Freedom Advocates

America was formed to set people free to run their own lives. Today, our vastly expanded Nanny State looks after us. Is this a good thing? Imagine you're a pioneer of yesteryear. How would you fare with today's nanny on your back?

The Coastal Commission skims legal and ethical practices to obtain results in processing appeals of development decisions. Commissioners pre-sign forms for acceptance of appeals. The practice has lead the Commission to shop for Commissioners sympathetic to land use restrictions. This process also results in increased power to staff.

Since 1993, California planning department officials have relied on the State's "Landgate" decision for providing them confidence that they and their employers are immune from claims of abuse. This article describes the history, the relevant law and the legal attack on the Landgate precedent. Michael Shaw, President of Freedom Advocates is a plaintiff in both cases described in that attack.

Visioning processes, when used for land-use planning can be manipulated through peer and mentor pressure that can influence participants core beliefs. This highly influences the outcome of community consensus meetings.