Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/211425
Sarasota News Leader November 15, 2013 Page 13 middle class, working people, the poor, and all other interests, regardless of what those interests or populations may think they want or prefer," the report says. "Smart Growth does not actually rely on a traditional, western, market framework." Brain says the section is "shockingly badly done" and that any of his students at New College could produce a better critique of smart growth policies. "The historical and analytical part is just flat shoddy scholarship," he adds, "and I can imagine that same hatchet job being done well." BEYOND THE GROWTH ASPECTS The Laffer analysis does eventually get around to its alleged purpose, analyzing 2050's fiscal neutrality policy. Unsurprisingly, it calls for eliminating that entirely. And, again citing O'Toole, perhaps the county should do away with zoning regulations altogether, just as Houston did, and completely obliterate its urban service boundary. "All density restrictions that are set at the County level should be eliminated," the report states. Randal O'Toole is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. Photo courtesy Cato Institute He calls Laffer Associates the commission's "top choice from day one" and says the resulting report is an "unadulterated commentary from the consultants selected by the County Commission." COMMISSIONER VIEWS Brain says that advice flies in the face of decades-old Sarasota policy: "To do what the "The County Commission, Joe Barbetta in report recommends would basically mean particular, owns this outrageous, radical, throwing out everything that they've been anti-regulation report," Lobeck adds. doing for the last 20 or 30 years." But even Barbetta is not happy with the draft. Attorney Dan Lobeck, who has been a per- "Most of us believe in New Urbanism and sistent critic of the county's decision to rewrite smart growth," he says of the commission. He 2050, calls the Laffer report "extreme" and a intends to bring up his displeasure during the "radical rejection of any controls on develop- Tuesday, Nov. 19, commission meeting. ment." It's also no surprise, coming from this commission, he points out. "This report is "I think it went beyond the scope of what we just one of a long list of things that is provid- had charged as a commission back in July," ing them the outcome they expect," he adds. he says. The board wanted an analysis of how