Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/360116
the aggregation of residences in villages — with commercial establishments in the center for greater walkability — significant amounts of open green space and, of course, a requirement that developers pay for any needed infrastructure — roads, water/sewer, schools and the like — that were needed as a result of the new development. This last item is what is known as fiscal neutrality. Developers partici- pated in the process of creating the 2050 Plan. However, many experienced significant economic losses because of the housing col- lapse in the Great Recession. To make back all of the money they lost, they decided to claim that the 2050 Plan was why they had not been building any new projects in the eastern part of the county. And county com- missioners bought into that fiction, agreeing to change the 2050 Plan to make it more developer-friendly. Candidates who oppose developers' desires to gut the 2050 Plan are not more honest than those who are sympathetic to the developers' requests. And the candidates who support the developers are not crooks or "on the take." The only real villains in this situation are the developers themselves. They are far more concerned about making huge profits than they are about the welfare of Sarasota County taxpayers. The owners of these companies are rich, and can live anywhere in the world they like. If life becomes too expensive for them here because taxes go up too much, they can move someplace else where taxes are lower. The average resident cannot do that, however. The vast majority of taxpayers will be stuck with the infrastructure costs of development, with lit- tle recourse, for years to come. The 2050 Plan was a sound proposal when it was first developed, and it is no less sound today. But the reasonableness of the plan gets in the way of developers' greed — and the potential harm that greed poses to the coun- ty's fiscal future — so no issue in recent years, or likely in years to come, matters as much to Sarasota County voters as how the current candidates for the County Commission stand on efforts to eviscerate the 2050 Plan. Paul Caragiulo favors the changes in the 2050 Plan desired by developers. His opponent, Shannon Snyder, opposes those changes. Alan Maio favors the changes in the 2050 Plan desired by developers. His opponent, Lourdes Ramirez, opposes those changes. Sadly, there are those who are not content to wage a fair campaign. They attempt to besmirch candidates they do not want to see elected. For example, a whisper campaign has begun, aided significantly by local blogger and Paul Caragiulo favors the changes in the 2050 Plan desired by developers. His opponent, Shannon Snyder, opposes those changes. Alan Maio favors the changes in the 2050 Plan desired by developers. His opponent, Lourdes Ramirez, opposes those changes. OPINION Sarasota News Leader August 8 & 15, 2014 Page 94