By Ryan Houck

With Amendment 4 scheduled to appear on the November ballot, debate surrounding this controversial “Vote on Everything” proposal seems to intensify daily. Instead of focusing on their amendment and discussing its merits, the special interests behind Amendment 4 continue to attack its opponents with fanciful rhetoric and imaginative half-truths designed to distract voters from the facts.  However, as more Floridians educate themselves on the dangers of this amendment, opposition to the ill-advised proposal continues to grow.  To date, more than 280 labor, civic, business, planning, and environmental groups oppose Amendment 4. 

What are they saying?

Amendment 4 will devastate Florida’s economy.  By costing jobs and contributing to our state’s record unemployment, this ill-timed, misguided proposal has the capacity to crush what is left of Florida’s economic future.  According to a study conducted by The Washington Economics Group, Amendment 4 would likely cost Florida 267,247 jobs and reduce economic output by $34 billion annually.  Consequently, business groups such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Economic Development Council are opposed to this amendment.  Mark Wilson, President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, stated, “If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4.”

Amendment 4 will promote sprawl.  Environmental groups, such as 1,000 Friends of Florida and the Florida Forestry Association, have expressed concern that Amendment 4 will actually serve to exacerbate the sprawling patterns of development it claims to remedy.  They worry that, by making it more difficult to amend comprehensive plans, Amendment 4 will lock in place the poor planning decisions of the past, thereby making smart, well-coordinated growth impossible.   1,000 Friends of Florida cites “piecemeal planning, and the possibility of ‘planning gridlock’,” as reasons for their opposition to the proposal.

Amendment 4 is poor public policy. For this reason, the Florida American Planning Association opposes the amendment.  In fact, their website refers to Amendment 4 as “a single, expensive, and unwieldy solution to a complex and important set of issues.”  Under Amendment 4, Floridians would be forced to vote on hundreds, even thousands, of comprehensive plan amendments each year.  According to the Department of Community Affairs Sunset Review, there were nearly 6,500 changes to local government comprehensive plans in fiscal year 2006-2007, and a 2003 Department of Community Affairs Program Summary reports 16,581 plan amendments in 1999.

Amendment 4 will delay community improvements.  The WEG study states that Amendment 4 would “force local and state governments to either raise taxes or cut services.”  Ultimately, the study notes, “Public schools, public safety and local health care services would suffer from both the direct impact of Amendment 4 (delay construction until the next election) and the indirect impact of fewer tax revenues from which to fund needed operations and capital investments.”  As Floridians struggle to make ends meet, the last thing our state needs is a proposal which will delay the creation of much-need schools, hospitals, and fire stations.  For this reason, the Florida School Boards Association opposes Amendment 4.

Amendment 4 will hurt Florida’s working families.  The Florida State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, an AFL-CIO/CLC trade union, states “Amendment (4) poses a grave threat to Florida’s unique quality of life, the stability of its communities, and the prosperity of its families…”

The coalition of opposition to Amendment 4 is virtually unprecedented in its diversity and scope because the threat of this proposal transcends traditional social and political boundaries.  To learn more or to get involved, please visit www.florida2010.org, and remember, this November, VOTE NO on Amendment 4!

Don’t wait to make this gorgeous Garden Villa yours today!
Completely renovated top to bottom in 2005.
Efficient kitchen with warm raised panel wood cabinets, roll-out shelves, pantry, glass-top stove, side-by-side fridge.
Expanded dining area with built-in cabinets, serving counter and built-in bookcase.
Spacious living room with view of private tiled and screen patio.
 Neutral 20″ tile throughout living area.
Great master suite with large bathroom, big vanity with drawer and cabinets, walk-in closet and linen closet.
Tastefully decorated with neutral move-in colors.
Longwood Village is in the heart of Ft Pierce, just a block from Lawnwood Hospital and doctor’s offices
and minutes from Historic Downtown Ft Pierce!
Two solar-heated pools and a clubhouse with full kitchen.
A beautifully maintained community with a solid HOA.
HOA fees are just $175/mo and include maintenance of the home’s exterior, landscaping maintenance, garbage and management.
Mariners Cove is tucked quietly away from the rest of the community and is an oak-shaded cul-de-sac
for the ultimate in privacy!
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Our entire family is very proud of Ryan’s academic achievements. He works hard and pays attention in class. This year he has intensive math, taking two math classes and works after school with a math tutor. He really wanted to focus on math this year, and his math grades are a testament to his hard work!

Ryan attends the new Palm Point K-8 school in Tradition. This school has a research focus, partnering with FAU. He plays percussion in Mr. Hayfields 7-8 grade band class. The band is raising funds in the local community for a trip to Washington, DC next year. All donations are tax deductible. Ryan is very excited about this trip!