Gov. Crist just signed the Growth Management Bill SB 360. Gov. Crist says it will create jobs in Florida but others disagree saying that it threatens to gut growth management regulations, leaving Florida taxpayers to foot the bill for transportation and infrastructure costs incurred by more unnecessary, unsustainable development.
Who was for it? The Florida Chamber of Commerce and developers, who else?
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HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY
Littlepage is on the money
I wholeheartedly agree with Ron Littlepage's column regarding his support for the Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment.
His recent column, "Floridians Need More Say in Development," points out some of the ways we citizens suffer because politicians do the developers' bidding.
Experience has shown that some elected officials simply cannot be trusted with land-use decisions.
The broken promises made to Arlington residents regarding Craig Airport is one glaring example.
The Florida Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment would give voters the opportunity to have their voice heard in their local community.
We've all experienced the repercussions of developer-controlled local and state governments.
When developers pack in massive numbers of homes in a "semi-rural" area, roads become congested, schools become overcrowded, while fire and police services become overstretched.
Not only is our quality of life reduced, but our taxes go up.
Look at South Florida residents: As they've become overdeveloped and crowded, have their taxes decreased? "Increasing the tax base" is a terrible myth.
Research by the American Farmland Trust shows that residential land costs current taxpayers $1.39 in services for every $1 that new residents contribute.
Poorly planned growth is expensive to us taxpayers, but highly profitable to the developers and their politician friends!
Unbridled growth has also placed a massive strain on Florida's water supply.
The St. John's River is now threatened by millions of gallons being withdrawn daily by overdeveloped Central Florida and there is talk that desalination will be necessary in three to five years to meet Jacksonville's water demand.
We truly need the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment that Littlepage speaks of, and we need it now!
CANDICE RUE
Jacksonville Beach
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