The false promise of “citizen initiative” is nothing more than a red herring, designed to distract people from the negatives of the currently proposed “home rule” charter – and there are many. All it would take is a typical publicity campaign by the Lancaster Chamber or the Lancaster Newspapers to discourage people from signing a “citizen initiative” petition, or bring any “citizen initiative” to defeat at an election.
Besides, the charter’s limits on “citizen initiative” render it impotent in most cases. Observe this quote from the proposed “home rule” charter, page 18:
“*Section 6.02 Subjects of Initiative.*
a. Each proposed ordinance shall be germane to County government and limited to one subject which shall be clearly expressed in its title.
b.The power of initiative shall not extend to the current budget or capital program, to the appropriation of money under the current budget or capital program, or to the salaries of those employees of the County in collective bargaining agreements.”
Had there been a “home rule” charter like this one been in place during 1999 or 2003, this passage would have prevented a “citizen initiative” from blocking either the hotel and convention center project, its financing, or the “hotel tax”.
