Amendment 4 - a grassroots initiative to preserve Florida

Sarasota Herald Tribune

By LESLEY BLACKNER Guest Columnist

Published: Saturday, August 14, 2010

A recent New York Times analysis found that Florida is the No. 1 state in America for public corruption. From 1998 to 2007, 824 Florida politicians were convicted of public corruption -- about seven a month for 10 years straight!

When things get so out of balance like this, citizens need to join together to make things right again. This is what Florida Hometown Democracy hopes to do with Amendment 4 on the statewide ballot Nov. 2. We are a nonpartisan, grass-roots group of Floridians from all walks of life who simply want some common-sense oversight on these backroom dealings.

Amendment 4 will give us citizens a seat at the table -- a vote -- on future development in our communities. We hope more Floridians will join us to pass this important reform.

We believe that since voters have to pay taxes to extend the schools, police, fire, water, sewer and roads to all these new developments that politicians keep approving, we should get the chance to vote.

Is a new development affordable for our community? We should get a vote since we pay sales and property taxes to support new development. Even when developments sit empty, taxpayers still foot the bill for the infrastructure.

Amendment 4 is a simple reform. Here is exactly how it will work: Local city or county commissions will study, hold public hearings, and vote on proposed changes to the community's master blueprint for development (called the local comprehensive land-use plan) just as they do now. The new Amendment 4 step is that once a commission approves a plan change, voters will approve or veto it at the next regularly scheduled Election Day. That's it. No special elections required. If you agree with the commission's decision, vote for it. If not, veto it.

Amendment 4 doesn't require votes on minor changes like re-zonings, variances or individual development approvals. It only applies to changes to the local comprehensive land-use plan. You won't vote on every new grocery store, but you will vote, for example, when someone wants to convert farmland to apartments or turn a residential area into a commercial one.

The bottom line is that only real estate speculators who insist on building outside the already approved areas will face a vote of the people. It is important to note that there is plenty of land already set aside in existing land-use plans to allow building far into the future -- enough, in fact, to increase Florida's population to 100 million people -- about five times more than we have today.

It's a sad fact that too many commissioners just can't seem to say no to the irresponsible, poorly planned development that has stuck taxpayers with the housing meltdown, crazy traffic, empty strip malls, foreclosed condos, lost green space and rising taxes.

We believe that the status quo works for politicians and real estate speculators, but it isn't working for the people. That is why fed-up Floridians like me started Florida Hometown Democracy.

Out-of-state corporations that presided over the real estate bust are pouring millions into Florida to spread misinformation and try to deny us the right to vote.

So far, the very people who crashed Florida's economy with over-development and real estate speculation have raised more than $10 million to try to defeat Florida Hometown Democracy!

We hope you will join us in voting Yes on Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 on Nov. 2, and that you will encourage your friends and family to do so as well. We have an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for real change that can break the grip that real estate speculators have over local politicians.

The tidal wave of lies about Amendment 4 is running at a fever pitch, and it will escalate all summer. The most insulting claim is that we voters are just too dumb to vote.

Our opponents may have the money and the power, but if people join together and vote yes, we can beat them at the ballot box.

If you would like to learn more, donate, or get involved, visit our website.

Palm Beach attorney Lesley Blackner is the president of Florida Hometown Democracy, sponsor of Amendment 4.