Comments on: The Unknown Amendment http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/2009/02/26/the-unknown-amendment/ Where all politics is local... Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:42:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Don Marsh http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/2009/02/26/the-unknown-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-2060 Don Marsh Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:20:45 +0000 http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/?p=264#comment-2060 I supported Alachua County Forever because it had a short period of time to collect and spend money. I opposed the 1/2 cent sales tax because it is permanent. I don't like the idea that they will be able to keep buying and buying land to take off the tax rolls forever, and that it would take a ballot initiative to change that. I supported Alachua County Forever because it had a short period of time to collect and spend money. I opposed the 1/2 cent sales tax because it is permanent. I don’t like the idea that they will be able to keep buying and buying land to take off the tax rolls forever, and that it would take a ballot initiative to change that.

]]> By: Jorge Romero-Habeych http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/2009/02/26/the-unknown-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-2057 Jorge Romero-Habeych Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:10:43 +0000 http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/?p=264#comment-2057 Don, Thanks for the reply, this is my second year living in Gainesville! I guess I am expecting too much from my fellow citizens. Don,
Thanks for the reply, this is my second year living in Gainesville! I guess I am expecting too much from my fellow citizens.

]]> By: Nat Parker http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/2009/02/26/the-unknown-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-2046 Nat Parker Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:58:48 +0000 http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/?p=264#comment-2046 What lands would they be keeping the commission from selling? The City has a dozen or more natural areas that people visit every day. They've been managing conservation land longer than Alachua County Forever has been in existence. Actually, I think the amendment was proposed by the same people who organized and supported the sales tax referendum you say you supported (the one that's funding (Alachua County Forever), and for the same reason that the county has a similar amendment: the City is also specifically receiving money to buy conservation land through the 1/2 cent sales tax. If people are willing to vote to tax themselves to buy greenspace, they deserve some assurance that it will stay green and not go to the highest bidder. I don't like the idea that all it would take for some influential person to buy a park so they could have a bigger backyard would be to convince a couple of commissioners--this may seem like an exaggeration, but these things definitely can and do happen. If we're talking about taking away parks that people use, the bar needs to be higher. What lands would they be keeping the commission from selling? The City has a dozen or more natural areas that people visit every day. They’ve been managing conservation land longer than Alachua County Forever has been in existence.

Actually, I think the amendment was proposed by the same people who organized and supported the sales tax referendum you say you supported (the one that’s funding (Alachua County Forever), and for the same reason that the county has a similar amendment: the City is also specifically receiving money to buy conservation land through the 1/2 cent sales tax. If people are willing to vote to tax themselves to buy greenspace, they deserve some assurance that it will stay green and not go to the highest bidder. I don’t like the idea that all it would take for some influential person to buy a park so they could have a bigger backyard would be to convince a couple of commissioners–this may seem like an exaggeration, but these things definitely can and do happen. If we’re talking about taking away parks that people use, the bar needs to be higher.

]]> By: Don Marsh http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/2009/02/26/the-unknown-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-2042 Don Marsh Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:42:39 +0000 http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/?p=264#comment-2042 Jorge, you haven't been here very long, have you? The people who support charter one don't want to govern. They just want to limit the government that they have. Y'see, 80-90% of Gainesville citizens who are registered to vote do not care enough to vote in the city elections that are held each spring. Each one is a big surprise, and they seem generally annoyed that they are expected to vote, let alone participate in any more meaningful way. So, we are stuck with the biggest eager-beaver world-beaters who want to run our lives in every possible way. And Gainesville seems to be fine with that...with limits. And Charter One is the limit they have chosen this year. Jorge, you haven’t been here very long, have you? The people who support charter one don’t want to govern. They just want to limit the government that they have.

Y’see, 80-90% of Gainesville citizens who are registered to vote do not care enough to vote in the city elections that are held each spring. Each one is a big surprise, and they seem generally annoyed that they are expected to vote, let alone participate in any more meaningful way. So, we are stuck with the biggest eager-beaver world-beaters who want to run our lives in every possible way. And Gainesville seems to be fine with that…with limits. And Charter One is the limit they have chosen this year.

]]> By: Jorge Romero-Habeych http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/2009/02/26/the-unknown-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-2039 Jorge Romero-Habeych Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:05:46 +0000 http://alachuavoterguide.com/blog/?p=264#comment-2039 "Our two charter amendments that are on this March 24 ballot are object lessons on distrust. The first one came about because a large number of citizens cannot trust their city commissioners’ judgment when it comes to public safety. The second one is there because this city commission does not trust future city commissions to protect public lands." I agree with the above statement! I believe that the smaller, the more local a government is the more accountable and effective it is. I believe that is why the founders favored a decentralized form of government ruled by the law. With regards to amendment one, if we distrust our local officials with making the right calls, how does it make any sense to give up local control over policies that affect our community to a bunch of bureaucrats in Tallahassee. If we don't like the decisions that our local officials have made then fire them (officials) and overturn them. Once we give up the right of self-determination to Tallahassee it will not be so easy to get it back. I don't think that is a hard concept to grasp! “Our two charter amendments that are on this March 24 ballot are object lessons on distrust. The first one came about because a large number of citizens cannot trust their city commissioners’ judgment when it comes to public safety. The second one is there because this city commission does not trust future city commissions to protect public lands.”

I agree with the above statement! I believe that the smaller, the more local a government is the more accountable and effective it is. I believe that is why the founders favored a decentralized form of government ruled by the law. With regards to amendment one, if we distrust our local officials with making the right calls, how does it make any sense to give up local control over policies that affect our community to a bunch of bureaucrats in Tallahassee. If we don’t like the decisions that our local officials have made then fire them (officials) and overturn them. Once we give up the right of self-determination to Tallahassee it will not be so easy to get it back. I don’t think that is a hard concept to grasp!

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