yes, I agree with you completely, I thought the article put it well, laws need to be written and debated with "widespread stakeholder support." Not activists and special interest groups.  As a LEED Green Associate and Architect-in-training I think this is a horrific initiative and something that is clearly not written by a professional with knowledge green building, construction, development, building codes & zoning codes or construction financing.  This is a perfect example of why representative democracy is preferable to direct democracy.  The fundamental principle of the American constitution is to protect us the the tyranny of democracy/the masses.