Estero Bay

 

James English, Interviewee

Timothy G. Schomburg, Interviewer

Mr. English is now a real estate broker, a paradox since during the controversy over Estero Bay, he was on the side of the conservationists who were against the development of Estero Bay.

Mr. English insists that the point of the battle for Estero Bay was the sovereignty of public lands, not the conservation of the mangrove tidal lands. As a second generation Florida Homesteader, Mr. English feels he has a vested interest in the rights of the citizens of Florida and the way public lands are utilized.

When questioned about the tactics used by Mr. Troutman to thwart the conservationists specifically, if those tactics were illegal, Mr. English related the story of the other man named English who went hunting with Mr. Troutman. He said Mr. Troutman stated that the other Mr. English got ate by an alligator because he disagreed with Mr. Troutman.