Guest Commentary: Amendment 3 brings more data centers, less housing

[u/BuddhistSagan]

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/10/15/guest-commentary-amendment-3-brings-more-data-centers-less-housing/?fbclid=IwY2xjawU9yBVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMXNEb1prdU1IeGtRS1VFNWhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_hr-pmsQRaWBLTvl8RpE69BO-AOnfoGXtyyEi3_RK7hqC773_6HI62hswA4_aem_hi7JlRH8X7zxv_YcUARYGw&utm_campaign=mrf-facebook-orlandosentinel&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202610156ac9067f8bfa9f311c72d26c

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[u/Shirowoh]

Put a data center on Byron Donaldson's backyard, he loves them so much, he can live next to one. Oh wait, he'll never approve one next to his house, just yours

[u/BuddhistSagan → u/Shirowoh]

Early voting starts in 4 days on Monday, Oct 19.

What day next week do you have the most time to early vote? Plan your vote NOW. This means YOU

[u/derf_vader → u/[deleted]]

Conserve land and redevelop on land already built on. So many fucking vacant businesses and office buildings

[u/shade-block → u/[deleted]]

We need housing in Miami for locals but a good chunk of it sits empty most of the year.

Completely agree with you on conserving land though.

[u/BuddhistSagan → u/[deleted]]

We definitely don't need "less housing" with prices the way they are. We definitely need to protect our ecosystems.

Either way, Early voting starts in 4 days on Monday, Oct 19.

Start planning your early vote now. What day will you early vote? What day of the week or weekend do you have the most time to vote?

[u/marchviolet → u/[deleted]]

More infill development and mixed used neighborhoods. Less sprawl.

[u/TheNobleHeretic → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. Conserve land and wildlife

[u/jazzmaster1992]

The same people who complain about "overbuilding" will absolutely vote for this, and if it passes they will blame everything but what they continue to vote for. This is not a serious state.

[u/WolverinesThyroid → u/jazzmaster1992]

just a few more decades of republican control is all we need

[u/Cool-Signature-dude → u/WolverinesThyroid]

30 years so far, they just need more time to fix everything Obama did to the state when he was governor. /s

[u/summerwind58 → u/Cool-Signature-dude]

Obama?

[u/TurkeyPhat → u/summerwind58]

obamna

[u/rspownz → u/TurkeyPhat]

Oboonga

[u/WolverinesThyroid → u/[deleted]]

California and New York are doing pretty well. But I don't imagine you are here for a polite discussion.

[u/WolverinesThyroid → u/[deleted]]

that's a weird thing to doubt.

[u/TheNobleHeretic → u/WolverinesThyroid]

He doubts it because he hasn’t been to either and only watches fox. He’s projecting his ignorance onto others

[u/WolverinesThyroid → u/TheNobleHeretic]

He's just jealous because he is stuck in Russia and can't get a nice New York hot dog.

[u/TheNobleHeretic → u/[deleted]]

When did I say you were a republican?

[u/Intrepid00 → u/jazzmaster1992]

Those some people don’t give a shit often because they are going to die soon. Real “fuck you, got mine” energy.

[u/summerwind58 → u/Intrepid00]

You don’t want yours too?

[u/vxicepickxv → u/summerwind58]

How is increased sales tax going to help me get mine?

[u/BuddhistSagan]

Early voting starts in 4 days on Monday, Oct 19.

What day next week do you have the most time to early vote?

[u/Ybor_Rooster → u/BuddhistSagan]

My earliest day is the 19th. I may camp out to be the first in line

[u/crazydave33]

Good article. We all need to vote NO on Amendment 3 and say NO to more data centers that are destroying our environment and sucking up water and causing our power bills to increase. It’s a very big concern. But the MAGAs don’t care and won’t understand and they’ll just continue to support it because they think by saving a few thousand per year, they are going to get rich and cut the “waste” (that Republicans in charge create).

[u/TheNobleHeretic → u/crazydave33]

How do we vote no on data centers other than voting against Donald’s

[u/crazydave33 → u/TheNobleHeretic]

Well by voting NO on Amendment 3. The article explains how a YES vote would force local government to approve data centers because they would pay taxes.

[u/TheNobleHeretic → u/crazydave33]

It doesn’t really force them especially if he make laws against them. Maybe they should stop using our tax money for unsecured Israeli bonds

[u/Damion__205 → u/crazydave33]

My biggest question is most businesses that set up large operations, like a data center, request special tax breaks from local government. So will the major tech companies really pay taxes or will they still look for the cheapest possible location.

[u/Senior_Sector4095]

Just read an opinion by the Miami-Dade tax collector on how it's the best thing since Jesus. I'm against it as it would give the state too much power over local governments.

[u/meothe]

I voted no.

[u/Bear_necessities96]

I can believe people really support Amendment 3, how you supposed public services gonna be funded, you will condemn Florida to be one of the deep South States

[u/InevitablePresent917 → u/Bear_necessities96]

I saw someone here say they supported Amd 3 because it would cut police funding. Look, my politics are not exactly middle of the road or anything rightward, but I thought that was a buffoonish response for a host of reasons.

Including that it would not cut police funding.

[u/Bear_necessities96 → u/InevitablePresent917]

I’ve seen people saying they support it to hurt they city/county government like I get your point but you and your family it’s the only one that is good to be hurting.

[u/The_walking_man_ → u/Bear_necessities96]

Those are the braindead ones that think they’re fighting the system, when really they’re just arguing with themselves in a room.

We need reading comprehension tests prior to voting but that would be abused too much.
Next best scenario would be required to watch an unbiased presentation on each of the items up for vote.

[u/usernamedenied → u/Bear_necessities96]

I hate to say it, but it will probably pass cause people are only gonna give it 10 seconds of thought (generous I know) and be like oh save money diiiiiiir

[u/BuddhistSagan → u/usernamedenied]

Yes must get 60% and current polling has it around 40% support. Opponents must still vote

[u/100percentkneegrow → u/usernamedenied]

I’m not saying it can’t happen but if abortion and weed didn’t pass…

[u/jazzmaster1992 → u/Bear_necessities96]

Florida is advertised as a tax haven for wealthier people. There's a reason we have a "culture" around suburban sprawl, $100k SUVs, poor public schools, toll roads everywhere and no decent public transportation to speak of. The people in charge want rich people to be able to drive their kids to private schools from their massive sprawling suburb to the Christian or Catholic private school which costs the same as sending an 18 year old to college, while the poor people get to drive 15 year old beaters working for pennies at Publix or Chik Fil A. It is by design.

[u/Bear_necessities96 → u/jazzmaster1992]

And the terrible salaries for the working class

[u/100percentkneegrow → u/Bear_necessities96]

It’s weird to me, why are we taking away from our pie when we should be taking from the insurance companies or sources of inflation .

[u/summerwind58 → u/Bear_necessities96]

Maybe localities will have to cut some of their admin fat if this passes because there is a cap as to how much they can increase the mil rate.

[u/YOLOburritoKnife → u/summerwind58]

Mil rates haven’t increased in most municipalities. Values have.

[u/summerwind58 → u/YOLOburritoKnife]

That is how they skirt around the law.

[u/TheNobleHeretic → u/summerwind58]

Maybe they will cut police funding. They don’t want to do any work anyway

[u/Chewzilla]

It's more than just data centers. Amentment 3 will let Tallahassee shove nearly anything it wants down your throat once they control local budgets.

[u/YOLOburritoKnife]

Of course, it becomes illegal to use real estate taxes for county and municipal parks if that passes. Municipalities will be forced to sell them to developers.

[u/Healien_Jung]

Data center, golf course and McMansions

[u/berniexanderz]

so, which counties suffer more, more populous rich counties like Miami-Dade/Broward or the poorer, rural counties?

[u/FloridaMan331845 → u/berniexanderz]

By far, the rural counties will get absolutely gutted by Amendment 3. It’s a big deal to the urban counties, but it could bankrupt the rural counties.

[u/Hyperlinux]

Sad but true.

[u/TheeDelpino]

This is just another scare tactic. Yes on 3.