"We Have Anarchy on the Border, But the Feds Say, ‘no, we’re going to Nevada and we’re going to surround this guy’s ranch.”
~ Mark Levin
Showing posts with label Smart Growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smart Growth. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Mark Levin - Quote of the Day -- Government Marxist Control
"We Have Anarchy on the Border, But the Feds Say, ‘no, we’re going to Nevada and we’re going to surround this guy’s ranch.”
~ Mark Levin
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Public Workshop
Public Open house 6pm, April 4
Shuffleboard Courts
1121 Lucerne Avenue, Lake Worth
This tool provides an overview of how land use decisions impact the fiscal and economic health of a community, with an emphasis on self assessment of demographics, employment trends as well as a review local decisions and public polices that support neighborhood stabilization, increasing property revenues and minimizing costs. From this discussion, the EPA team will provide a series of next step strategies that the community can consider for addressing key fiscal issues raised during the assistance.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Smart Growth Assistance for Lake Worth
Comment Up
Contact Information: William McBride, 404-562-8378 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main), mcbride.william@epa.gov
ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the City of Lake Worth, FL will receive technical assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program.
EPA consulted with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation to select this year’s 43 recipients from 121 applicants through a competitive process. EPA staff and national experts will conduct workshops that focus on the specific sustainability goal each community chose in their initial application to EPA. The agency offered nine tools this year, including using smart growth to build economic and fiscal health, exploring neighborhood planning for healthy aging&creating a Green Streets Strategy, and creating sustainable strategies for small cities and rural areas.
Lake Worth is receiving assistance with using Smart Growth to build Fiscal and Economic Health. Smart Growth strategies have inherent efficiencies and can minimize property values and associated revenues. This tool outlines strategies and approaches that can help cities integrate their land development policies, their municipal budgets, and their long-term economic development goals. These strategies could reduce service and infrastructure costs and increase revenues in an era when limited resources mean that growing inefficiently is no longer an option.
“Creating resilient communities is vital to protecting public health and the environment, “said Regional Administrator Gwen Keys Fleming. “EPA’s Building Blocks Program will give city leaders and other community partners Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities among EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The interagency collaboration coordinates federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently. The partnership is helping communities across the country create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.
Nationally 43 communities - rural, urban, and suburban - will receive technical assistance to pursue sustainable growth that encourages local economic development while safeguarding people’s health and the environment. To date, 141 communities have received EPA’s assistance through the Building Blocks program. Together, EPA, HUD and DOT form the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which coordinates investments in housing, transportation, and environmental protection to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently.
More information on the Building Blocks program: >http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm
More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/index.html
Lake Worth, FL among Recipients of Smart Growth Assistance Provided by EPA
Contact Information: William McBride, 404-562-8378 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main), mcbride.william@epa.gov
ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the City of Lake Worth, FL will receive technical assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program.
EPA consulted with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation to select this year’s 43 recipients from 121 applicants through a competitive process. EPA staff and national experts will conduct workshops that focus on the specific sustainability goal each community chose in their initial application to EPA. The agency offered nine tools this year, including using smart growth to build economic and fiscal health, exploring neighborhood planning for healthy aging&creating a Green Streets Strategy, and creating sustainable strategies for small cities and rural areas.
Lake Worth is receiving assistance with using Smart Growth to build Fiscal and Economic Health. Smart Growth strategies have inherent efficiencies and can minimize property values and associated revenues. This tool outlines strategies and approaches that can help cities integrate their land development policies, their municipal budgets, and their long-term economic development goals. These strategies could reduce service and infrastructure costs and increase revenues in an era when limited resources mean that growing inefficiently is no longer an option.
“Creating resilient communities is vital to protecting public health and the environment, “said Regional Administrator Gwen Keys Fleming. “EPA’s Building Blocks Program will give city leaders and other community partners Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities among EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The interagency collaboration coordinates federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently. The partnership is helping communities across the country create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.
Nationally 43 communities - rural, urban, and suburban - will receive technical assistance to pursue sustainable growth that encourages local economic development while safeguarding people’s health and the environment. To date, 141 communities have received EPA’s assistance through the Building Blocks program. Together, EPA, HUD and DOT form the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which coordinates investments in housing, transportation, and environmental protection to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently.
More information on the Building Blocks program: >http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm
More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/index.html
Friday, June 1, 2012
Lake Worth Needs Responsible Growth
Comment Up
As everyone knows, we don't have any more trees to cut down.
We are the most densely populated city on the eastern part of Florida.
Lake Worth is vulnerable right now and the only town left that developers want to get their hands on. We have a lot going for us being a seaside city with the new casino, the beach redevelopment and people looking to buy the Gulfstream Hotel. We are on our way to prosperity. Developers know this and want to make as much money as they possibly can. That will happen if their friends have the political clout to raise the heights in our city. They also know that they can do that by a 3 to 2 vote. Politicians have been known to "sell out" in the past.
The local newspaper has always listened to that side of politics. Not once has anyone there ever sought the opinion of just average Joe Citizen, you know, the guy with no ax to grind and with no special interests. If The Herald has, please let us know.
Today Mark's editorial said: "Those who have voiced opposition to any increase in height are the same ones who want no growth in Lake Worth. They know that stagnation will cause a city to collapse into chaos, and that is precisely what they want. Those who want unlimited height will turn Lake Worth into a concrete jungle of condos for [people with no jobs." What a bunch of hogwash. Does The Herald really feel that all of us who want to keep a low rise city are stark raving mad? The Herald insults the majority of people in this City.
Right now Planning & Zoning is attempting to ensure that we have a sustainable city now and well into the future and has presented a Plan that will work. Heights are fine west side of Dixie and at The Park of Commerce. As one citizen recently said, "False perception from "Politicos" is nothing more than pander and slander in order to be self serving to those who want "their way" instead of what is best for our city as a whole.
Following are the dates for the Comp Plan:
June 6, 2012: Public Hearing before the PZB
June 13, 2012: Public Hearing before the HRPB
June 19, 2012: Public Hearing before the City Commission
July, 2012: State Review of draft amendments
July 17, 2012: Public Hearing and Second Reading before the City Commission
If you are as insulted as I by the above commentary and if you care about what your city will look like, please turn out to support all the work of this present Planning & Zoning board and voice your opinion. Drive south down Dixie Highway and look at some of the ghost towns and empty buildings--you will get a feel of what I am talking about.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Lyin Ryan has a New Job
Comment Up
Yeah, you guessed it, Ryan Houck has a 'new job' with another phony name...freemarketflorida aka The Chamber of Commerce...wouldn't it be nice if the rest of the unemployed could get a job as easily as he does just to promote 'baloney' ;), says Dori.
Ryan Houck, the nemesis for smart growth in Florida, who has always been in bed with big business and the Florida Chamber of Commerce and someone who wants to pave over our great State at any cost says, "Florida’s Legislature made the right choice in scaling back our state’s cumbersome growth bureaucracy." To Ryan and Rick Scott, everything is about jobs--forget about The Everglades--forget about our scarce resources--forget about our State animal, the Florida Panther--they just want a Florida that looks like concrete.
Read more about Ryan and his new job
Remember on election day the candidate for Lake Worth mayor, Tom Ramiccio, who worked for the Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce and who believes in all the same politics as does Ryan. When you go into that voting booth, also remember Lisa Maxwell, a lobbyist for developers and her down right misinformation at The Playhouse, YouTubes and last night's debate--a gal who just can't make meeting commitments.
On Sunday Morning, Tom Hanks said that "80% of the people are honest and want to do the right thing. 20% are crooks and liars. Find out who the crooks and liars are." Some of us already know.
Get to the core of our problem here in Lake Worth. All you have to do is read some of the mailers and listen to some of the videos...if they sound too good to be true, you can bet that they are. These people still won't change their minds even when confronted with the facts. Also, follow the money.
We can't afford to elect any more people who just don't "get it"--you know, the ones who make up answers as they go along and come up with phony solutions for high energy costs like sell the Utility or want to bring down our city. NO more bullies on the pulpit.
Yeah, you guessed it, Ryan Houck has a 'new job' with another phony name...freemarketflorida aka The Chamber of Commerce...wouldn't it be nice if the rest of the unemployed could get a job as easily as he does just to promote 'baloney' ;), says Dori.
Ryan Houck, the nemesis for smart growth in Florida, who has always been in bed with big business and the Florida Chamber of Commerce and someone who wants to pave over our great State at any cost says, "Florida’s Legislature made the right choice in scaling back our state’s cumbersome growth bureaucracy." To Ryan and Rick Scott, everything is about jobs--forget about The Everglades--forget about our scarce resources--forget about our State animal, the Florida Panther--they just want a Florida that looks like concrete.
Read more about Ryan and his new job
Remember on election day the candidate for Lake Worth mayor, Tom Ramiccio, who worked for the Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce and who believes in all the same politics as does Ryan. When you go into that voting booth, also remember Lisa Maxwell, a lobbyist for developers and her down right misinformation at The Playhouse, YouTubes and last night's debate--a gal who just can't make meeting commitments.
On Sunday Morning, Tom Hanks said that "80% of the people are honest and want to do the right thing. 20% are crooks and liars. Find out who the crooks and liars are." Some of us already know.
Get to the core of our problem here in Lake Worth. All you have to do is read some of the mailers and listen to some of the videos...if they sound too good to be true, you can bet that they are. These people still won't change their minds even when confronted with the facts. Also, follow the money.
We can't afford to elect any more people who just don't "get it"--you know, the ones who make up answers as they go along and come up with phony solutions for high energy costs like sell the Utility or want to bring down our city. NO more bullies on the pulpit.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Growth in Florida - Amendment 4 was an Answer
Comment Up
"Florida should expand the use of two growth management pilot programs to provide the state with a new focus on large-range planning and the needs of critical areas, Department of Community Affairs Secretary Billy Buzzett said last Tuesday." Note: Buzzett is a former executive with St. Joe Paper Co, the largest land owner in the State of Florida.
"Nancy Linnan offered a presentation on behalf of a Florida Chamber of Commerce's effort to draft a proposal to reform state growth management laws. Other groups supporting the effort are Associated Industries of Florida, the Association of Florida Community Developers, the Florida Association of Home Builders and the Florida Land Council." Read more at The Florida Tribune.
Do you possibly think now that Rick Scott is Governor, that the State will be protected from sprawl? The deck is stacked against smart growth and protecting our State from developers and the Chamber of Commerce's greed on the pretense that growth will produce jobs and jobs are more important than our quality of life.
As George Niemann says, "Many communities are now suffering from congested roads, overcrowded schools, severe water restrictions, declining home values, as well as, real estate taxes that are still too high.
At the root of this problem is the fact that many of our elected officials base their growth decisions on extraneous factors, instead of focusing on what should be the primary decision-making factor — the desires and the best welfare of the citizens who already live in that community.
The vast majority of growth plan changes from the private sector are initiated by business interests, not by your average property owner. If the growth plan doesn't fit the business plan of the developer, they try to modify the growth plans to fit their business need."
Amendment 4 would have been a protection for all of us--we would have had the right to vote on the development if the land-use had been changed by politicians. Also, follow the money--look to see what organizations endorse a candidate. If it is the Chamber of Commerce, Realtors Association, builders groups and the like, run like hell.
"Florida should expand the use of two growth management pilot programs to provide the state with a new focus on large-range planning and the needs of critical areas, Department of Community Affairs Secretary Billy Buzzett said last Tuesday." Note: Buzzett is a former executive with St. Joe Paper Co, the largest land owner in the State of Florida.
"Nancy Linnan offered a presentation on behalf of a Florida Chamber of Commerce's effort to draft a proposal to reform state growth management laws. Other groups supporting the effort are Associated Industries of Florida, the Association of Florida Community Developers, the Florida Association of Home Builders and the Florida Land Council." Read more at The Florida Tribune.
Do you possibly think now that Rick Scott is Governor, that the State will be protected from sprawl? The deck is stacked against smart growth and protecting our State from developers and the Chamber of Commerce's greed on the pretense that growth will produce jobs and jobs are more important than our quality of life.
As George Niemann says, "Many communities are now suffering from congested roads, overcrowded schools, severe water restrictions, declining home values, as well as, real estate taxes that are still too high.
At the root of this problem is the fact that many of our elected officials base their growth decisions on extraneous factors, instead of focusing on what should be the primary decision-making factor — the desires and the best welfare of the citizens who already live in that community.
The vast majority of growth plan changes from the private sector are initiated by business interests, not by your average property owner. If the growth plan doesn't fit the business plan of the developer, they try to modify the growth plans to fit their business need."
Amendment 4 would have been a protection for all of us--we would have had the right to vote on the development if the land-use had been changed by politicians. Also, follow the money--look to see what organizations endorse a candidate. If it is the Chamber of Commerce, Realtors Association, builders groups and the like, run like hell.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Winning Strategy for Advocacy - The Vote "No" on Amendment 4
Comment Up
Sometimes, not all of the time, money is a key factor in winning a campaign. We have seen it right here in Lake Worth where the guy with the most money went down in flames. The message must be convincing and when the message hits on "jobs" and the "economy," voters take notice especially when you have a group such as the Chamber of Commerce behind your iniatiative.
As a lot of you know, Ryan Houck was a paid shill of the Florida Chamber of Commerce in its campaign against Amendment 4. In this November 2010 ballot initiative, money and strategy was everything. Now we are experiencing the total gutting of the DCA, our State's overseer on Comprehensive Plan changes, as well as the desire of the new governor to build over Florida as jobs was his campaign promise.
Also, Yes on Amendment 4 was polling ahead one month before the election but with no professional strategist on Board from the get-go, had literally run out of money. There was no way to go but down in flames. Television and other media were the keys and that took obscene amounts of cash. We lost too because of our naive faith that everyone would rally around smart growth, saving our environment, our resources, and developers whoring our State for the almighty buck. We should have known better.
The following remarks were noted by Joyce Tarnow at a recent presentation by Ryan Houck to a public relations professional networking group. The name of the presentation is “Winning Strategy for Advocacy.”
- He stated that the marketplace is evolving from “consumer" to "stakeholder." (I think this has a lot of implications because stakeholder may mean "special interest" in our terminology.)
- The campaign was structured, systematic, and disciplined
- He mentioned that he did not like the logo for the yard signs but since that was the decision to use that logo and liberal use of yard signs, they went with it (I personally thought their Vote No Sign was extremely effective from the ominous colors of red and black to the finger pointing "no.")
- They formed their committee in 2007, and in 2007 & 2008, started forming their network of groups (nearly 4 years before the election)
- He mentioned the name change but explained the rationale
- Their campaign funding was 11.2 million. I believe this was considerably less than they were expecting to have, mentioning $50 to $60,000,000 as the number they thought might be needed. But that money was leveraged by the fact that they follow a disciplined campaign strategy. This number was a lot less than was spent on the sugar tax which at that time was $25,000,000. Another person by the name of Roy mentioned that in today's dollars $25,000,000 would have equated to $50,000,000. So the point is that the campaign was very efficiently run.
- The first poll in April of 2007 showed a 3 to 1 ratio of yes votes to no
- The campaign was comprised of the following components: paid media, coalition efforts, grassroots, legal, research and fund raising
- 24 of 25 editorial boards "no" on A4 with only the Keynoter in the Keys opposing
- Web videos were important because they got a lot of hits
- They established "regional partnerships" to reach 90% of the electorate focusing on Jacksonville, the I-4 corridor in central Florida, and Miami
- They had a staff of six people in order to focus money on media
- Their Facebook page 6,000 fans
- The 45 to 54 year age range was the strongest support demographic. (How queer is that?-- they should know)
- Online advertising was strong, and they provided 250,000 exposures
- Strong use of voice mail, e-mails and Facebook photos of the logo
- Paid media
- The media airtime purchases were made early so they could get the most advantageous time slots that they needed. (So if we had gotten some last-minute money it would have been fairly ineffectual.)
- They utilized research on when Democrats versus Republicans watch TV and bought TV time coordinated to evening time-slots when Republicans most frequently watch TV
- They were on three stations in Jacksonville in central Florida and one station in Miami
- Regarding Hispanics, he felt that they were more likely to vote yes on 4 so they were targeted for additional exposures
- Key messages
- Jobs, taxes, workability of A4
- According to their research A-4’s messages had higher impact and were simpler. The anti-A4 statements were more complex but picked up in intensity as the media campaign progressed
- All ads were research tested
- A powerful statement was "expenditures cannot be estimated precisely." This is powerful because it was taken from the cost assessment of A4
- They strongly steered away from mention FloridaHometownDemocracy in favor of A4
- St. Pete Beach was only viewed as a prism for making points about jobs and the economy. It sounds like it was only a secondary message as an aid to making their jobs and economy points.
- Endorsements: they felt this was important with voters, so they pushed the various endorsements including even the Chamber of Commerce endorsement and this is the controversial organization
- A4 was beaten by the most decisive margin since 1986
It takes 1200 points in an ad to get opinion to move. But they saw an eight point shift after only 700 points. Apparently this is a measure of the effectiveness of paid media.
Sometimes, not all of the time, money is a key factor in winning a campaign. We have seen it right here in Lake Worth where the guy with the most money went down in flames. The message must be convincing and when the message hits on "jobs" and the "economy," voters take notice especially when you have a group such as the Chamber of Commerce behind your iniatiative.
As a lot of you know, Ryan Houck was a paid shill of the Florida Chamber of Commerce in its campaign against Amendment 4. In this November 2010 ballot initiative, money and strategy was everything. Now we are experiencing the total gutting of the DCA, our State's overseer on Comprehensive Plan changes, as well as the desire of the new governor to build over Florida as jobs was his campaign promise.
Also, Yes on Amendment 4 was polling ahead one month before the election but with no professional strategist on Board from the get-go, had literally run out of money. There was no way to go but down in flames. Television and other media were the keys and that took obscene amounts of cash. We lost too because of our naive faith that everyone would rally around smart growth, saving our environment, our resources, and developers whoring our State for the almighty buck. We should have known better.
The following remarks were noted by Joyce Tarnow at a recent presentation by Ryan Houck to a public relations professional networking group. The name of the presentation is “Winning Strategy for Advocacy.”
- He stated that the marketplace is evolving from “consumer" to "stakeholder." (I think this has a lot of implications because stakeholder may mean "special interest" in our terminology.)
- The campaign was structured, systematic, and disciplined
- He mentioned that he did not like the logo for the yard signs but since that was the decision to use that logo and liberal use of yard signs, they went with it (I personally thought their Vote No Sign was extremely effective from the ominous colors of red and black to the finger pointing "no.")
- They formed their committee in 2007, and in 2007 & 2008, started forming their network of groups (nearly 4 years before the election)
- He mentioned the name change but explained the rationale
- Their campaign funding was 11.2 million. I believe this was considerably less than they were expecting to have, mentioning $50 to $60,000,000 as the number they thought might be needed. But that money was leveraged by the fact that they follow a disciplined campaign strategy. This number was a lot less than was spent on the sugar tax which at that time was $25,000,000. Another person by the name of Roy mentioned that in today's dollars $25,000,000 would have equated to $50,000,000. So the point is that the campaign was very efficiently run.
- The first poll in April of 2007 showed a 3 to 1 ratio of yes votes to no
- The campaign was comprised of the following components: paid media, coalition efforts, grassroots, legal, research and fund raising
- 24 of 25 editorial boards "no" on A4 with only the Keynoter in the Keys opposing
- Web videos were important because they got a lot of hits
- They established "regional partnerships" to reach 90% of the electorate focusing on Jacksonville, the I-4 corridor in central Florida, and Miami
- They had a staff of six people in order to focus money on media
- Their Facebook page 6,000 fans
- The 45 to 54 year age range was the strongest support demographic. (How queer is that?-- they should know)
- Online advertising was strong, and they provided 250,000 exposures
- Strong use of voice mail, e-mails and Facebook photos of the logo
- Paid media
- The media airtime purchases were made early so they could get the most advantageous time slots that they needed. (So if we had gotten some last-minute money it would have been fairly ineffectual.)
- They utilized research on when Democrats versus Republicans watch TV and bought TV time coordinated to evening time-slots when Republicans most frequently watch TV
- They were on three stations in Jacksonville in central Florida and one station in Miami
- Regarding Hispanics, he felt that they were more likely to vote yes on 4 so they were targeted for additional exposures
- Key messages
- Jobs, taxes, workability of A4
- According to their research A-4’s messages had higher impact and were simpler. The anti-A4 statements were more complex but picked up in intensity as the media campaign progressed
- All ads were research tested
- A powerful statement was "expenditures cannot be estimated precisely." This is powerful because it was taken from the cost assessment of A4
- They strongly steered away from mention FloridaHometownDemocracy in favor of A4
- St. Pete Beach was only viewed as a prism for making points about jobs and the economy. It sounds like it was only a secondary message as an aid to making their jobs and economy points.
- Endorsements: they felt this was important with voters, so they pushed the various endorsements including even the Chamber of Commerce endorsement and this is the controversial organization
- A4 was beaten by the most decisive margin since 1986
It takes 1200 points in an ad to get opinion to move. But they saw an eight point shift after only 700 points. Apparently this is a measure of the effectiveness of paid media.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Full-Time Politician blasts Florida Supreme Court Justices
New Florida House Speaker picked wrong tone wrong
Per a reader--It's worth noting that 2 Florida Supreme Court justices, Canady and Polston, showed up to hear Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon blast the Florida Supreme Court Justices. Both of them supported the Revocation Statute and the Smart Growth petition. Their voting record indicates they vote in accordance with the Chamber of Commerce's position.
As an officer of the court, Cannon was really skating on thin ice to call the Court an "enemy of liberty."
I was curious about Cannon, who is a solo practitioner and doesn't have a website or appear to engage in much real legal practice. The only reference I could find to his line of legal work is that he...you guessed it...does land use law, with a focus on protecting private property rights. Mainly he is a full time politician."
Per a reader--It's worth noting that 2 Florida Supreme Court justices, Canady and Polston, showed up to hear Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon blast the Florida Supreme Court Justices. Both of them supported the Revocation Statute and the Smart Growth petition. Their voting record indicates they vote in accordance with the Chamber of Commerce's position.
As an officer of the court, Cannon was really skating on thin ice to call the Court an "enemy of liberty."
I was curious about Cannon, who is a solo practitioner and doesn't have a website or appear to engage in much real legal practice. The only reference I could find to his line of legal work is that he...you guessed it...does land use law, with a focus on protecting private property rights. Mainly he is a full time politician."
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Growth Lobbyists have stuck their middle finger in the eye of the voters
Wonks Are Just Shocked That Anyone Supports Amendment 4.
The “Hometown Democracy” amendment is a terrible idea, and I’m voting for it .State and local governments have made an absolute mess of growth management.
This “management” consists mainly of a war of attrition between a developer and the nearby neighborhoods, and inevitably the developers, with their full-time professionals and pockets of capital, outlast the amateur citizens who have to dig into their own pockets to defend their interests.
The Chamber of Commerce and the real estate industry are running expensive PR campaigns to persuade people the economy will collapse if Amendment 4, “Hometown Democracy,” passes. Hey, guess what?
The economy collapsed BEFORE this thing passed — thanks to growth run amok.
The goal of the amendment is not to have people vote on all the changes to plans. The goal is to force governments to create good plans and stick to them. The Chamber says there are 10,000 changes to land-use plans every year, and they’d all need to be voted on. 10,000! That’s not a plan. That’s a developer playground.
That’s a reason to support Amendment 4, notoppose it.
Call me irresponsible. I expect the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Realtors and St. Joe and lots of others will. Under their Orwellian name of “Floridians for Smarter Growth,” they are just shocked, shocked that anyone can support this initiative.
All the wonky “policy” people I know are horrified that growth management may be taken away from, well, the wonky people who have been screwing it all up.
The environmental group 1000 Friends of Florida, which had opposed Hometown Democracy for a long time, has changed its mind. The polls say it’s close, but the business crowd has done its work and scared a lot of peopleaway. Every vote will matter.
Clear-cutting trees, backed-up intersections, flyovers, the ridiculous traffic patterns around our interstates, crowded classrooms, growing costs of keeping up with infrastructure — all have roots in bad growth management.
Slow down development, and our communities will be more livable and our property values will recover faster.
In Tallahassee, some one said we already have more public hearings than the law requires.
Repeated public hearings are stupid. It’s just another way to wear down citizens, who shout and scream and maybe get a “compromise” that the developers expected in the first place, while elected officials take a walk and avoid responsibility.
An army of well-paid professionals represents developers for as long as it takes to get the project through, while neighbors have to dig into savings and take time off from work or family to mount an opposition.
It’s not a fair system. It just isn’t.
The past four years, with Hometown Democracy chugging toward the ballot, gave those “Smarter Growth” developers plenty of time to produce a credible alternative. Tom Pelham, the head of the state’s growth-planning agency who knows what a mess we have, proposed one. But the Legislature, two-thirds Republican and enriched by campaign contributions from the real-estate industry, neutered what was left of state growth-management after Gov. Jeb Bush and even refused to extend the life of Pelham’s agency.
The growth lobbyists don’t want “smarter growth.” They want growth, period. Instead of looking for “smarter management” of growth, they just stuck their middle finger in the eye of the voters.
So there’s only one last chance to bring them to heel: Amendment 4.
Yes, referendums on growth plans are a terrible idea. It’s not the way we should govern ourselves. But what else can you do?
Worry not: The system eventually will find a way to survive with Hometown Democracy. Nothing has ever thwarted the development industry in Florida, and this won’t either. Vote for Amendment 4?
Call me irresponsible.
I call it irresistible.
Neil Skene
The “Hometown Democracy” amendment is a terrible idea, and I’m voting for it .State and local governments have made an absolute mess of growth management.
This “management” consists mainly of a war of attrition between a developer and the nearby neighborhoods, and inevitably the developers, with their full-time professionals and pockets of capital, outlast the amateur citizens who have to dig into their own pockets to defend their interests.
The Chamber of Commerce and the real estate industry are running expensive PR campaigns to persuade people the economy will collapse if Amendment 4, “Hometown Democracy,” passes. Hey, guess what?
The economy collapsed BEFORE this thing passed — thanks to growth run amok.
The goal of the amendment is not to have people vote on all the changes to plans. The goal is to force governments to create good plans and stick to them. The Chamber says there are 10,000 changes to land-use plans every year, and they’d all need to be voted on. 10,000! That’s not a plan. That’s a developer playground.
That’s a reason to support Amendment 4, notoppose it.
Call me irresponsible. I expect the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Realtors and St. Joe and lots of others will. Under their Orwellian name of “Floridians for Smarter Growth,” they are just shocked, shocked that anyone can support this initiative.
All the wonky “policy” people I know are horrified that growth management may be taken away from, well, the wonky people who have been screwing it all up.
The environmental group 1000 Friends of Florida, which had opposed Hometown Democracy for a long time, has changed its mind. The polls say it’s close, but the business crowd has done its work and scared a lot of peopleaway. Every vote will matter.
Clear-cutting trees, backed-up intersections, flyovers, the ridiculous traffic patterns around our interstates, crowded classrooms, growing costs of keeping up with infrastructure — all have roots in bad growth management.
Slow down development, and our communities will be more livable and our property values will recover faster.
In Tallahassee, some one said we already have more public hearings than the law requires.
Repeated public hearings are stupid. It’s just another way to wear down citizens, who shout and scream and maybe get a “compromise” that the developers expected in the first place, while elected officials take a walk and avoid responsibility.
An army of well-paid professionals represents developers for as long as it takes to get the project through, while neighbors have to dig into savings and take time off from work or family to mount an opposition.
It’s not a fair system. It just isn’t.
The past four years, with Hometown Democracy chugging toward the ballot, gave those “Smarter Growth” developers plenty of time to produce a credible alternative. Tom Pelham, the head of the state’s growth-planning agency who knows what a mess we have, proposed one. But the Legislature, two-thirds Republican and enriched by campaign contributions from the real-estate industry, neutered what was left of state growth-management after Gov. Jeb Bush and even refused to extend the life of Pelham’s agency.
The growth lobbyists don’t want “smarter growth.” They want growth, period. Instead of looking for “smarter management” of growth, they just stuck their middle finger in the eye of the voters.
So there’s only one last chance to bring them to heel: Amendment 4.
Yes, referendums on growth plans are a terrible idea. It’s not the way we should govern ourselves. But what else can you do?
Worry not: The system eventually will find a way to survive with Hometown Democracy. Nothing has ever thwarted the development industry in Florida, and this won’t either. Vote for Amendment 4?
Call me irresponsible.
I call it irresistible.
Neil Skene
Friday, October 22, 2010
Florida Taxwatch is a Sham for development Interests
Press Release October 22, 2010
Contact: Wayne Garcia waynegar@gmai.com 813/468-1925
FLORIDA TAXWATCH, A SHAM "non-partisan" FRONT FOR DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS
The latest so-called economic study put out by Florida TaxWatch is just another attempt on the part of the No on 4 Growth Machine to make up "facts" to scare voters. With the earlier No on 4 study discredited recently by university economists and PolitiFact, they have ginned up another "estimate" that is as flawed as the earlier so-called study by the Washington Economics Group, which is an economic "advisor" to the Florida TaxWatch organization.
What has cost Florida untold jobs and higher taxes is the current system of growth. As Nathaniel Reed, a prominent conservationist and growth management advocate, said in his recent endorsement of Amendment 4, "Amendment 4 would end the boom and bust cycle of Florida real estate speculation and provide a more stable economic platform, resulting in more investment in our state, not less." As a 1999 study showed Florida's comp plans have room for growth for over 100 million Floridians to move here. To say that growth will stop if local governments can no longer willy-nilly change their land use plans is ludicrous given the amount of room for new growth in existing comp plans.
Florida TaxWatch is far from an independent broker in this campaign. Several of its board members, with ties to the development industry, have given money directly to the No on 4 campaign, and others are openly fighting against Amendment 4. TaxWatch is an arm of Florida's retail and development industries and, as such, is very much a part of the No on 4 effort.
To give an idea of how intertwined the opponents of Amendment 4 are with TaxWatch, one of the founding members of TaxWatch is Publix, and it has given $200,000 split among the two PACs fighting A4: Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy and Floridians for Smarter Growth.
Here is listing of dates and data obtained from the Florida Division of Elections campaign finance database:
Via Florida Mainstreet Merchants PAC to Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy PAC
2010 First Quarter 03/11/2010 $ 75,000 PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS _Plus_ $125,000 to Floridians for Smarter Growth
2009 Fourth Quarter 12/12/09 $ 125,000 PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS, INC.
_Publix has two members on the current TaxWatch board, as well as a founding member._
_Robert E. Coker of U.S. Sugar is on the Executive Committee of Florida TaxWatch which has given $75,000 to Amendment 4 opposition_
2007 Second Quarter 4/9/07 $25,000 UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION
2007 Second Quarter 5/29/07 $25,000 UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION
2007 Fourth Quarter 11/19/07 $25,000 UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION
The upshot is that TaxWatch is not an independent watchdog group, it is the creation of Big Business in Florida and it has been doing its bidding in opposition to Amendment 4. Still, several media reports printed Florida TaxWatch disinformation and described the organization as "neutral" or "non-partisan". Another outrageous lie from the people who want to keep citizens from voting on how their communities will develop.
Chairman Dr. Stephen Morrell, Professor of Economics and Finance Andreas School of Business,Barry University, Miami, Florida
Executive Director of the Center for Competitive Florida at Florida TaxWatch
Florida TaxWatch,Tallahassee, Florida
Vice Chairman R Antonio, Dean and research professor of economics, St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Florida--Principal Advisor,, The Washington Economics Group, Coral Gables, Florida
TaxWatch Board of Trustees Elects Executive Committee
The Florida TaxWatch Board of Trustees at its December 2007 annual meeting elected the following TaxWatch members to serve on the TaxWatch Executive Committee:
David Smith, Chairman & CEO PSS World Medical, Inc.
Dominic M. Calabro, President & CEO, Florida TaxWatch
Chairman-Elect Martha Barnett, Partner Holland + Knight
Marshall Criser III, President AT&T
Alan Ciamporcero, President Southeast Verizon
Immediate Past Chairman Mike Jennings, Vice President Prudential Financial
Member at Large John D. Baker, President and CEO, Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.
Member at Large Barney Barnett, Vice Chairman Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Member at Large Robert E. Coker, Senior Vice President - U.S. Sugar Corporation
Member at Large Steve L. Evans, Florida TaxWatch Chief Operating Officer, former TaxWatch Chairman, and retired IBM Vice President
Member at Large Ed Hannum, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at AvMed Health Plans
Member at Large Martha Korman, President and CEO, National Graphics Imaging
Member at Large Ron LaFace, Shareholder Greenberg Traurig
Member at Large David Mann, Executive Vice President at SunTrust Florida
Member at Large Paul Noland, Senior Vice President, Walt Disney World Resort
Member at Large John B. Zumwalt III, President and CEO, Post Buckley Schuh & Jernigan, Inc.
TaxWatch Membership Elects New Members to Board of Trustees Florida
TaxWatch Members at its December 2007 annual meeting elected the following TaxWatch members to first time terms on the Florida TaxWatch Board of Trustees:
Peter Harris, ADG
Bill Herrle, National Federation of Independent Business
Cindy O Connell, Hill & Knowlton
Bill McBride
Mary Lou Rajchel, Florida Trucking Association
John Andrew Smith, Smith & Smith Consulting
Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Wayne Garcia waynegar@gmai.com 813/468-1925
FLORIDA TAXWATCH, A SHAM "non-partisan" FRONT FOR DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS
The latest so-called economic study put out by Florida TaxWatch is just another attempt on the part of the No on 4 Growth Machine to make up "facts" to scare voters. With the earlier No on 4 study discredited recently by university economists and PolitiFact, they have ginned up another "estimate" that is as flawed as the earlier so-called study by the Washington Economics Group, which is an economic "advisor" to the Florida TaxWatch organization.
What has cost Florida untold jobs and higher taxes is the current system of growth. As Nathaniel Reed, a prominent conservationist and growth management advocate, said in his recent endorsement of Amendment 4, "Amendment 4 would end the boom and bust cycle of Florida real estate speculation and provide a more stable economic platform, resulting in more investment in our state, not less." As a 1999 study showed Florida's comp plans have room for growth for over 100 million Floridians to move here. To say that growth will stop if local governments can no longer willy-nilly change their land use plans is ludicrous given the amount of room for new growth in existing comp plans.
Florida TaxWatch is far from an independent broker in this campaign. Several of its board members, with ties to the development industry, have given money directly to the No on 4 campaign, and others are openly fighting against Amendment 4. TaxWatch is an arm of Florida's retail and development industries and, as such, is very much a part of the No on 4 effort.
To give an idea of how intertwined the opponents of Amendment 4 are with TaxWatch, one of the founding members of TaxWatch is Publix, and it has given $200,000 split among the two PACs fighting A4: Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy and Floridians for Smarter Growth.
Here is listing of dates and data obtained from the Florida Division of Elections campaign finance database:
Via Florida Mainstreet Merchants PAC to Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy PAC
2010 First Quarter 03/11/2010 $ 75,000 PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS _Plus_ $125,000 to Floridians for Smarter Growth
2009 Fourth Quarter 12/12/09 $ 125,000 PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS, INC.
_Publix has two members on the current TaxWatch board, as well as a founding member._
_Robert E. Coker of U.S. Sugar is on the Executive Committee of Florida TaxWatch which has given $75,000 to Amendment 4 opposition_
2007 Second Quarter 4/9/07 $25,000 UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION
2007 Second Quarter 5/29/07 $25,000 UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION
2007 Fourth Quarter 11/19/07 $25,000 UNITED STATES SUGAR CORPORATION
The upshot is that TaxWatch is not an independent watchdog group, it is the creation of Big Business in Florida and it has been doing its bidding in opposition to Amendment 4. Still, several media reports printed Florida TaxWatch disinformation and described the organization as "neutral" or "non-partisan". Another outrageous lie from the people who want to keep citizens from voting on how their communities will develop.
Chairman Dr. Stephen Morrell, Professor of Economics and Finance Andreas School of Business,Barry University, Miami, Florida
Executive Director of the Center for Competitive Florida at Florida TaxWatch
Florida TaxWatch,Tallahassee, Florida
Vice Chairman R Antonio, Dean and research professor of economics, St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Florida--Principal Advisor,, The Washington Economics Group, Coral Gables, Florida
TaxWatch Board of Trustees Elects Executive Committee
The Florida TaxWatch Board of Trustees at its December 2007 annual meeting elected the following TaxWatch members to serve on the TaxWatch Executive Committee:
David Smith, Chairman & CEO PSS World Medical, Inc.
Dominic M. Calabro, President & CEO, Florida TaxWatch
Chairman-Elect Martha Barnett, Partner Holland + Knight
Marshall Criser III, President AT&T
Alan Ciamporcero, President Southeast Verizon
Immediate Past Chairman Mike Jennings, Vice President Prudential Financial
Member at Large John D. Baker, President and CEO, Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc.
Member at Large Barney Barnett, Vice Chairman Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Member at Large Robert E. Coker, Senior Vice President - U.S. Sugar Corporation
Member at Large Steve L. Evans, Florida TaxWatch Chief Operating Officer, former TaxWatch Chairman, and retired IBM Vice President
Member at Large Ed Hannum, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at AvMed Health Plans
Member at Large Martha Korman, President and CEO, National Graphics Imaging
Member at Large Ron LaFace, Shareholder Greenberg Traurig
Member at Large David Mann, Executive Vice President at SunTrust Florida
Member at Large Paul Noland, Senior Vice President, Walt Disney World Resort
Member at Large John B. Zumwalt III, President and CEO, Post Buckley Schuh & Jernigan, Inc.
TaxWatch Membership Elects New Members to Board of Trustees Florida
TaxWatch Members at its December 2007 annual meeting elected the following TaxWatch members to first time terms on the Florida TaxWatch Board of Trustees:
Peter Harris, ADG
Bill Herrle, National Federation of Independent Business
Cindy O Connell, Hill & Knowlton
Bill McBride
Mary Lou Rajchel, Florida Trucking Association
John Andrew Smith, Smith & Smith Consulting
Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Mayor of Ponce Inlet supports Amendment 4
The Daytona News Journal
On Nov. 2, voters will decide whether they want the power to pass or reject a proposed land-use change; if the change is consistent with their town's comprehensive plan, it's a no-brainer.
Giving power back to citizens
On Nov. 2, voters will decide whether they want the power to pass or reject a proposed land-use change; if the change is consistent with their town's comprehensive plan, it's a no-brainer.
On the other hand, what if the proposed change is not what they envision for their community? Then they will hold the power to vote against it.
It is no wonder that the development lobby is terrified of Amendment 4 passing. For years they have bulldozed, bamboozled, schemed, and tried mightily to convince voters that only elected officials and lobbyists were smart enough to understand land-use decisions. As an elected official, I say nothing could be farther from the truth.
Special interest groups are frantically lining up to endorse pro-development candidates in Ponce Inlet. In my eight years in politics, I have never seen pro-development interests so desperate; they seem to think their endorsement of a candidate who passes their litmus test will fool the voters.
Few can dispute the fact that over-development in Florida is arguably the biggest contributor to the economic challenges facing us now and conceivably for the next two to three years. As responsible land-use planning and managed growth make good sense for any community, so does Amendment 4.
Goudie is mayor of Ponce Inlet.Saturday, October 9, 2010
Take back land-use decisions from ‘Corruption County’
Even though the Palm Beach Post refuses to see the truth and hurled an insult at Palm Beach County resident Lesley Blackner who founded Florida Hometown Democracy saying she was "disgruntled," we, the voters, know better--at least those of us not involved in over developing our State for the almighty buck, and others who derive their income from real estate sales or merchants who have no country.Thus, we agree with the following Letter to the Editor:
In response to the recent criticism of Amendment 4, the people of Florida are sick and tired of corrupt politicians. In Palm Beach County, it seems that every couple of months another commissioner is in trouble. The Department of Justice says that Florida has more political corruption than any other state. Most of the guilty politicians have been corrupted by money from developers. This can take the form of secret land deals or money in exchange for a vote.
The politicians and developers who oppose Amendment 4 think the people are not smart enough to make decisions on land-use changes. That could not be further from the truth. The people of Florida can see how unbridled growth causes lower property values, crowded roads and schools and higher taxes. Just look at counties to the south and see how the quality of life has been compromised by poor planning and over-development.
Vote for Amendment 4, and take back control of land-use decisions from corrupt politicians.
JEFF WITTMANN
Hobe Sound
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Real people saying Real things about Amendment 4
Stuart NewsSeptember 13, 2010
Eric Haenni’s letter Sept. 3 displayed the typical skewed understanding of law and practical politics that is common among anti-Amendment 4 advocates trying to thwart the will of the people.
It also provided an unintended laugh with a ludicrous proposition. His observation that such amendments were not contemplated when the original Growth Management Law was passed is irrelevant. The overriding Florida constitution contemplates such changes, and provides the legal path for doing so.
On a practical rather than legalistic basis, the law unfortunately does not contemplate commissioners voting to approve over-development favorable to their campaign contributors.
It’s hard to choke back a laugh when you read Haenni’s concern that Amendment 4 might obstruct proposals to “reduce the intensity of use, protect natural resources.” Aside from the fact that residents would enthusiastically embrace such proposals, when was the last time some developer actually proposed an amendment requiring less intense use? Probably never.
Amendment 4 allows ordinary people, not the Growth Machine, to have the final say on how their communities grow. And ordinary people are smart enough to understand the issues and cast intelligent votes.
Jackie Trancynger
Jensen Beach
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Bubble Bailedout Builders--Why we need Amendment 4
Comment Up
Nearly $2 million of the $5 million raised by the opponents of Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 since April comes from Wall Street’s biggest construction corporations --- corporations that recently received billions in federal bailout money. Another $2.5 million funneled to the Political Committee opposing Amendment 4 during the past four months came from a who’s who of lobbying groups that represent the over-builders/speculators.
These publicly traded construction companies engaged in reckless speculation, over-built many communities, and crashed Florida’s economy. Yet they received huge taxpayer bailouts this year and are now using them to try to deny Floridians the right to vote by funding the opposition to Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4.
Here’s a breakdown of recent contributions from the Bailed-Out “Bubble Builders” to Amendment 4's opponent: (Source: Citizens for Lower Taxes & A Stronger Economy PAC, Fla. Division of Elections - Searched by “Contributions” and “Amount” 4/1/2010-7/16/2010):
2010 Contribution --Recent contribution-- 2010 Bailout
Lennar Homes FL-- $367,000-- $251.1 million
Meritage Homes-- $ 34,000-- $93 million
M.D.C. Holdings-- $ 39,000 --$142.6 million
Standard Pacific of Tampa-- $132,00--0 $103 million
Pulte Homes-- $567,000-- $800 million
Ryland Homes-- $135,000-- $97.6 million
KB Homes-- $255,000-- $191.7 million
K. Hovnanian Companies-- $ 96,000-- $250 to $275 million
Beazer Homes-- $ 75,000-- $101 million
M/I Homes-- $ 73,000-- $31 million
Toll Brothers-- $ 43,000-- $78.8 million
MDC Holdings-- $ 39,000-- $142.6 million Recent media reports reveal numerous consumer complaints throughout Florida associated with poor construction practices by the “bubble bailout builders” -- broken promises to homeowners, aggressive use of sub-prime mortgages, encouragement of “flipping” and reckless over-building during the recent bubble. What was the result? The “bubble builders” got a $33 billion bailout tucked inside the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009.
Alan Farago, a longtime Miami activist, led an effort to stop a new Lennar built city planned for Everglades’s wetlands. He remarked, "The housing bubble that burst has Lennar's name all over it. In Florida City, the company employed the sister of a county commissioner as lobbyist whose other sibling was Florida City mayor. Only the housing crash stopped Lennar from moving the Urban Development Boundary into Everglades’s wetlands. They needed exactly the land use change that Amendment 4 would give to voters to decide and not the rubber stampers, who stamped our state straight into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Lisa Maxwell, candidate for Commissioner District 4 in Lake Worth, is the former Director of Re-development for the Lennar Corporation-South Florida. Ms. Maxwell worked for a company that directly helped crash Florida's economy. Lisa announces candidacy
Privately held real estate companies are not required to publicly disclose their bailouts, and a number of these builders also donated to the opposition to Amendment 4. For example, GL Homes, a huge but private Florida developer, donated $50,000 this year to try to defeat Hometown Democracy.
"Florida voters need to know that the very companies that drove Florida over the cliff and wrecked our economy with crazy over-building got immense bail outs,” said Lesley Blackner, president of Florida Hometown Democracy, the sponsor of Amendment 4 on the statewide ballot Nov. 2. “Amendment 4 will give Florida voters the right to decide whether their local comprehensive land use plan should be changed. These corporations want to deprive Florida voters of having accountability over their dealings.
Florida voters are stuck with higher taxes and declining quality of life because of the crazy, ill-planned, reckless overbuilding endlessly rubber stamped by politicians for these over-developers. We deserve a vote before we must pay for the services and infrastructure for even more development. Amendment 4 recognizes that major changes to our comprehensive master plans are just too important to leave solely to the developers and their lobbyists. The bubble builders lobbying groups that kicked in $2.5 million include The Broward Workshop ($260,000), Floridians for Smarter Growth ($488,000), the Florida Chamber of Commerce ($240,000) and the Florida Association of Realtors ($1 million.)
Since 2007, the over-builders/speculators have raised over $10 million to defeat Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4. Here’s the breakdown:
Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy $5.9 million total (Daniel Cunningham's and Aimee Carlson's employer...and can't forget Ryan Houck)
Floridians for Smarter Growth $4.6 m total (donated $488,000 to Lower Taxes PAC)
Save Our Constitution $421,000
TOTAL $10.4 m
“Our opposition is comprised of those who crashed Florida’s economy with speculation and over-building and the politicians who serve them. The group fronting for the bailed out bubble-builders will say anything to preserve a broken, corrupt status quo. They are running a campaign based on fear tactics and outright lies. I urge my fellow voters to consider the source of the opposition’s huge media campaign war chest this fall when the barrage of lies hits the air waves.”
(Video presentation by L. Blackner http://floridahometowndemocracy.com/media-center)
Nearly $2 million of the $5 million raised by the opponents of Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 since April comes from Wall Street’s biggest construction corporations --- corporations that recently received billions in federal bailout money. Another $2.5 million funneled to the Political Committee opposing Amendment 4 during the past four months came from a who’s who of lobbying groups that represent the over-builders/speculators.
These publicly traded construction companies engaged in reckless speculation, over-built many communities, and crashed Florida’s economy. Yet they received huge taxpayer bailouts this year and are now using them to try to deny Floridians the right to vote by funding the opposition to Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4.
Here’s a breakdown of recent contributions from the Bailed-Out “Bubble Builders” to Amendment 4's opponent: (Source: Citizens for Lower Taxes & A Stronger Economy PAC, Fla. Division of Elections - Searched by “Contributions” and “Amount” 4/1/2010-7/16/2010):
2010 Contribution --Recent contribution-- 2010 Bailout
Lennar Homes FL-- $367,000-- $251.1 million
Meritage Homes-- $ 34,000-- $93 million
M.D.C. Holdings-- $ 39,000 --$142.6 million
Standard Pacific of Tampa-- $132,00--0 $103 million
Pulte Homes-- $567,000-- $800 million
Ryland Homes-- $135,000-- $97.6 million
KB Homes-- $255,000-- $191.7 million
K. Hovnanian Companies-- $ 96,000-- $250 to $275 million
Beazer Homes-- $ 75,000-- $101 million
M/I Homes-- $ 73,000-- $31 million
Toll Brothers-- $ 43,000-- $78.8 million
MDC Holdings-- $ 39,000-- $142.6 million Recent media reports reveal numerous consumer complaints throughout Florida associated with poor construction practices by the “bubble bailout builders” -- broken promises to homeowners, aggressive use of sub-prime mortgages, encouragement of “flipping” and reckless over-building during the recent bubble. What was the result? The “bubble builders” got a $33 billion bailout tucked inside the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009.
Alan Farago, a longtime Miami activist, led an effort to stop a new Lennar built city planned for Everglades’s wetlands. He remarked, "The housing bubble that burst has Lennar's name all over it. In Florida City, the company employed the sister of a county commissioner as lobbyist whose other sibling was Florida City mayor. Only the housing crash stopped Lennar from moving the Urban Development Boundary into Everglades’s wetlands. They needed exactly the land use change that Amendment 4 would give to voters to decide and not the rubber stampers, who stamped our state straight into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Lisa Maxwell, candidate for Commissioner District 4 in Lake Worth, is the former Director of Re-development for the Lennar Corporation-South Florida. Ms. Maxwell worked for a company that directly helped crash Florida's economy. Lisa announces candidacy
Privately held real estate companies are not required to publicly disclose their bailouts, and a number of these builders also donated to the opposition to Amendment 4. For example, GL Homes, a huge but private Florida developer, donated $50,000 this year to try to defeat Hometown Democracy.
"Florida voters need to know that the very companies that drove Florida over the cliff and wrecked our economy with crazy over-building got immense bail outs,” said Lesley Blackner, president of Florida Hometown Democracy, the sponsor of Amendment 4 on the statewide ballot Nov. 2. “Amendment 4 will give Florida voters the right to decide whether their local comprehensive land use plan should be changed. These corporations want to deprive Florida voters of having accountability over their dealings.
Florida voters are stuck with higher taxes and declining quality of life because of the crazy, ill-planned, reckless overbuilding endlessly rubber stamped by politicians for these over-developers. We deserve a vote before we must pay for the services and infrastructure for even more development. Amendment 4 recognizes that major changes to our comprehensive master plans are just too important to leave solely to the developers and their lobbyists. The bubble builders lobbying groups that kicked in $2.5 million include The Broward Workshop ($260,000), Floridians for Smarter Growth ($488,000), the Florida Chamber of Commerce ($240,000) and the Florida Association of Realtors ($1 million.)
Since 2007, the over-builders/speculators have raised over $10 million to defeat Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4. Here’s the breakdown:
Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy $5.9 million total (Daniel Cunningham's and Aimee Carlson's employer...and can't forget Ryan Houck)
Floridians for Smarter Growth $4.6 m total (donated $488,000 to Lower Taxes PAC)
Save Our Constitution $421,000
TOTAL $10.4 m
“Our opposition is comprised of those who crashed Florida’s economy with speculation and over-building and the politicians who serve them. The group fronting for the bailed out bubble-builders will say anything to preserve a broken, corrupt status quo. They are running a campaign based on fear tactics and outright lies. I urge my fellow voters to consider the source of the opposition’s huge media campaign war chest this fall when the barrage of lies hits the air waves.”
(Video presentation by L. Blackner http://floridahometowndemocracy.com/media-center)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Amendment 4 Supporters
You will NOT see any developer groups, Realtors, or the Chamber of Commerce on this list.
Albert J. Abbatiello, 2008 Candidate St John's County Commission
Save Our Florida
Save The Manatee Club
Albert J. Abbatiello, 2008 Candidate St John's County Commission
Scott M. Ales, former Mayor, City of Eustis
Faye Armitage, 2008 Candidate US Congressional District 7
Faye Armitage, 2008 Candidate US Congressional District 7
Thomas P. Bausch, Commissioner, Sewells Point
Edward F. Candela, former Yankeetown Councilor
Nicholas Dempsey, Professor of Sociology, Eckerd College
Beth Dillaha, Winter Park City Commissioner (watch short video from Beth)
Andrew Dickman, Esq.
Dr. Willa Drummond, Professor of Pediatrics, Univ. of Florida
Eric Fricker - former Vice Mayor, City of Cocoa Beach
Richard J. Grosso, Esq.
Sarah Heard, Martin County Commissioner
Maggy Hurchalla, former Martin County Commissioner
Mary E. (Mel) Kelly, former mayor City of CarrabelleKenneth E. LaRoe, CEO First Green Bank
Kenneth "Buddy" MacKay, Florida's 42nd Governor
Kay McGinn, former mayor and commissioner, City of Pompano Beach
David E. Merrill, former mayor and commissioner of Sarasota
Harry Metz, former St. Pete Beach City Commissioner
Gathana Parmenas, Carrabelle City Commissioner '05-'07
Ian & Teri Pollack, Amazing Race 3 & Amazing Race All Stars
Robert (Bob) Rackleff, Leon County Commissioner
Robert (Bob) Rackleff, Leon County Commissioner
Ben Rich, former St. Johns County Commissioner
Frank K. Rollason, former City of Miami Ass't City Manager
Richard G.Rubino, author, Prof.Emeritus, FSU
Richard Valuntas, Esq
Lovett E. Williams, Jr., PhD
ORGANIZATIONS:
A-E Enterprises, Inc.
Alliance To Protect Water Resources, Inc.
Brian F. Call Photography
Broadway to Silver Beach Neighborhood Association, Inc.
Broward Barrier Island Coalition
Better Government Association of Sarasota County, Inc.
Citizens Council For Creeks and Wetlands
Citizens For Charter
Coalition of Concerned Citizens
Concerned Citizens of Flagler Beach
Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County
Corridor 44 Civic Association
East Polk Government Watch Committee, Inc.
Environmental Alliance Of North Florida, Inc.
Environmental & Land Use Law Center, Inc.
Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, Inc (ECOSWF)
Floridians for Environmental Accountability and Reform, Inc.
Flagler Beach Environmental Preservation Council, Inc
Florida Bi-Partisan Civic Affairs Group
Florida Bi-Partisan Civic Affairs Group
Four Lakes Homeowners Association
Geneva Citizens Association, Inc.
Glen Springs Preservation Association, Inc.
Glen Springs Preservation Association, Inc.
Hammock Estates HOA of Sebring, Inc.
Laurel Oaks P.O.A.
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Citizens Initiative Committee, Inc.
Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation
North Citrus Civic Association
Orange Audubon Society
Osteen Preservation Society
Palm City Civic Organization, Inc.
Palm Coast Citizens For Action
Panhandle Citizens Coalition
(Pinellas) Park Royale Home Owners Association
Rainbow River Conservation, Inc.
Samsula And Volusians for our Environment, Inc.
Sand Key Civic Association
Save Brevard
Save Our NeighborhoodsSave Our Florida
Save The Manatee Club
Save Our Wetlands Coalition
Seminole Audubon Society, Inc. Space Coast Progressive Alliance
Sumter Citizens Against Irresponsible Development
Sumter Citizens Against Polluting the Aquifer
Surfside Town Commission
Swiss Village Park
Swiss Village Park
Wetlands Alert, Inc.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Christopher McVoy, Candidate Lake Worth Commissioner District 2
Comment Up
Campaign Party
Christopher had his first campaign party Sunday night at a residence on S. Palmway. Supporters were there sporting umbrellas. It rained all night long.
As the recent edition of the Lake Worth Herald dated August 19th did not seem to know or take the time to find out about Christopher McVoy, candidate for Commissioner District 2, I thought that I would tell you about him. (From his web site) Update: The Lake Worth Herald did a front page write-up on Dr. McVoy in today's edition.
Christopher McVoy
Campaign PartyAs the recent edition of the Lake Worth Herald dated August 19th did not seem to know or take the time to find out about Christopher McVoy, candidate for Commissioner District 2, I thought that I would tell you about him. (From his web site) Update: The Lake Worth Herald did a front page write-up on Dr. McVoy in today's edition.
Christopher McVoy- Ph.D Member, Planning and Zoning Board, City of Lake Worth
- Key player in America’s restoration of the Everglades
- Senior Environmental Scientist at South Florida Water Management District
- Committee Member to Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida(1996)
- Active in efforts to preserve public ownership of Lake Worth Beach
- Author, Educator, Grant Recipient
- Fluent in five languages (English, Spanish, French, German and Dutch)
Christopher McVoy is an accomplished wetland hydrologist, author, educator, advocate and recipient of many grants. He has devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge and the use of his knowledge to impact public policy and increase community education. For the past two decades Christopher has stood up for many important issues.
A 12-year resident and homeowner in Lake Worth, Christopher has taken an active role in improving our community. As Chairman of the “We Love Lake Worth” Beach Protection PAC, Christopher spearheaded the effort to keep Lake Worth Beach 100% public. His efforts, combined with the work of others in the community, were successful in over-turning the private lease deal to develop our beach. With the public beach protected, the City is moving forward with a beautification plan that will improve our beach while retaining 100% public ownership and access.
As a member of the City Planning and Zoning Board, Christopher contributed a reasoned, technical perspective to the re-writing of the city’s land development regulations to ensure that residents, businesses and developers have clear, consistent, and appropriate development regulations to follow to achieve Lake Worth’s smart growth objectives.
Christopher has also been active on regional issues. He was a member of the Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida, adding his technical expertise and passion to help guide Florida’s growth while protecting our valuable natural resources for future generations.
Christopher first came to Florida in 1996 to work as a researcher, scientist and advocate with the Environmental Defense Fund to address the critical situation in the dying Florida Everglades. His research and advocacy led to a position with the South Florida Water Management District where he has been employed for the past ten years. As Senior Environmental Scientist, he worked with more than 100 ecologists, hydrologists, engineers and other professionals from more than 30 federal, state, tribal, and local agencies to take a system-wide look at water and develop a comprehensive plan to preserve south Florida’s natural ecosystem, while enhancing water supplies and maintaining flood protection.
Christopher’s commitment to integrity and transparency in government is a path he has travelled for many years. His journey began in Madison, Wisconsin where he grew up the oldest of three siblings. His father- a physicist, professor, and photographer – and his mother, an environmental advocate and amateur cultural historian – were founding members of the Board of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association and were instrumental in passing bills to protect Wisconsin wetlands. They instilled in him a love of learning, artistic pursuits, and the outdoors, taking the family hiking, camping and canoeing as often as possible.
Christopher and his wife, Kimberly, can often be found bicycling in the city, teaching yoga, or enjoying outdoor activities such as kayaking and swimming. He is devoted to his mother, who turned 80 this year, regularly taking her on outings to enjoy her favorite downtown restaurants.
Thoughtful, educated, patient, accomplished, friendly, dedicated — Christopher McVoy is a man who has stood up for our beach and our Everglades. With your vote on November 2, he will be a commissioner who will stand up for Lake Worth and for you.
Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (1994)
M.S., University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
B.A., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Presenter/Lecturer –
University of Florida
Arthur R. Marshall Foundation
Everglades Coalition Conference
Grant Recipient –
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation
Member –
Technical Advisory Committee to Governor’s Commission for a
Sustainable South Florida. (1996)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Dori and the Florida Farm Bureau
Comment Up
What happens when we no longer have farmland?
Any company that feels its ability to make money might be diminished to some degree if Amendment 4 passes does not know the facts. They do not realize that there is so much land already available under Comprehensive Plans right now for builders to build, for buyers to come, and for businesses to make tons of money. They have all been under the spell of the Ryan Houcks and Chamber of Commerces across the State. They continue to fight any legislation that protects our State from uncontrolled growth.
John Hoblick, leader of the Florida Farm Bureau just said that he was pleased with Marco Rubio’s decision to put an emphasis on a strong agriculture. “We applaud what Rubio’s done and we are hopeful that fellow candidates in this race and other statewide races will follow his lead,” said Hoblick. Then why, Mr. Hoblick, are you for developers to come in and pave over farm land? You speak on two sides of your mouth. Florida Hometown Democracy, along with Marco Rubio, believes in a strong agriculture as well.
Dori Sutter just wrote to the Florida Farm Bureau and I have printed her letter below.
Subject: Disappointed to hear about Florida Farm Bureau's 'stand' against Amendment 4...
Dear Mr. Hoblick:
Your recent public stand, as the President of Florida Farm Bureau, against Florida Hometown Democracy's Amendment 4 and the large number of contributions made to the Opposition is very disheartening.
As a new member, I chose Farm Bureau Insurance due to it's high rating and long reputation with the Florida farming industry going back to when my Dad subscribed to Farm Bureau Insurance when I was growing up in the farming community of Seminole County surrounding Sanford, FL.
As a tenth generation Floridian I've seen our agricultural areas dwindle away year after year to sprouting housing subdivisions and town centers. Sanford was once the Celery Capitol of the World, now the only celery you will find is at the supermarkets. The once busy State Farmers Market in Sanford, where trucks would pickup fresh produce from local farms to transport to train depots and other areas of the State, is still there...not sure what it is used for today because there are no more farms left in Sanford. The small truck farms that surrounded Sanford have all gone. Most of the family farmers who I grew up with were pushed out or soldout to developers, moving to Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia to find roots in new earth to till.
I find it unconscionable that Florida Farm Bureau would 'side' with the Development Industry and it's land-use politics of the Chamber of Commerce to further destroy Florida's agricultural lands. Lands today that are not owned by heart n soul true Farmers and Ranchers, but by Big Agricultural Land Owners/Developers that 'use' the agricultural tax exemption to hold on to land paying low taxes until they're ready to convert it (changing its land use) to make big $$$ in developing rural land that pushes into needed water sheds, wildlife habitats and environmentally sensitive areas of rivers and wetlands...the natural landscape that maintains Florida.
Today, we have unprecedented over-development with more approved growth in local comprehensive plans throughout Florida to attract 100 million residents....100 million residents we do not have the water resources, services or infrastructure to accommodate. There is enough approved growth in all aspects of industries to create jobs, revenue and take a new direction for Florida in growing 'better'; but, currently there is no demand, no market after hitting bottom 'again', only this time it was nationwide. To continue the same historical 10 year construction cycle is insane, with Farm Bureau approving of this 'insanity'.
Florida will be the last to recover, due to over-development and greed on the part of the Development, Mortgage and Real Estate Industries. It also ranks #1 in the Nation for Political Corruption and #2 for Mortgage Fraud... NOT something to be proud of. Yet, the same Industries that aided and abetted this catastrophe, are the same ones Opposing Florida Hometown Democracy 's Amendment 4. You will find few individual citizens listed as contributors to the Opposition's campaign named "Citizens for Lower Taxes and Better Economy" aka "Citizens for Smarter Growth", among other misnomers.
The only true 'grassroots' campaign of citizens is Florida Hometown Democracy's campaign for Amendment 4. I am proud to be among the 1,000,000 Floridians that put this Amendment on the Ballot in November. Those 1,000,000 supporters have grown immensely with thousands of small contributions toward fighting for citizens' right to veto future bad growth decisions. The Mason Dixon poll held earlier this year reflected that 61% of voters would pass this Amendment on Nov. 2nd...and it will pass by a greater percentage....no matter how much the opposition spends on misinformation and lies. Perhaps, Mr. Hoblick, you should check out the real facts on Amendment 4 because it IS really very simple, it's only as complicated as politics and the opposition want to make it out to be.
Now, I have to research for a New Insurance Carrier because I will not stay with such a hypocritical firm as Farm Bureau...a company that is supposed to 'protect the agricultural and farming industry' to insure it's future. Your very public stand 'against' Amendment 4 reflects that you care only about the 'politics' of the game and the large land-owners you insure, not about true 'agriculture and farming' members. You've lost a good customer (previously I was with Nationwide for over 20 yrs), looks like they're getting me back.
I invite you to Get the real facts, Mr. Hoblick, and visit our new website at www.floridahometowndemocracy.com
We're In It to WIN it on Nov. 2nd!...by numbers of citizens...not numbers of $$$.
--
Dori Sutter
Winter Springs, FL
Seminole-Orange County Coordinator
AMENDMENT 4 CAMPAIGN 2010
Paid Political advertisement paid for and approved by Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc. PAC
What happens when we no longer have farmland?John Hoblick, leader of the Florida Farm Bureau just said that he was pleased with Marco Rubio’s decision to put an emphasis on a strong agriculture. “We applaud what Rubio’s done and we are hopeful that fellow candidates in this race and other statewide races will follow his lead,” said Hoblick. Then why, Mr. Hoblick, are you for developers to come in and pave over farm land? You speak on two sides of your mouth. Florida Hometown Democracy, along with Marco Rubio, believes in a strong agriculture as well.
Dori Sutter just wrote to the Florida Farm Bureau and I have printed her letter below.
Subject: Disappointed to hear about Florida Farm Bureau's 'stand' against Amendment 4...
Dear Mr. Hoblick:
Your recent public stand, as the President of Florida Farm Bureau, against Florida Hometown Democracy's Amendment 4 and the large number of contributions made to the Opposition is very disheartening.
As a new member, I chose Farm Bureau Insurance due to it's high rating and long reputation with the Florida farming industry going back to when my Dad subscribed to Farm Bureau Insurance when I was growing up in the farming community of Seminole County surrounding Sanford, FL.
As a tenth generation Floridian I've seen our agricultural areas dwindle away year after year to sprouting housing subdivisions and town centers. Sanford was once the Celery Capitol of the World, now the only celery you will find is at the supermarkets. The once busy State Farmers Market in Sanford, where trucks would pickup fresh produce from local farms to transport to train depots and other areas of the State, is still there...not sure what it is used for today because there are no more farms left in Sanford. The small truck farms that surrounded Sanford have all gone. Most of the family farmers who I grew up with were pushed out or soldout to developers, moving to Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia to find roots in new earth to till.
I find it unconscionable that Florida Farm Bureau would 'side' with the Development Industry and it's land-use politics of the Chamber of Commerce to further destroy Florida's agricultural lands. Lands today that are not owned by heart n soul true Farmers and Ranchers, but by Big Agricultural Land Owners/Developers that 'use' the agricultural tax exemption to hold on to land paying low taxes until they're ready to convert it (changing its land use) to make big $$$ in developing rural land that pushes into needed water sheds, wildlife habitats and environmentally sensitive areas of rivers and wetlands...the natural landscape that maintains Florida.
Today, we have unprecedented over-development with more approved growth in local comprehensive plans throughout Florida to attract 100 million residents....100 million residents we do not have the water resources, services or infrastructure to accommodate. There is enough approved growth in all aspects of industries to create jobs, revenue and take a new direction for Florida in growing 'better'; but, currently there is no demand, no market after hitting bottom 'again', only this time it was nationwide. To continue the same historical 10 year construction cycle is insane, with Farm Bureau approving of this 'insanity'.
Florida will be the last to recover, due to over-development and greed on the part of the Development, Mortgage and Real Estate Industries. It also ranks #1 in the Nation for Political Corruption and #2 for Mortgage Fraud... NOT something to be proud of. Yet, the same Industries that aided and abetted this catastrophe, are the same ones Opposing Florida Hometown Democracy 's Amendment 4. You will find few individual citizens listed as contributors to the Opposition's campaign named "Citizens for Lower Taxes and Better Economy" aka "Citizens for Smarter Growth", among other misnomers.
The only true 'grassroots' campaign of citizens is Florida Hometown Democracy's campaign for Amendment 4. I am proud to be among the 1,000,000 Floridians that put this Amendment on the Ballot in November. Those 1,000,000 supporters have grown immensely with thousands of small contributions toward fighting for citizens' right to veto future bad growth decisions. The Mason Dixon poll held earlier this year reflected that 61% of voters would pass this Amendment on Nov. 2nd...and it will pass by a greater percentage....no matter how much the opposition spends on misinformation and lies. Perhaps, Mr. Hoblick, you should check out the real facts on Amendment 4 because it IS really very simple, it's only as complicated as politics and the opposition want to make it out to be.
Now, I have to research for a New Insurance Carrier because I will not stay with such a hypocritical firm as Farm Bureau...a company that is supposed to 'protect the agricultural and farming industry' to insure it's future. Your very public stand 'against' Amendment 4 reflects that you care only about the 'politics' of the game and the large land-owners you insure, not about true 'agriculture and farming' members. You've lost a good customer (previously I was with Nationwide for over 20 yrs), looks like they're getting me back.
I invite you to Get the real facts, Mr. Hoblick, and visit our new website at www.floridahometowndemocracy.com
We're In It to WIN it on Nov. 2nd!...by numbers of citizens...not numbers of $$$.
--
Dori Sutter
Winter Springs, FL
Seminole-Orange County Coordinator
AMENDMENT 4 CAMPAIGN 2010
Paid Political advertisement paid for and approved by Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc. PAC
Monday, August 16, 2010
Seeing "red" in Lake Worth
Everybody knows that the economy has gone down the tubes -- literally--from the man who lays down tubes for backyard sprinklers to the city employee who brings lunch and it is world-wide. But now that it is election time, we have Mary Lindsey blaming it on Cara Jennings and Suzanne Mulvehill. Some people will resort to anything but what about the facts?Downtown rental rates have gone up and those even thinking about opening a business have put it on the back burner. $2.79 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in a state of double-digit unemployment – it climbed to 11.8 percent in June in Palm Beach County, an all-time high? – and our long-time store across from the Lake Worth Playhouse had to move because of rental rates. Even Porter Paint a year ago saw red in Lake Worth.
Look to the Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce. Wasn't it their job to attract businesses? "The mission of the Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce is to foster and promote business growth through networking, education and leadership while preserving a positive community image." That's why members pay dues. Even the Chamber could not complete its mission during this economy.
Commissioners Jennings and Mulvehill gave the city manager, Susan Stanton a vote of confidence when they hired her. She is working diligently to get our city out of the red by implementing procedures and goals. Our dilemma started over ten years ago, not over the past four years. Our city got sucked into the over-all recession that caused our property values to spiral down.
To blame the worst recession since the Big Depression on two commissioners just shows how down right low and dirty politics can get. So what’s new? We witnessed this in the last election. Now we have Mary Lindsey forming a new political action committee named Businesses Aligned for Change. Good. We hope that the entire global economy will cooperate.
So, let's put the blame where it belongs -- on greedy and dishonest bankers and mortgage brokers, not the absurd allegation that two little commissioners in Lake Worth brought down our economy. Here in Lake Worth, it is landlords charging unrealistic rates during this economic downturn. The only business that can afford these rents is a bar.
Honesty is the most important change we could ever get in Lake Worth. Retaining an honest commissioner of high integrity, Suzanne Mulvehill, is the smartest vote we could ever make.
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