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Mayor Bob McPartlan <br /> September 30, 2013 <br /> Page Two <br /> • Does not like the methods Council used to obtain information from the public. <br /> • Does not like one of the planning firms involved (DPZ, Inc. —Andres Duany). <br /> • Believes there has been corruption in how the South Florida Regional Planning Council used <br /> the grant money. <br /> Fact: These opinions are completely subjective and there is no evidence to support claims <br /> of"corruption." HUD is more than satisfied about how the grant is being managed by <br /> SFRPC. The one planning firm he is concerned about (DPZ) has been paid $94,980 <br /> over the last three years or about 2.2 percent of the grant. DPZ's involvement has <br /> been minimal at best. They are not leading any efforts or writing any sections of the <br /> Seven50 report. <br /> • Seven50 will lead to federal and state agency control and takeover of local planning, <br /> budgeting, and zoning functions— loss of private property rights, etc. <br /> Fact: The Seven50 report contains several data sets; information about future trends; <br /> recommendations for how to address and/or take advantage of these trends locally; <br /> and ideas for how local governments can work with other local governments and/or <br /> the private sector to solve common problems. All of the recommendations and ideas <br /> contained in the Seven50 report are entirely voluntary. They are not self-executing. <br /> There is no force of law behind the Seven50 requiring implementation. In fact, <br /> Seven50 cannot be implemented unless: 1) local government decides it is in their best <br /> interest to take action; and 2) considerable local goveriunent effort is put forth to <br /> carry out the recommendations they believe are beneficial to them. <br /> • Cites the Westchester County, NY vs. HUD case as an example of federal takeover. <br /> Fact: The Westchester County example is a debate about "equal protection" under the law <br /> and about a County taking money to build affordable housing and then not providing <br /> it according to the grant. The moral or lesson of this story is: if you don't like the <br /> strings attached to the grant, don't take the money. Again, accepting grant money is <br /> solely a local choice. <br /> 43 <br />