long sweeping shot of the island that looked as if it had been taken from a boat.
Jack stopped the tape and turned to the audience. "I just want you folks to know this interview isn't complete, but, we were lucky to get it when we did. Because a couple days ago, Frank Dennis and Lloyd Palmer were arrested for environmental felonies. They're in the Monroe County jailhouse right now, awaiting a hearing. The future of their island is uncertain." Jack shook his head and added, "As you could say, so is the future of the Keys . . . We have one more interview. It's an interview of Sue Marten and, someone most of you know— her attorney, Bubba Mason."
Sue stood looking sternly into the camera and told about all the harassment she had experienced out on Little Knockemdown. A lot of what she said echoed the others. "I just bought a little piece of property, I wasn't even going to build anything on it. I just wanted to go out there for some R&R. It was my little piece of Paradise. I thought I'd found the American Dream."
Describing what was going on down here "a whole new style of ecological terrorism", Bubba said "In the name of conservation, we've seen an unnecessarily harsh brand of law enforcement with the government using its authority and its powers to force landowners like my client off their land. It's a conspiracy, a single minded, illegal crusade to create a preserve without paying for it.
"Federal, state and county governments are tag-teaming these people to get their property. It's as illegal as it can be. This is a taking, as defined by the law, but people are being denied their constitutional right of just compensation."
The camera turned back to Sue as Jack's voice, on tape, explained that Sue had managed to beat the government back and the charges had been dropped. Then he asked her, Did she still enjoy her land? Sue shrugged as the camera came in close. "We never go out there anymore. It gets to where you don't even want to look at something when you're afraid it's going to be taken away. It doesn't even feel like it's mine anymore. It's been, well, violated."
Bubba had the last word. "As you can see, these people— what you call this `unholy alliance', Jack— are getting exactly what they wanted. They're turning the Keys into a preserve without paying out a dime."
Jack turned off the tape and walked over to the podium. The noise level in the room crescendoed as everyone seemed to be talking at one. He let them talk for a few minutes, then waved a hand for silence.
"If you please, I know you've all got questions and a lot to say. But could you hold it for a minute, as we've finally come to the reason for this assembly." The room became silent and all eyes fixed on Jack. "As you have just seen, there's an unholy alliance operating in Monroe County with the purpose of taking our citizens' property. It has become clear to the Conch Republic that, because of this, a state of war exists. I ask you, what is war if not the taking of property from others? Well, there's only one way to stop this— and that's why I called you here. In my capacity as Secretary General of the Conch Republic, I want to inform you that, on behalf of the War Cabinet of the Republic, we've drafted a Declaration of War."
He beckoned to Harry. The Colonel marched up to him, unlocked the attache case and opened it, removed a document with a flourish and handed it to Jack.
Holding the Declaration up in two hands, Jack read from it. "The Conch Republic, in response to certain acts of war perpetrated by said group, herewith declares war on the Conservation League. We are going to wage war in the manner of the Republic— with humor, respect and simple courtesy. Until these acts of war cease and desist, this declared state of war will continue and there will be no negotiated peace.
"Furthermore, folks. We are going to take our case to the governor and his cabinet, we're going to Tallahassee to ask them to investigate the illegalities going on in Monroe County and come to our aid."
When he said this, the applause was deafening. Jack grinned out at the audience and handed the Declaration to Harry, who locked it back in the attache. Then Jack drew a conch shell out from beneath the podium and blew three short blasts. Declaring the meeting over.
When he did this, everyone jumped to their feet and pandemonium broke loose. In moments, Jack was surrounded by reporters, tv crews and others intent at gaining an audience with the Secretary General, no matter how long they had to wait.
To be continued next week.
Ellen Sugarman's writing has appeared in publications such as Newsday, Time, Vogue, Ms., Penthouse, New York Times Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Sun Times, and the Miami Herald's Tropic Magazine.
As a freelance television producer, she has worked with ABC, Fox News, A&E and the BBC.
Several years ago, she produced a segment on environmental terrorism in the Florida Keys for ABC's 20/20. Although scheduled to run several times, the show was ultimately killed, reportedly because of pressure from the Nature Conservancy.
The program did air in the Keys, however, after activist Peter Anderson was able to obtain a videotape of the show and paid for time to run it on local cable television.
Among a number of shocking revelations, the program documents that former State Attorney Kirk Zuelch, while a member of the local Nature Conservancy board, offered to drop charges against property owners accused of environmental crimes if they would sell or give their land to the Nature Conservancy. Zuelch quickly resigned from the Nature Conservancy board after he was interviewed by 20/20.
Anderson encouraged viewers to tape the show when it ran on local TV. If you want to see this show, KWTN has a couple of loaner copies. Info: 292-2108.