Jon Harris: Cruise port near Rattlesnake Key would destroy what makes Tampa Bay worth visiting
A map filed by Slip Knott LLC with Manatee County Government shows the proposed site of a cruise ship port east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and within the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, a protected natural area. SSA Marine Courtesy of Manatee County Government
TERRA CEIA, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2026) — Congressional candidate and combat veteran Jon Harris is urging local officials to halt plans for a massive cruise port near Rattlesnake Key, warning the project would devastate sensitive coastal ecosystems, permanently alter the regional landscape and undermine tourism and small businesses across Tampa Bay.
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JON HARRIS: As a combat veteran and a father raising my daughters here in Florida, I believe protecting our home is part of our responsibility. Building a massive cruise port near Rattlesnake Key would irreversibly damage one of Tampa Bay’s last pristine coastal ecosystems. This project would destroy sensitive habitats, threaten clean water and permanently alter the regional landscape, and once that damage is done, there is no undoing it.
The consequences wouldn’t stop at the environment. By degrading the very beaches, waterways and wildlife that draw people here, this port would deal a serious blow to tourism and to the local businesses that depend on it. Sacrificing our natural assets for a project that primarily benefits out-of-state mega-corporations is not economic development. It’s a bad deal for our community.
Service before self means listening to residents, respecting science and protecting the natural resources our families and economy rely on. A decision of this magnitude must be made in the open, not behind closed doors. Before any rezoning or land-use changes move forward, there must be a full environmental review, transparent public hearings and a binding public vote, so this decision is made where it belongs, in the hands of Manatee County residents.
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About Jon Harris
Jon Harris is a combat veteran, U.S. Army Reserve chief warrant officer and father of two who is running for Congress in Florida’s 16th District. Jon Harris’ campaign is focused on protecting families, expanding access to health care and holding elected officials accountable.
More information is available at JonHarrisForCongress.com.
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