Strength Through Participation
In 1895, Mary Brickell saved Fort Lauderdale’s Colee Hammock by forcing Henry Flagler to build his Florida East Coast Railway two miles further to the west. Earlier this year, Florida Power and Light tried to do what Flagler couldn’t: tear down Colee Hammock to make way for "progress" (this time, power lines).
How was Colee Hammock saved this time? Through Communication, Organization, and Collective Action. When Victoria Park residents noticed FPL trucks in the neighborhood, they notified the neighborhood association. When the association learned FPL’s intent, they notified residents and organized a campaign to stop the tree-cutting. Residents stormed city hall to voice their concerns. A packed town hall meeting and a neighborhood association citing historical and environmental concerns got the media’s attention.
And FPL backed off. There is now a one-year stay on the tree-cutting in Colee Hammock.
Other neighborhoods, such as Rio Vista, were unable to stop FPL in the past. What was different this time?
- Communication: Victoria Park spread the word quickly to residents and the neighborhood association.
- Organization: The neighborhood association coordinated efforts to engage residents, public officials, and the media.
- Collective Action: Victoria Park residents protested en masse to FPL, the City Commission, and the media.
The Union functions in much the same way as a neighborhood association, and has similar strengths and weaknesses. While there must be leadership at the top to coordinate collective action, the keyword is collective. The strength of the Union lies in the willingness of its members to participate. You can make the difference!
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