Comments on: Hometown Democracy Amendment Clears Final Judicial Hurdle

By: Voter

Voter — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:27:50 +0000

It is hard to believe that the Court allowed Amendment 4 to pass when it will cost millions of dollars in Elections. It will cost even more in lawsuits like they have had on every comp plan change in St. Pete Beach that the Voter’s Voted for. How will cities, counties, and the state pay for these numerous Elections?

The people that started this in St. Pete Beach are now wasting City money in Lawsuits because they did not like how the Voter’s Voted.

The proponents have stuck a deceptive name on it that is the opposite of what the issue truly is.

By: TDiPod

TDiPod — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:01:51 +0000

“Concerned Citizen” is actually referring to St. Pete Beach, a barrier-island city with a permanent population of 13,000 (45,000 on holiday weekends). The tight juxtaposition of commercial and residential land uses there has resulted in 50+ years of increasing conflict and discord. Any comparison to how Hometown Democracy would affect the state at large is unclear. Since the 1970s, St. Pete Beach has been built out, so that instead of new development, everything that happens there is re-development, which is naturally more loaded with potential conflict.

Amendment 4 would cause local politics to function like a “town meeting” style of government. Major development will still happen – if local people want it. Why are developers, realtors, builders and big landowners afraid of letting people vote their wishes? Isn’t that what the United States is all about?

By: Concerned Citizen

Concerned Citizen — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:39:36 +0000

It seems to me that the opposition has a really valid point when they say, “Amendment 4 would paralyze local growth by requiring approval of even minor changes to local development rules.” All we have to do is look at where this plan has already been adopted and then make our decisions based on the evidence.

St. Pete is a perfect example of this program at work. If you ask any one from St. Pete they will tell you how this amendment has hindered growth and their micro-economy.

I will make my decision based on that!