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Amendment 4 forum highlights schisms between forces for, against
Submitted by Robby Douglas on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 9:02pm.
The question before voters in Citrus County and throughout Florida on Nov. 2 will be whether to let voters decide land-use issues, or to let local governments continue make those decisions.
The forum at the Crystal River on Monday night, sponsored by the Women's Political Network of Citrus County, did little to settle the issue, although it did give proponents and opponents a chance to air their arguments before local voters.
The forum was populated by views from both sides of the proposed amendment.
On the one side were representatives of business, embodied by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber of Commerce. Both groups have members that include builders and developers. The Florida AFL-CIO is also opposed to the amendment.
On the other side was the group that sponsored the amendment, and a former local government official.
In the middle were - and are - the voters, who could potentially hold the power to shortstop builders' and developers' political clout over local governments and approve or disapprove what local government does in terms of land-use regulation via referendum.
Currently in Citrus County, local residents do have a say in land-use matters before the county commission - 3 minutes if you're an individual and 5 minutes if you're a group. At the end of that time, the public's say ends with the sound of a county commission "egg timer." Then a rebuttal is allowed to those advancing their development, a rebuttal usually steered by a lawyer. The final say rests with county commissioners.
In the final analysis, the best either side of the amendment can hope for are favorable quotes in local newspapers, sound bites on TV stations and the belief in the persuasive power that media have in advancing one side or the other as both sides move their political show from county to county. One could well wonder if those media, who also generate advertising sales from those opposed to the amendment, will make the right call for Florida voters or come down on the side that speaks to their ties to the business community.
Both Amendment 4 sides also know that voters across the Florida political spectrum will have their collective say come Nov. 2. No doubt, local governments, builders, developers, real estate companies, the Florida AFL-CIO union and chambers of commerce will be miffed if the Amendment 4 vote goes against them. There is, after all, a lot of money and construction jobs riding on the outcome in this weakened economy.
By way of background, the Amendment 4 initiative is sponsored and funded by a Political Action Committee (PAC) called Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc. Florida Hometown Democracy is primarily funded by its author and president, Lesley Blackner, a Palm Beach attorney. "Mismanaged growth destroys communities," Blackner has said.
Supporters argue that Amendment 4 will simply add "another layer of protection against unwanted developments." According to the Hometown Democracy web site, "Rising taxes, falling home values, gridlocked roads, dwindling water supplies and Florida’s disappearing beauty are just some of the devastating consequences of Florida politicians’ habit of rubberstamping speculative plan changes. Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 changes all that by giving voters veto power over these changes to your community’s master plan for growth."
According to the web site Ballotpedia.org, "Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy is the main organization leading the effort in opposition to Amendment 4. Over 280 statewide business, labor, and environmental organizations, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida AFL-CIO - an environmental group, have expressed opposition to Amendment 4. These groups say that Amendment 4 will make Florida’s recession permanent by increasing taxes and contributing to unemployment. Mark Wilson, President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce told the Gainesville Sun on July 23, "If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4.”
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Vote NO on 4
Allowing this change amounts to micro managing. I believe many voters have a hard enough time keeping track of the candidates running for office. Can you imagine the confusion of looking at a ballot that has hundreds of Land Use changes for voters to decide on? If the Land Use change is big enough and important enough, won't special interests throw enough money at promoting that change to the voters anyway, swaying their decision? Do you think businesses will want to wait around for the next election to see if the land use change that is required to build will pass? No they will look elsewhere and take the jobs with them. Invest the time getting to know the men and women running for office and what they stand for, then choose the candidate that you believe will do the best job and let them do it? Hometown Democracy is a very powerful term and many voters will jump behind it because they are frustrated with the current state of the economy. But this Amendment is bad for the already fragile Florida economy. Vote NO on 4! Get the facts http://www.Florida2010.org
John Maisel
Broker Associate
EXIT Realty Leaders
http://www.JohnMaisel.com
Do we really want to
Do we really want to continue to build an economy based almost exclusively on hammer & nails? Or do we want our local government to truly work to diversify our economic base - as they promised? Allowing the building community to call all the shots here makes about as much sense - and offers as much success - as the auto industry's stranglehold on Detroit's economy. Let us not forget that Amendment 4 would not be an issue if people built WHAT they were allowed to build WHERE it was allowed! Comprehensive Plan AMENDMENTS mean CHANGES to the master plan. And the Comp Plan is reviewed for effectiveness and change every 8 years. But I guess that isn't good enough for some folks.... they have to have what they want, when they want it.... because they are so important. To paraphrase Leona Helmsley: "The Comprehensive Plan is for the little people."
If Amendment 4 is so bad
If Amendment 4 is so bad for the economy, why do the 3 states with the largest population growth in the last decade (FL, NV, CA) have the 3 highest unemployment rates in the country? Conversely, the 10 states with the lowest population growth ALL have unemployment rates below the national average. (Source: Business Insider)
Why did the Florida Realtors get $16 million from BP and use $1.75 million of it to fight Amendment 4 instead of distributing that money to hurting members?
Why did the large builders (KB, Lennar, etc) receive BILLIONS in tax rebates from the Obama stimulus program and drop Millions into the fight against Amendment 4? (source, Builder Magazine and FL Election Commission)
It's understandable that those that profit from the development industry (realtors, speculators, builders, paving companies, and commissioners by way of campaign contributions) are terrified of Amendment 4.
It's the taxpayers that foot the bill for new infrastructure the developers require.
We the people are mad-as-hell, we know we don't need more new subdivisions and strip malls since enough comp plans are already approved to more than double the state's population. The jig is up - the politicians have sunk their own ship by not doing anything over the years to attract viable and attractive industry. THEY have failed, so now THEY must share the power with US!.
It's no coincidence Florida has the highest number of politicians in the entire country CONVICTED of CORRUPTION (source - NY Times).
Power to the people - YES on 4!
Amendment 4 facts: It's the retirees' fault
Who do those in favor of Amend 4 think these builders are building for? If there were no demand, smart businessmen don't create product. (homes, widgets, etc.). These comp plans that everyone now thinks shouldn't be changed without a vote, were made back in 1986, in a rush, due to state pressures. Do you think every parcel was thought out clearly? As far as useing what is platted now, many of those plats were platted back in the 30's. and many in wetlands and flood zones, Do you think they had a keen sense of what we need in the 2010's? Someone made the complaint that we need more diversification in our job market, and they are right! But do you think it will happen if these new regulations are forced on them. Try to find an area in Citrus where you can locate an industrial project. The problem with Florida is that it is a nice place to retire, and those retirees have the power to vote, yet could care less about Jobs being lost or new places of employment not being allowed. This is "I got mine, now shut the door and don't let anyone else in!" mentallity. This was and is the objective of Leslie Blackner who created the amendment "no more growth". Oh yeah and lets make it so those already here can't get jobs! If this passes it will be thanks to the retirees, cause anyone who needs a job would not even think of voting yes. Thank you Retirees!
Amendment 4 must pass
A yes vote on Amendment 4 is needed. The citizens of Florida have seen the disaster of uncontrolled growth, corrupt politicians, and special interests. Blame whomever you wish as long as you vote YES on Amendment 4. Current polls show it passing with more that 60 percent of the vote. Go Hometown Democracy....
It's the Retirees' Fault
It's the retirees' fault? No problem! The failing economy on a nationwide basis has created a situation whereby 'snow-belt' retirees can't sell their homes so relocation is out of the question. Early retirement is also wiped off the boards for most of the early "baby boomers" due to a combination of business failures, long term unemployment & under-employment, and IRA diminishment. So find another scapegoat for the county and the state's problems, 'cuz the retirees won't be heading here in large numbers anytime soon!
How do you summarize hundreds of pages into 75 words?
According to the Florida2010.org website, "Amendment 4's biggest (and most hidden) flaw is that by requiring all comprehensive plan changes to go on the ballot, Florida election law requires that those comp plan changes (which often involve hundreds of pages of complex land use language) must be summarized in a ballot summary that is 75 words or less, which exposes cities to massive litigation costs due to ballot language challenges."
Will most voters take the time to read each land use change or try to guess what it means from a 75 word summary? Hometown Democracy is a great name for a bad idea.
Amendment 4 is poorly conceived and should be rejected
Currently three types of amendments are sent to DCA -- text, small scale land use and large scale land use. The courts have divided these actions into two types, legislative and quasi-judicial. Those which affect a single parcel or single group of parcels are considered quasi-judicial and the appropriate forum for review is in the courts using strict construction as the review guide. An owner's property rights should not be subjected to referendum or mob rule. If an applicant satisfies the provisions of the comprehensive plan and land development regulations, he should be permitted to proceed.
Text amendments which establish the rules are a legislative actions and they should generally be permitted to stand unless review shows they somehow violate existing constitutional or statutory provisions. The appropriate way to voice public opinion is by voting out the public officials who adopt these rules.
The legislature's approach was closer to being acceptable, allowing voters to petition for a referendum within a limited time frame after adoption. Their proposal would have made petitioning too onerous by requiring petitioners to personally appear at the Supervisor of Elections office rather than allowing collection of signatures in a process similar to putting a candidate on the ballot.
Automatically subjecting all comprehensive plan amendments to referendum is ridiculous. It is a bad idea to substitute the winds of whim for the rule of law.
AMENDMENT 4 IS GOOD FOR FLORIDA
Save us from greedy developers who couldn't care less about Florida. Keep Florida from becoming a concrete jungle. The problem with all levels of government is that they do not listen to citizens.....a sound reason for VOTING YES ON AMENDMENT 4.
Amendment 4 - "For" the People
Citrus County is sitting on 73,000 platted, un-developed lots. Right now. 73,000 unbuilt homes could be built. 2,400 Citrus County homes are listed on Realtor.com for re-sale. Right now. Florida as a state, has enough approved homesites / condo units to house 100 MILLION people ... our current population is 20 million. As I wrote earlier, this economic downturn is nation-wide. The retirees aren't able to sell their homes in the northern states - nor in South Florida - and many of them can no longer afford the option of "early retirement" so they're NOT coming down here anytime soon. Yet developers want to be able to add an endless supply of new houses to a glutted inventory, undercutting whatever demand might eventually exist for homes on the re-sale market. Support Amendment 4! If you own a home in Florida, it is the only chance you have to make Supply & Demand come into a better balance.