Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce Opposes Amendment 4 - So what's new?

Beth Johnston, Director of LW Chamber of Commerce
Hired June 1, 2010

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is very well known to go to bat for the development industry. We saw that first-hand during the Super Majority campaign where it poured in money and manpower to defeat the initiative by 119 votes. Remember all those unhappy looking faces in those fliers? Nothing much has changed since then and we still see the same people trying to grab the power and put their people back into office. The same types that backed candidates who contributed to the ruination and debt of our City--elected officials who never did their due diligence and failed us at every turn.

With $650,000 to defeat Amendment 4 from the Florida Chamber of Commerce since May 2010 alone, Tuesday night during public participation the new Director of the Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce asked the Commission to oppose Amendment 4. Beth Johnston does not believe that the people should have a vote on land-use changes. She believes that elected officials who can be compromised by the Chamber, its members, along with development groups, should have the sole decision.

Not one member of our Commission went to bat FOR the Amendment during their commentary.

Katie McGiveron, spokesperson for Florida Hometown Democracy in Palm Beach County said, "We have never been able to count on politicians to do the right thing by the people, whether it is here in Lake Worth or elsewhere. Maurice Ferre, running for U.S. Senate, is one of the few candidates with the guts to come out in strong support of Amendment 4, someone who puts the people over campaign contributions from development groups. We just need to spread the word. I support downtown business but downtown business does not support me and my right to vote."

Dennis Dorsey, former Mayor and Commissioner said, "It's too bad that the Chamber of Commerce, that is supposed to promote business, is continuing Ramiccio's program to give the City away to developers. They should stay out of politics."

Julie Hauserman, with the Florida Hometown Democracy campaign said, "The high volume of plan amendments sent to DCA underscores the bond between city and county officials and developers -- who often are the largest contributors to local political campaigns. You’ve got to wonder why our local politicians are approving comp-plan changes for future development when there’s a recession and empty strip malls across Florida."

Groups such as the Chamber of Commerce continue to promote their scare tactic that Amendment 4 will hurt Florida when in fact Amendment 4 will do just the opposite. It will give all the residents a voice on development in their communities that affect their taxes and how their community looks. You have to consider also that it is the residents, who in most cases, pay for all the infrastructure. Look at all the foreclosures and all the empty units? Hammon Park on N. Dixie Highway even got through its first hurdle last night when the P&Z allowed them to build more on their property when most of the units that have been built are in foreclosure. Politicians never are able to say "no" to developers. And that is the problem.

Even here in Lake Worth, the CRA gave $500,000 to Publix for infrastructure for its new store being built on Dixie Highway. The former Mayor, Jeff Clemens, still believes that we, because it was for infrastructure, didn't give Publix anything; his thinking is that the infrastructure belongs to Lake Worth. New development is also a drain on our natural resources, schools, roads and utilities.

Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy's Ryan Houck, a shill for the Chamber of Commerce, complains that construction jobs are down and membership in builders' associations as well as the Chamber is off. He loves to tell you that it will get worse with Amendment 4 when in reality, jobs are off all over the country. He fails to mention that people are not buying and those who have, can't afford them and are abandoning them in droves. He fails to mention that over-development has ruined the State of Florida and that hundreds of thousands of units are empty. He fails to mention that South Florida is ranked No. 1 in the number of foreclosures and No. 10 in the rate of foreclosures, with 3.9 percent of homes in default. It is predicted that all of this will get worse before it gets better.

His group, with 30 times the amount of money than the grassroots initiative, Florida Hometown Democracy, has raised $6 million to defeat Amendment 4. It is all about greed. Developers want to build until there is no land left in Florida--asphalt everywhere, not green. The only green they want to see is what's in their pocket.

Lesley Blackner of FHD says, "Together we can stop rubber-stamping approvals that clog roads, crowd schools and wreck natural areas. If we all vote YES on Amendment 4, we can take the power back for the people."

"Without one more land use change, Florida's population can grow from 18 million to 100 million people. Every local comprehensive plan, our state-mandated road map for future growth, should address community needs for 20 years," says FHD.

If we have to pay for it, we should get to vote on it. Let us all tell Ms. Johnston that she just doesn't get it.