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Feb-03-2010 Lake Wales News
Amendment 4 ill-conceived, over-reaching
The amendment, if approved, would require citizen approval of all comprehensive plan amendments. It was devised by a group called Hometown Democracy, which started collecting signatures for its constitutional growth control mechanism during the...
Feb-03-2010 Florida Thinks
League of Cities: Lasso Pension Costs, Spare Taxpayers
With state and local budgets under severe financial stress, many Florida cities wonder about their long-range fiscal future.
Jan-20-2010 The Daily Commercial
Our Voice: Let's avoid California's problems
An amendment giving voters the right of final approval on changes to municipal comprehensive plans will appear on the 2010 Florida ballot. Most cities and towns require such a plan in order to regulate the development of infrastructure, such as...
Jan-19-2010 Tampa Bay Newspapers
Proposed state amendment criticized
A proposed state constitutional amendment pertaining to local governments’ growth plans has serious consequences for the state, said a leading opponent of the measure.
Jan-14-2010 Citrus County Chronicle
Local governments press state on TABOR, Amendment 4
Local government officials brought their legislative wish-lists to a Senate panel on Tuesday, urging members to avoid revenue caps on cities and counties and relax restrictions on electioneering so they can join the fight against Hometown Democracy’...
Jan-14-2010 Miami Herald
Hialeah officials campaign against controversial Amendment Four
The Hialeah Council voted Tuesday on a measure urging Florida voters to vote down the proposed citizen-led Amendment Four that will appear on the 2010 ballot this fall.
Jan-13-2010 Tallahassee Democrat
Florida League promotes cities
Florida cities have a wonderful opportunity to reinforce their importance in the daily lives of citizens. A new series of public service announcements launched by the Florida League of Cities, for use by Florida cities, illustrates how cities are...
Jan-12-2010 Orlando Sentinel
Hometown Democracy fuels rush to get permits in Central Florida
Builders are racing to line up development rights on major new housing and commercial projects before the proposed state constitutional Amendment 4 heads to voters this fall and, if passed, takes control of growth decisions away from elected...
Jan-09-2010 News Chief
Amendment 4 opponent warns of 'permanent recession'
WINTER HAVEN - An opponent of Amendment 4, a Florida ballot initiative, said Friday that if it is passed this year, its negative impact would be felt in Polk County.
Jan-04-2010 Jacksonville Business Journal
Hometown Democracy showdown set for 2010
After years of behind-the-scenes battles, Amendment 4, also known as the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment, will be on the Florida ballot in November 2010.
Jan-04-2010 Florida Times-Union
Amendment 4 a bad idea for Florida
Amendment 4 has the potential to clog future ballots and repeatedly drag voters to the polls to approve every future change to a county's comprehensive plan.
Jan-02-2010 Orlando Sentinel
New Voices: A tale of two cities: With, without Amend. 4
Hometown Democracy is the misleading euphemism for Amendment 4 on this year's ballot that will take land-use decisions out of the hands of elected commissioners and put them into the public's hands at large.
Dec-22-2009 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Amendment 4 would be job killer; vote no
Under Amendment 4, the people of Florida would be forced to decide thousands of technical land-use items at the ballot box. As we have seen too often in the past, these planning decisions would quickly turn into highly politicized campaign battles....
Dec-11-2009 Palm Beach Post
The real Amendment 4
Now that Florida Hometown Democracy organizer Lesley Blackner has gotten her proposed amendment on the 2010 ballot, she has decided to dictate its terms to the public.
Dec-10-2009 Orlando Sentinel
My Word: Why I'll vote no on Amendment 4
The Florida Constitution should not be used to circumvent the powers of the duly elected, as this runs counter to the purpose of a constitution.
Nov-22-2009 Naples News
Guest commentary: Florida cities need pension-relief legislation from Tallahassee
Against the background of these difficult economic times, municipalities across Florida (and even nationally) are wrestling with the challenges of funding fire and police pensions. The city of Naples is no exception.
Nov-20-2009
The town that saved Florida
If Floridians approve a constitutional amendment on the November 2010 ballot, local voters would have to vote on every change to a city or county comprehensive plan — the blueprint for development — no matter how innocuous. Ballots would be full of...
Nov-13-2009 Tampa Bay Busines Journal
St. Pete Beach experience seen as an Amendment 4 litmus test
Residents still have a direct say on major changes to the city’s comprehensive plan, but voters last week overwhelmingly decided they don’t need to see every adjustment on the ballot.
Nov-10-2009 Pinellas Park Beacon
‘Near-sighted’ legislation
The proposed legislation, called a taxpayers’ bill of rights, would cap annual tax and fee growth and also restricts local governments ability to impose any new taxes or fees.
Nov-09-2009 Orlando Sentinel
Moderation, thy name is not Amend. 4
If a comp-plan amendment goes on the ballot, it becomes a YES or NO political campaign. Political campaigns are the antithesis of citizen participation. St. Pete Beach, the first city to adopt a form of Hometown Democracy, was torn apart by...

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