Featured
Report puts Amendment 4 pricetag at $1B
Source:
Orlando Business Journal
Date:
October 6, 2010
A new report by Florida TaxWatch is estimating that if Amendment 4 passes on Nov. 2, it could eventually cost more than $1 billion to state taxpayers.
The Tallahassee-based non-partisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog said the proposed change to the state constitution — which would require any comprehensive land-use plan changes proposed by a property owner or developer to go to a public vote before getting approved — reported that the increased costs to local governments to run special elections and the likely ensuing litigation costs would be heavy. And those costs would be passed along to taxpayers.
Featured
Election supervisor fears Amendment 4 passage
Source:
Gulf Breeze News
Date:
October 6, 2010
Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections Ann Bodenstein is warning both voters and the Board of County Commissioners that there will be a lot of problems for the county if Amendment 4 is approved by voters in November.
“Many people do not understand what it is really all about,” she told commissioners recently. “Many people do not realize there have been 100 future land use changes to the county’s land use comprehensive plan over the past two-year cycle.
“Even though the proposed amendment to the state constitution would require voters to approve all those changes at the ballot box, it is obvious we cannot have a special election for 100 changes in two years.”
I had never before put a bumper sticker on my car. But I have one now; its says “Vote No Amendment 4."
That’s because I am truly afraid of what Amendment 4 would do to Broward County.
Amendment 4 would change Florida’s Constitution to give voters the final say on changes to how any parcel of land can be used. If that sounds simple and democratic, it’s neither.
In reality, Amendment 4 would cost jobs, stall the economy and prevent blighted properties from being redeveloped. The effect would be most devastating in Broward County, where it could make land-use changes all but impossible.
Featured
Florida TaxWatch: Amendment 4 Costly
Source:
South Florida Business Journal
Date:
October 5, 2010
Passage of Amendment 4 would lead to hundreds, if not thousands, of extra elections that would cost $44.6 million to $83.4 million statewide, Florida TaxWatch said in a briefing released Tuesday.
The group gives ammunition to opponents of Amendment 4 who are seeking to counter Amendment 4 supporters, who say projects run amok cost taxpayers millions in services.
Amendment 4, which is on the Nov. 2 ballot, would give the public a statewide thumbs-up or thumbs-down vote on comprehensive land use changes after elected officials vote.
Featured
Endorsement: No on Amendment 4: Reject Hometown Democracy
Source:
Palm Beach Post
Date:
October 5, 2010
Though Florida has some of the nation's best growth management laws, Florida still overbuilt for decades because politics trumped those laws. Under the guise of recovering from the housing crash caused by overbuilding, legislators have worked to make construction even easier.
For a group of disgruntled state residents led by Palm Beach lawyer Lesley Blackner, the solution is Amendment 4 - Florida Hometown Democracy. This constitutional change would require public votes on changes to comprehensive plans, the growth blueprints for every county and town in Florida.
It sounds good: With political corruption rampant, put the people in charge of development. But the amendment is overreaching and dangerously vague. Supporters have no credible rebuttal to the argument that the proposal would force an endless series of public votes on jargon-laden government minutiae. The Post recommends a NO vote.
Featured
Yes vote to Amendment 4 will hurt the economy
Source:
Florida Times-Union
Date:
October 3, 2010
Stagnation is what we are experiencing now with our economy, the worst since the 1930s.
Voting yes on Amendment 4 this November will guarantee the perpetual stagnation of Florida's economy and the inevitable flight of jobs, opportunities and growth to Georgia and other states.
The proponents of Amendment 4 intentionally call it Hometown Democracy to seduce people into voting for it. Everyone loves their hometown and loves democracy, right? However, in our representative form of democracy, we elect representatives to run the daily affairs of government.
Putting every land use decision on the ballot for a city of Jacksonville's size would force voters to make a decision on a number of land use changes, as in the 67 in 2009.
Featured
Editorial endorsement: Proposed Florida Constitutional Amendment 4
Source:
TC Palm
Date:
October 2, 2010
The solution to Florida’s controversial growth and planning problems is not putting referendums on local ballots so residents can approve or reject every comprehensive plan amendment passed by local officials. This “right” may potentially create more problems than we have now.
Instead, the solution is more control over growth-management decisions at both the regional and state levels — in particular, a bigger budget and greater regulatory authority for the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and the Florida Department of Community Affairs, the state’s growth-management watchdog.
Florida’s growth and planning problems are real, but these problems shouldn’t be addressed at the Constitution level.
WE RECOMMEND A NO VOTE ON AMENDMENT 4.
Featured
Amendment 4 would stall the state’s recovery
Source:
Polk County Democrat
Date:
September 30, 2010
Here’s what voters filling out absentee ballots or going to the polls on or before Nov. 2 will read about Amendment 4:
“Referenda required for adoption and amendment of local government comprehensive land use plans.
“Ballot summary: Establishes that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan, or amend a comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall be subject to vote of the electors of the local government by referendum, following preparation by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body and notice.”
My 6-year-old grandson asked what proposed state constitutional Amendment 4 was as he watched me put a sign in my yard. I tried to explain it to him in terms he could understand.
Featured
Voters should reject Amendment 4; it's no way to control growth
Source:
St. Petersburg Times
Date:
September 27, 2010
Amendment 4, the so-called "Hometown Democracy" amendment to the Florida Constitution on the Nov. 2 ballot, sounds appealing to voters coping with urban sprawl and traffic jams while irresponsible state legislators gut growth management laws. They may believe the amendment would empower them to put a lid on undesirable development in their communities. But Amendment 4 would make things worse by creating haphazard development patterns, shifting more influence to monied special interests, spawning expensive lawsuits and undercutting recovery from the recession. The state needs to better manage growth, but this amendment is not the answer.
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