Local FL Governments Sue Over SB 360

Gov. Crist appears richly rewarded for selling us out with SB 260, the so-called Community Renewal Act, reports St. Petersburg Times columnist Howard Troxler in "Crist Signs Bad Growth Bill, Is Punished with $4.3 million in Campaign Contributions" That's more than ten times what his Republican opponent, Marc Rubio, has raised for his Senate run.

"Like young Anakin Skywalker, " Troxler muses, "Crist has learned that the Dark Side has its rewards. He should start dressing in black and breathing heavily."

The Force may be with us though. Eight local governments, including Weston and Deerfield Beach, filed suit in Leon County Circuit Court in Tallahassee to block the law (Cities sue to block lawmakers' growth management repeal), saying it's an unfunded mandate on local governments.

The suit hinges on two major points:

(1) The law is in violation of a state Constitutional law requiring "single subject" laws, since it includes language about affordable housing and the regulation of security cameras.

(2) It forces forces Florida cities and counties to spend money they don't have, and that the Legislature won't given them, to comply with the new law, creating an unConstitutional "unfundated mandate."

Wonder if Crist has to give his nearly half billion back if the lawsuit is successful?

Huffington Post Stuff and Homeschool Nonsense

So what's up with the snide little aside in this article from the Huffington Post reporting on Texas Governor Rick Perry's pick of Gail Lowe, an "outspoken creationist" to head up the Texas Board of Education?

"It was actually the less controversial choice. Cynthia Dunbar, reportedly under consideration for the post, believed government should be guided by a "biblical litmus test" and thought public education was a "subtly deceptive tool of perversion." (She home-schooled her own children.) She has also endorsed conspiracy theories suggesting President Obama is not a natural-born citizen." (emphasis mine)

Yeah, choosing a pseudoscience expert to head up a state school board isn't the most confidence inducing move in Texas' already beleaguered education system, but what has the whispered undertones of "she homeschooled her own children" got to do with anything?

I take issue with the choice to homeschool being equated with ignorance, conspiracy theories, and creation science .

Good grief!

Give 'em your .02 here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/12/gail-lowe-perry-picks-cre_n_230167.html

Unregulated Growth is HERE

I'm slow to update, but most people already know Gov. Crist signed SB 360, opening Florida to unregulated growth and all its commensurate problems. I would hope he signed off on his Senate hopes, too, unless the price for selling his soul, and our childrens' future, to Big Development is pays off politically, which it may - although we can, and should, work vigorously for more promising leadership.

Check out Howard Troxler's column in the St. (Crist Signs Growth Bill, Sells Florida Down River) to see who voted for and against the bill, and the Sunshine State's future.

Unregulated Growth looms in SB 360

Columnist Howard Troxler, of the St. Petersburg Times, writes in an open letter to Governor Crist:

______________

Dear Governor,

So, how's it going? I bet this time of year, everybody wants to tell you which bills passed by the Legislature you should approve or veto.

Forgive me for adding to all the noise. Still, you really should veto Senate Bill 360, the so-called "growth management" bill.

I know a lot of people want you to sign it and I know their reasons.

The stated goals are good. Help get Florida moving again. "Fill in" our urban areas with new construction.

But, hiding behind those goals, this bill goes way too far. It guts the Growth Management Act of 1985. It basically repeals that law.

Is that your legacy?

___________________________

Do any of us want that to be our legacy?

In Smart Growth News, 1000 Friends of Florida says, "

'While this bill contains important and well-intentioned growth management concepts, we believe it falls far short of the goal of encouraging more and better new growth in already developed areas,'' the 1000 Friends president continued, pointing out that more sprawl means more traffic congestion, ''which already contributes almost 40 percent'' of greenhouse gas emissions statewide.

Specifically, according to the Friends:

• The bill’s definition of “dense urban land area” promotes unchecked and inappropriate urban development in vast tracts of fringe and rural lands
• It automatically qualifies 245 cities and the entire territory of eight of our largest counties for transportation concurrency exemptions and Development of Regional Impact (DRI) exemptions.
• It runs counter to Gov. Crist’s goals to address climate change.
• Instead of being an economic stimulus strategy as proponents argue, it would allow massive new development to the already over-allocated and over-approved development already in existence in our state.

You can read the full text of SB 360 here (PDF)

And give voice to your concerns at the 1000 Friends of Florida website or at Audubon of Florida, among others.

Parental Rights Amendment back as HJ Resolution 42

Right on the heels of news that Sen. Arlen Specter, of PA, is introducing his flat tax bill for a second time (Specter Swings to the Right to Save Senate Seat), while also being lobbied to get behind a parental rights amendment to the Constitution, comes a Home School Legal Defense (HSLDA) note "introducing HJ Resolution 42: the aforementioned Parental Rights Amendment, and urging homechoolers to support it.

Of course supporting or not supporting this amendment is a personal decision, but it’s advised that those who *don't* support it speak out to their congressfolk as well. Many argue that the

amendment is superfluous, since parental rights are already protected by the Constitution, and potentially rights limiting because it opens the door to more narrowly defining "parents" and "families".Additionally, the threat of international law at this level superseding federal law is an empty, and fear mongering one.

You can learn more about the Parental Rights Amendment and related issues at http://www.learningis4everyone.org/content/view/24/42/1/2/

Follow actions and commentary at Open Congress: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hj42/show

See also: NHELDs Warning to Parents :http://www.nheld.com/BTN67.htm

Earth Hour 2009 - Saturday, March 28, 8:30pm

Go Green by going dark -- or at least dim!
__________________________________________

From Earth Hour US: http://www.earthhourus.org


* Earth Hour is World Wildlife Fund's global initiative where individuals, businesses and governments turn off their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change.
* Earth Hour is a symbolic event designed to engage people from all walks of life in the climate change discussion to send a strong message to our political leaders that we want them to take meaningful action on climate change.
* The largest climate event in history where millions of people around the world will unite by turning off their lights for one hour, Earth Hour, to demand action on the climate crisis.

-->When is Earth Hour?

* Earth Hour 2009 takes place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm–local time.
* Just like New Years Eve, Earth Hour will travel from time zone to time zone starting at 8:30pm in New Zealand.

What do we hope to accomplish through Earth Hour 2009?

* Through Earth Hour, WWF hopes to create political momentum for enacting national climate legislation and a global climate treaty.
* Through Earth Hour, WWF will continue to educate and raise awareness about the climate crisis and offer ideas and solutions that people can merge into their daily lives.
* Through Earth Hour, WWF aims to unify people's voices from around the world who are demanding action form our elected officials to solve the climate crisis.

-->What does a pledge to turn out your lights involve and commit me to?

Participating in Earth Hour is easy. All you have to do is sign up at www.EarthHourUS.org, tell your friends / co-workers about it and then turn off all of your non-essential lighting on March 28th at 8:30pm. Through signing up you are not committing to anything specific. Rather you are agreeing that strong action needs to be taken to find a solution to the climate crisis.

-->Who can participate in Earth Hour?

Anyone. Earth Hour is an inclusive event and everyone is invited to participate. WWF will provide tools online to enable any town, community, school, individual or organization to be part of the event.

-->Why is Earth Hour at 8:30pm this year instead of 8pm?

As the campaign has grown from one city in one country to a truly global campaign, the time has been moved to allow the maximum number of cities around the world to be suitably dark for the lights out campaign to have a greater visual impact. Earth Hour is held around the spring equinox, which ensures nearly equal sunset times in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

-->Do I have to turn off all of my electricity for Earth Hour?

Not at all. Through Earth Hour we are asking people to turn off all non-essential lighting. Emergency lighting, televisions and computers can stay on for the hour. The main point of Earth Hour is to unite people, companies and governments around the world through the symbolic flip of a switch. Earth Hour in itself will not lower our carbon footprint, rather it sends a signal to those in a place of power that we as individuals and communities demand action.

The decision on which lights to turn off can be made individually, but usually consists of overhead lights in rooms (whether it is your house or a business), outdoor lighting that does not impact safety, computers, decorative lights, neon signs for advertising, televisions, desk lamps, etc.

Visit www.EarthHourUS.org for more information.

Evolution: Education and Outreach journal celebrates Darwin throughout 2009

The latest issue of Evolution: Education and Outreach — the new journal aspiring to promote accurate understanding and comprehensive teaching of evolutionary theory for a wide audience — is now available on-line, free:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/120878/

From the press release:

"Throughout 2009, the journal will celebrate the life and work of Charles Darwin.

Featured accordingly in the latest issue are articles on Darwin: "Why Darwin," "Artificial Selection and Domestication: Modern Lessons from Darwin's Enduring Analogy," "Charles Darwin and Human Evolution," "Experimenting with Transmutation: Darwin, the Beagle, and Evolution,"
"Darwin's 'Extreme' Imperfection," and "The 'Popular Press' Responds to Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species and His Other Works." Studies of teaching and learning are presented as well: "Assessment of Biology Majors' Versus Nonmajors' Views on Evolution, Creationism, and
Intelligent Design," "Educational Malpractice: The Impact of Including Creationism in High School Biology Courses," "Teaching Evolution in Primary Schools: An Example in French Classroom," and the late Michael E. N. Majerus's "Industrial Melanism in the Peppered Moth, Biston betularia: An Excellent Teaching Example of Darwinian Evolution in Action." There are also reviews of Michael Shermer's Why Darwin Matters and Rob DeSalle and Ian Tattersall's Human Origins."

And much more.