Pasco County Passes Resolution Recognizing Southern Crafted Homes for their Contributions to the Community

Posted on: January 11th, 2011 by admin 2 Comments

A resolution was introduced at the Historical County Courthouse in Dade City by unanimous vote of the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County on Tuesday January 11th 2011. The resolution introduced by Commissioner Pat Mulieri recognized the companies sustained commitment to the community and specifically to veterans. The company actively supports Treats for Troops in Land O Lakes and Support Our Troops in Wesley Chapel. The two organizations work tirelessly to get need care packages filled with toiletries and other necessary items to troops in combat zones like Iraq, Afghanistan and other remote posts throughout the world.

The company has previously done work on wounded veterans homes and in 2011 will be a free home for Sgt Austin Burchard a soldier seriously injured by automatic weapons fire while manning his post in Afghanistan. Burchard a paraplegic was able to participate in the design and selection process with his wife Donna. 100% of the products and labor are being donated. The company also recently made a significant contribution to West Pasco Habitat for Humanity.

Kurt Hull, President & CEO and Jim Deitch, Chief Operating Officer of Southern Crafted Homes were present for the presentation of the resolution. “Of course we don’t do this for recognition but we appreciate the county acknowledging our efforts. As a 30 year resident of Pasco County we are pleased to be able to give back wherever we can. ” said Mr. Hull. “We hope that through this recognition more attention will be given to these great organizations we support”, Deitch continued. The company celebrated it’s 20th anniversary in October, 2010 and looks forward to a positive year in 2011.

FLORIDA VOTERS CRUSH AMENDMENT 4

Posted on: December 9th, 2010 by admin No Comments

On November 2, 2010 Florida voters overwhelmingly rejected Amendment 4, the so called “Home Town Democracy” proposed constitutional amendment that fell well short of the 60  percent required for adoption. The amendment would have required local votes before changes to local comprehensive growth plans.

The “No on 4” campaign was led by a coalition of business organizations, including the Florida Homebuilders Association. Ryan Houck who headed the “No On 4” initiative, said the victory came down to letting the voters know about the unintended consequences of the amendment. “Voters were not the least bit interested in passing an amendment that would hold an entire segment of Florida’s economy hostage,” said Houck.

“ We don’t want to pour sand in our state’s business engine”, said Houck. “We want to keep Florida growing with a strong, diversified economy, and rejecting Amendment 4 was a necessary step to get our economy back on track.”

Leslie Blackner, the West Palm Beach attorney who led the effort to pass Amendment 4, said the vote marks the end of the Hometown Democracy movement and that it’s up to the state’s elected leaders and residents to find answers to sprawl and overbuilding in the state.

Homeownership, The Truth

Posted on: October 26th, 2010 by admin No Comments

Homeownership has been under attack for the last several years, not only by a depressed market but also by a progressive attitude that homeownership is somehow a negative concept. Time magazine even demonized it earlier this year in a cover story. Since World War II, the United States has looked at homeownership as an important economic barometer as to where we stand as a nation. While certain aspects of homes and communities changed the goal of homeownership grew at a steady pace for 65 years hitting a remarkable 69% this decade. That number has declined in a recent years.

 Homeownership needs to remain a matter of pride for our nation and it should continue to be measured in a favorable manner so that when it does decline it can be addressed in a positive way. Despite the sudden plunge in the real estate market, homeownership remains in high demand by a public who realizes the overall safety in the investment. The bottom line is that home equity provides wealth. And it provides wealth that can be more readily applied to other parts of your life. Home equity can be used to grow your small business, educate your children, fund your retirement and even pay medical costs when needed.

We also cannot overlook the fact that healthy communities that are full of homeowners are better for society. They are safer places generally to raise our children and provide for a better outcome for them. Healthy communities support our economic and social conditions by providing revenue to local government through property taxes. Homeowners find balance in these costs through their mortgage interest deductions. Right now is the best time for investing in new homes because the prices are low and interest rates are low. Special programs like USDA and FHA allow for low down payments. Now is the time, especially for young people to begin their quest for a piece of the American Dream while the investment is optimum for the largest return.

VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 4

Posted on: October 26th, 2010 by admin No Comments

Amendment 4

Special interest lawyers, adult entertainment interests and population control groups have designed, funded and proposed this amendment to our Constitution.

What is the issue?

Amendment 4 will prolong the recession and put recovery out of reach for thousands of working Floridians. As a result, leading business, labor, and civic groups oppose Amendment 4

What will the measure do?

This proposed change to Florida’s Constitution would require a taxpayer-funded referendum for every single change to a local government comprehensive plan. Simply stated, Amendment 4 would force Floridians, not the representatives they elect, to decide hundreds of minor, technical comprehensive plan changes each year on issues like drainage, traffic circulation, and intergovernmental coordination.

What does that mean for you?

Here is what Amendment 4 means for you:
(1) a Florida with drastically fewer jobs,
(2) a significantly weaker economy,
(3) unbearably higher taxes to feed the Amendment 4 “litigation” bureaucracy.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce asked leading economists to study the impact of Amendment 4. The study indicates that Amendment 4 would likely
1. put more than 267,000 Floridians out of work,
2. shrink Florida’s economic output by more than $34 billion annually,
3. take nearly $12 billion out of the pockets of working families.

With Florida’s jobless rate reaching well into double digits, our state’s top business and labor groups have put politics aside to oppose Amendment 4. Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce wrote: “If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4.” Frank Ortis, executive board member with Florida’s AFL-CIO noted that “Amendment 4 will devastate Florida’s economy by costing hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving the unemployment rate even higher.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “The cost to local governments of [Amendment 4] would soar into the millions.” Those costs would be shouldered by Florida’s taxpayers who could expect to see not only more government waste, but also nonstop lawsuits as special interests wage war in court over the technical wording of endless ballot summaries.

Referencing a failed experiment in Amendment 4-style rule in the small Florida town of St. Pete Beach, the St. Petersburg Times wrote that Amendment 4 leads to “short-term thinking” and “invites lawsuits…”

What is the conclusion?

Florida’s jobless rate is high—but it could get much, much worse with the passage of Amendment 4. At a time when many families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, that’s the last thing we need.

Vote “NO” on Amendment 4

Vote No On Amendment 4

Posted on: September 29th, 2010 by admin No Comments

Also known as “Hometown Democracy”, Amendment 4 is a threat that will be on the ballot this election in November. This amendment is so dangerous that it threatens to leave Florida’s real estate sector in a permanent recesion. This proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution would require all voters of a city or county to approve any change to the local government comprehensive plan. New businesses will find it harder to bring jobs to Florida making for an even weaker economy. In fact a recent study by the Washington Economics Group shows that Amendment 4 is likely to cost over 260,000 jobs and reduce the state’s economic output by more than $34 BILLION  per year.

We do not have extra dollars in any project budget to wage expensive election campaigns on every project. Property owners and developers will have to finance long delays and extraodrinary legal bills and great risk of uncertaintly in the outcome of election decisions. Do not kid yourself that they will not then turn around and create law suits to recover those dollars which will come at the expense of the citizens tax coffers. The “Vote on Evreything” initiative subverts a well- established, professional, and democratic planning process. It will trigger costly referenda on hundreds of projects each year.

Amendment 4 is misguided, anti-growth, and at odds with private property rights. Both gubernatorial candidates, Rick Scott and Alex Sink are against this amendment and smart thinking citizens will be as well. Vote NO on Amendment 4.