Apples and Oranges - The Principle of the Action

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Is there anything wrong with the "free lunch?" In good times, possibly not but in a poor economy that is down to the bare bones, most definitely.

The City of Lake Worth is supposedly in a state of financial urgency...we barely have enough money to run our government or so we are constantly told. We have chopped off budgets and laid off people. If we really do not have money, then everything should come to a screeching halt other than the necessary. Cut out all CIP programs for the year other than the necessary. Cut everything, especially the free lunch. Afterall, we are going to raise taxes in the City of Lake Worth are we not?

Tuesday night one of the residents defended the City Commission's constant position on attending seminars, travel, membership fees and the like by saying "penny wise and pound foolish" which means it is unwise to object to these types of expenditures as in this particular case, The League of Cities Annual Conference. It is only about spending something small now that will/could have untold returns in the future. Perhaps it could be the return of The League of Cities entering into a another law suit to sue the citizens of Lake Worth. Or more than likely, it is to learn how to tell our residents that taxes are going up in many cities throughout Florida and how to soften the news.

I have been to enough conferences in my lifetime to know that any educational benefit was a very small part of it. They were, however, great get-aways, to have some R&R and have a good time. Conferences are nothing more than fun and entertainment and meeting people and oh, spending money. It was mentioned from the dais that it was a great way to "net-work."

Although the Mayor (who incidentally is doing an excellent job) mentioned that she was driving to Orlando, she did bring up later during the Utility Customer service debate that there was a resident, yours truly, who was opposed to spending $800 on a conference but was apparently surprised when I supported the decision in the Utility Customer Service to spend $116,000 for one month to fix a crucial situation. That is comparing apples to oranges. It is the principle of the action. Even Peter Timm, with whom I rarely agree, supported my position on expending money for a conference.

I can't see how any commissioner can spend money of this type and believe it is a right. To spend money, no matter the amount, in order to "network," is unjustified. To spend money of any amount in order to listen to a political organization tell our commission and in this case, our mayor, how to screw its citizens, is unnecessary. To immediately do something constructive and take emergency action for our customer service department IS necessary.

No one is deserving of entitlements (even if they are grossly underpaid) or the free lunch during these difficult financial times. In some of these cases, I believe that the Commission believes it must/should attend these things as it is part of their commitment. But the Commission can read a book--all the literature and directives of The League of Cities is at their fingertips.

Perhaps we are not in a financial urgency at all and if that is the case, do not raise our taxes one penny.