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Florida Hometown Democracy
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2010 initiative effort
Florida Hometown Democracy is primarily funded by its author and president, Lesley Blackner, a Palm Beach attorney.[1] "Mismanaged growth destroys communities," said Blackner.
Supporters argue that Amendment 4 will simply add "another layer of protection against unwanted developments." According to the Hometown Democracy website, "Rising taxes, falling home values, gridlocked roads, dwindling water supplies and Florida’s disappearing beauty are just some of the devastating consequences of Florida politicians’ habit of rubberstamping speculative plan changes. Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 changes all that by giving voters veto power over these changes to your community’s master plan for growth."[2]
Sponsors
Individual organizations that support the proposed land use amendment, according to Florida Hometown Democracy, includes:[3]
- A-E Enterprises, Inc.
- Alliance To Protect Water Resources, Inc.
- Ancient Island Sierra Group
- Audubon of Martin County
- Audubon Society of the Everglades
- Big Bend Biofuels
- Brian F. Call Photography
- Broadway to Silver Beach Neighborhood Association, Inc.
- Broward Barrier Island Coalition
- Better Government Association of Sarasota County, Inc.
- CanDo (Citizens & Neighbors Devoted to Ormond)
- Citizens Come First
- Citizens Council For Creeks and Wetlands
- Citizens For Charter
- Citizens For Sanity.Com, Inc.
- Citizens For Sensible Growth In Sarasota County, Inc.
- Clay Action Network
- Clean Water Action
- Clean Water Network of Florida
- Clearwater Audubon Society
- Coalition of Concerned Citizens
- Concerned Citizens of Coconut Creek, LLC
- Concerned Citizens of Flagler Beach
- Concerned Citizens of Wakulla
- Concerned Friends of Fernandina
- Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County
- Control Growth Now
- Corridor 44 Civic Association
- Council of Neighborhood Associations of Sarasota County, CONA
- Duval Audubon Society
- Eagle Crest Civic Association
- East Polk Government Watch Committee, Inc.
- Eastern Surfing Association - Palm Beach County District
- Eco-Action, Inc.
- Edgewater Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development , Inc -ECARD
- Environmental Alliance Of North Florida, Inc.
- Environment Florida
- Environmental & Land Use Law Center, Inc.
- Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, Inc (ECOSWF)
- Environmental Council of Volusia - Flagler Counties
- EverGreen, the Tree Treasurers of Charlotte County
- Floridians for Environmental Accountability and Reform, Inc.
- Flagler Beach Environmental Preservation Council, Inc
- Florida Bi-Partisan Civic Affairs Group
- Florida Consumer Action Network
- Florida Native Plant Society, Pinellas Chapter
- Florida Open Beaches Foundation,Inc.
- Florida Panther Society
- FL PIRG - Florida Public Interest Research Group
- Florida Wildlife Federation
- Floridians for a Sustainable Population
- Four Lakes Homeowners Association
- Friends of the Anclote River /Concerned Citizens of Tarpon Springs
- Friends Of The Everglades, Inc.
- Geneva Citizens Association, Inc.
- Glen Springs Preservation Association, Inc.
- The Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association, Inc.
- Guardians of Martin County, Inc.
2008 initiative effort
- See also: Florida Referendum for Land Use (2008)
Signature revocation
The 2007 law allowing voters to revoke their signatures from ballot-initiative petitions was ruled unconstitutional by three Florida appellate court judges. According to a written statement of the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, the law does not ensure ballot integrity for citizens and citizens' groups trying to amend the state constitution. The court further decided that lawmakers should have let voters decide whether or not that provision should be included. The court directed the circuit court in Leon County to reverse its earlier ruling on the complaint filed last year by Florida Hometown Democracy, who are trying to give voters the final say on city and county long-term growth plans. Critics of Hometown Democracy, among them many businesses, say that would greatly hinder Florida's development economy. A business-backed group called Save Our Constitution got over 13,000 Hometown Democracy petitions revoked, however even if they were reinstated, the initiative would still be more than 65,000 petitions short of the February 1 deadline for the 2008 ballot [4]
Challenge struck down
Leon County Circuit Judge Charles A. Francis rejected FHD's challenge to a new law that allows voters to revoke petition signatures on ballot initiatives. Save Our Constitution, the primary opponent of the group's proposed amendment, has used the new law to try to cut the number of signatures its supporters have collected to try to get on the November 2008 ballot.[5]
Hometown Democracy appealed that ruling to the First District Court of Appeals.[6]
Contact information
Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc.
P. O. Box 636
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170
Phone: 866-779-5513
Fax: 561-659-3184
E-mail: flhometown@yahoo.com
See also
Florida Referendum for Land Use (2008)
External links
References
- ↑ St. Petersburg Times,"Lesley Blackner Staying Put," February 25, 2008
- ↑ Florida Hometown Democracy,"Main Page," retrieved March 11, 2010
- ↑ Vote Yes on 4,"Supporters," retrieved August 25, 2010
- ↑ Newsjournalonline.com, "Court rules against petition signature revocation," April 24, 2008
- ↑ Judge upholds signature revocation law, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Nov. 28, 2007
- ↑ St. Petersburg Times: "Targeting paid petition-gatherers," April 1, 2008
