Sen. Greg Steube seems to hold the ‘communistic views’

I want to respond to Sen. Greg Steube’s Oct. 28 op-ed column in which he states that local governments and the Florida hotel industry hold “communistic views.” In paragraph 3 he says, among other things, that local governments have attempted to restrict or outright ban vacation rentals. In rebuttal, I’d like to make 2 points:

First, I’d like to direct Mr. Steube to page 9 of the Republican Party National Platform (his political party as well as mine, I might add). Page 9 begins under the heading “We The People.” In the first paragraph is a sentence stating, and I quote: “The American government is to operate with the consent of the governed.” There is no better example of this constitutional principle at work than in my city of Anna Maria, where I am a full-time resident with the cherished right to vote.

The properties to my immediate right and left are vacation rental properties owned by LLC’s in which the shareholders, while wonderful people, do not meet the definition of full-time residents and therefore do not have the right to vote in Anna Maria. Our permanent residents elect our commissioners and mayor to represent us on local matters pertinent to us, including vacation rental issues that impact our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness — and this same principle of democracy is played out in every city and town across the great State of Florida. This is the epitome of government operating with the consent of the governed.

Second, while Sen. Steube doesn’t mention this in his article, he supports legislation (SB 188) which, in effect, would remove local control of vacation rental rules, regulations and ordinances by turning back the clock and CENTRALIZING this control in Tallahassee. This legislation would be applicable in every city, town, and county in Florida regardless of any pertinent local issues facing the voting citizens — the very definition of Central Control. Any legislation that removes from my city the right to regulate or pass ordinances reflecting the will of the voters who live in the community is not consistent with our democratic principles.

And so I ask you — between the permanent residents and our locally elected officials on the one hand, and Sen. Greg Steube on the other — who really holds “communistic views”?

This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Sen. Greg Steube seems to hold the ‘communistic views’."