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EPC100 Resolution of Opposition to Amendment 4
Published: Thursday, January 14, 2010
Opposing Amendment 4
Amendment 4, also known as "Hometown Democracy," is an initiative that will go before Florida voters in this fall's general election. If the initiative is approved, voters would have to vote "Yes" or "No" on every change in comprehensive land-use plans, possibly leading to several referenda on election ballots in some areas, opponents say.
Debating the Amendment 4 are organizations, Lesley Blackner, President of Florida Hometown Democracy, and Ryan Houck, Executive Director of Floridians for Smarter Growth, a business group opposed to the amendment.
Under the current system, approval of the changes requires nothing more than a majority vote by commissioners.
Both debated the Amendment last fall at Tiger Bay in Bartow and made these comments.
"Florida Hometown Democracy does only one thing," said Blackner. "It gives voters veto power over city and county growth plan amendments."
"Houck countered that the amendment is not about giving the voters a say in local growth decisions, but instead is about "stopping growth at any cost."
Recently, at East Polk Committee of 100's luncheon meeting, Ryan Houck made the following comments.
"Amendment 4 would lead to the end to coordinating and functioning planning. This amendment, in essence, could create a permanent recession to the economy in Polk County and the state of Florida."
Local business owner Sam Killebrew is the Polk County co-chairman for Floridians for Smarter Growth. He is the owner of Killebrew Inc., which handles underground utilities in Polk County, and he strongly opposes Amendment 4.
"If this amendment gets passed, then I'm about out of business and out of a job," Killebrew said. "It's just that simple."
East Polk Committee of 100's Board of Directors passed the following Resolution opposing Amendment 4.
Please click on this link for EPC100's Resolution opposing Amendment 4:
Resolution to oppose Amendment 4 (formerly Hometown Democracy)
Tagged: Amendment 4, hometown democracy