Florida developers oppose amendment on land use plan

One group is coming out swinging against Amendment 4, which would give Florida residents a vote on changes to the local government’s land use plan. An investigation by the Florida Independent website revealed that Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy — the main opponent to the amendment — is comprised of Republican developers with an agenda, and that it is not a broad coalition of different parties representing the majority of the people, the Eye on Miami blog reported. The members of Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy have allegedly spent millions of dollars to recruit thousands of petitioners to appeal to the Division of Elections, forcing the amendment off the ballot. Ryan Houck, executive director of the organization, maintained that his group’s mission is intended to benefit everyone. But others, such as Lesley Blackner, president of Florida Hometown Democracy, disagree. “The funding source of the Florida Republican Party is real estate, and they are very threatened by Hometown Democracy,” she said, referring to her own group, which has been trying to get Amendment 4 on the ballot for more than six years. [Eye on Miami]