Battle over land-use initiative heats up in Washington state
With the fall election season kicking into post-Labor Day high gear, people on both sides of a controversial land use proposal are stepping up their campaigns.
A Seattle-based coalition opposed to Initiative 933 began its formal push Thursday by blasting the land use proposal as costly, extreme and harmful to the environment.
I-933 calls for governments to compensate people who have been hurt financially by land use or environmental rules.
The Property Fairness Initiative would allow people to use their property as they wished if they are not compensated.
The NO on 933 Campaign says it represents more than 200 organizations, including the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
"There are many unanswered questions around this poorly written initiative," said Karen Deal, a representative with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21.
The proposal, opponents said, essentially calls for taxpayers to pay people to follow the law.
"If a landowner wants to build a strip mall in a neighborhood or a subdivision on prime agriculture land, taxpayers have to pay them not to build or we have to waive the law," said Barbara Seitle, president of the League of Women Voters of Washington.
Continue reading this article from the Seattle P-I:
Battle joined on land use initiative
