Florida Legislature FAILS to re-authorize the Department of Community Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 7, 2009

CONTACT: Lesley Blackner 561-659-5754

The Florida Legislature abandoned citizens who care about the future of their communities this year by refusing to re-authorize the state’s land-planning agency, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Political watchers predict the Legislature will abolish or hobble the agency next year, giving free reign to expensive sprawl in countless communities.

“The Legislature makes the case for why we need to pass Amendment 4 on Election Day this fall,” said Florida Hometown Democracy founder Lesley Blackner. “Politicians rubber stamped so many developments for Big Business that they crashed our economy with over-building. Now they want to eliminate the state agency that oversees growth.”

The DCA’s director of external affairs, James Miller, wrote in an email: “We feel that by not re-enacting DCA, it sends a strong message that growth management is not looked upon favorably by the legislature and that we should expect changes to be coming next year.’

Says Blackner: “We voters need a seat at the table so we can have some oversight on this “pay-to-play” politics – especially if the Legislature plans to do away with the state’s land planning agency.”

“What we’re saying with Amendment 4 is: Since we -- the existing residents -- pay our tax dollars to extend fire, police, roads, water, sewer, and school services to these new, sprawling developments, we should get to weigh in. We should get a vote before we’re forced to pay.”

Here’s how Amendment 4 will work: Your city or county commission will study, hold public hearings, and vote as usual on proposed changes to the local comprehensive land-use plan (the overall master plan.) There’s one new step at the end: You will get the chance to veto or approve the commission’s decision at the next regularly scheduled Election Day. No special elections are required. It’s that simple.

It only applies to changes to the overall master plan, and not to routine rezoning, variances, or individual developments. If a builder builds where the plan already allows it, there’s no vote. For more information, visit www.floridahometowndemocracy.com

Read what the St. Petersburg Times has to say.