Overshoot

Guest blogger--

Cesar Figueroa
Snowden Drive
Lake Worth

In 1960 we had 4 square feet of commercial retail space per every man, woman and child. In year 2005 we had 38 square feet for everyone in the country (today it's more). Every municipality wants to bring more business to its town or city at tax payers' expense without ever thinking long term. Why? Most local politicians are unfit for the job and are too greedy to think past themselves and their special interests.

The CRA of Lake Worth just gave $500,000.00 to Publix super market chain to build a small Publix store in downtown Lake Worth which will cost the city much more tax payer money before it's over. We already have a Publix in Lake Worth. And of course, Publix will more then likely get other sweet deals like not paying property taxes or reduced taxes or paying at a lower rate or lower utility rates so that those who advocated for a downtown grocery store can say that Publix is creating some jobs at less then $10.00 an hour wage with the exception of 3 or 4 in management.

We already have 3 big food markets in Lake Worth--Publix on Lake Worth Road, Sedano's on North Dixie HWY, Universal Supermarket on South Dixie HWY and President Super Market has had a COMING SOON sign on the empty store on 14th Ave and Dixie.

We also need to consider 4 smaller Spanish food stores--8th Ave North and Dixie, 3rd Ave North and Dixie, 3rd Ave South and Dixie, and 5th Ave South. So why are we so desperate to have another grocery store? And to top that off, just over the WPB line there is a Winn-Dixie in the empty Palm Coast Plaza and to the South in Lantana we have a Publix and Winn-Dixie and a Bodegon Spanish supermarket too.

When you see a Target, Walmart, Lowe's, Home Depot, or other big chain stores you need to know that they received a minimum of millions of dollars in local subsidies (tax payer’s money) that goes a long way to explain how our local economies have been destroyed. Why should a small retail store struggle to eke out a living in a tiny store when it is taxed to subsidize the competition that is so enabled to undercut it? Go figure.

We have nothing but empty space not only in Lake Worth but all over the country of all types--residential, industrial and commercial and we still want to build more. We have over shot ourselves; nothing we do works anymore.