Property Rights a Concern for Pinecrest Chapter of Tampa 912

Concerned citizens met on Tuesday night in Lithia to discuss issues that affect their constitutional property rights.

The primary topic for the evening was Agenda 21, a sustainable development plan of action being carried out globally by organizations of the United Nations. The 912 group likens the plan to communist philosophies and on Tuesday listened to a presentation from Debra and Tony Caso of "The Agenders," activists who say that local governments have made deals with foreign parties to control the use of land in America.

"The International Council for Local Enviromental Initiatives shows up at your cty council and tells them how to use their land," Tony Caso said. "What they call a smart growth plan really means that it will cost so much in impact fees and other charges for you to live in rural areas that they can push people into high rises that they want to develop.

"Impact fees are far less if you live in an urban area than they are if you live in a rural area and even less if you currently live in a dense urban area. It's their way of forcing development."

Pinecrest 912 members have expressed concern recently over new mandates concerning their , but this meeting had a broader focus of what big government is doing to property owners. Fearing that in the future Americans will be forced to live in high rise condos, the Agenders are working toward educating people on fighting them at the local level. 

"If they have their way we'll all live in these rack 'em, stack 'em buildings with a train running through the middle of it," Debra Caso said. "They want you to live in some high rise where you'll be encouraged to ride a bike and take public transportation to get to where you want to go. If you don't own property, you are a slave."

The Agenders say plans for smart growth and the acquisition of land for wildlife preservation are two ways that organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency and ICLEI are eliminating private property and in doing so, violating the constitution.

Shirley Wood of Pinecrest 912 said she has grown increasingly concerned over issues surrounding property rights in recent years and decided to organize this month's lecture about Agenda 21.

"I have been reading about Agenda 21 for a while and it's very scary," Wood said. "When I realized that these ideas are something that our past few presidents have signed on to, I became more concerned. The ultimate goal of that agenda is to take our property and put it under the control of the United Nations, not even our local government."

In attendance Tuesday was Margaret Iuculano, candidate for Hillsborough County Commission in District 6. After listening to the presentation as well as members of the community voicing their concerns, Iulucano addressed her position on the matter.

"I grew up in California, and I've seen what happened to people's property rights out there," Iuculano said. "The same thing could happen here if we're not careful. It's good to see all of these people out here expressing their concern and doing what they can to stop it."

The Tampa 912 group is dedicated to educating citizens and promoting advocacy in Tampa area. Although the Lithia meeting was attended by primarily conservatives, the nonprofit organization itself is bi-partisan. 912 is a reference to the day after Sept. 11, when the country is said to have united.

To learn more about the Tampa 912 project, visit meetup.com/tampa912/.