Riviera Beach - Why Amendment 4 is a Must

Just poured a cup of coffee and sat down to read the daily newspaper. There is always something that gets me going and today it is the City of Riviera Beach and its public marina.

Citizens have to go through so many hoops just because city councils do NOT do the right thing by those they represent. They are more concerned with the money they might possibly make and some find it very easy to turn over public land to a private entity. Sort of reminds me of the billboard blight that we got in Lake Worth…a $2.4 million dollar deal cut in half because those bums sued to settle and now we get to look at the blight for 20 years. Thanks Jeff Clemens.

Another reminder is the Sunset parcel with a past commission wanting to allow townhouses because they would get a few thousand dollars a year in property taxes. Ruining an entire neighborhood was not in their purview or interest.

In this case, Rybovich Marina wants to lease the city public land for 25 years with a renewal clause for another 25 years and they say that the City will make $14.5 million in lease payments over the term plus $150,000 in tax payments that the City would get each year. Rybovich is so determined to take public land for its own private commercial use, that it hired some people to go around the city and distribute fliers on its behalf.

The citizens of Riviera Beach have said that they want this property to remain public. They were forced to gather signatures for a petition that has been certified. They will get to vote on it this November 2. The City, the city attorney and the CRA is challenging the ballot language. Well, at least you have not yet been sued by your own government as were some here in Lake Worth.

The people are always speaking out against injustices and typical city commissions never listen. Decisions that affect neighborhoods must be considered. Neighborhoods are what make up a city and it is those very same people who elect these corrupt and deaf politicians that get pummeled by their own representatives.

City Councils haven’t been representing the will and desires of those they represent and that’s why Amendment 4 is a must so that we the people can make sensible decisions when it comes to our own neighborhoods.

A Constant Reminder