October 29, 2009

Florida has one of the worst economies in the nation. It leads in home foreclosures; its unemployment is among the worst.

Ten Florida banks have failed because of bad development loans.

Yet, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, which represents developers, wants more of the same.

In his recent letter, Jerry Mallot, Chamber executive vice president, writes that the Hometown Democracy amendment would hurt Florida's economy.

As a member of the executive committee of the Nassau County Group, Sierra Club and a member of the Growth Management Committee of the Sierra Club's Florida Chapter, I can say that the facts do not support Mallot.

Controlling unneeded development - which Hometown Democracy will do - will make Florida's economy more resilient to future economic upheavals.

Land-use plans already allow residential development for more than 100 million people in Florida, more than five times the current state population of 18 million.

Here in Nassau County, there are about 7,000 homes already approved that have not been built.

Much land is already zoned for commercial development, but it will be many years until the empty storefronts and unfinished shopping malls that litter our landscape are completed and filled.

Plenty of construction jobs will be unaffected by Hometown Democracy.

Rational control of development, which Hometown Democracy will achieve, will help the economy, not harm it.

Florida's economy was a giant Ponzi scheme based on the concept that growth would continue indefinitely. When the bubble burst, those last in got hurt.

We need a more balanced economy, including agriculture, industry and tourism. Over-reliance on the boom-and-bust cycle of development has helped put our economy in sad shape.

Overdevelopment paves over productive farmlands and creates traffic congestion.

Overdevelopment will chase away Florida's 80 million annual tourists.

Better control of development will encourage a stronger, more diversified economy based on permanent, productive jobs.

Many studies show new developments reach into the pockets of established residents to finance infrastructure to service them.

Jacksonville's Cedar Swamp Study showed residential development costs taxpayers $2.45 for every $1 it generates in new taxes. By controlling development, there will be less need for more taxes.

Since developer-controlled city and county commissions won't control development, we must restore control to the people.

We need to vote yes for the Hometown Democracy Amendment, Amendment 4, in November 2010.

ROBERT M. WEINTRAUB

Fernandina Beach