DEP whistleblower who leaked secret state park development plans fired by state agency

DEVELOPMENTS, BOTH ON AIR AND ONLINE. NOW TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE PROPOSAL TO OVERHAUL STATE PARKS WITH GOLF COURSES, HOTELS, PICKLEBALL AND MORE. THE WHISTLEBLOWER WHO ALERTED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THOSE SECRET PLANS HAS BEEN FIRED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. JAMES GATTIS REVEALED HIMSELF ON MONDAY AS THE FORMER DEP PROTECTION MAP MAKER, WHO LEAKED DOCUMENTS AND DRAWINGS SHOWING THE PROPOSED GOLF COURSES AND MORE AT NINE STATE PARKS. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER TERRI PARKER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY FOR WEEKS NOW, AND HAS MORE ON WHY HE SAYS HE DID IT. TERRY GATTIS SAID HE DID IT BECAUSE HE WAS INFURIATED BY THE PLANS TO BULLDOZE RARE AND ENDANGERED PARTS OF FLORIDA STATE PARKS, AND HE ALSO WAS CONCERNED THE STATE WAS FAST TRACKING THE PLANS UNDER A VEIL OF SECRECY. COMING DIRECTLY, HE SAYS, FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO HIGH LEVEL DEP OFFICIALS. THE DEP DISCOVERED GATTIS HAD WRITTEN A SUMMARY OF THE PLANS FOR ALL NINE PARKS AND SENT THEM OUT PUBLICLY AND INTERNALLY FOR THAT, HE GOT A TERMINATION LETTER AUGUST 30TH. THE DEP SENT US THE LETTER THAT SAYS HE WAS LET GO FOR RELEASING UNAUTHORIZED AND INACCURATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. HOWEVER, THEY DECLINED TO COMMENT ANY FURTHER. THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER, IS HAILING GATTIS AS A HERO WHO SPARKED GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION, LEADING TO A QUICK END TO THE PARKS PROPOSAL. SO MUCH ANGER ERUPTING IN JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER GAS LEAK PROTESTS POPPED UP AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE AMONG LAWMAKERS AND EVEN WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET. THE PLANS WERE PAUSED BY GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS. LAST WEEK, HE CALLED THEM HALF BAKED AND NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. EVEN AFTER HIS OWN SPOKESMAN DEFENDED THE PLANS. JUST DAYS EARLIER. AS WE REPORTED LAST WEEK, DEP, THE NEXT DAY OFFICIALLY SHUT DOWN THE PROPOSAL KNOWN AS THE GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE, SAYING ALL THE PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE PARKS WAWAS WITHDRAWN. REPORTING IN THE STUDIO. I'M