As we have had so many comments about run down properties and owners neglecting same, I wanted to talk about this most important problem we have in Lake Worth. It is not jobs; it is not development; it is not the high cost of electricity. It is blight caused by the acquiescence and apathy of many among our population. It is now a cultural mentality that prevails throughout the city and has even trickled over to neighboring property owners. Yesterday one of the houses I have featured as Mess of the Week hung clothes to dry on the bushes. It is a Third World mentality and we have allowed this to continue. We, as a city government, are to blame.
An urban area is characterized by a higher population density. We have the highest density of any city around--according to the 2010 census, we had a population of 34,910 with density at 5,945.2 people per square mile. As an example of comparison, Wellington has 1,230 people per square mile and West Palm Beach has 1,833. With high density comes slum and blight.
Slum and Blight are on the minds of all of us in Lake Worth. It affects every single neighborhood in some fashion. Certain neighborhoods that have catered to a lot of rentals and immigrants have the biggest problems. Slumlords have been allowed. When the economy tanked, our properties devalued faster than neighboring towns because of our older housing stock and our smaller houses. During the false boom, when everyone was making money, our city attracted more immigrants and poor people looking for cheap housing and jobs, some living 10 or more in a house. Many landlords did not take care of their properties (still don't) and looked the other way--but the biggest culprit was the City and it got out of control.
As a city gets older, and ours is 100 years old, many of the properties are not maintained and become run-down, foreclosed upon and end up abandoned. Lake Worth has attracted the poor and people who can't afford to live elsewhere. They are forced to live in properties that are without appropriate maintenance, where slumlords rake in the rental money and do little in improvements or yard maintenance. Eventually, these properties go to slum and blight. The look and condition of these properties, as well as their use, has blighted our city.
The city in conjunction with the CRA, attracts more poor people with 'affordable' housing giving them rental subsidies. We are not doing anything to get rid of the slum and blight--all we have ever done is talk about it. Dee Mcnamara makes a good point: "The CRA is inflicting low income housing and rentals on Lake Worth thus decreasing the tax base of Lake Worth, undermining its sustainability!" The CRA must concentrate on its mission of eradicating slum and blight, not more affordable or rental housing that eventually leads to more blight.
The problem of slum and blight is systemic and Code Enforcement can't do its job. There are not enough people to ever tackle code enforcement in this city--the problem is too great. It has been allowed to decay to this extent. We even see blight in the better neighborhoods where some are fortunate to live and wonder how some guy living across from us can neglect his home and ruin our street. Sometimes we are part of the problem knowing that a fresh coat of paint or giving a little TLC to our yards would help but we procrastinate thus making the property worse over time. With the city's policy of tackling the safety issues first, this allows the blight to grow like a disease throughout our city. The city is more concerned with someone who did not pull a permit to get repairs done for painting, or repairing that broken down fence, instead of just allowing them to do the work.
With high density, the slum and blight is more prevalent and will continue until we get serious about the problem, set our priorities and come up with a solution. Instead the city worries that someone doesn't have smoke detectors. Let's face it, and it's sad to say, some of these places should be bulldozed. The city is one of the biggest offenders--just take a look at our cemetery. Yesterday it was cleaned up for Memorial Day but even the commander said he finally found a grave of a long lost buddy that had been covered up. Should the City not rule by example? You could have a weekly volunteer clean-up in this city and it would all look the same two weeks after the work. People have no pride in where they live and want/expect others to do the work for them. The accumulated strewn trash at our beach yesterday was unbelievable.
We must remedy the situation if we are to survive as a healthy city--to increase our property values thus bringing more ad valorem to Lake Worth. Slum breeds crime. Concentrating on eradicating slum and blight eventually will bring down the cost of public safety that is taking 70% of our operating budget. In so doing, the benefits which will result from cleaning up our slum and blight will accrue to all the inhabitants and property owners of Lake Worth.
Politicians have run on the platform of eradicating slum and blight but nothing ever changes--every neighborhood is worse. Isn't it time to seriously tackle this problem? If we don't, no one will want to come here to buy or invest. We won't have to worry about a 4 story hotel versus a 6 story one. Forget about the Park of Commerce. We will never have the money for that dream. We will never be able to generate enough tax dollars to fix the potholes. It's that simple. Scott Maxwell says he has a plan. As three of our commissioners have filed to run again, it is time that we put pressure on them to tackle the most important problem that we have.
Time to wake up, smell the roses--no more excuses.
12 comments:
The comments on the CRA are right on the mark! STOP WITH THE DAMN LOW INCOME HOUSING! It's like putting out cans of tuna and then complaining about the stray cats!
We need a Commission with more than getting ahead in politics(hello Commissioner Maxwell) on their minds. Electing people with a spine and an ounce of common sense would be a good start.
Even considering ignoring our laws and allowing overnight rentals everywhere in the city is RIDICULOUS ! And saying that PORTABLES are PERMANENT STRUCTURES????? These people are not doing the will of the people. They are doing the will of an idiotic city staff who will be the demise of this city .
What about a paid part-time crew? Resposibilities might be beach trash, parks, inspection of neighborhoods for violations to be reported. Have many more ideas if any interest related to logistics, scheduling, transportation.
Where were all your concerns and blogs when Stanton/Golden/Jennings/Mulvehill were gutting the code department? Do you think after years of neglect it's going to get turned around overnight? Only a genuine idiot would think like that.
Reduced to quoting Dee now? You keep finding new lows for yourself don't you.
Want to eradicate slums and blight? Find a way to use much of the CRA dollars to hire your local Guatemalans to clean your streets and alleys, and repair your damaged properties. The money's spent to hire these hard workers would immediately be returned to the city as most conduct all of their business within the city limits. This would lift up the individual, clean up the city, and result in a revenue increase because of the increased business sales. Make each Guatemalan a 1099 so that the burden of employment taxes and health plans do not fall on the city, then set back and watch the transformation in the individual, and the city as a whole, take place.
@10:29--please don't come over here and comment with lies and political BS. The code Dept was NOT gutted. They moved a couple of men to conservation. We have the same number of code officers we had then but have 3 admin staff who now can put us on hold or are too busy to answer the phone.
As far as Dee is concerned, she makes sense when necessary. Thanks.
I did not say nor do I believe that the problem will get turned around overnight--Only a complete idiot would interpret that from what I wrote.
Go out and clean up your yard. Do something constructive. Dee's yard and property are not blighted.
if you are found guilty for a DUI or other non violent crime, you have the option of paying your $$ or working off your penalty in community service hours...clean the beach, clean the cemetery remove graffiti etc..
Good idea. I wouldn't want anyone who had committed a burglary in the neighborhoods though.
Not one American has seen a picture of the dead Osama Bin Laden,a nefarious "Fact" launched by usurper,White House Liar-in-Chief,
used as a ploy to get Benghazi Gate/Boston Gate/IRSterrorism Gate/Assoc.Press intimidated gate,re-election Campaign off to a start.When America kills Jihadist,Al-Quaeda ,Taliban Leaders, their pictures are splashed over front pages of all newspapers.
Why is he unable to show the carcass of the Consummate terrorist, Leader of Al-Quaeda,Ideal of all Jihadists,who financed them all????News from the Liar-in Chief odiferous White House has only been used to mislead the American people.The Re-election was based on lies, intimidation of any opponents with the IRS abusive use,
and suppression of the Press,
pitting blacks against whites, poor against rich.Benghazi/Boston/IRS/Assoc.Pr. Barak
HUSSEIN Obama gives blacks a bad image!
Not one American can testify to have seen his dead body, or his burial.False news was used to picture a great warrior.
Now Osama bin Laden has a Terrorist army slipping into Syria.
Liar-in-Chief Benghazi Gate B.Hussein Obama with sista Liar
Susan Rice have give American patrots' money to this gang of Al-quaeda and $1billion dollars to Egypts Islamic Brotherhood.he grew up in Kenya with Head of Kenyan Communist party,Muslim , African father.Where are the three widows and their orphans of the burned alive, covert operatives in Benghazi, with his collaboration,lying that Al-Quaed has been decimated.Suckers, they are bigger an stronger than ever! ,
its time to to start looking at other little cities that have class
Thanks Lynn for writing on this topic. I agree with you so much! We need to address blight and maybe get rid of the CRA if that is what it takes to finally do it, since they cannot do it now for almost 20 years, still blight even more of it.
On top of this is the problem of these wealthy slum owners like the one on Lucerne. A wealthy prominent well known businessman and actor, but has property boarded up contributing to blight and our own codes and people accept it and overlook it. It is very sad that someone of supposed stature, would impose this blight on us, but does, very sad. Yet some want us to say, it is not that bad or accept this mediocrity, I will never accept it and as long as it continues I will keep harping on it no matter what some people say are personal attacks, it has nothing to do personally, it is the blight that I do not like nor accept and never will.
Thanks Lynn for staying on top of all these important issues in our city.
10:58 What is all of that!!!
Like the lady said, clean your own yard and we will not have a problem. Cleaning the yard prevents the trash from blowing around into the street. If something is in the street by your house pick it up too.
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