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Putting some things into perspective

From: longtime resident
SBP: 12
Remote Name: 68.56.147.74
Date: 12/04/08
Time: 12:08 PM

Comments

I read the article in the HT about North Port's code enforcement fines and Tom Lyons article about same. In the article it didn't seem to emphasize that this much more stringent attitude was instituted in a much different time and situation. People who had invested in the area were more concerned with making sure "appearances" in their neighborhoods were kept up so that their own property values were not impacted negatively. I think the then commission responded. Liens may have made sense then since homes were selling for large profits. Times change on a dime, but government grinds more slowly. Things have certainly changed and the current commission seems to have recognized that and is in process of changing how this is handled. Remember, it's government...and in the sunshine. Gotta put it on the agenda, publish the meeting two weeks ahead, hold a hearing, discuss it, make a motion, pass the motion and have another hearing two weeks later to change the ordinance on final reading. Give them a moment to react, several of them just got elected and they are already dealing with this issue. From the discussions I have heard (yeah, I listen to both NP and Venice and sometimes Sarasota commission/council mtgs on tv) this new commission is very concerned about the plight of their citizenry and are moving as fast as they can. I wonder if their positive efforts will garner as much publicity as the negative issues.