In an Election Day characterized by nail-biters and close-calls, the battle over Amendment 4 stands out for being anything but. Voters handed no-growth interests a stunning, across-the-board defeat on Tuesday, decisively rejecting the draconian anti-growth measure that would have required taxpayer-funded referenda for all changes to local comprehensive land use plans. The amendment was soundly defeated in every region and rejected by a majority of voters in both major parties, as well as Independents.
"Voters overwhelmingly agree that one of Florida's most important economic sectors should not be held hostage," said Ryan Houck, executive director of Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy. "Floridians saw through the rhetoric and recognized Amendment 4 for what it was -- a dangerous, costly and job-killing anti-growth measure that would have driven our state deeper into recession."
Amendment 4 would require voter approval of all changes to local comprehensive land-use plans. Opponents argue that it will cost jobs and hurt Florida’s economy by stifling growth, thereby costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush declared in a recent Op-Ed piece that the amendment “has the potential to completely stall our economy, making it harder to create and grow jobs and to responsibly manage growth in our state.”
One Florida city that enacted a similar law found it caused years of costly litigation that burdened taxpayers and drove jobs elsewhere.
Featured
Amendment 4 worth another look
Source:
The Independent Florida Gator
Date:
November 1, 2010
What’s likely going to happen is all the plans for modernization and new business construction are going to be shut down before they can ever take off.
With both governer candidates having economic plans involving attracting new businesses to Florida, why would we want to install an amendment that will probably just drive them away?
Those opposed to Amendment 4 have been saying the amendment will reduce Florida’s economic output by $34 billion.
Amendment 4: Vote "No"
Although the proposal has good intentions, it is not likely to work. It will allow local voters to decide on comprehensive land use projects in hopes they'll know what's best for the state and its economy.
Voters may not have time to make an informed vote on complex development plans, which is why the U.S. is a representative democracy.
Featured
We Recommend: Don't take chances with Amendment 4
Source:
News Chief
Date:
October 27, 2010
Passage of the proposed constitutional amendment in Tuesday's general election would be a net negative for Florida and its fragile economy. And that we do not need - especially now and probably never. The amendment would mandate a general public vote before any local government adopts a new comprehensive land use plan or amends an existing comprehensive land use plan. Basically, the amendment would take from local government bodies, such as county and city commissions, and place directly with voters the responsibility for saying "yes" or "no" to comprehensive plans and changes to them. But consider the additional elections - and the costs of those elections - these city- or countywide comprehensive plan votes would require. Consider how slow the approval process will be for private and public development projects.
Featured
Hometown democracy best when it's truly hometown
Source:
Palm Beach Post
Date:
October 27, 2010
Amendment 4 would require all the people in unincorporated Palm Beach County to approve any change in the West Boynton area, and in your area as well. When Bethesda Memorial Hospital purchased property at Boynton Beach Boulevard and State Road 7, Bethesda had to seek a land-use change from agricultural residential to agricultural institutional. Our people fought for Bethesda West Hospital, and are thrilled seeing the construction progress. If Amendment 4 had been law, how could we have convinced the entire population of unincorporated Palm Beach County that it was a good idea for West Boynton to have a hospital?
“The more voters know about it, the more they oppose it,” says Houck, who’s key message is how Amendment 4 “will raise taxes and kill jobs.”
An economic study commissioned by the Florida Chamber of Commerce concluded that Amendment 4 would most likely cost 267,000 jobs and $34.7 billion in lost economic impact. Florida already has 1.15 million unemployed and the fifth highest unemployment rate in the nation at 11.7%.
Florida's recovery from the recession will be
severely hurt and construction of new homes, shops
and businesses would become more of an insider
political proposition — not less — if the Hometown
Democracy constitutional amendment passes, a
University of West Florida economist said Thursday.
We'll soon learn the outcome of some of the most hotly contested elections in recent memory. But the full story of the 2010 elections won't be told only by those who won the U.S. Senate seat or governor's mansion. That's because Florida is one of only 18 states that allows its citizens to amend their constitutions. With that right comes great power but also great responsibility.
When reading the full text of Amendment 4 on the upcoming Florida ballot, I must conclude it will make unincorporated "towns" vulnerable to being out-voted by others in the county electorate, in referendums on comprehensive master plan changes. De facto towns like Melrose, Orange Heights, Earleton, Windsor, Citra, Evinston, and other vast areas outside the city limits of municipalities Gainesville, Micanopy, Archer, Newberry, Alachua, Hawthorne, and Waldo, will be outvoted in such referendums by others in the county. It betrays the well-intentioned goals of the Hometown Democracy movement.
Helping to Stop Admendment 4
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