Floridians for Smarter Growth : About Us

press releases...

6/22/09 : AFTER THREE FAILED ATTEMPTS, "AMENDMENT 4" IS CERTIFIED FOR BALLOT

6/17/09 : COURT DECISION SETS THE STAGE FOR BALLOT SHOWDOWN

6/8/09 : "HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY" AMENDMENT TO APPEAR ON BALLOT, GROUP CLAIMS

6/2/09 : FSG: Status Update

4/27/09 : MEMO: Hometown Democracy nearing signature requirement

12/18/08 : FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RULES ON SMARTER PETITION

10/20/08 : CONGRATULATIONS TO FLORIDA HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY, INC: YOU�RE STILL TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE!

10/6/08 : Dear Mr. Burnaman: "Power to the people?"

8/29/08 : JUDGE UPHOLDS PETITION DEADLINE

7/24/08 : HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY SCRAMBLES TO COLLECT PETITIONS

6/11/08 : Dear Ms. Blackner: End the Charade in St. Pete Beach

6/6/08 : HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY TEST CASE LEADS TO CHAOS

4/3/08 : FLORIDA SIERRA CHAPTER HAS MORE ANSWERING TO DO

2/26/08 : FSG APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR FOR HOMETOWN FIGHT

2/5/08 : THANK YOU from Floridians for Smarter Growth

2/1/08 : HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY FAILS AND FLORIDA DODGES A BULLET

1/31/08 : CLIFF SCHULMAN TO LEAD LOCAL PUBLIC ADVOCACY GROUP

1/24/08 : FLORIDA CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT ANTI-GROWTH AMENDMENT ARMED AND READY

1/22/08 : THREE MIAMI ATTORNEYS TO LEAD AMENDMENT BATTLE

1/15/08 : JOHN WHEELER TO LEAD COLUMBIA COUNTY AMENDMENT FIGHT

1/11/08 : HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY SKIPS VITAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE DEADLINE, BREAKS STATE LAW

12/21/07 : RENE FLOWERS TO LEAD PINELLAS AMENDMENT FIGHT

12/18/07 : ED TIMBERLAKE TO LEAD ORANGE AMENDMENT BATTLE

12/4/07 : SHERRY BUGNET TO LEAD FLAGLER AMENDMENT FIGHT

11/27/07 : TOM WHITE TO LEAD OSCEOLA AMENDMENT BATTLE

11/15/07 : COMMISSIONER MIKE MCLEAN AND DONNA ROBINSON-KING LEAD AMENDMENT FIGHT

11/6/07 : ROXANNA TRINKA TO LEAD PALM BEACH AMENDMENT BATTLE

11/1/07 : BOB HENRIQUEZ TO LEAD HILLSBOROUGH AMENDMENT FIGHT

10/25/07 : MAYOR FRANK ORTIS TO LEAD BROWARD AMMENDMENT BATTLE

10/23/07 : CHARLIE WELLS TO LEAD MANATEE AMMENDMENT BATTLE

10/16/07 : ROSE ANN TORNATORE TO LEAD VOLUSIA AMENDMENT FIGHT

10/11/07 : PHILLIP HOWELL TO LEAD PENSACOLA AMENDMENT FIGHT

10/9/07 : ROBERT WHITE TO LEAD JACKSONVILLE AMENDMENT FIGHT

10/4/07 : SAM KILLEBREW TO LEAD POLK COUNTY AMENDMENT BATTLE

10/2/07 : CAROLE GREEN TO LEAD LEE-COLLIER AMENDMENT FIGHT

8/9/07 : HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY GADFLY BUSTED IN POMPANO

media coverage ...

8/21/09 : Orlando Sentinel: McCollum, Sink almost share a stage

8/20/09 : Tallahassee Democrat: Editorial: Shrink rap - Losing population, Florida must regroup

8/8/09 : The Tampa Tribune: Hometown recession-maker

8/8/09 : The Tampa Tribune: Amendment 4: A vision by special interests to stop planned growth

8/6/09 : Miami Herald: Amendment 4 an invitation to chaos

7/31/09 : WCTV Tallahassee: Hometown Democracy is Causing Debate Long Before the Election

7/30/09 : Jacksonville Observer: Hometown Democracy Debate Continues at Capital Tiger Bay Meeting

7/30/09 : St. Petersburg Times: Exchange offers window into Hometown Democracy debate

7/30/09 : Tallahassee Democrat: Hometown Democracy debate focuses on growth, voters

7/30/09 : Orlando Sentinel: My Word: Amendment 4's missing link

7/26/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Amendment 4 would stop growth

7/24/09 : Hernando Today: Local Republicans rally against Hometown Democracy

7/17/09 : Florida Today: Editorial: Ready, aim, fire

7/14/09 : Florida Retail Federation: Florida Retail Federation Opposes Amendment 4 Ballot Initiative

7/12/09 : Daytona Beach News-Journal: Vote on every land-use change: Tried and failed

7/12/09 : Daytona Beach News-Journal: Editorial: Hometown Democracy: On the ballot for 2010, it risks too much of Florida

7/9/09 : Palm Beach Post: Hometown Democracy clears final ballot hurdle

7/9/09 : Tampa Tribune: Hometown Democracy financial statement

7/8/09 : Florida Today: Unnecessary amendment

7/6/09 : Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Jeremy Wallace: Growth measure goes too far, Thaxton says

7/5/09 : Bradenton Herald: Editorial: Economic harm

7/3/09 : Palm Beach Post: Amendment 4 threatens to bury voters in piles of land-use changes

7/3/09 : Orlando Business Journal: Ballot measure bad for the environment

7/3/09 : Florida Times-Union: Hometown Democracy: A strategy to stop growth

7/3/09 : Palm Beach Post: Blackner's rebuttal of Post writer strays off the point under debate

7/2/09 : The TC Palm: Letter: Good developers provide valuable service to community

7/1/09 : The Daily Commercial: Editorial: Hometown Democracy just isn't a good idea

6/29/09 : Fernandina Beach News: Hometown Democracy will make things worse

6/28/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Growth amendment fuels opponents' angst

6/28/09 : Florida Times-Union: Florida's growth battle headed to voters in 2010

6/28/09 : South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Amendment 4: Economic growth could be shut down

6/26/09 : St. Petersburg Times: Editorial: A formula for gridlock

6/25/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Hometown Democracy: The Eve of Destruction?

6/25/09 : The News-Press: Editorial: Amendment flawed way to manage growth

6/25/09 : Suwannee Democrat: Editorial: Too much of a good thing

6/24/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Taking the 'smart' out of growth

6/23/09 : WCTV News: Hometown Democracy

6/22/09 : TC Palm: Florida Hometown Democracy certifies for 2010 ballot

6/22/09 : News Service of Florida: Hometown Democracy proposal goes to voters

6/22/09 : Associated Press: Fla. planning amendment makes 2010 ballot

6/21/09 : Orlando Sentinel LTE:: Florida old-timers need new anti-growth tactics

6/21/09 : Naples Daily News: Battle over voters having say in local comprehensive plans heats up

6/19/09 : Tallahassee Democrat: Editorial: Petition protocol

6/18/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Orlando commercial real estate interests already talking of how to oppose Hometown Democracy's 2010 ballot measure

6/18/09 : The Palm Beach Post: Ruling sets stage for battle over growth

6/16/09 : Tampa Tribune LTE: Hometown Democracy

6/16/09 : Charlotte Herald: Editorial: Statewide growth item is back again

6/13/09 : Daytona Beach News Journal: Growth groups ready for fight

6/11/09 : The St. Petersburg Times: Hometown Democracy poised for 2010 ballot

6/11/09 : The Tampa Tribune: Editorial: Supporting good leaders, not Hometown Democracy, is best idea

6/8/09 : The Palm Beach Post: Anti-development Hometown Democracy amendment has enough signatures for 2010 ballot, supporters say

6/6/09 : The Tampa Tribune: 2010 referendum on growth management developing

6/3/09 : Naples Daily News: Don't let Hometown Democracy run us over

5/26/09 : Bradenton Herald: Anti-jobs "Hometown Democracy" amendment fast approaching ballot

5/24/09 : ParadiseNEWS: Editorial: Florida must defeat "Hometown Democracy" or suffer the fate of St. Pete Beach

5/15/09 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Hometown Democracy will cost billions

4/8/09 : TC Palm: Bob Trudell: Hometown Democracy would disenfranchise military voters

3/10/09 : Florida Times-Union: Hometown Democracy would cripple Florida's economy

3/6/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Hometown Democracy would disenfranchise voters

2/13/09 : St. Petersburg Times: Judge ponders challenge to St. Pete Beach plan

1/25/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Way we adjust land use for growth doesn't need fixing

1/25/09 : Orlando Sentinel: Democracy or dictatorship? Just look at St. Pete Beach

1/3/09 : Palm Beach Post: Hometown Democracy wrong answer to land use

12/21/08 : Naples Daily News: And then there were two

12/18/08 : Miami Herald: Competing planning amendment OK for Fla. ballot

12/18/08 : South Florida Business Journal: Fla. high court: Smarter Growth Amendment can go on ballot

10/21/08 : Tallahassee Democrat: Signature dispute arises over proposed amendment

10/20/08 : Orlando Sentinel: Hometown Democracy headed for the ballot? Not so fast.

9/29/08 : St. Petersburg Times: More legal actions filed over St. Pete Beach redevelopment rules

9/14/08 : South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: Hometown democracy: Just more unneeded bureaucracy

9/2/08 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Judge dismisses Hometown Democracy lawsuit

9/2/08 : St. Petersburg Times: Another lawsuit challenges four voter-approved questions

8/20/08 : The TC Palm: Ryan Houck: Florida Hometown Democracy correctly identifies problem, but offers wrong solution

8/4/08 : The TC Palm: Robert Minsky: Are you up to speed on overlay zoning variances?

7/30/08 : The Tampa Tribune: Hometown Democracy is a disaster

7/20/08 : Miami Herald: Reject roadblock to smarter growth management

7/5/08 : The Tampa Tribune: Amendment Muzzles Citizens' Voice

6/29/08 : Pensacola News Journal: Is Florida's growth plan perfect? No, but it could be a lot worse

6/19/08 : TC Palm: Ward Friszolowski: City voters reject Hometown Democracy-style rule

6/16/08 : Orlando Business Journal: Group files suit to put growth vote on ballot

6/11/08 : Letter: to Lesley Blackner, Chairman for Florida Hometown Democracy

5/30/08 : St. Petersburg Times Editorial: Beach city at crossroads

5/28/08 : Tampa Tribune Editorial: Voting On Everything Dispirits Tourist Business In Tourist Town

5/25/08 : South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: Proposal just too extreme for most voters

4/30/08 : Tallahassee Democrat: Here's why Hometown Democracy fails

3/10/08 : St. Petersburg Times: St. Pete Beach growth battles cloud election

2/27/08 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Hometown Democracy opponent has new director

2/22/08 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Hometown Democracy likely to resurface for 2010 ballot

2/5/08 : Orlando Sentinel: Business lobby's cash, political tactics crush slow-growth initiative

1/31/08 : News-Press Editorial: Hometown Democracy a Bad Idea

1/27/08 : Tampa Tribune: Petition Backlog May Keep Growth Policy Off Ballot

1/26/08 : Sun-Sentinel Editorial: Hometown Democracy a bad idea

1/25/08 : Charlotte Sun Herald: Contested ballot initiative seeks to control growth

1/24/08 : Sun Sentinel: Don't let Hometown Democracy issue fool you

1/21/08 : Orlando Sentinel: Taking aim at Hometown Democracy

1/18/08 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Amendment raises questions

1/17/08 : Orlando Sentinel: Opinion: Florida Lost

1/16/08 : Tampa Tribune LTE: This Is No Way To Fix Growth Management

1/15/08 : St. Petersburg Times: Marriage, land initiatives lack signatures

1/15/08 : Panama City News Herald: Hometown Democracy proposal lacking key support

1/14/08 : TCPalm: Florida Hometown Democracy initiative will hurt state's environment and economy, opposition leader says

1/12/08 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Hometown Democracy misses campaign finance reporting deadline

1/11/08 : Orlando Business Journal: Hometown Democracy opponents marshal forces

1/9/08 : St. Petersburg Times Blog: A paper method of counting ballots

1/9/08 : Tallahassee Democrat: Signature glitch endangers ballot initiatives

12/28/07 : Ocala Business Journal: Deadline looms for Hometown Democracy

12/16/07 : Tallahassee Democrat Editorial: Pelham's Warning

12/11/07 : Daytona Beach News Journal: Hometown Democracy brings pleas to public

12/10/07 : Lakeland Ledger: Business, Slow-Growth Sectors Clash on Issue

12/7/07 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Hometown Democracy debate proving costly

12/5/07 : Largo Leader: City mulls proposed state amendment

12/4/07 : Suwannee Democrat Editorial: LAND USE: Who should decide?

12/4/07 : Palm Beach Post Editorial: Hometown Democracy Lite

12/2/07 : Sun Sentinel: Florida's smart voters won't support "Hometown Democracy" proposal

12/2/07 : TC Palm: Florida Hometown Democracy growth petition hangs in balance

11/30/07 : Naples Daily News: Hometown Democracy finds opposition in Southwest Florida

11/23/07 : Orlando Sentinel: Groups shift their petition-drive efforts into high gear to meet Feb. 1 deadline in Florida

11/18/07 : Palm Beach Post Editorial: Still Florida's good friend

11/14/07 : Bradenton Herald Editorial: Managing Growth

11/9/07 : Bradenton Herald: Should voters or officials control growth?

10/26/07 : TCPalm: Not a good idea to cut government's local control

10/24/07 : South Florida Sun Sentinel: Ortis leading local effort

10/17/07 : The Tampa Tribune: Business Groups Fire At Initiative

10/16/07 : Jacksonville Business Journal: Compass president to lead Hometown Democracy opposition

10/6/07 : Ft. Myers News-Press: Green hired to fight proposed amendment

10/4/07 : Lakeland Ledger: Pro-Growth Group Picks Local Chairman

9/30/07 : Palm Beach Daily News : Land-use initiatives may vie for voters

9/25/07 : Orlando Sentinel: Crist opposes growth limits

9/11/07 : Tampa Bay Business Journal: Debate allows business, citizens voices to be heard

9/11/07 : The Tampa Tribune : Amendment Hopes To Leave Decisions In The Hands Of Voters

9/9/07 : Tampa Tribune: Hometown Democracy: The Wrong Idea

9/7/07 : HIGH SPRINGS HERALD: Proposal will allow voters -- not politicians -- to determine city zoning

8/29/07 : Lakeland Ledger: Changes to Growth Plan on County Officials' Agenda

8/27/07 : Panama City News Herald : Land-use proposal seeking support

8/19/07 : Orlando Sentinel: There's a better way than Hometown Democracy

8/16/07 : Orlando Sentinel: Hometown Democracy and Property Rights

8/14/07 : The Tampa Tribune: Retailers Oppose Land-Use Veto Plan

8/13/07 : Lakeland Ledger: Hometown Democracy Plan Is Unworkable

8/12/07 : Bradenton Herald: Chaos at the polls

8/11/07 : TCPalm: Hometown Democracy: Don't judge issue by its title

8/9/07 : Clearwater Gazette: Hometown Democracy: Good for Adult Entertainment

8/9/07 : St. Petersburg Times: Petition-drive clock is reset

8/8/07 : Tallahassee Democrat: Growth showdown may be headed for 2008 state ballot

8/8/07 : St. Petersburg Times: Publix uses law to boot gadfly

8/1/07 : St. Petersburg Times: Developing a middle ground

7/17/07 : St. Petersburg Times: Businesses cringe at entrusting land to voters

7/13/07 : Daytona News Journal: Builders offer rival measure to growth-control initiative

5/9/07 : Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hometown Democracy may cause sprawl

7/15/04 : The New Times: Adios, Joyce Tarnow

Paid political advertisement - paid for and sponsored by
Floridians for Smarter Growth, Inc., PO Box 532018 Orlando FL 32853