Prostitution Sting in Lake Worth nabs 15

On March 16, 2012 members of PBSO District 14 Street Crimes Team and Community Policing Unit, with the assistance of additional deputies from District 6, Reserve Unit and members of Palm Beach School District PD, conducted a “Prostitution Sting Operation” in the 1500 block of North Dixie Highway and 700 block of South Dixie Highway.

This was a “reverse” operation where three undercover female deputies were on the street posing as prostitutes. A total of 15 males were arrested for Solicitation of Prostitution and 1 for Lewd Lascivious Behavior. All subjects were transported to the Palm Beach County Jail and lodge there, pending bond or first appearance. All of the defendant’s information was forwarded to Gail Levine for inclusion in the P.I.P.E. diversion program.

House Bill 299 - Driving while Texting

Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal Constitution

While people are dying in automobile accidents because of texting, House Bill 299 died in Committee. Now WHY would this Bill fail? We are only one of fifteen states that don't ban texting. Even though texting is an extremely dangerous and stupid thing to do, the Bill died. Ask Jeff Clemens what happened? Didn't the Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee get the memo that taking your eyes off the road can kill people? More than likely it is the Democratic mantra that you can't legislate behavior even if that behavior kills. We have laws to protect people from themselves but not this time.

Use of Wireless Communications Devices While Driving: Creates "Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law" prohibits operation of motor vehicle while using wireless communications device for certain purposes; provides exceptions; specifies information that is admissible as evidence of violation; provides for enforcement as secondary action; provides for points to be assessed against driver's license for unlawful use of wireless communications device resulting in crash.

Effective Date:
Last Event: Died in Transportation & Highway Safety Subcommittee on Friday, March 09, 2012 11:59 PM.

The Bill died just like people are dying in automobiles because the driver was distracted.

• About 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year.
• While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10 percent of the time outside the driving lane they’re supposed to be in.
• Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old.
• Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. That is enough time to travel the length of a football field.

President Obama Signed Executive Order

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President Obama Signs Executive Order Giving Him Control of All US Resources In Times of War or Emergency

"Imagine the uproar from foaming-mouth lefties if Bush pulled an Executive Order giving himself control over all US resources. Now why would Obama issue an executive order on a Friday? Hint: so the media wouldn't make it a story. Another question is why does Obama need control over all US resources? Is the administration planning on something to happen? Maybe this is tied to the 450 million rounds of ammo the DHS and ICE are requesting, " says Scotty Starnes.

The Executive Order

The Next City Manager of Lake Worth

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"Lake Worth is a tempestuous town of 35,000 with outsized problems and outsized potential..."

Read the Palm Beach Post Editorial, Bornstein is the best choice.

I have always said that experience is the key here because we are so complex and have ongoing problems that involve employee and Union situations, our biggest expense. But having said that, I am reminded of an e-mail I received early this morning that essentially said "Thank God I was given a chance to do what I do with no previous experience."

Over the course of my working career, I had only two jobs where I had previous experience--my second job and my last. Experience is important but being smart, accomplishing the goals and having an excellent work ethic are even more important. Mr. Titcomb definitely has the connections in Palm Beach County and is well liked. There is no doubt in my mind that he would do well in this job.

Michael Bornstein is willing to leave a job he has been in for 12 years because he would like further challenges. This is proof that he is fearless and believes in himself. He does not want to be stagnant but to be able to grow in city government, his career choice. What bigger challenge could he have than Lake Worth and in a city that is right next door?

Tonight's sky

Jeff Clemens on the Move

State Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said he is likely to run in a new Democratic-leaning District 29 if it makes it through the Senate and legal challenges.

Read Post on Politics.

Dog About Town

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Stalkers still on the move against Allen West

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Demonstrators consisting of Occupiers and anarchists protested against Allen West in West Palm Beach on March 12, blaming him on the price of oil, when all along they should be looking at the president and the liberal give-away mentality so pervasive in our country. If you're going to demonstrate you should at least know what you are talking about. Not to do so makes you look dumber than dirt.

A dozen protesters who continue to stalk Rep. Allen West were there with their signs and bullhorn (probably borrowed from our favorite anarchist) chanting Allen West must go and accusing him of giving subsidizes to Big Oil.

Allen West says, "I strongly support an all-of-the-above energy approach that includes development of natural gas, clean coal, and American produced oil, as well as alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, nuclear, geothermal and biomass. This plan will create new job opportunities in Florida and throughout the country while making us less dependent on foreign energy.

Now is the time to make America energy-independent by encouraging the indomitable spirit of American ingenuity and developing our full spectrum of energy resources. America must look at energy independence much the same as having a diversified investment portfolio built upon the solid foundation of proven methods in both energy extraction and economic development."

Senate Bill 1738 - additional homestead exemption

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As this additional homestead exemption (Senate Bill 1738) is being considered to assist low income Seniors and could be on the ballot this year, there will be a few still complaining that some of us don't pay taxes. They want to see the elderly poor pay more no matter what but have no compunction about building affordable housing for younger poor people or 3,000 s.f. townhouses on Lucerne for the working, struggling artist.

If it passes with 60% of the Florida vote, cities will get less advalorem. This will be a big challenge for all municipalities in Florida. They will have to come up with special assessments that are not fair nor are they equitable. As we go into our Budget discussions, all involved can't forget that Lake Worth, with 14% of its population here in Lake Worth, already has a senior exemption. The vast majority of Seniors have incomes less than $20,000 a year.

The homestead exemption for low-income seniors isn't the only one Floridians might be asked to vote on this year. State legislators also unanimously approved a constitutional amendment that would provide a homestead exemption to surviving spouses of veterans or emergency first-responders who died in the line of duty.

Each measure would need to be approved by 60 percent of voters statewide (a supermajority) before it could go into effect.

Cities in PB County that already have the Senior exemption:

The additional benefit for qualified seniors applies only to taxes levied by the following authorities. The county's senior exemption does not apply to other taxing authorities, such as the school district and municipalities.

$50,000
Town of Haverhill
Town of Loxahatchee Groves
Village of Wellington

$25,000
Palm Beach County
City of Boynton Beach
City of Lake Worth
Town of Lantana
City of Palm Beach Gardens
Village of Palm Springs

$5,000
Village of Royal Palm Beach

I like Allen West

For all the obvious reasons

"I think that this liberal progressive agenda is not the thing that the American people want and it's antithesis to who we are as a constitutional republic."

Why I do not like the Obamas

"I don’t hate them per definition, but I condemn them because they are the worst kind of racialists, they are elitist Leninists with contempt for traditional America. They display disrespect for the sanctity of the office he holds, and for those who are willing to admit same Michelle Obama’s raw contempt for white America is transpicuous."

Read Why I Do Not Like The Obamas.

Bank of America

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These guys are some of the very biggest assholes on Earth. They lie, cheat and steal as reflexively as addicts, they laugh at people who are suffering and don't have money, they pay themselves huge salaries with money stolen from old people and taxpayers - and on top of it all, they completely suck at banking. And yet the state won't let them go out of business, no matter how much they deserve it, and it won't slap them in jail, no matter what crimes they commit. That makes them not bankers or capitalists, but a class of person that was never supposed to exist in America: royalty.

READ MORE of what Matt Taibbi, of Rolling Stone has to say

Insanity in the News Media

This is just another Internet video gone viral produced by Jason Mattera, 28, a New York Times bestselling author, the youngest editor of a national periodical, Human Events, and the host of “The Jason Mattera Show” on News Talk Radio 77 WABC in New York.

Final Three Applicants for Lake Worth City Manager

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The final applicants for the city manager position in Lake Worth were charming and likeable. You came away with the impression that at least two of them would be very approachable in their management style. Any one of the three would do a good job for Lake Worth. Each individually were asked questions for one-half hour at the City Hall meeting by all five commissioners.

After that, we all ended up at our gorgeous golf course to meet them one on one and chat briefly. Coffee, punch and the best homemade cookies, were served.

I did ask one candidate what he/she thought should be done as far as the lack of civility at times on the dais and was told that the mayor has to lead in that regard. I also asked another if he/she were a victim of bullying from the dais how it should be handled and was told that he/she would arrange a meeting immediately to get to the bottom of the discontent.

Barbara Lipscomb
My job is to listen, listen, listen.
Budget and finances are the key.
Capital projects need to be monitored.

Michael Bornstein
Look at the entire budget. Go through all operations with a fine tooth comb.
Government is a noble profession if done correctly...
love city government.
Sit down with the Unions and negotiate...
make the points...do not leave the table
until you have an agreement.

Jaimie Titcomb
"Everyone gets a gift card to your store, commissioner,"
said with a smile when asked by Amoroso what non-monetary things
he could do to keep employee retention as they haven't had
raises in 3 years.
Government is in a new "normal"--a new paradigm

Susan Stanton a finalist in Cape Coral

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Susan Stanton one of 9 finalists in Cape Coral for city manager position.

Susan Stanton Resume

Lake Worth's Code Enforcement

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Mitch Wilson
Code Enforcement Officer

Mr. Wilson, with 15 years experience in his field of Code, works for the City of Lake Worth. He was the guest speaker at the ROLOH meeting this week. He lives in Ft. Pierce commuting every day to make our city a better place to live. We have 6 code officers and 2 in the CRA district for a total of 8. This has not changed even though there are still some who continue to spread the lie that our Code Department was "gutted" because some commissioners love ghettos. This is just political propaganda.

He was an interesting speaker and one who has a lot of enthusiasm for his job. Rental properties are being investigated to ensure that they are licensed and that there is no over-crowding. There is no doubt in my mind that Code is getting better and better. We are going to see a vast improvement and it all starts with staff ensuring that violations are handled quickly and efficiently.

The Top Ten List of code violations:

• Overcrowding

• No rental license

• No permits pulled for repairs

• Parking on landscape

• Abandoned vehicles

• Care of premises

• Landscaping
  

• Illegal dwelling and conversions

• Garbage/trash collections

• Hanging clothes on fences, bushes, etc.