Saturday, November 29, 2008

Water, water everywhere but not in Lake Worth


Our Commissioners want all lawns to look like dried out wheat beds sprinkled with native plants and mulch. In spite of the fact that we are not in a drought, we still only can water once a week and with this Commission, that will be the way it is for eternity.

You have seen this photo all over our city. It is just a typical depiction of the result of water restrictions that we all must adhere to. We continue to have to listen to the same old tired argument that we are running out of water and should not waste this precious commodity on lawns, heaven forbid. My friend, Drew, would not agree with me but he has a xeriscape yard. That's his choice. I say, stop the growth and stop the building. There are just too many people moving to South Florida. Combined with the illegal immigrant situation impacting our resources, I agree that we must get a handle on it and a moratorium on growth would do that.

We need to thank the Commission that is directly responsible for our blighted old City. They have allowed this City to get out of control. 20 people to a room? Not only do they turn their heads to the blight, they contribute to it by agreeing to this once a week watering whereas nearly every city around is allowed to water their lawns twice a week. We are not even in an emergency situation. South Florida Water Management even dumps excess water into the ocean but imposes these restrictions.

This environmentalist commission keeps making it impossible for people to want to live and buy here. Who wants to spend $200,000 plus on a house and you can’t even have a nice lawn? We need more owner occupied houses here to help change the tide of blight.

At least the Commission has the common sense under New Business this week to amend the vacant lot maintenance requirement by deleting the new plantings other than drought tolerant sod. What is that exactly? Wheat grass? There is nothing nicer than lush, green, St. Augustine grass to sink your feet into.