One of my "fans" posted here yesterday telling me to "get a life." This person is incensed about everything I write as we do not agree politically and he does not hide his hatred. However, "having a life" means different things to different people. It's not always about painting houses or volunteering at your local hospital or clean-ups in your neighborhood association. Sometimes it is just about contributing to the overall democratic process or anything you deem worthwhile.
Belonging to two political action committees has been an honor for me over the years. Save Our Neighborhood, Inc. and the situation in Lake Osborne Heights is still going on. This is what got me interested in Lake Worth in the first place. This land use has been political from the beginning--two outside land flippers wanting to obtain a favorable zoning to allow building against our code and an entire neighborhood trying to retain a single family neighborhood. We have had many factors against us but primarily it has been the politics behind the development crowd. This is something we have fought for years in Lake Worth. We believe that the single family neighborhood is sacrosanct.
Due to this last election, the developers have, once again, a stronghold on Lake Worth. They have had consistent campaigning for their side over the past five years and now are in control of our city. The anarchist element, although extremely minute, was blown out of proportion (a political maneuver) but helped their cause immensely. They recently kicked Panagioti Tsolkos off the Community Relations Board and then voted to sunset the entire board. They are now in the process of one final act of their own anarchism, getting rid of Cara Jennings on the Planning & Zoning board by making sure that appointed members are "qualified" even though it is the very same qualified people who made horrendous decisions in past years and are, in my mind, special interest groups/types. This political group has a cunning spokeswoman who does have a life and volunteers for everything imaginable. She is right out there and admired by many.
The other political action committee to which I belong is Citizens Come First. The last cause was the ballot initiative in Riviera Beach. Chair, Laurence McNamara, advised them on the language, on the number of words allowed in the ballot title and ballot summary and gave them the Public Land/ Public Vote charter amendment as a template for them to follow. On April 4, 2012, a final opinion, favorable to the people, was rendered by the Appellate Court.
It takes a lot of time, energy and money to win a cause and be on the right side of democracy. But more than that, it takes a profound belief that your cause is just. Emma Bates in Riviera Beach did just that when she petitioned the voters to have the right to vote on the marina development and keep the City of Riviera Beach from selling it. It was my pleasure to help demonstrate for her cause.Here is the final opinion from the District Court of Appeal, 4th District.
Laurence McNamara said, "This is a victory for the people aided by Citizens Come First."
Lynn, I don't think the developers are taking over our city. The new commission is really trying hard to build back the tax base that was destroyed by high utility bills and the destruction of our neighborhoods. We need to get business to come back to Dixie. West Palm is doing everything they can to get this business by offering tax deals and more. We have to be competitive or there will be no one left to pay taxes but us few busineses and homeowners. We need to get the Gulfstream Hotel sold and opened again. We need commercial electric rates that are the same as FPL. No one wants big tall buildings or worse. It's time we all get together and help the commission accomplish these goals. It's not developers vs. us.
ReplyDeleteHow do we have anything to do with getting the Gulfstream Hotel sold? I am not sure that this is up to "us." How is this commission building back the tax base in this city? It is a fact that the only building that will contribute to our tax base is industrial as all others cost the city more in services. That leaves the Park of Commerce. This vision started way before this commission.
ReplyDeleteThis commission came into power because of the overall degradation of our economy, not just locally but nationally. It was the perfect storm for them. It had nothing to do with whom they replaced.
The same electric rates as FPL will not happen. No one can compete with FPL in the entire State of Florida. We need money to operate our city. How do you propose to do that? How do you propose to pay off the money that we owe on our Utility? We would possibly end up giving our Utility away if FPL even wanted to buy it.
What ARE the goals of this commission? I have never known.
Aside from all of that, this particular blog is really about something else entirely.
The City needs to help get the hotel sold by offering some incentives. Every successful city does this. The goal of this commission is to rebuild the tax base.
ReplyDeleteIf the tax base goes up the utility rates can go down. It's the same as which came first the chicken or the egg. The higher we raise utility rates the lower our property values fall and business stays away. So we need to figure out how to lower bills if we ever want to get business back to Dixie.
This Commission came into power beause the voters did not accept the old way of doing business. How many times can you tell voters that you lowered their electric rates and expect to ger re-elected.
I really think we are starting to look at our problems in a new way. I only hope that we move in the ight direction from this point forward.
We are still in a recession, John, even though Obama says everything is coming up roses. I have faith that the economy will turn around and once it does, values will start to go up once again...not to the fraudulent values of yesteryear and when others were in charge who blew all that money. Where's the money? You are blaming our condition on all the wrong people.
ReplyDeletePlease explain how we are looking at our problems in a new way. We had a good city manager who looked at our problems and who gave solutions.
AMEN to everything you have said here ,Lynn!Hooray for Ms.Bates! And for citizens EVERYWHERE like myself that have to keep fighting fights that we shouldn't have to fight IN THE FIRST PLACE !!! and reminding the powers that be that THEY are here to serve and uphold the laws to protect their CITIZENS, NOT THEIR DAMNED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS !!!!Thankfully, Katie Mcgiveron,Chairman Save Our Neighborhood
ReplyDeletePlease explain your comment "due to this last election the developers have, once again a stronghold on Lake Worth". Which developers? What do you mean by a stronghold? Where's all this development you are referring too? Which commissioners are working with developers?
ReplyDeleteWho is the "cunning spokesperson"?
Is this the same person who also wants me to prove corruption? :)
ReplyDelete11:39 are you an AZZ?
ReplyDeleteWhat you are saying is objective, clear and the truth! If every politician understood and followed that premise, this country would be a different country. I especially admire two particular sentences.
ReplyDelete'Sometimes it is just about CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS or anything you deem worthwhile.'
'It takes a lot of time, energy and money to win a cause and be on the right side of democracy. But more than that, IT TAKES A PROFOUND BELIEF THAT YOUR CAUSE IS JUST.'
WELL DONE MS. BATES AND ANDERSON!
3:07 pm A-- aperture!!
ReplyDelete