Amendment 4 gives citizens a real say on development

Palm Beach Post
October 20, 2010

Three years ago, my friend was collecting signatures for Florida Hometown Democracy. I signed the petition and left town. When I came back, another bunch of friends were passing out fliers all over South Florida to spread the word: We were going to get a chance to vote on whether or not to let developers continue to have free rein in Florida. I was committed to just that: having a say in what happens in the place I've called home for 18 years.

After Amendment 4 passes, if your city commissioners vote on a change to the seven-year master plan - which, by the way, is a fairly long and expensive undertaking - then it has to go to the voters for a yes or no vote at a regularly scheduled election. We have a chance here too good to pass up. How can people in Palm Beach County be happy with higher property taxes paid for by us instead of the people who aren't buying the houses and condos sitting empty?

SUKI deJONG

Boynton Beach