Manatee needs a charter government to guard against developers

Anna Maria Island learned what was most important when it permitted the seven-story condominium, Martinique. Joel Sainer was the builder, and it taught the Islanders and visitors to preserve the island from hungry and greedy developers to build tall buildings up and down the beach.

That is Anna Maria Island’s legacy. I believe the City of Palmetto also learned with the building of the Riviera Dunes high-rise.

So what is Manatee County’s legacy going to be? Allow builders like Carlos Beruff who is now the chairman of the Florida Constitution Committee and his pals to transform Manatee County into a Miami?

We need a “Citizens Committee” to create a County Charter. The League of Women’s Voters asked the Board of County Commissioners to do this so we don’t have to get 35,000 signatures for a county referendum. It’s such a coincidence that Chairman Beruff of the Florida Legislature’s Constitution Committee governs our commissioners and that we are not a charter by the people.

Manatee County needs a Charter government.

This story was originally published November 10, 2017 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Manatee needs a charter government to guard against developers."