Anna Maria Island, off the coast of Florida, is a booming resort. Its hotels and vacation home rental properties are full, and its stores and restaurants are generating increased revenues. Unlike most parts of the country, developers and builders here are busy upgrading housing stock, and employees are able to find jobs.
However, some year-round residents on nearby islands look at Anna Maria as an example of what they don't want their islands to become. They don't like the idea of sharing their beaches, restaurants and roads with hoards of tourists and have actively worked to slow development over the years by restricting access to vacation homes. However, these anti-growth residents are now facing a legislative threat to their protectionist ways with the election of a free-market governor and Legislature.