Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Don?t be fooled by a card trick


By STEVE WOLPER

The secret to a good card trick is to distract the viewer. Watch this hand while the other hand hides the ace. The same principle applies to politics and especially to Proposition 2, which will be on our November ballots.

In what is at best a very confusing choice of names, a new organization, named Citizens for Smart Government, has been advertising in favor of Proposition 2. They know full well that Citizens for Smart Growth is strongly opposed to Proposition 2.

As one of the founders of Citizens for Smart Growth, an organization that has worked for more than seven years to preserve the quality of life that makes Blaine County a wonderful place to live, I am saddened to see our name mistakenly associated with an attack on our community's ability to govern itself.

More dangerous than an innocent card trick, Proposition 2 is masquerading as protection of private property rights. Contrary to claims, there is not a serious threat of a government "taking" your private property. The truth is the Idaho Legislature already unanimously passed strict legislation protecting your private property from "takings."

This deception is designed to hide the very real risks of Proposition 2, a potential land grab by wealthy developers.

Proposition 2 is being pushed by

out-of-state special interests

Proposition 2's primary backer is an out-of-state real estate developer from New York City. He is paying millions to push his radical agenda on several Western states, paying virtually all the costs to get propositions on state ballots.

He is reported to have paid professionals hundreds of thousands of dollars in Idaho to collect signatures. If it were not for his money, Proposition 2 would not even be on the ballot.

These same tactics in Montana just resulted in a similar initiative being thrown off their ballot for fraud.

Proposition 2 will degrade

Idaho's unique quality of life

It will make it prohibitively expensive for communities to plan for development. It allows a developer to blackmail a community—pay me or else. It will open the door for out-of-state developers to buy properties and build—or just threaten to build—a junkyard or high-rise next to your home, your business, your church, your local school, or your neighborhood. "Pay me or else ..."

Idaho homeowners and businesses have relied for years on local citizen-based planning to protect their property values and community standards. Proposition 2 will make that virtually impossible.

Proposition 2 will cost you a lot of money

Paying for claims and lawsuits related to Proposition 2 will cost taxpayers millions or billions of dollars—money that will go to special interests and not schools, emergency services, snow plowing or road maintenance.

Oregon passed a similar measure in 2004 (called Measure 37), and taxpayers there face claims exceeding $5 billion. High Country News reported that in one instance neighbors were shocked to find a 40-acre parcel converted to a mobile home park in the middle of their established neighborhood.

Even proponents admit that Proposition 2 is poorly written. It will lead to endless lawsuits—at taxpayers' expense. It is a tax trap that will cost Idaho families, farmers, ranchers and small businesses millions.

Please don't be fooled by misleading advertising pretending to protect your private property rights. You have the right to plan for the future of your community. Don't give it away. Imagine the value of your home with a new junkyard or feed lot next door.

Idahoans don't need out-of state special interests dictating their futures.

Don't be fooled by this sleight of hand. Say "no" to this millionaire's land grab. Vote "no" on Proposition 2.

Steve Wolper, of Ketchum, is a former board member of the Idaho Conservation League and a co-founder of Citizens for Smart Growth, based in Hailey.




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