The Paddle Sept2009-1[2]

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Yard sale to benefit wetlands, Saturday October 17

Florida Hometown Democracy

Amendment makes 2010 ballot

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF COCONUT CREEK LLCTHE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF COCONUT CREEK LLCTHE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF COCONUT CREEK LLC

The Paddlehe Paddlehe Paddle September 2009 Volume 1, Issue 10Don’t Go Up The Creek Without The Paddle!”

presume that a lot will be

spent to discourage a yes vote.

On the other side, organiza-

tions like the Sierra Club and

many neighborhood groups are

sick and tired of seeing com-

missioners repeatedly overrul-

ing the concerns of their con-

stituents, allowing developers

a free reign to plunder Florida

for corporate fun and profit.

To pass, Amendment 4 will

need a 60% majority yes vote.

The question remains whether

millions of voters are ready to

stand up and take part in a

new direction for Florida or

will the millions of dollars at

the developers’ disposal be

enough to stem the tide of pub-

lic indignation.

Unfortunately this same Leg-

islature has made it very easy

for these Plans to be amended

to suit developers’ ambitions.

The Hometown Democracy

Amendment would place resi-

dents in the driver’s seat with

regard to Comp. Plan changes,

forcing developers to cater to

the community, not just may-

ors and commissioners.

Although the A4 vote is morethan a year away, the battle

lines are clearly defined. On

one side, developers and lobby-

ists are already attacking the

notion that residents should

have this type of influence in

their community affairs.

There is a lot of money at

stake so it is reasonable to

After five years of petition-

ing and court battles,

Amendment 4, Referenda

Required for Adoption and

Amendment of Local Gov-

ernment Comprehensive

Land Use Plans, has offi-

cially been placed on the

Nov. 2, 2010 ballot for Flo-

ridians.

Since achieving statehood in

1845, Florida has experi-enced an almost uninter-

rupted history of lucrative

development deals, resulting

in what is commonly re-

ferred to today as urban

sprawl. Residents have had

little to no say-so as state

and local officials legislated

in favor of deep-pocketed

influence-peddlers.

If Amendment 4 passes,

however, that may be about

to change.

The Amendment would give

voters veto power over de-

veloper-requested comp plan

changes, only after going

through the current process

and approval by commis-

sioners. The referendum

would be added to the mu-

nicipality’s next regularly

scheduled general election.

Created by the Florida Leg-

islature in 1985, the Growth

Management Act requires

all local governments to

adopt a Comprehensive Plan

to guide their future growth

and development.

The Concerned Citizens of

Coconut Creek invite you to

join them for a day of fun, a

chance to participate in

some recycling, and an op-

portunity to help out our

local environment. Regard-

less of whether you wish to

donate items or purchase

them, your assistance is

greatly appreciated.

Please mark your calendars

and if you have items in good

condition such as clothing,

toys, electronics or furniture,

d rop us a l ine at :

[email protected]

and include your phone num-

ber. Sale is 8:00AM until

2:00PM.

BanksRoad

N.W.49thAve.

N.W.48thAve.

Atlantic Blvd.

XN.W. 6th Street

N

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Criticism Against A4 A4 Supporter’s Response

Page 2 The Paddle

Arguments begin over Amendment 4

The Battle of the Talking Points has already begun over A4. Corporate entities such as retailers, developers and lobbyists are

expected to use all means at their disposal to convince Florida voters that a yes vote is a bad idea. Special interest groups, such

as the 1000 Friends of Florida and Floridians for Smarter Growth, are claiming that the status quo of boom and bust unsustain-

able growth should be allowed to continue undisturbed. Some cities, Chamber of Commerce organizations and a lot of busi-

nesses involved in the construction industry agree.

Florida Hometown Democracy, Inc. (www.floridahometowndemocracy.com) has compiled and verified the following responses tothe claims of A4 opponents.

This is what Amendment 4 (Florida Hometown Democracy) will look like on the November 2010 ballot:

BALLOT TITLE: REFERENDA REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLANS.

BALLOT SUMMARY: Establishes that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan, or amend a

comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall be subject to vote of the electors of the local government

by referendum, following preparation by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body and notice. Provides

definitions.

A4 will stop all growth, cost

jobs, and harm the economy.

Current land-use plans already allow development for over 100 million people in Florida,

more than 5 times the current State population of 18 million, even if not one more land-use

plan change is approved. There will be plenty of construction, and construction jobs, even if A4

causes some new plan amendments to be rejected by the voters.

Over-reliance on the boom-and-bust cycle of development has helped put our economy in the

sad shape it’s in. Better control of development will encourage a stronger, more diversified

economy based on permanent, productive jobs.

Too many costly elections.

We already elect representa-

tives to do the job.

We’ll be voting on everything.

A4 provides referenda only (a) for local land-use plan changes (b) after they are approved by a

resident’s local council or commission. Referenda will appear at our regularly scheduled gen-

eral elections, at virtually no added cost. If a developer wants a special election, the developer

can be required to pay for it.

Amendment 4 is a popular movement that grew out of Floridian’s frustration with the level of

control that developers were exerting on our elected representatives, in order to pass the land-

use changes that are crowding our roads and schools, increasing our taxes, and decreasing our

property values and quality of life.

Residents would only vote on comp plan changes that our local governments have already ap-

proved. If a local council or commission denies a change, it does not go to a citizen vote. If the

developer chooses to develop the land in a way that’s compatible with the local land-use plan,

as the original process was intended, a citizen vote is not required.

A4 supporters are a “special

interest.”

Housing developments add to

the tax base.

Plans are meant to be flexible,

changed.

Supporters of A4 are the citizens of Florida, from all walks of life. Opponents of A4, including

Floridians for Smarter Growth, are a “special interest,” representing developers and allied

industries, plus a number of local government bodies in apparent violation of State law.

False – new housing costs more than it provides in tax revenue. Municipalities have to in-

crease residents’ taxes in order to provide the new infrastructure and additional services for

these new homes. Tax increases are especially high for “sprawl” development away from the

urban service area.

The Growth Management Act provides for regular review and approval of our local Compre-

hensive Land-Use Plans. A Plan is not a plan if it is changed solely for the personal gain of

“special interests.”

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Amendment 4 provides the check-and-balance that Florida’s democratic system has hereto-

fore lacked. It provides the people with a veto power over the undue influence of developers

on our politicians. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore good, responsible gov-

ernment to our home at the local and State level.

“I am not among those who fear the people.” - Thomas Jefferson

Page 3Volume 1, Issue 10

Three main differences distinguish the

Miramar Wal-Mart caper from Coconut

Creek’s Cocomar Plaza debacle:

1. In Miramar, the developer (Wal-

Mart) already owned the land in

question.

2. In Miramar, City Commissioners

had the political presence of mind

to actually represent the will of

their constituents.

3. In Coconut Creek, it is the resi-

dents that bear the burden of liti-gation to prevent inappropriate

development, not the other way

around.

Creek commissioners complained to

residents that they feared a lawsuit by

developers if the commission didn’t go

along with the project. Apparently, they

felt it made more sense to defend them-

selves against the residents instead of

the developer. It certainly would have

been interesting to see which side the

developer’s law firm would have taken,

since that firm is also retained by the

City and has been very generous withregard to the commissioner’s election

campaigns.

In any case, not a single Creek commis-

sioner was willing to risk the Broward

Circuit Court’s wisdom as exemplified

by Judge Carney. Oh ye of little faith.

Speaking of which, here’s an excerpt

from Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ The

Everglades, River of Grass:

A fellow in the construction trade re-

marked to me the other day, “If we

don’t get a hurricane soon, I’m outta

here!” This particular gentleman mi-

grated here in the aftermath of Wilma.

With all due respect, if your stake in

Florida is dependant upon either disas-

trous weather or bulldozing what’s left

of our natural environment, please re-

consider your motives. Florida deserves

better treatment than a one night

stand.Granted, most of us are not originally

from here. But there is evidence that a

growing number of Floridians embrace

the concept of actually caring about

where we live rather than pulling out

when the pickings are more ripe some-

where else.

When residents of Monarch Lakes in

Miramar protested the construction of a

new 24-hour Wal-Mart supercenter,

City Commissioners actually voted

down the project, 4-1. Making good on

their threat of litigation if they didn’t

get their way, Wal-Mart sued for anappeal claiming the Commissioners

failed to “apply the correct law” during

the zoning hearing. Broward Judge

Robert Carney denied Wal-Mart’s ap-

peal, effectively preventing Monarch

Lakes from becoming another Wal-

burb, where cheap prices and below-the

-poverty-line wages trump community

standards.

“It is an article of faith in Florida, in

the emerging urban giant carved from

wild dunes and inaccessible swamps,

that events can be propelled fast

enough to keep ahead of consequences.

A century after man first started todominate the Everglades, that progress

has stumbled. Consequences have

started to catch up.”

Indeed!

Now we have a Hometown Democracy

Amendment looming on the horizon, an

unprecedented opportunity for advo-

cates of a sustainable Florida lifestyle

to win back some of what has been

prostituted by certain elected officials.

Amendment 4 is a much needed step in

staving off the gold-rush mentality to-

ward development that has plagued our

state for so long.

Judging from some elected official’s

panicky reactions, A4 is right on the

mark. Threaten the hand that feeds a

mayor or commissioner and you’ll hear

the squeal for miles.

In a recent local magazine, Creek

Mayor Marilyn Gerber states her oppo-

sition to Amendment 4. Her talking

A4 arguments- continued...

A4 infringes on my property

rights.

A4 infringes on minority in-

terests.

A4 protects everyone’s property rights by enforcing the publicly approved local Comprehensive

Land-Use Plan. Residents, in particular, will not have to continually and repeatedly fight off

inappropriate development next door to their homes, in their neighborhoods and communi-

ties. A4 has nothing to do with zoning.

No. Developers, as a minority, already know what they are permitted to do with their land.

They are required to prove to the public that changes they want to make are in the public in-

terest. No other minority is affected – this is a bogus claim.

Residents demand a sustainable Florida

Editorial

Continued next page -

8/14/2019 The Paddle Sept2009-1[2]


Sustainable Florida –continued from page 3

Phone: (954) 495-9242E-mail: [email protected]

Broward County Audubon Society:

www.browardaudubon.org

Broward Sierra Club:

http://florida.sierraclub.org/broward

Green League of Broward:

www.GreenBroward.net

Everglades Earth First!

www.evergladesearthfirst.org

Florida Hometown Democracy:

www.floridahometowndemocracy.com

Please visit and support our friends

4799 Coconut Creek Parkway, #230Coconut Creek, FL 33063 USA

The Paddle is published by:

The Concerned Citizens of Coconut Creek LLC

Please consider the environment before printing this or other documents

VISIT OUR WEBSITE:ISIT OUR WEBSITE:ISIT OUR WEBSITE:

WWW.COCONUTCREEKFL.ORGWW.COCONUTCREEKFL.ORGWW.COCONUTCREEKFL.ORG

SIGN THE PETITION TO OPPOSE COCOMAR PLAZA!IGN THE PETITION TO OPPOSE COCOMAR PLAZA!IGN THE PETITION TO OPPOSE COCOMAR PLAZA!

points are straight from the development industry’s playbook.

She suggests the issue is very complex and perhaps some people

shouldn’t vote. Gerber concludes by saying that she will decide

these things for us until we vote her out of office, which hasn’t

happened yet so she must be doing the right thing.

The Mayor doesn’t mention the role development dollars play in

keeping her in office, as she uses a taxpayer-subsidized publica-

tion to champion their cause. And while she is still a commis-

sioner and current mayor, she may find some of the power shehas abused taken from her by vote in November 2010.

Gerber was wrong on Cocomar Plaza and she’s on the wrong

side of this issue as well. Her governance is no more sustainable

than a post-boom or post-disaster economy. Like others to whom

Florida is just a big old fat cash cow, Madame Mayor may be

forced to accept that Florida can change for the better, with

or without her participation.

To those that come and help us after a storm, thank you

from the bottom of our hearts. A lot of us are willing to re-

pay the favor in kind and do. Those who stay will find Flor-

ida demands a certain degree of adaptability from her resi-

dents. Even change for the better can be tough sometimes,

but in the end it is vital. To manage our growth in an intel-

ligent and sustainable manner will be the work of thosewho embrace Florida as their home, and is change that will

benefit us all. Amendment 4 gives us a chance to show our

loyalty to our home and be rewarded.

-James Freeman

resource- Recycle old cell phonesand make some green

Flipswap.com is encouraging people to do something about thoseold cell phones lying around - recycle them! According to the

company’s website, the average American buys a new cell phone

every 12 months. That means about 100 million old phones are

discarded or tossed in a junk drawer each year. Many of these

phones are still usable and can be recycled to help out those who

cannot afford to buy one. Send them your old phone and Flip-

swap will offer a choice of cash back, in-store credit towards a

new phone, or a donation to your favorite charity.

Sohrob Farudi is the company’s chief executive and says it does-

n’t matter which carrier supports the phone: "Our service is

completely agnostic in terms of carriers. Someone with a Cingu-

lar phone can walk into a Verizon store and get store credit. It

fits perfectly with the goal of every carrier to get someone to jump slap from a competing carrier."

Farudi’s company claims to have facilitated the trade-in of over

800,000 phones since their launch in 2005. In 2008 alone, Flip-

swap kept the equivalent of 80 tons of solid waste, much of

which is toxic, out of community landfills. The company also

plans to expand into recycling other electronics as well. "The

idea is for anyone to go to any electronic retailer with your iPod,

cell phone or lap top and get instant credit for a new TV," Fa-

rudi said. "We want people to walk up to a counter and say 'I

want to Flipswap this.' We want our brand to become a verb."

The trade-in service is free to consumers and retailers with ex-

cess phones. Simply log on to flipswap.com, find the value of your phone, and use the prepaid shipping label to mail in the

phone. Flipswap pays for shipping and your payment arrives in

about three weeks.

Flipswap is currently a 12 million dollar business, exemplifying

that going green can also generate a lot of green.

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The Paddle Sept2009-1[2]