Published: 27 July 2009
The Orlando Sentinel Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.
A year ago there were some semi-decent arguments that even the "white hat" environmentalists and planners were making against Hometown Democracy, the constitutional amendment regarding development in Florida that will be on the ballot next year.
Among the more cognizant (although depressing) was the position that if the voters took control of growth management issues, then our pro-growth legislature in Tallahassee would simply do away with any rules at all!
Well, folks, we're practically there, so damn the torpedoes!
A few years ago I was startled to find a casual comment that I'd made to a writer friend bold-faced in National Geographic, something to the effect of: "Just because we've ruined most of Florida, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try and save the ten percent that's left." Now I'm saying it and meaning it, big time!
The central heartland of Florida is what's left, and subject to being raped and pillaged under Senate Bill 360, passed in this recent session and signed by the governor. In addition, the legislation that gave water resource decisions to administrators (obligated to the governor and legislature for their livelihood!), rather than citizen boards, will allow big landowners and developers to earmark those resources for growth. Residents who are being asked to hold off on watering their lawns may well ask: who am I saving it for?!
Imagine what a reasonable response to this proposed amendment would have been! The legislature might have said "Gee, let's figure out why our citizens are upset about growth, and address those concerns in a meaningful way!"
Cities and counties might have been getting their growth management plans in order. The landmark legislation that made Florida a model for the nation back in the '70s asked that we devise plans that would provide for orderly, productive, and profitable growth over five and twenty year periods. It's only in relatively recent times that amendments to those plans started showing up on local government agendas with startling frequency. If opponents of Hometown Democracy don't want voters intruding on those decisions, all they have to do is return to the original concept of careful, well-reasoned, long term planning. If you're not changing the comprehensive plan hundreds of times a year (which really happens in some jurisdictions!) then you should have nothing to worry about.
I'm not just urging support for Hometown Democracy, I'll be looking for candidates who say that planning for growth has been highjacked by special interests and needs to be returned to the people of Florida.
We might have tried Reform. Apparently there's nothing left now but Revolution! I'll meet you on the barricades.
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