Amendment 4
I just read "No on Amendment 4" (Aug. 27) and wanted to write to correct some of her assertions about Amendment 4, Florida Hometown Democracy, which is a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution which will be on our ballots in November.
Amendment 4 will give voters oversight control over how their communities grow. Under Amendment 4, our city or county planning boards and commissioners will study and vote as usual on proposed changes to the local comprehensive land use plan, which is a blueprint for future development. Plan changes approved by the commission will then be submitted to you - the voter - on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled Election Day. You will either veto or approve them. It's that simple. Amendment 4 doesn't require special elections.
(The letter writer) stated, correctly, that "any economy needs predictability. Without it, businesses cannot plan." The comprehensive plan is that plan that gives us predictability. But then county commissioners, often voting to overturn the advice of the well-researched conclusions of the planning board, overturn and amend the comprehensive plan. Amendment 4 allows us to vote on changes to the comprehensive plan - the plan we all relied on for our predictability. It gives us, the citizens (or at least those citizens who care enough to research and vote), a check on some politicians who might be swayed by some developer or corporation to change the well thought out comprehensive plan.
Finally, at the start of her comments, she states that "our system of government has always been one of representation." That is not true. The New England town meeting concept, which existed well before our U.S. Constitution, still exists in many places. Often local government is much more effective when citizens can have a check on their local elected officials in a more direct way.
I urge everyone to become more informed about Amendment 4. Attend the Sept. 13 forum at Fernandina City Hall, listen to the debate, get informed and make up your own minds.
Roberta (Bobbie) Fost, Amelia Island
Story created Sep 02, 2010 - 14:53:03 PDT.
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