The idea of "sustainable development" although seemingly benign on the surface, currently poses the greatest threat to our liberties. With the adoption of Plan Maryland, and a new Environmental Literacy curriculum requirement in Maryland, state bureaucrats are quickly laying the groundwork that will enable them to control exactly where and how we will live. Not only is the state imposing itself on our property rights through "smart growth" initiatives, but also many local jurisdictions in Maryland, including our neighbors in Harford and Queen Annes County have adopted the same plans locally through ICLEI, the local arm of the United Nations Agenda 21, the "Master Plan" for sustainable development. This is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue (Google Democrats Against Agenda 21); in fact many local governments which are primarily Republican are instituting "smart growth" initiatives. This is an issue of free market/individual property rights vs. government controlled/collective property ownership.
Please educate yourself on this issue. The sovereignty of our nation as well as your personal liberties are under attack.
Even if a local jurisdiction is not an official dues-paying member of ICLEI, that does not mean that Agenda 21 policies are not being implemented. Locally, initiatives such as taxpayer subsidized farmland, TDR's (Transfer of Development Rights) to create higher density development, NGO's (Non-governmental organizations) moving into government and pushing "smart growth" and commissioners (rather than the free market) attempting to micromanage how and where development will take place are moving us towards the path to sustainable development as described in the Agenda 21 Charter.
CCP July Meeting (Video): Carroll County Commissioner Richard Rothschild discusses Agenda 21, Plan MD, and the concepts of "sustainable development" and "smart growth".
Information on Sustainable Development and Smart Growth:
Local Land Use Organizations along with the now defunct 21st Century Republican Club and the Cecil County Democrat Club who sponsored land use forums featuring only environmental (no free market or business) groups
The Conservation Fund (Click the link to see Cecil County's Green Infrastructure Plan)
Citizens Planning and Housing Association (Note- Mike Pretl, a progressive lawyer who is on the board of the CPHA, worked with CLUA (Cecil Land Use Alliance) to create and file its Articles of Incorporation.
What will it look like?
The end result will be elimination of property rights; the possibility of the American Dream- owning an acre or more of land- will be a thing of the past. There will be clustered, "sustainable" mixed use communities surrounded by areas of open space that are not accessible to the public. Economic and environmental justice- low income subsidized housing mixed with regular housing. We all will live basically the same- socialism.
Here is a "smart growth" vision for Mobile, Alabama
Through zoning ordinances and regulations- downzoning of private property, transfer of development rights, taxpayer subsidized conservation easements, higher density zoning
Through taxes and inflation on property, energy use, and travel.
Through other regulations- road codes
Through eminent domain (The Kelo decision of the Supreme Court made this possible). If you are living in a sprawled community or a sensitive environmental area, such one close to the water, you may find yourself the victim of eminent domain, for the purpose of either reforestation or "community revitalization".
Through stakeholders- the tyranny of the majority. Stakeholders are those besides yourself who determine what to do with your property for the "collective good".
By withholding state and federal funding for those who do not comply
Mandating low income housing to be interspersed with middle and upper income housing.
Government funded rail and/or other public transit with transit-oriented development
On June 11th at 7:00 p.m., we will host the Sheriffs of Delaware. Sheriff Jeff Christopher has already confirmed. Calls/e-mails are out to Sheriff Trinidad Navarro of New Castle County (he participated in our Candidate Forum) and Sheriff Norman Wood of Kent County. With all the nationwide attention on the role of the Sheriff, we believe this will be a very informative event to "get to know your Sheriff". We are asking for each of these Sheriff's to give us an overview of their…See More
On June 11th at 7:00 p.m., we will host the Sheriffs of Delaware. Sheriff Jeff Christopher has already confirmed. Calls/e-mails are out to Sheriff Trinidad Navarro of New Castle County (he participated in our Candidate Forum) and Sheriff Norman Wood of Kent County. With all the nationwide attention on the role of the Sheriff, we believe this will be a very informative event to "get to know your Sheriff". We are asking for each of these Sheriff's to give us an overview of their…See More
Town Hall - 2nd AmendmentPanelists are: Dan Bongino, Commissioner Richard Rothschild, Delegate Don Dwyer, Sheriff Mike Lewis & a representative from the 'Institute on the Constitution'.Event will be hosted by Andrew Langer, President, Institute for Liberty.Come and be part of the solution!See More
