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Amendment 4 benefits community decision-making

St. Augustine.com

July 14, 2010

Amendment 4 benefits community decision-making

Editor: As reporter Brandon Larrabee wrote June 18, the Florida Legislature adjourned without taking the vote needed to keep the state's land-planning agency alive. That leaves the Florida Department of Community Affairs in limbo for another year, and there's talk in Tallahassee of abolishing or weakening DCA next year.

This should worry all of us who live with the consequences of badly-planned development: clogged roads, overcrowded schools, foreclosed subdivisions and empty storefronts.

This is why I am supporting Amendment 4, the Florida Hometown Democracy initiative that will be on the statewide ballot Nov. 2. When Amendment 4 passes, citizens will have common-sense oversight.

Amendment 4 is an add-on to the existing process. Local city or county commissions will study, hold public hearings, and vote on proposed changes to the overall master plan (local comprehensive land-use plan) just like they do now. Here's the new Amendment 4 step: Voters will veto or approve their decision on the next regularly scheduled Election Day. No special elections are required. It's that simple.

With Amendment 4, we're saying: Voters deserve a seat at the table - a vote. We're the ones who pay our tax dollars to extend the police, fire, water, sewer, schools and roads to new developments that our commissioners keep approving. Is a new development worth it? Is it affordable for our community? We should get a vote before we're forced to pay.

If it affects my home and my taxes, I want to vote on it. Learn more about our nonpartisan citizen's reform movement at www.floridahometowndemcoracy.com.

Published in: Letters to editor on Wednesday 14th of July 2010