Amendment 4’s New Ad: Florida’s Scary Development Monster
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Just in time for Halloween, Florida’s scary development monsters are arriving on your TV set.
The new ad from the supporters of Amendment 4 is running in key markets this week. It has a Halloween theme.
That’s appropriate for a state that’s filled with ghosts of overbuilding — vacant condos, homes and strip malls everywhere.
Amendment 4 would require a referendum before land use changes are approved. It’s supporters say that it would curb another orgy of development which left us with millions of square feet of unwanted projects.
I recently drove across the state. It amazes me that developers continue to pave over farm land and vacant land…despite the oversupply of empty buildings.
Supporters of Amendment 4 are giving us a chance to do something about it.
October 6th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Based upon the desecration of the Evergladlades and other natural resources; the willingness to pave paradise and put up a parking lot(Credit Joni Mitchell)the various publicised alleged deeds of improper conduct of our public officials; if Amendment 4 fails then it will be confirmed that the average Florida Voter is BRAIN DEAD
October 6th, 2010 at 10:50 am
The passage of Amendment 4 would do more to end political corruption than anything else. Beverely Gallagher, Joe Eggelletion and Stephanie Kraft were all arrested because of huge developments that needed land use changes. Ilene Lieberman and Stacy Ritter are still under investigation for corruption involving land use.
This is happening all over the state. Developers buy land use changes.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
It’s easier and less accountable for developers to buy and run a political campaign then it is for them to influence elected officials.
October 6th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I’d rather keep putting pols in jail than force votes on minor changes…getting things done in Broward is already next to impossible
October 6th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I am voting No on Amendment 4 because my boss told me to.
October 6th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Your boss is a smart man.
October 6th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
the ad is great–and I don’t even like scary stuff! got my “yes” vote…
October 6th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
As one who annually completes financial disclosure forms for Broward County, I am voting Yes on Amendment 4.
Each city’s land use plan has zoning categories already in place. If you own the land, you know your zoning category. You bought that land either with the existing zoning, or have already paid significant fees to obtain another zoning category.
Infill of new construction and redevelopment should definitely meet the zoning submitted with each municipalities Comprehensive Land Use Plan. This has been in place for more than a decade. It is not something new.
I feel this way only because of the never-ending stream of actual dishonest public service by elected officials, or perceived dishonest public service.
Re the Kraft indictment: How could they allegedly sell us out to the tune of $500,000, for only a measely $10,000. If you are going to be a dishonest mooch, you think they would have went after at least a 10 percenter.
FROM BUDDY: On your last point, I agree.
I am constantly amazed by how cheap it is to buy a Broward politician. A few thousand put Bev Gallagher in jail. The same with Joe Eggelletion.
It also makes me wonder why the Chaits paid their lobbyist over $100,000 in cash, but only paid the Krafts $10,000. Was the money headed somewhere else down the line…or up the line?
October 6th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
A few points about amendment 4. If passed all proposed changes to the county and/or municipal comprehensive plans would be required to be approved by the voters. Sounds ok, sure. What most people are failing to realize is that the Land Use Plan is only one element (chapter) of the comp plan. Other elements include Conservation Element, Potable Water Element, Transportation Element, Housing Element, Recreation and Open Space Element, Capital Investment Element, Sanitary Sewer and Solid Waste Element, Public Schools Element, Deepwater Port Element etc etc. ANY CHANGE, no matter how small, will be required to go to the voters should Amendment 4 pass. Another point, many land use amendments are initiated by the municipalities to improve certain situations, whether its to spur redevelopment, create economic development opportunities, preserve open space or provide affordable housing opportunities. It isn’t only private developers proposing land use changes.
October 7th, 2010 at 4:53 am
St. Pete Beach adopted its own version of Amendment 4; voters later repealed it.
According to that city’s the mayor: “Since the measure was passed, the residents of St. Pete Beach have endured endless lawsuits and seen little progress…In St. Pete Beach, any proposed change to our town’s comprehensive plan is thrust onto the ballot. Public planning has been replaced with political infighting and a parade of unintended consequences has ensued. I can only begin to imagine the kind of chaos Amendment 4 would cause if it were ever forced onto every community in Florida. After adopting a local version of Amendment 4, it wasn’t long before we realized that 600-page comprehensive plans couldn’t easily be condensed into 75-word ballot questions. The elections are confusing, chaotic and expensive.“
October 7th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Floridian maybe right, but what’s the alternative,when you have politicians who instead of acting in the public’s best interest act in their own as demonstrated by all the recent allegations. At least if Amendment 4 passes, the Public may get an oppurtunity to own a few golf carts
October 7th, 2010 at 9:37 am
For the truth about St Pete’s experience (which is actually successful now and running well with the voter approval process), click here:
http://floridahometowndemocracy.com/_data/files/Truth_About_St_Pete_Beach.pdf
For info on what changes would be voted on in the future, how it would work, etc., click here:
http://floridahometowndemocracy.com/faqs
October 7th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Truthiness, I’m not sure the website of Amendment 4’s proponents is an objective source for information on the potential effects of this constitutional change.
One thing we can be sure of, is that if passed there will be years of litigation.
October 8th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
@Floridan
So what you are saying is the bottom on the balance sheet for developers will be the same. Just the line item on expenditures for kickbacks/bribes to crooked politicians will be transferred to legal fees to unscrupulous lawyers to fight the amendment.
October 8th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
@Dday25
Since I’m not paranoid, no, that’s not what I’m saying.
The fact is most developers (and municipalities, since many land use changes are initiated by cities)do not, and need not, do anything illegal.
Even if it was the case that development was the result of illegal actions, Amendment 4 would still be a bad deal for Florida.
I’m not sure what you mean by “unscrupulous lawyers.” Do attorneys who represent developers become unscrupulous by that act alone?
I know it will come as a surprise to all you conspiracy theorists, but most land use attorneys are successful because they they are smart (yes, I know that it is a devalued atrtribute among the torches and pitchfork crowd), they know the law, they work hard and they are willing to work toward a solution, even if it means compromises.
And for those few developers who might be willing to bribe a politician, do you think homeowner and civic association leaders will be harded to buy?
October 8th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
@Floridan
lighten up
October 8th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
@Dday 25
I’m already on my second beer.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
You site is filled with ads for Amendment 4’s defeat. You are not an objective source.
FROM BUDDY: The ads on my site are placed by Google. I have nothing to do with selling them. Nor do I have any idea what ads pop up at any given time.
Do you believe that the Sun-Sentinel or Channel 10 or any other media are biased towards the political candidates and causes that buy ads? I can tell you that the editors and reporters usually don’t know who bought ads until they see them in print or on the Internet.
That said, this site reflects my opinion.
October 17th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Amendment 4 will put the power where it ought to be…With the Voters, not the lobbyists and elected officials who never met a lobbyist they didn’t like!
October 17th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
twofaced voter: “Amendment 4 will put the power where it ought to be…With the Voters, not the lobbyists and elected officials who never met a lobbyist they didn’t like!”
If the voters don’t know enough to elect honest politicians, what makes you think they can handle land use issues?