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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist, said that many years ago. Do you find that assertion hard to believe in today’s world? Well… I have a story for you!!!
In 2023 the Florida legislature passed a law preempting the Holmes Beach city ordinance prohibiting parking garages, giving Manatee County authority to build a garage at Manatee Beach, a garage that nobody on the island wanted. Holmes Beach leaders and residents protested when the bill was filed, but because the garage didn’t make sense, we did not believe the law would pass. It did. Despite this setback, the citizens of Anna Maria Island (AMI) led a successful effort to save AMI from an attempt to change our governing structure and threatening home rule.
”Home rule” refers to Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Florida Constitution, that “Municipalities shall have governmental, corporate and proprietary powers to enable them to conduct municipal government, perform municipal functions and render municipal services, and may exercise power for municipal purposes except as otherwise provided by law.” The wording “except as otherwise provided by law” is the loophole that the state legislature uses to preempt home rule and usurp local control. Of considerable concern is the fact that between 2021 and 2023 the Florida legislature has passed over 81 laws preempting home rule.
While AMI residents, leaders and lovers of the island abhorred the idea of a garage, what really infuriated locals was a move to consolidate the three island cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Options included bringing AMI under the control of the City of Bradenton or Manatee County. Consolidation of the cities was a bad idea. It would destroy the unique flavor of each of the three cities, cost the citizens of the cities more money, and scariest of all, our city charters would no longer exist. The developers could swoop in and spend big bucks to lobby to eliminate the building height restrictions on the island. No height restrictions would enable them to build the high rises not permitted anywhere on the island. Voila! AMI would become a St. Pete Beach clone. AMI would lose its old Florida charm, which is what residents and visitors love about it.
This move came in the form of the commissioning of an OPPAGA (Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability) study by the Manatee legislative delegation, with Senator Boyd and Representative Robinson in the lead of this effort. OPPAGA is an entity used by the legislature to study issues and provide fodder for the crafting of state statues. Islanders’ fear was that a consolidation bill would be written disbanding the three island cities, even though none of the cities wanted such a change, another egregious affront to home rule.
A group of citizens, including island residents, property and business owners, and lovers of the island formed Save Florida Home Rule (SFHR), a grassroots, non-partisan group to mount a campaign to PRESERVE PARADISE. SFHR had a Steering Group that made decisions about strategy with many others protesting. Over 400 people protested consolidation at the “Hands Across the Sand” event in April of 2024 on Manatee Beach with a follow up rally at Holmes Beach City Park in May with the same turnout. Over 1200 citizens signed letters to Senator Boyd and Representative Robinson imploring them to leave the island cities intact. These letters were gathered by many advocates and were hand delivered to the legislators at meetings by representatives of the three island cities and Bradenton. The group solicited and received tremendous news coverage by local publications and had a strong social media presence. Our messaging was consistent: PRESERVE PARADISE. We had T-shirts and buttons with our logo. The message to the state legislature was loud and clear: The citizens will not stand for consolidation.
While awaiting the OPPAGA Study there were major changes in our Manatee County Commission and the impetus for both the parking garage and consolidation disappeared with the defeat of our District 3 County Commissioner, Van Ostenbridge. The study was published in the second week of January with a cover letter from Representative Robinson that made it clear that the consolidation movement was dead. SFHR cannot take all the credit for this wonderful outcome; however, several leaders have opined that without the actions of SFHR to rally support and make sure the voices of the people were heard, this outcome might not have been achieved.
The work of SFHR is not over because home rule in Florida is threatened on other fronts. We will continue to monitor legislation affecting home rule and advocate for local control with governance closest to the people.
So, thoughtful, committed citizens take heart. You, too, can change the world, or at least your world. For openers, why not seek out the many opportunities LWV Manatee offers to defend and strengthen democracy?
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