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The voters ought to decide the fate of tree protectionBy Ron Littlepage The bulldoze-and-mow-em-down Northeast Florida Builders Association apparently doesn't believe in democracy. The group, which successfully led its campaign-contribution-fed sheep on the City Council into passing a watered-down tree ordinance last year, has now filed suit to block a citizen-led effort to actually protect the city's trees. More than 20,000 registered voters signed petitions distributed by Citizens for Tree Protection Inc. saying they wanted strong tree protection in Jacksonville. That was enough to put the question on the Nov. 7 ballot. But rather than letting the people of Jacksonville speak on the issue, the builders want to silence them by having the question thrown off the ballot. One of the arguments made by the builders is that the tougher restrictions, which among other things would require that builders pay a fee for protected trees that are cut down, amounts to an unconstitutional tax because new home buyers would have to pay higher prices. Gee, builders made the same argument against the watered-down tree ordinance the City Council passed, but they didn't sue to block that. Why? Because they know that ordinance doesn't protect squat and any fees they pay will be minimal. It's time we had tree protection laws with teeth. Let the voters vote. |
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