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If nothing else, state constitutional Amendment 4 on the Nov. 2 ballot continues to prove divisive and controversial even among those that otherwise tend to be like-minded.
The amendment, which would require citizens to vote on any and all amendments to city and county comprehensive plans — though they may be packaged as a group of amendments if that's how elected officials vote on them — is polling at right about the 60% threshold to pass.
And that may help explain why it's generating differences of opinion among the board members of 1000 Friends of Florida. The Tallahassee-based group weighs in on growth management and environmental issues, and previously had officially been opposed to Amendment 4 for what it says are a “a host of reasons.”
But on Sept. 13, the group issued a press release saying they've changed their stance to neutral, “given the unwillingness of some local governments and the Florida Legislature to address serious flaws with Florida's existing growth management system.”
That's a curious position to take on a number of fronts, not the least of which is that both candidates for governor strongly oppose Amendment 4. Coffee Talk also hasn't heard of any candidates for the Legislature going around touting support for it either, thinking that it's a platform to help get them elected.
And many local governments, including the cities of Bonita Springs, Fort Myers and St. Pete Beach, oppose Amendment 4. So to do the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of School Boards.
Maybe it's time the members and contributors to 1000 Friends of Florida vote with their pocketbooks by canceling the membership and ask for their money back. Then its board of directors can vote to change its name to 100 Friends of Florida.
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