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Highlands Today

Hometown Democracy

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Hank Kowalski

Published: December 5, 2007

Several editorials in the Highlands Today have come out against the Florida Hometown Democracy ballot proposal. That is unfortunate, but not surprising, as a newspaper is a "business" and depends upon the number of paid subscribers it has. The more people moving into the newspaper's area, the better chance there is to increase sales. This may be called the "gold" factor. I call it the "greed" factor.

A newspaper should also have a conscience and be supportive of the people's quality of life. Again, unfortunately, the editorial writers for Highlands Today have decided that "gold" is more important.

The editorials seem to imply that "ordinary" citizens do not have the capability to understand growth and development problems and will not be able to vote on these issues in a knowledgeable manner. Seeming to imply also that elected officials, developers and county and state land use experts are the ones who should dominate. This premise is a slap in the face to the hundreds of ordinary citizens who make up zoning boards; giving hundreds of hours of their time and effort voluntarily, as they serve because they feel it is their civic duty. They will not be locked out of the land use projects as editorials seem to imply.

Let us also remember that the Republican-led Legislature voted to move up the deadline for submitting signatures and also raised the number of signatures required to place a petition on the ballot for 500,000 to 611,000. The Sierra Club and most of the local Audubon chapters are in support of the Florida Hometown Democracy Petition, as are hundreds of voters here in Highlands County. Need a copy of the petition to sign? Send me a stamped, self addressed business size envelope: I'm "in the book."

Hank Kowalski
Lake Placid

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