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Candidates want to reverse decline of South Manatee

Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Date: June 4, 2010
Categories: In the News

Online Battle Over Amendment 4 Begins With A "Web Splash"

By: Ryan Houck
Date: June 2, 2010
The “VOTE NO on 4” campaign today fired the first salvo in the online battle over Amendment 4, launching a coordinated “web splash” that includes targeted online advertising, a revitalized website, interconnected social networking, and a new web-video featuring Florida’s leading Editorial Boards—which have overwhelmingly opposed Amendment 4.
Categories: Press Releases

Amendment 4 / Hometown Democracy Does Require Special Elections. Exhibit A: St. Pete Beach

By: Kevin Ning
Source: St. Pete Beach & Hometown Democracy/Amendment 4
Date: May 31, 2010
Supporters of Amendment 4 / Florida Hometown Democracy have repeatedly claimed that while Amendment 4 requires all comprehensive plans and comp plan changes to be put to a vote at "the next regularly-scheduled election", the proposed Amendment 4 "does not require special elections." This is not true.
Categories: Blogs

Clergyman, businessman, and environmentalist to lead opposition to Amendment 4 in Sarasota and Manatee counties. May 20, 2010 / ORLANDO, Fla. / Demonstrating the diversity of opposition to Amendment 4, Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy (the "Vote No on 4" campaign) today announced the names of its Co-Chairs for Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The group includes the Reverend Don Roberts, a United Methodist Clergyman active in social and business circles; Jon Thaxton, a respected environmentalist and Sarasota County Commissioner; and Mike Burton, an environmental scientist and Managing Principal for Natural Resources and Rural Lands at WilsonMiller. Today's announcement comes two weeks after the campaign released the names of its Southwest Florida Co-Chairs.
Categories: In the News

Hometown Democracy asks Crist to veto ECO bill

Source: Orlando Sentinel
Date: May 19, 2010
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist is being urged to veto the Legislature’s latest attempt at regulating shadowy political committees, with critics saying the measure may give local governments a new weapon to fight a controversial growth management proposal on the November ballot.
Categories: In the News

Chambers: Say 'No' in November

Source: Daily Commercial
Date: May 13, 2010
It is safe to say that the Chambers of Commerce in Lake County are fairly cautious and conservative when it comes to taking stands on controversial public policy issues. We are "generalists" in make up as our memberships reflect the full breadth and scope of our communities. It is difficult to get a Board of Directors of 21 people to agree on a complex issue, let alone 800 members. That is where leadership comes in, due diligence in researching an issue, and having the best interest of our communities in mind overall when taking on the issue at hand.
Categories: In the News

SKCA hears both sides of Amendment 4

Source: Seminole Beacon
Date: May 12, 2010
CLEARWATER – Amendment 4 is like broccoli; people either like it or they hate it. There’s no middle ground. Last month, the Sand Key Civic Association considered taking a position on the controversial measure, which will appear on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot. But the SKCA board members realized that they didn’t have enough information with which to make an informed decision, so they invited two experts to debate the pros and cons of the proposed amendment.
Categories: In the News

Imagining a less-driven Florida

Source: St. Petersburg Times
Date: May 9, 2010
At the zenith of the housing bubble, Florida was an investor's paradise, the American Dream on steroids. Sandwiched within the profligate consumption of resources and adjustable mortgages was a profound belief that the Sunshine State embodied "the pursuit of happiness." • "Happiness," which the Founding Fathers equated to owning property, is having a tough go of it. In 2008, home values in Florida dropped by a third and forecasters rank metro Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach among the nation's 10 worst real estate markets.
Categories: In the News

How practical can Amendment 4 be?

Source: TC Palm
Date: May 8, 2010
Things are heating up when it comes to Amendment 4, which would make every comprehensive plan change subject to the populace approval. In other words, voters would have the opportunity to approve or veto the local governments’ comprehensive plan amendments during a election.
Categories: In the News

In his April 19, letter to the editor, Howard Gibbons describes himself as a ‘controlled-growther.’ What Mr. Gibbons fails to realize is that, under Amendment 4, smart, well-coordinated growth would become impossible. Rather than remedy the problems Mr. Gibbons describes, Amendment 4 would exacerbate them.
Categories: In the News

Helping to Stop Admendment 4