So far, this is the best-written and nuanced news article I've read yet on the proposed citizen amendment to the Florida state constitution, which I strongly support.
For the latest news story on the amendement, in chron order, see:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&q=%22Florida+Hometown+Democracy%22&scoring=n
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http://www.ocala.com/article/20080101/NEWS/801010323/1001/NEWS01
Florida Hometown Democracy debated
By Richard Anguiano
STAR-BANNER
OCALA - Depending on who's doing the talking, it's either the biggest threat to Florida's economy in years or much-needed check against irresponsible growth management.
Exactly one month from now, Florida voters will either hear the end of it or only the beginning.
The issue is "Florida Hometown Democracy," a proposed state constitutional amendment under which local voters would get to have their say on comprehensive land-use plans or amendments proposed by local governments.
Lesley Blackner, the West Palm Beach attorney leading the effort, says it's designed to end "government of the developers, by the developers and for the developers."
Blackner's proposal has drawn fire from a number of business groups: On its Web site, the Florida Chamber of Commerce says it "subverts a well-established, open, accessible, and democratic planning process." Susan Pareigis, president of the Florida Council of 100, called it a "death sentence for economic activity" in a March speech before members of the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corp.
Blackner, 46, describes herself as a "middle-aged mother of two who is fairly conservative in her politics" and denies she's anti-business.
"I'm not against people making money," she said. "It's just that we've had a decade in which builders did whatever builders wanted and it crashed the economy. They've had total control of county commissions in Florida for 100 years. This is definitely rocking their world, but it's a reform whose time has come."
That remains to be seen: In order for the Hometown Democracy proposal to make the November ballot, the Florida Division of Elections must validate 611,009 signed petitions from voters; as of Dec. 25, the state had validated 446,205, or 73 percent. The signatures must also be distributed proportionally among Florida's 25 congressional districts.
Among the four districts including Marion County, only District 3 had surpassed its target as of Dec. 25, with 19,302 signatures needed and 21,850 validated. At the other end of the spectrum was District 8, with 24,363 signatures required and 7,095, or 29 percent, verified.
Speaking by phone from her home on Dec. 14, Blackner claimed her group had submitted 600,000 petitions to the state and said she was "a little nervous" about their totals.
"Think of how elections have been run in Florida for the past 10 years," she said.
"Remember the gang that couldn't count straight?"
Meanwhile, the opposition is leaving nothing to chance.
Ryan Houck, the political director of an anti-Hometown Democracy group called Floridians for Smarter Growth Inc., urged members of the Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors, or CFCAR, at a Dec. 12 luncheon in The Villages to eject any petition gatherers they found on their properties.
OPPOSING VIEWS
Houck said Floridians for Smarter Growth sees Hometown Democracy as a "one-size-fits-all, meat-cleaver approach" to the growth management issue.
He also rejected one of Blackner's main arguments, that Hometown Democracy would get citizens more involved in land-use decisions in their communities. He made his point by waving a sample ballot of land-use issues in the city of North Reddington Beach he said would have been on a ballot under Hometown Democracy; the ballot was 47 pages long and contained 525 issues, according to Houck.
"Anyone think this will make people want to get out and vote more?" Houck asked the commercial Realtors. "If anything, it'll probably drive voting down.
Blackner said Houck's North Reddington Beach sample ballot only reinforces the need for Hometown Democracy.
"That shows you we have a situation in Florida where a local government is handing out changes to their comp plan like candy, which means they don't really have a comp plan," she said. "That argument makes my case for me."
On its Web site, Floridians for Smarter Growth criticizes Hometown Democracy as a "Vote on Everything" initiative, while Blackner counters that her group's initiative applies only to comp plans and comp plan amendments, not to rezonings or variances.
Dwight Ganoe, Marion County's planning director, said 20 large-scale "map" amendments have been petitioned for the county's consideration in 2008. He said the county also typically considers 10 to 12 small-scale amendments involving 10 acres or less per year.
Whether it would involve 525 issues on a ballot or 20, Marion County Commissioner Barbara Fitos says she has "logistical" issues with the Hometown Democracy proposal, while conceding she sees the campaign as a "no-confidence vote" from citizens on government's ability to manage growth.
"I understand the frustration," said Fitos, who was elected to the District 4 seat in November 2006. "My concern is it's going to put an enormous burden on the citizens to become experts in land-use changes."
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Houck and Floridians for Smarter Growth argue that Hometown Democracy would exponentially increase "process costs" for local governments through additional elections and voter education efforts. Worse, Houck said, the long-term impact would be "devastating" to Florida's economy.
Pete Tesch, president and CEO of the Ocala/Marion County EDC, agrees. He said he thinks Hometown Democracy could throw the state into "long-term economic stagnation." He noted the EDC's current effort with local government officials to find land for prospective employers.
"We believe the I-75 corridor has many areas where future employment centers or business parks that would create high-wage jobs could be placed," Tesch said.
"(Under Hometown Democracy) that could be voted out very easily. We're running out of industrial and commercial land for economic purposes."
Some 20 years ago, Margaret Spontak worked with Marion County officials to draft the comp plan and even challenged the county, along with 1000 Friends of Florida, on provisions covering septic tanks and vested development rights. She describes herself as both "very green and pro-business."
Spontak said she's familiar with Hometown Democracy, but not of all of the details of its proposal.
"As much as I've seen, I think it's too cumbersome," said Spontak, who is now the senior vice president of CLM Workforce Connection. "I think the key is to let good officials make good decisions."
I think there are opportunities to bring clean, high-growth industries to Marion County and to take that to the ballot is not the best way to do business," she said.
Dick Hancock, executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, said his group has not taken a position on Hometown Democracy.
"With 2,900 members we certainly have every position imaginable within the membership," Hancock said.
"When it comes to growth management issues, we try to stay out of those.
"If it's a situation where this could adversely affect the farmland value of our members, then it might be a situation where we'd have to jump in," he said.
Blackner grew up in Jacksonville and recalls making trips to Silver Springs as a child. She argues loss of the Marion County's natural beauty would have an economic impact of its own.
"I don't think Marion County wants to end up looking like Fort Lauderdale," she said.
"People in Marion County should take a trip down to Miami/Dade and Broward and take a look at what's happened there. Marion County has a lot of nice areas. If we continue with the status quo, they won't be there for long."'
A CREEPY CABAL' VS. 'THE DARK SIDE'
Both sides in the debate are leveling strong charges at each other.
Floridians for Smarter Growth's Houck described Hometown Democracy as "a creepy cabal of folks outside the mainstream," accusing Blackner and co-founder Ross Burnaman, both attorneys, of standing to profit from lawsuits.
Houck also mentioned supporters including Floridians for Sustainable Population, whose leader, Joyce Tarnow, was arrested for gathering Hometown Democracy petitions outside a Publix in Pompano Beach earlier this year; as well as Joseph Redner, owner of the Mons Venus strip club in Tampa, who has contributed money to the campaign.
Blackner said she didn't know who Redner was when his contribution came in.
"Apparently a lot of people go to his place," she said. "He's also an environmentalist.
"I'm not stupid," Blackner added. "I'm not going to turn down a contribution."
Meanwhile, Blackner says Floridians for Smarter Growth and other opposition groups - referred to on Florida Hometown Democracy's Web site as "the Dark Side" - are deliberately trying to misinform citizens. One opposition group called Save Our Constitution has tried to get those who signed petitions to revoke them. Blackner also claims Floridians for Smarter Growth launched its own petition drive for no other reason than to confuse citizens.
Houck denies that charge, saying his group's petition offers citizens an alternative. Under the Floridians for Smarter Growth initiative, voter approval of growth management plan changes would be required if 10 percent of the voters in the city or county sign a petition calling for such a referendum.
The Florida Division of Elections Web site lists no information on the status of that petition drive and Houck said his group has made a "tactical decision" to keep mum.
"It's sort of like sharing your playbook with the other team right before the game on Sunday."
A check of the Florida Division of Elections Web site on Dec. 26 showed Hometown Democracy with 1,622 contributions totaling slightly more than $1 million. Most appear to be contributions from private citizens ranging from $10 to $50. The site shows 23 contributions from Ocala, with the largest total, $520, coming from a group called "Smart Coalition of NC Fla."
By contrast, the site shows Floridians for Smarter Growth with $1.5 million from 39 contributions, among them $550,000 from the National Association of Home Builders, $50,000 from the United States Sugar Corp. and $40,000 from Lykes Bros, Inc.
Houck, however denies Blackner's charge that his group is bought and paid for by developers and "the growth machine."
"We're supported by organizations like the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other groups which represent about 2 million jobs in the state of Florida," he said. "Who does Lesley Blackner represent?"
'A COIN TOSS'
As to which petition, if either, will make it to the ballot, Houck calls it "a coin toss."
Blackner says she's optimistic for Hometown Democracy's chances.
"I think we're going to be on the ballot," she said.
And what if the initiative fails to get the required signatures?
"I'm really not thinking about that," she replied. "We're just trying to give it our best effort. I'm not thinking past January."
However, Ross Burnaman, Blackner's Hometown Democracy co-founder, told Florida Trend earlier this year that not making the ballot in 2008 "doesn't mean Hometown Democracy's dead."
Meanwhile, both supporters and detractors of the Hometown Democracy initiative agree Blackner and her group have tapped into citizens' anxieties about growth management and sparked debate.
Houck grudgingly admits "Hometown Democracy stumbled into the right issue and the wrong solution."
Fitos notes the Marion County Commission is already looking at a total rewrite of its comp plan, and Hometown Democracy points to a need to have "visioning, with all the stakeholders at the table."
"[Hometown Democracy] has the potential for generating healthy discussion," Fitos added. "The dialogue is valid."
Richard Anguiano is the editor of Ocala Business Journal.
Contact him at richard.anguiano@starbanner.com or 352-867-4104.
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GRAPHIC:
Florida Hometown Democracy establishes that before a new comprehensive land-use plan can be adopted it must be subject to vote by referendum.
THE PROCESS
611,009 valid petition signatures are required by Feb. 1 to get the issue on the November 2008 ballot.
RESOURCES
Division of Elections: election.dos.state.fl.us
Florida Hometown Democracy: www.floridahometowndemocracy.com
Floridians for Smarter Growth: www.flsmartergrowth.org
Nonpartisan information site: www.flhometowndemocracy.com
CONTRIBUTIONS
A check of the Florida Division of Elections Web site on Dec. 26 showed Hometown Democracy with 1,622 contributions totaling slightly more than $1 million.
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In the Heart of a Great Country, Beats the Soul of Hoosier Nation
"In the Heart of a Great Country, Beats the Soul of Hoosier Nation." -South Beach Hoosier, 2007
#IUBB, #bannersix
Assembly Hall, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana; Click photo to see video of Straight No Chaser's version of Back Home Again In Indiana, 2:37
Hallandale Beach's iconic beachball-colored Water Tower, between beach and A1A/South Ocean Drive
Hallandale Beach, FL; February 16, 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier
Hollywood in Cartoons, The New Yorker
"Gentlemen, I am happy to announce that as of today we are closing down our Washington news bureau and moving the entire operation to L.A."
Hollywood in Cartoons, The New Yorker
"O.K., so I dig a hole and put the bone in the hole. But what's my motivation for burying it?"
Hollywood in cartoons, 10-21-06 Non-Sequitur by Wiley, www-NON-SEQUITUR.COM
The Magic of Hollywood: A motion has been put forth that we should seek to create rather than imitate. All in favor of killing this silly notion, nod in mindless agreement...
Miami Dolphins
South Beach Hoosier's first Dolphin game at the Orange Bowl came in Dec. 1970, aged 9, a 45-3 win over Buffalo that propelled them into their first ever playoff appearance.
Sebastian the Ibis, the Spirited Mascot of the University of Miami Hurricanes
Before going to my first U-M game at the Orange Bowl in 1972, a friend's father often would bring me home an extra 'Canes game program. That's how I came to have the Alabama at U-M game program from Nov. 16, 1968, which was the first nationally-televised college football night game in color. (A 14-6 loss to the Crimson Tide.) After that first ballgame against Tulane, as l often did for Dolphin games if my father wasn't going, I'd get dropped off at the Levitz parking lot near the 836 & I-95 Cloverleaf in NMB, and catch a Dade County Park & Ride bus, going straight to the Orange Bowl. Onboard, I'd get next to the window and listen to WIOD's pre-game show on my Radio Shack transistor radio. A few times, I was just about the only person onboard besides the bus driver, which was alright by me. Once at the Orange Bowl, if I didn't already have a ticket, I'd buy a game program for myself and one or two for friends or teachers before heading to the ticket window, since you usually couldn't find a program vendor once inside. I probaly had a friend or my father with me for just under 40% of the U-M games I ever went to, but you have to remember that the team, though blessed with several talented players, like Chuck Foreman and Burgess Owens, was just so-so to average at best, and the games were usually played on Friday nights, so it wasn't exactly high on everyone's list of things to do. Depending upon the opponent, if I was alone, I'd often have entire areas of the Orange Bowl to myself. (Wish I had photos of that now!) For instance, I had a good portion of the East (open) End Zone to myself against Oklahoma in the mid-70's, when the Boomer Schooner and the Schooner Crew went out on the field after an Oklahoma TD, and the Schooner received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the refs, as would happen years later in an Orangle Bowl Classic game. (Against FSU?) I was there for the wins and losses under Pete Elliott, Carl Selmer & Lou Saban, and the huge on-field fight in '73 when under eventual national champion Notre Dame (under Ara Parseghian), they called a time-out with less than a minute to go, and already up 37-0. Their rationale? To score another TD and impress the AP football writers; final score 44-0. Well, they got their wish and beat Alabama 24-23 for the title at the Sugar Bowl. A year later, thanks to my Mom's boss, she and I saw Ara's last game as head coach of the Irish in the Orange Bowl Game from the East End Zone -in front of the Alabama cheerleaders!!!- in an exciting 13-11 Notre Dame win over Alabama and Bear Bryant, a rematch of the '73 national title game. I was also present for the U-M's huge 20-15 win under Pete Elliott against Darrel Royal's Texas Longhorns, the week Sports Illustrated's College Football preview issue came out with Texas on the cover, below. I was also present for lots of wins against schools called College of the Pacific, UNLV and Cal-Poly San Luis Obsispo, which I'd then never heard of before.
Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, April 28, 2007
Photo by Mario J. Bermudez. April 28, 2007 at Dolphins NFL Draft Party at Dolphin HQ, Davie, FL
It's All About "The U"
South Beach Hoosier's first U-M football game at the Orange Bowl was in 1972, age 11, against Tulane in the infamous "Fifth Down" game. In order to drum up support and attendance for the U-M at the Orange Bowl, that game had a promotion whereby South Florida kids who were school safety patrols could get in for free IF they wore their sash. I did. Clearly they knew that it was better to let kids in for free, knowing their parents would give them money to buy food and souvenirs, perhaps become a fan and want to return for future games. The ballgame made an interesting impression on The New York Times, resulting in this gem from the "View of Sport" column of Oct, 14, 1990, labeled 'Fifth Down or Not, It's Over When It's Over.' -"In 1972, aided by a fifth-down officiating gift in the last moments of the game, Miami of Florida defeated Tulane, 24-21. The country and the world was a much different place that fall because The New York Times took time and space to editorialize on the subject. ''Is it right for sportsmen, particularly young athletes, to be penalized or deprived of the goals for which they earnestly competed because responsible officials make mistakes? The ideal of true sportsmanship would be better served if Miami forfeited last week's game.' South Beach Hoosier hardly needs to tell you that this was YET another New York Times editoral that was completely ignored!
The issue I took with me the night of U-M's 20-15 upset of #1 Texas at the Orange Bowl
College Football, Texas No. 1, Hook 'em Horns, Sept. 10, 1973. Living in North Miami Beach in the '70's, my Sports Illustrated usually showed up in my mailbox on the Thursday or Friday before the Monday cover date. And was read cover-to-cover by Sunday morning.
The Perfect Storm
U-M QB Ken Dorsey, Miami Hurricanes Undefeated National Champions 2001, Jan. 2002
Miami's Romp in the Rose
Miami running back Clinton Portis, Jan. 7, 2002
Why the University of Miami should drop football
June 12, 1995
REVENGE!
Steve McGuire and Miami Overpower No.1 Notre Dame, Dec. 4, 1989
How Sweet It Is!
Miami Whips Oklahoma For The National Championship, Pictured: Dennis Kelleher, Jan. 11, 1988
My, Oh My, Miami!
Steve Walsh and the Canes Stun FSU, Oct. 12, 1987
Why Is Miami No. 1?
QB Vinny Testaverde, Nov. 24, 1986
Miracle In Miami
The Hurricanes Storm Past Nebraska, Halfback Keith Griffin, Jan. 9, 1984
Special Issue: College Football
The Best Passer, George Mira of Miami, Sept. 23, 1963
1984 College & Pro Spectatcular
A Pair Of Aces: U-M QB Bernie Kosar & Miami Dolphin QB Dan Marino, Sept. 5, 1984
Pro Football Hall of Fame Special Issue
Dan Marino, Class of 2005, Aug. 2005
FACES OF THE NFL
A Portfolio by Walter Iooss Jr., Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins, Dec. 9, 2002
Coming Back
Jay Fiedler rallies Miami to a last-second win over Oakland, Oct. 1, 2001
Dan's Last Stand
At 38 and under siege, Dan Marino refuses to go down without a fight, Dec. 13, 1999
The War Zone
In the NFL's toughest division, the surprising Dolphins are on top, Lamar Smith, Dec. 11, 2000
Down and Dirty
Jimmy Johnson's Dolphins Bury The Patriots, Steve Emtman, Sept. 9, 1996
The Sunshine Boys
Now Playing in Miami: The Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson Show, May 11, 1996
HOT & NOT
Miami loves Pat Riley but wants to give Don Shula the boot, Dec. 11, 1995
NFL PREVIEW 1995
Which of today's stars are locks for the Hall of Fame? Dan Marino for sure. But who else? To find out, we polled the men who do the voting. Sept. 14, 1995
Sportsman Of The Year
Don Shula, Dec. 20, 1993
Dan The Man
Dan Marino Saves The Day For The Dolphins, Jan. 14, 1991
Dangerous Dan
Dan Marino Passes Miami Into The Super Bowl, Jan. 14, 1985
Super Duper!
Wide Receiver Mark Duper Of The Undefeated Dolphins, Nov. 19, 1984
Air Raid! Miami Bombs Washington
+Sep+10,+1984.jpg)
Mark Clayton (burning Darryl Green) Sept. 10, 1984
Rookies On The Rise
Dan Marino: Miami's Hot Quarterback, Nov. 14, 1983
New Life In The WFL
Warfield, Csonka and Kiick of Memphis, July 28, 1975
Zonk! Miami Massacres Minnesota
Larry Csonka, Jan. 21, 1974
Pro Football, Miami Is Rough And Ready
Larry Csonka & Bob Griese, Sept. 17, 1973
Miami All The Way
Bob Griese, Jan. 22, 1973
It's Miami and Washington
Mercury Morris Speeds Past The Steelers, Jan. 8, 1973
Kiick and Csonka, Miami's Dynamic Duo
Larry Csonka & Jim Kiick, Aug. 7, 1972
Sudden Death at Kansas City
Miami's Garo Yepremian Ends the Longest Game; (kneeling) placekick holder Karl Noonan, Jan. 3, 1972
New Pro in a New Town
Miami's Frank Emanuel, Aug. 8, 1966
Old-style "Obie" the Orange Bowl Committee mascot
The iconic image I grew-up with in Miami, before FedEx got into the picture
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