No sympathy for the town paper: Dismantling of growth management was thirty years in the making.

[The Backlash Cometh]

The article below has good information of the "swift" dismantling of Florida's growth management laws, but the truth is that the Orlando Sentinel is largely responsible for allowing the forces to get in position for this last and final coup.

It began in the 1980s when an organization called CLEO (Community Leaders/elected officials) came into being. They pushed out the press and provided a monthly meeting place for private individuals and public sector officials, which had no public oversight. Everyone from Tallahassee legislators to local judges were able to find a place to talk about matters of interest. The OS failed because these meetings would have been very easy to infiltrate, and they never tried. You had some of the most fierce and proactive property rights activists at these meetings and they were allowed to network without any outside interference.

From there you jump into the nineties when at least one county in Central Florida pursued an ambitious Economic development program, which the Orlando Sentinel supported by endorsing the politicians which they felt could best realize those projects. In so doing, they would harold in a group of the most unethical politicians the County would ever see. A lot of dirty shit took place during this time period, which the Sentinel is yet to report. It was also during this time period when an early attempt was made to challenge the DCA's power over local government through the court system. This effort was almost buried under all the other ambitious projects which were taking place at the same time, but it shouldn't have been too difficult for a reporter to have access to the information. It was nearly impossible to miss, especially when the effort blew up in everyone's faces. You would think the Orlando Sentinel would have been forced to report the matter when a multi-million dollar lawsuit disrupted the effort. But, the paper once again, went silent, foregoing the opportunity to reveal the names and organizations which were in support of destroying the DCA's control over local government.

So now we jump another ten to fifteen years later and the OS is now publishing an article that reveals how developers were behind this latest dismantling of growth management and the DCA. As well as the report is written, the one part that rings hollow is the insinuation that it happened so quickly. In reality, it was as part of a movement that began as early as the eighties, and in the Orlando Sentinel's own back yard. And they missed it completely. That's just my opinion. Their article follows:

Developers helped GOP gut Florida's growth act, records show

TALLAHASSEE — After Florida's business lobby poured tens of millions in campaign cash into electing Republican supermajorities to the Legislature last year, its top wish was clear: dismantling state oversight of the once-massive development industry.

More than a month before Billy Buzzett took over as Florida's top growth cop in January, lobbyists for some of the state's biggest developers already had outlined a game plan to make it easier for large-scale projects to spread across the rural and exurban landscape, according to public records released by Gov. Rick Scott's office seven months after the Orlando Sentinel requested them.

"Beyond removing some of the regulatory impediments, is there a planning function that will promote the efforts to make our state more attractive to businesses?" one of the lobbyists wrote to Buzzett, a former developer with the St. Joe Co., on Nov. 24.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-growth-management-gutting-20110904,0,2006509.story

[DonCoquixote]

1. True beyond words

First off, the Orlando Sentinel runs center-right, like most. Even the Democrats that are supported are the weak ones Florida is so good at making, where Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is considered a leftist. This paper helped throw Grayson to the dogs, and helped the GOP secure his seat. Now, the piper is being paid.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. I think it's very important for someone to report the history of the property rights

movement in Central Florida, since it very much feels like this was one of the main cells.

[enough]

3. I don't know about Florida, but in Pennsylavnia this was all out in the open and

completely explicit. Nothing secretive about it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. It was very secret in Florida. And I suspect they managed to keep it

under wraps because there were a lot of crooked lawyers and judges involved in the effort.

[Cool Logic]

5. ...property rights activists allowed to network without any outside interference...

Oh my...

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. It is pretty incredible when you realize who they were, and who they had access to.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. kicked for the morning crowd.

I sure would appreciate the fifth recommend to give this post some attention, and, hopefully, attract someone who can help. Because, now that local government controls zoning, the good ole boys will take over our cities and I have the story of the century that will show what our world in Florida is about to turn into.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. kicked for the eleven o'clock church crowd.

[madfloridian]

9. This part is so true...little opposition from Democrats.

"Although some Democrats and environmental groups objected, Republican supermajorities in both chambers steamrolled the opposition."

Not enough Dems here to matter. :shrug:

Crist really sold out to developers. I would have thought better of him at one time.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. And, unfortunately, many Dems work for the real estate and mortgage companies.

Big leap of faith to believe they're going to set aside their bread and butter to do the right thing.