Palm Beach Daily NewsApril 24, 2011
Council President Davids Rosow’s assertion “I don’t believe in government by referendum” at the April 12 Town Council meeting shows that he fails to take his oath of office seriously.
The constitutions of both the United States and Florida enshrine the right to referendum because our founders recognized that elected officials can be mis-representative of those they have been elected to represent. When taking office, Mr. Rosow swore to uphold both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Florida. His statement belies this promise.
Both Councilman Michael Pucillo and he need to recognize that the right to referendum in the two cases at issue comes from an authority higher than the Town Charter. As for using the ordinance reversal process outlined in the Town Charter, I am surprised that Town Attorney Skip Randolph countenanced that suggestion from the council when it is apparent that he would use the same proscription against referenda on five parcels or fewer (now being challenged on two levels in the respective court cases) against Palm Beach citizens should they collect signatures opposing zoning or comprehensive plan changes to allow the unwanted Miami-style condos to be built at the north entrance to town.
Laurence McNamara
Lake Worth
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