Editor:
This amendment goes by the name of “Hometown Democracy” and by the name alone who would not vote yes, it sounds like what our nation was founded upon … but it is far from that. It is an amendment that goes against what our founding fathers put into play.
Our founding fathers created a system of democracy, where voters do not make the decisions directly, but elect representatives at all levels of government, to represent the “collective interests” of their community, from the smallest of babies to senior elders. On a local level we have been charged with providing leadership and guidance necessary for efficient provision of municipal services and effective operation of the city government.
Our position also has a quasi judicial component where we have taken an oath to take the emotion out of our decision to review the law as it applies and make a decision based on those laws, both fairly and consistently, the fundamental principle of “home rule.”
If Amendment 4 is passed it will require a voter referendum whenever any city or county wants to amend its comprehensive plan. Most people do not even know what a comprehensive plan is and/or says, and this absurd law would require that a general election be held, and that they the citizens vote on changes to it.
By placing it on the ballot this law will impose the significant costs to be ultimately paid by us the tax payers. If it generates legal battles, like in the City of St. Petersburg Beach, these costs will be paid by us the taxpayers. If Amendment 4 passes, even grammatical changes would ultimately cost the tax payer tens of thousands or as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the changes, and it would fall on us the taxpayers.
Of course this would be compounded if forced to go countywide in a Charter County. I ask, is Pinellas a Charter County? Having attended the Charter Review hearings recently I would say yes it is.
Do you want your city planning done by special interest groups at election time? Do you want your money spent on trying to educate people on the current law and the outcome of a law change? Do you want your tax dollars wasted in the courts fighting legal battles created by people with special interests? I as a tax payer do not.
If not …
Say no to higher taxes, no to wasting the tax dollars we have already paid and no to this nonsensical Amendment 4.
You know I do not use the bully pulpit of the council or the media but you need to know what kind of costs the passing of this Amendment 4 will ultimately cost you.
Thom Barnhorn
Seminole
Helping to Stop Admendment 4
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