This past week, property owners in Kenneth City in Pinellas County had good reason to get show up en masse at City Hall. On the Council agenda:  a proposed "neatness ordinance." 

That's right - a neatness ordinance.

If this idea is surprising to you, then you may have missed CPR's article on Lake County's landscape ordinance where we predicted that when governments begin regulating minutiae such as lawn grass type and flower bed plants, they will not stop at the threshold of private homes.

According to a Times news report, the proposed ordinance would set "standards for upkeep and appearance and gives town officials the right to enter homes. If the owner refuses to allow the official to enter, the town can go to a judge for an ‘administrative search warrant' to allow access to the interior of buildings."

The idea of governments having "neatness police" and giving public inspectors the authority to enter private homes on the basis of highly-subjective, aesthetic issues represents an outrageous assault on private property rights.  

It is also fiscally irresponsible. At a time when many cities are cutting budgets and services, the Kenneth City Council would be adding a new burden on the highly-trained law enforcement officers and judges whose time would be wasted enforcing this regulation.

When residents demanded a public review of the full content of the ordinance, the arrogance demonstrated by town officials was unbelievable. Town Attorney Paul Marino and Councilmember Al Carrier are quoted in news reports as commenting, "Let's see if you all show up for a workshop," and, "If you are not here, you have nothing else to say."

These comments reflect these men have lost sight of two facts: 1) the primary purpose of government is to protect the private property rights of individual citizens, 2) The residents whose objections they apparently don't care to hear are the ones who pay the taxes which fund their public salaries.

This neatness ordinance proposal is a perfect example of how far officials will expand their regulatory power, if they do not receive a push-back from active citizens.

CPR applauds the Kenneth City land owners who took the time to stand up for their rights and to protest this outrage.  Their activism in showing up and speaking out won a temporary postponement of the Council's vote on the ordinance and hopefully, more thoughtful consideration of the proposal!

Regulatory Insanity Check

While proponents of Kenneth City's neatness ordinance win CPR's "Regulatory Insanity Award" hands down this week, they are not the only officials worthy of this distinction.  Four of five Commissioners in the City of Lady Lake appear to need an immediate intervention with a doctor (of economics). It appears these individuals either haven't read the business section of the newspaper in the past year or don't understand what is occurring in our economy.

The Lady Lake Council recently voted to significantly hike impact fees. They added to a $391 impact fee for libraries for each residential unit and another $2,332 impact fee for parks.  During a recession, when citizens are struggling to pay their bills and existing taxes, it makes no sense to create additional financial burdens which limit the ability of property and business owners to pursue their dreams.

At the same time that some municipalities are slashing impact and permit fees to encourage  investment and spur economic activity, Lady Lake has done the exact opposite.  By increasing the regulatory burden on owners seeking to put their land to constructive and productive use, they are openly discouraging economic investment within city limits. 

CPR In The News & On The Air

On Thanksgiving Day, a CPR opinion editorial, "Spreading the Wealth Didn't Work for the Pilgrims," appeared in the Orlando Sentinel. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/orl-myword27saviak08nov27,0,3430212,print.story

On Sunday, November 30, CPR Executive Director Carol Saviak was a featured guest on The Don Corace Show on WDBO-AM 580.  On Saturday, December 6, Saviak will be a guest on the Roger Franklin Williams Show on NewsTalk 660-WORL.

Are Your Economic Rights Worth Fighting For?

If you believe your government should value, protect, and encourage individual economic opportunity, join the Coalition for Property Rights today and support our work to promote the natural right to own, use and benefit from private property ownership. Register online at www.proprights.com/contribute/ or call 407-481-2289 to learn how you can help make a difference in this important fight. Donations of all sizes are appreciated and make the work of our non-profit organization possible.

Reader responses always welcomed! saviak@proprights.com

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