Blue Heron on Lake Osborne
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Immigration Reform will not stop illegal immigration
Center for Immigration Studies:
Findings:
Findings:
- The record high of 15 percent projected for 2020 if the bill passes means that over just a 50-year period the foreign-born share of the population would have more than tripled, from 4.7 percent in 1970. There has never been a period in American history when the foreign-born share grew this fast.
- The size of foreign-born population doubled from 1990 to 2010, nearly tripled since 1980, and quadrupled since 1970. If S.744 becomes law it would quintuple by 2020, compared to 1970.
- The size of the foreign-born population will have increased from 9.6 million in 1970 to 31.1 million in 2000, to 65.2 million by 2033.
- Based on the CBO projections, the total size of the U.S. population will reach 351.8 million in 2023, an increase of 43.1 million compared to 2010. It will reach 381.5 million by 2033, a 72.8 million increase over the 2010 Census.
- Despite all this increase in the U.S. population, S.744 would have almost no impact on slowing the aging of American society. With or without S.744, 57 percent of the U.S. population will be of working age (18-64) in 2030.
- It is worth pointing out that the size and share of the foreign-born population and the share would not stabilize in 2033 under S.744. Both would continue to increase significantly after that date.
Referendum the answer?
In June 2010, residents in Fremont, Nebraska, a city of 26,000 about 35
miles northwest of Omaha, approved an ordinance through referendum that prohibits landlords and employers from hiring or renting to illegal immigrants.
Supporters said the measure was needed to compensate for a lack of
federal law enforcement of immigration violations.
The referendum process is not easy and there is always someone on the other side who loses the vote who wants to challenge it one way or the other. Lake Worth is an example of that. In Fremont, the referendum (a direct vote where the entire electorate is asked to vote on the issue) went all the way to the Appellate Court because some losers and diehard liberals thought it discriminated. They were wrong.
The referendum process is not easy and there is always someone on the other side who loses the vote who wants to challenge it one way or the other. Lake Worth is an example of that. In Fremont, the referendum (a direct vote where the entire electorate is asked to vote on the issue) went all the way to the Appellate Court because some losers and diehard liberals thought it discriminated. They were wrong.
The ordinance
requires potential renters to apply for a license, and through the
application process Fremont officials can check to see if the
prospective renters have legal status. If they can't prove legal status, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit said no one had to rent to them.
Of course, here in Lake Worth, the city does everything possible to accommodate them. 1,500 showed up this month for free identification cards and passports by a program hosted by the PBSO. We pay the sheriff over $14 million a year! Landlords rent to illegals by the thousands. The government obviously wants to make the lives of illegal immigrants easier as well as the pocket books of slum lords larger. The citizens of our city are trying to figure out how to "enhance" the communities and how to communicate to those who crossed our borders illegally that they need to play by our rules--a lofty but futile endeavor.
Read more... about denying housing and jobs to illegal immigrants in a Nebraskan town.
Jesus was a Rock Star
Comment Up
U2's
Lyrics from '40', based on Psalm 40 from the Old Testament:
Bono, the lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, is declaring that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God. Read more... at WND.
U2's
Lyrics from '40', based on Psalm 40 from the Old Testament:
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay …
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
Bono, the lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, is declaring that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God. Read more... at WND.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Why Liberals should Oppose the Immigration bill
The country I want for myself and future Americans is one that’s
prosperous, cohesive, harmonious, wealthy in land and resources per
capita, nurturing of its skilled citizens, and, most important,
protective of its unskilled citizens, who deserve as much any other
Americans to live in dignity. This bill threatens to put all of that out
of reach, because it fails to control illegal immigration. The problem
is not that it provides 11 million people eventual amnesty (I don’t
object to that, in theory); the problem is that it sets in motion the
next waves of millions.
Read more....
Read more....
The French House Cafe
Comment Up
This morning, John Jordan and I had a delightful and scrumptious breakfast at The French House Cafe located at the corner of Lake Avenue and Dixie Highway. We both had homemade pancakes (French style), with fresh strawberries similar to the above photo. We were served water from a carafe, fresh orange juice and coffee.
After breakfast we drove up to the beach to see what's happening. The upper level parking lot was completely filled. "We can no longer drive by and see the ocean," John exclaimed. This is something we have been talking about ever since Cara Jennings and the Rene Varela regime, on up to this present commission. There was time to change the design and put back the 164 upper level spaces but no one wanted to tackle it..another thing off of the plate.
On Tuesday night, the Commission will vote to extend the Interlocal agreement with the County on the beach redevelopment completion date deadline. It seems there are still parts of the project yet to be done. Who knew?
This morning, John Jordan and I had a delightful and scrumptious breakfast at The French House Cafe located at the corner of Lake Avenue and Dixie Highway. We both had homemade pancakes (French style), with fresh strawberries similar to the above photo. We were served water from a carafe, fresh orange juice and coffee.
Our server, one of the owners, who is French
After breakfast we drove up to the beach to see what's happening. The upper level parking lot was completely filled. "We can no longer drive by and see the ocean," John exclaimed. This is something we have been talking about ever since Cara Jennings and the Rene Varela regime, on up to this present commission. There was time to change the design and put back the 164 upper level spaces but no one wanted to tackle it..another thing off of the plate.
On Tuesday night, the Commission will vote to extend the Interlocal agreement with the County on the beach redevelopment completion date deadline. It seems there are still parts of the project yet to be done. Who knew?
Ya'll come now - The Welcome sign is always out in Lake Worth
Coming to a neighborhood near you...maybe soon to be your next door neighbor? Recovery Associates has announced that it will extend its drug and alcohol treatment programs into the Lake Worth, Florida area.
Heaven knows, we have a lot of residents with substance abuse problems. Lake Worth with its land use regulations makes everyone feel welcomed...once those regulations are cemented, no one has to pull a fast one anymore. Now, just like affordable housing attracting the poor (that we can't get enough of ), we will now attract drug addicts. Lake Worth IS the place. Businesses sell it to them and then their customers need recovery. We have a few businesses that are coming before the commission on Tuesday asking for a 2COP license so that people can get even more wasted. The most successful businesses in Lake Worth?...any place that sells alcohol. Lake Worth will have a turn around economy.
Men, women and adolescents continually are caught in webs of addiction. Whether it's cocaine, heroin, vodka or scotch, the problem just keeps on getting worse.
Read more...
Contact Information breached on Facebook
We have the Chinese. We have Julian Asange. We have Ed Snowden. Now we have Facebook.
Facebook admits that data of 6 million users have been exposed. Read about it here
Facebook admits that data of 6 million users have been exposed. Read about it here
Recall Petition started for Marco Rubio
Comment Up
Earlier in the week, we told you how Arizona has had it with Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake over their persistent push of the Senate’s amnesty bill and began petitions to recall them.
Well it looks like the people of Florida have had their fill of Senator Marco Rubio. A petition has been set up to recall the Florida Senator following his vote on Monday concerning the Senate’s amnesty bill.
The petition has already received 800 signatures at the time of this article. However, it should be noted that the petition is to be signed only by Florida residents, though many from other states have not only signed, but expressed their outrage along with their signature.
"Earlier in the week, we told you how Arizona has had it with Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake over their persistent push of the Senate’s amnesty bill and began petitions to recall them.
Well it looks like the people of Florida have had their fill of Senator Marco Rubio. A petition has been set up to recall the Florida Senator following his vote on Monday concerning the Senate’s amnesty bill.
The petition has already received 800 signatures at the time of this article. However, it should be noted that the petition is to be signed only by Florida residents, though many from other states have not only signed, but expressed their outrage along with their signature." Read more...
Earlier in the week, we told you how Arizona has had it with Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake over their persistent push of the Senate’s amnesty bill and began petitions to recall them.
Well it looks like the people of Florida have had their fill of Senator Marco Rubio. A petition has been set up to recall the Florida Senator following his vote on Monday concerning the Senate’s amnesty bill.
The petition has already received 800 signatures at the time of this article. However, it should be noted that the petition is to be signed only by Florida residents, though many from other states have not only signed, but expressed their outrage along with their signature.
"Earlier in the week, we told you how Arizona has had it with Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake over their persistent push of the Senate’s amnesty bill and began petitions to recall them.
Well it looks like the people of Florida have had their fill of Senator Marco Rubio. A petition has been set up to recall the Florida Senator following his vote on Monday concerning the Senate’s amnesty bill.
The petition has already received 800 signatures at the time of this article. However, it should be noted that the petition is to be signed only by Florida residents, though many from other states have not only signed, but expressed their outrage along with their signature." Read more...
Friday, June 28, 2013
Rep Tammy Duckworth castrates "disabled" Vet
Phony claims happen all of the time and Rep. Tammy Duckworth exposes one phony of the worst kind.
Read more... on how fraudulent disability claims are threatening the benefits program.
Dylan Harrison
Comment Up
UPDATE:
Reporter, Jon Burstein of the Sun Sentinel, has informed me that the trial of this case has been pushed back again. The new date is August 14, 2013, 3:30pm, Judge Kenneth Marra presiding.
Dylan Harrison
Infamous co-owner of Kavasutra,
a downtown Lake Worth business
A Reminder
The Dylan Harrison case--
U.S. v. Harrison, et. al.
In a separate criminal complaint filed on July 24, 2012 three West Palm Beach residents were also charged with the unlawful distribution of controlled substance analogues (synthetic cannabinoids). The defendants are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court in West Palm Beach on July 26, 2012.
The Dylan Harrison case--
U.S. v. Harrison, et. al.
In a separate criminal complaint filed on July 24, 2012 three West Palm Beach residents were also charged with the unlawful distribution of controlled substance analogues (synthetic cannabinoids). The defendants are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court in West Palm Beach on July 26, 2012.
Charged in the complaint are defendants Dylan Harrison, 31, John Shealy, 39, and Michael Bryant,
29, all of West Palm Beach. According to the affidavit filed in
support of the complaint, the defendants were involved in the
manufacture of synthetic cannabinoids under the brand name “Mr. Nice
Guy.” The product was distributed throughout the United States. The
defendants allegedly operated from several different warehouses in West
Palm Beach, including one which exploded on May 21, 2012. No one was
injured in the blast.
During this investigation, a total of
12 federal and state search warrants were executed, resulting in the
seizure of approximately 600,000 packets of synthetic cannabinoid, 20
kilograms of raw synthetic cannabinoid, approximately 4,000 kilograms of
untreated plant material, $185,000 in cash, 12 firearms (including a 50
caliber rifle), and approximately 6,000 rounds of ammo. In addition,
law enforcement also seized 9 vehicles, valued at approximately
$280,000, 23 luxury watches, 6 cement mixers and 32 Mylar packaging
sealers.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
UPDATE:
Reporter, Jon Burstein of the Sun Sentinel, has informed me that the trial of this case has been pushed back again. The new date is August 14, 2013, 3:30pm, Judge Kenneth Marra presiding.
Snowden's "background" check
Do we ever get what we pay for today? Do we ever get what we expect from elected officials? What about from those we hire? We have found out firsthand, right here in Lake Worth, that we have had staff problems of a magnitude that would blow the ordinary guy's mind. Now we find out that Ed Snowden's background check was inadequate. It is difficult to imagine that this could happen with a prospective employee who was to be placed in a highly sensitive position allowing him access to government secrets. This country is "losing it" on a daily basis.
Federal investigators have told lawmakers they have evidence that USIS, the contractor that screened Edward Snowden for his top-secret clearance, repeatedly misled the government about the thoroughness of its background checks, according to people familiar with the matter.
Read more... at the Washington Post.
Federal investigators have told lawmakers they have evidence that USIS, the contractor that screened Edward Snowden for his top-secret clearance, repeatedly misled the government about the thoroughness of its background checks, according to people familiar with the matter.
Read more... at the Washington Post.
Cpt. Silva to get FBI training
Comment Up
Some people have been screaming for the FBI to come to Lake Worth and someone has heard the plea, sort of.
Cpt. Rolando Silva who is in charge of Lake Worth's PBSO operations (District 14) will be heading for Virginia for 10 weeks of training at the FBI's National Academy.
Some people have been screaming for the FBI to come to Lake Worth and someone has heard the plea, sort of.
Cpt. Rolando Silva who is in charge of Lake Worth's PBSO operations (District 14) will be heading for Virginia for 10 weeks of training at the FBI's National Academy.
Defending People's Rights
This was written by one of our friends from Florida Hometown Democracy. Even though we lost that vote, we are still standing up for principles in which we believe, whether here in Lake Worth, Daytona Beach or every city within the State of Florida--Letters to the Editor
Daytona Beach News Journal
June 26, 2013
Samsula decision favored residents
I am writing about the Volusia County Council's vote to reject the asphalt plant in Samsula, and lawyer Robert Harding's comment about "pressure of the yellow shirts."
I would like to remind Mr. Harding that those yellow shirts are people. And those people own property, pay taxes, elect their representatives, and support the Samsula comprehensive local plan. Their "pressure" is to maintain their property values and community lifestyle, unlike the "pressure" from a lawyer who gets paid to argue his client's case.
No matter what color shirt someone wears, in America they have every right to stand up for their beliefs — and win.
SANDRA WALTERS
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Republicans bring Immigration S 744 over the top on cloture vote
Comment Up
NumbersUSA says, today, 68 Senators cast votes that will be very difficult to ever redeem with future actions.
After all the promises of "enforcement first," these Senators accepted an entirely "amnesty first" bill that in the first few months would give work permits and legalization to some 11 million foreign citizens who either (a) crossed the border illegally, most of them by paying drug cartels and many of them by helping the cartels move drugs, or who (b) violated the promises on their vacation and guest visas and illegally took U.S. jobs (often through identity theft and fraud) and a share of the taxpayer-provided infrastructure.
Every single Democratic Senator voted YES to the amnesty and to the arguments of corporate lobbyists that a nation -- with 20 million Americans unable to find full-time jobs in a country plagued with labor shortages -- must give out 33 million new lifetime work permits to foreign citizens over the next decade. And these Republican Senators voted YES to the same provisions, breaking with the majority of their Party and all their Party leaders in the Senate:
Alexander (R-TN) Ayotte (R-NH) Chiesa (R-NJ) Collins (R-ME) Corker (R-TN) Flake (R-AZ) Graham (R-SC) Hatch (R-UT) Heller (R-NV) Hoeven (R-ND) Kirk (R-IL) McCain (R-AZ) Murkowski (R-AK) Rubio (R-FL)
Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson did not listen nor were they interested in the 19,000 signatures we presented to them against S 744 just a few weeks ago nor did they listen to their base.
NumbersUSA says, today, 68 Senators cast votes that will be very difficult to ever redeem with future actions.
After all the promises of "enforcement first," these Senators accepted an entirely "amnesty first" bill that in the first few months would give work permits and legalization to some 11 million foreign citizens who either (a) crossed the border illegally, most of them by paying drug cartels and many of them by helping the cartels move drugs, or who (b) violated the promises on their vacation and guest visas and illegally took U.S. jobs (often through identity theft and fraud) and a share of the taxpayer-provided infrastructure.
Every single Democratic Senator voted YES to the amnesty and to the arguments of corporate lobbyists that a nation -- with 20 million Americans unable to find full-time jobs in a country plagued with labor shortages -- must give out 33 million new lifetime work permits to foreign citizens over the next decade. And these Republican Senators voted YES to the same provisions, breaking with the majority of their Party and all their Party leaders in the Senate:
Alexander (R-TN) Ayotte (R-NH) Chiesa (R-NJ) Collins (R-ME) Corker (R-TN) Flake (R-AZ) Graham (R-SC) Hatch (R-UT) Heller (R-NV) Hoeven (R-ND) Kirk (R-IL) McCain (R-AZ) Murkowski (R-AK) Rubio (R-FL)
Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson did not listen nor were they interested in the 19,000 signatures we presented to them against S 744 just a few weeks ago nor did they listen to their base.
Obama spreads his message of Gay Rights
Today President Obama praised the
Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage as a "victory for American
democracy" but clashed with his African host over gay rights in a sign of
how far the movement has to go internationally.
Obama said recognition of gay unions in the United States should cross state lines and that equal rights should be recognized universally. It was his first chance to expand on his thoughts about the ruling, which was issued Wednesday as he flew to Senegal, one of many African countries that outlaw homosexuality.
Senegalese President Macky Sall rebuffed Obama's call for Africans to give gays equal rights under the law. "We are still not ready to decriminalize homosexuality," Sall said, while insisting that the country is "very tolerant" and needs more time to digest the issue without pressure. "This does not mean we are homophobic."
Read More Here
Obama said recognition of gay unions in the United States should cross state lines and that equal rights should be recognized universally. It was his first chance to expand on his thoughts about the ruling, which was issued Wednesday as he flew to Senegal, one of many African countries that outlaw homosexuality.
Senegalese President Macky Sall rebuffed Obama's call for Africans to give gays equal rights under the law. "We are still not ready to decriminalize homosexuality," Sall said, while insisting that the country is "very tolerant" and needs more time to digest the issue without pressure. "This does not mean we are homophobic."
Read More Here
Lake Worth Creep arrested
We featured Haroldman Cruz, a/k/a/ "Batman" on May 15. He has now been arrested.
Another Lake Worth Creep
Comment Up
This one fired shots into the Kwik Stop convenience store on Lucerne Avenue.
Read more...
This one fired shots into the Kwik Stop convenience store on Lucerne Avenue.
Read more...
Community - The Culture
Comment Up
Community enhancement is a goal worth aiming for--we all want our neighborhoods to be clean and free of trash but to change an entire culture of people with some not even citizens or if they are they can't break from their culture or even want to assimilate, is insuperably difficult if not impossible.
The meeting last night held at the Shuffleboard Court Building by the CRA and the CRA Board was to determine ways to clean up our neighborhoods and appeal to those who trash them the most. To really change how a group of people thinks and behaves is close to impossible unless you convince them that everyone is "doing it"--you appeal to their inner sense of virtue, if you can, which takes a humongous effort going door to door speaking in their language. And you can't stop there...the visits have to be frequent and potent.
The meeting was held out of all of our frustrations caused by slum and blight in every neighborhood in Lake Worth with most of it concentrated in the western communities. Why is most of it there and not say, College Park? Affordable rentals, something that Lake Worth is attracting and building by choice, thus a big influx of immigrants, more poor bringing more crime, slum and blight..
There is no way to punish the wrongdoers unless the city goes after the landlord who is responsible for his property. Those continually causing the slum and blight in our neighborhoods do not have any sense of right and wrong when it comes to community appearance and all the education in the world will not change that. Javier del Sol has tried for a decade with no results.
There were a lot of ideas to ponder last night. One was to reach out to criminals who are working off sentences by doing community service...they could clean up the neighborhoods. Frankly, I don't want any more criminals in Lake Worth for any reason. We already have them cleaning up our alleys.
Unfortunately, whether anyone wants to admit the truth or not, it is "us against them" our culture against theirs, although Benito Gaspar brought that up as some sort of negative. It is not our culture that is the problem. Those at the meeting who were grasping at straws out of an overwhelming concern for our city, want us to solve the ills deeply rooted in a culture so different from ours that are destroying our communities--an immense and impossible feat that would take generations to change.
The culture difference is the big gorilla in the room.
Community enhancement is a goal worth aiming for--we all want our neighborhoods to be clean and free of trash but to change an entire culture of people with some not even citizens or if they are they can't break from their culture or even want to assimilate, is insuperably difficult if not impossible.
The meeting last night held at the Shuffleboard Court Building by the CRA and the CRA Board was to determine ways to clean up our neighborhoods and appeal to those who trash them the most. To really change how a group of people thinks and behaves is close to impossible unless you convince them that everyone is "doing it"--you appeal to their inner sense of virtue, if you can, which takes a humongous effort going door to door speaking in their language. And you can't stop there...the visits have to be frequent and potent.
The meeting was held out of all of our frustrations caused by slum and blight in every neighborhood in Lake Worth with most of it concentrated in the western communities. Why is most of it there and not say, College Park? Affordable rentals, something that Lake Worth is attracting and building by choice, thus a big influx of immigrants, more poor bringing more crime, slum and blight..
There is no way to punish the wrongdoers unless the city goes after the landlord who is responsible for his property. Those continually causing the slum and blight in our neighborhoods do not have any sense of right and wrong when it comes to community appearance and all the education in the world will not change that. Javier del Sol has tried for a decade with no results.
There were a lot of ideas to ponder last night. One was to reach out to criminals who are working off sentences by doing community service...they could clean up the neighborhoods. Frankly, I don't want any more criminals in Lake Worth for any reason. We already have them cleaning up our alleys.
Unfortunately, whether anyone wants to admit the truth or not, it is "us against them" our culture against theirs, although Benito Gaspar brought that up as some sort of negative. It is not our culture that is the problem. Those at the meeting who were grasping at straws out of an overwhelming concern for our city, want us to solve the ills deeply rooted in a culture so different from ours that are destroying our communities--an immense and impossible feat that would take generations to change.
The culture difference is the big gorilla in the room.
FEMA Fraud
Comment Up
When talking about the City of Lake Worth, through the years there have always been some who have said, "Where's the FBI?" And then we have always had the same politicos here saying, "Where's the corruption?" Now with the FEMA scandal that Lake Worth kept from the residents with a staggering figure of over $7 million in money that we can't prove we deserved, the thought of "where is the FBI" has reached a whole new decibel.
As most of the FEMA money involved the Utility, we now can understand why the Internal Auditor's focus was diverted from the Utility and rerouted to the code enforcement department. If you recall, auditing the Utility was the original intent of the Commission but this messy FEMA stuff was going on unbeknown to us. Of course, we still don't get any report from the Commission as to what the Internal Auditor is actually doing. Everyone is silent on this, even the public.
In a case involving FEMA fraud:
When talking about the City of Lake Worth, through the years there have always been some who have said, "Where's the FBI?" And then we have always had the same politicos here saying, "Where's the corruption?" Now with the FEMA scandal that Lake Worth kept from the residents with a staggering figure of over $7 million in money that we can't prove we deserved, the thought of "where is the FBI" has reached a whole new decibel.
As most of the FEMA money involved the Utility, we now can understand why the Internal Auditor's focus was diverted from the Utility and rerouted to the code enforcement department. If you recall, auditing the Utility was the original intent of the Commission but this messy FEMA stuff was going on unbeknown to us. Of course, we still don't get any report from the Commission as to what the Internal Auditor is actually doing. Everyone is silent on this, even the public.
In a case involving FEMA fraud:
Three South Florida Defendants Sentenced for Kickback Scheme in Hurricane Wilma FEMA Fraud
On June 4, 2012, in Miami, Fla., Jeffrey Wayne Aunspaugh, a Port St. Lucie electrical contractor, his wife, Angela Aunspaugh, and Christopher Hale, his brother-in-law, were sentenced for their roles a kickback scheme involving Hurricane Wilma disaster relief FEMA payments. Jeffrey and Angela Aunspaugh were each sentenced to 63 months in prison and two years supervised release. Hale was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years supervised release. In March 2012, the Aunspaughs were convicted of conspiracies to commit honest services mail fraud, money laundering and structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements. Hale pleaded guilty to receiving kickbacks. According to evidence presented at trial, Jeffrey and Angela Aunspaugh, owners of Ener-Phase Electric, Inc., obtained more than $1 million from subcontracts with Glades Utilities Services, Inc. for storm-related repairs following Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The Aunspaughs paid more than $200,000 in cash kickbacks to their brother-in-law, Christopher Hale, who was the general manager of Glades Utilities Services, Inc., to obtain the contracts.Libyans release Benghazi terrorist suspect al Chalabi
Comment Up
On June 12, Libya’s government released a key terror suspect who U.S. officials say was involved in planning the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on U.S. diplomatic and intelligence facilities in Benghazi.
Even though a U.S. official said the U.S. government has evidence al Chalabi was linked to the Benghazi attack, Libya released him--not enough evidence they said.
Read more...
On June 12, Libya’s government released a key terror suspect who U.S. officials say was involved in planning the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on U.S. diplomatic and intelligence facilities in Benghazi.
Even though a U.S. official said the U.S. government has evidence al Chalabi was linked to the Benghazi attack, Libya released him--not enough evidence they said.
Read more...
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Center for Immigration Studies
The historical trail of facts:
WASHINGTON, DC (June 26, 2013) — The core criticism to S.744 has been that it places amnesty before enforcement. The concern is that once the illegal population has been legalized, it will be highly unlikely that the bill's promises of enforcement will be honored. The Center for Immigration Studies finds the long track record of broken promises regarding immigration enforcement suggests this concern is warranted. Here are highlights from a long list of those broken promises:
1986 – Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which for the first time prohibited the employment of illegal aliens. This was part of a package that included amnesty for long-term illegal aliens who passed criminal checks, paid fees, and took classes on English language and U.S. civics and history. The promised enforcement started weakly and petered out. It got so bad than in 2004, only 3 employers in the entire nation were fined for hiring illegal aliens. An estimated 7-8 million illegal immigrants continue to hold jobs.
1996 – In the wake of the first World Trade Center bombing, Congress passed a wide-ranging enforcement law, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Among its provisions was a requirement to develop an automated check-in/check-out system for foreign visitors, so the government could identify those who stayed past the time they were supposed to depart. Congress mandated such a system five more times, including in the USA Patriot Act, which required a biometric system (using fingerprints or photo recognition, for instance), in line with the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. No such system yet exists.
2005 – The REAL ID Act required that state driver's licenses meet certain minimum standards to be acceptable for federal purposes, such as boarding airplanes. The standards included requiring proof of legal presence in the United States before issuing a license; this is an important immigration enforcement objective, because the driver's license is essential to illegal aliens seeking to embed themselves in American society. The original deadline for state compliance was 2008, later postponed to 2011, then 2013, and now 2017. It seems likely the deadline will be extended yet again, permitting several states to continue issuing licenses to illegal aliens.
2006 – The Secure Fence Act of 2006 required “at least 2 layers of reinforced fencing” along a total of roughly 650 miles of specifically designated stretches of the Mexican border. So far, less than 40 miles of such double-layered fencing have been built. The remainder is a mix of single-layer "pedestrian" fencing (designed to prevent people from infiltrating on foot) and vehicle barriers, which are low fences intended only to prevent trucks from driving across the border.
View the article at: http://cis.org/Announcements/failed-promises-immigration-enforcement-timeline
View the Senate bill, CIS Senate testimony and commentary at:http://cis.org/Border-Security-Economic-Opportunity-Immigration-Modernization-Act
Contact: Marguerite Telford
202-466-8185, mrt@cis.org
WASHINGTON, DC (June 26, 2013) — The core criticism to S.744 has been that it places amnesty before enforcement. The concern is that once the illegal population has been legalized, it will be highly unlikely that the bill's promises of enforcement will be honored. The Center for Immigration Studies finds the long track record of broken promises regarding immigration enforcement suggests this concern is warranted. Here are highlights from a long list of those broken promises:
1986 – Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which for the first time prohibited the employment of illegal aliens. This was part of a package that included amnesty for long-term illegal aliens who passed criminal checks, paid fees, and took classes on English language and U.S. civics and history. The promised enforcement started weakly and petered out. It got so bad than in 2004, only 3 employers in the entire nation were fined for hiring illegal aliens. An estimated 7-8 million illegal immigrants continue to hold jobs.
1996 – In the wake of the first World Trade Center bombing, Congress passed a wide-ranging enforcement law, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Among its provisions was a requirement to develop an automated check-in/check-out system for foreign visitors, so the government could identify those who stayed past the time they were supposed to depart. Congress mandated such a system five more times, including in the USA Patriot Act, which required a biometric system (using fingerprints or photo recognition, for instance), in line with the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. No such system yet exists.
2005 – The REAL ID Act required that state driver's licenses meet certain minimum standards to be acceptable for federal purposes, such as boarding airplanes. The standards included requiring proof of legal presence in the United States before issuing a license; this is an important immigration enforcement objective, because the driver's license is essential to illegal aliens seeking to embed themselves in American society. The original deadline for state compliance was 2008, later postponed to 2011, then 2013, and now 2017. It seems likely the deadline will be extended yet again, permitting several states to continue issuing licenses to illegal aliens.
2006 – The Secure Fence Act of 2006 required “at least 2 layers of reinforced fencing” along a total of roughly 650 miles of specifically designated stretches of the Mexican border. So far, less than 40 miles of such double-layered fencing have been built. The remainder is a mix of single-layer "pedestrian" fencing (designed to prevent people from infiltrating on foot) and vehicle barriers, which are low fences intended only to prevent trucks from driving across the border.
View the article at: http://cis.org/Announcements/failed-promises-immigration-enforcement-timeline
View the Senate bill, CIS Senate testimony and commentary at:http://cis.org/Border-Security-Economic-Opportunity-Immigration-Modernization-Act
Contact: Marguerite Telford
202-466-8185, mrt@cis.org
Quote of the Day - Lt. General Ion Mihai Pacepa
"In my former life as a Soviet bloc spy chief, I spent years observing
from a unique vantage point how one kind of evil quickly leads to
another much greater evil. I believe Benghazi is the scandal of the Obama presidency.
To over-simplify: By misrepresenting that carefully prepared act of war against the U.S. as a case of “spontaneous violence,” this administration proved it is neither willing nor able to defend our country and our lives against foreign terrorism, which – and here’s the critical part – is now very close to having nuclear weapons to hurl at us."
~ Lt. General Pacepa
Wikipedia: Ion Mihai Pacepa born 28 October 1928 in Bucharest, Romania) is a former two-star general in the Securitate, the secret police of Communist Romania, who defected to the United States in July 1978. He is the highest-ranking defector from the former Eastern Bloc, and has written several books and news articles on the inner workings of the communist intelligence services.
Defense of Marriage Act struck down by Supreme Court
Comment Up
On a 5/4 decision, The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the politically charged centerpiece of the Defense of Marriage Act, in a significant victory for marriage equality.
Read more...
On a 5/4 decision, The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the politically charged centerpiece of the Defense of Marriage Act, in a significant victory for marriage equality.
Read more...
Milton's Grand Opening
Comment Up
It was one of the hottest days of the year but few minded the heat as the party was grand at this Grand Opening of Milton's Grooming Parlor on Lucerne Avenue.
Mayor Triolo was there to cut the ribbon along with Milton, the star, and his owner, Maurici. Every kind of dog imaginable was seen to strut their stuff...dogs from ultra exotic and expensive, to a saved Pound dog, to a 140 pound Wolf Shepherd that nearly knocked me over in his excitement to visit with another dog. Outside tables were set up in front of the grooming parlor and valet service was provided. The food was catered from Calleros Steak House on Lake Avenue.
It was one of the hottest days of the year but few minded the heat as the party was grand at this Grand Opening of Milton's Grooming Parlor on Lucerne Avenue.
Mayor Triolo was there to cut the ribbon along with Milton, the star, and his owner, Maurici. Every kind of dog imaginable was seen to strut their stuff...dogs from ultra exotic and expensive, to a saved Pound dog, to a 140 pound Wolf Shepherd that nearly knocked me over in his excitement to visit with another dog. Outside tables were set up in front of the grooming parlor and valet service was provided. The food was catered from Calleros Steak House on Lake Avenue.
CRA Lake Worth Neighborhood Enhancement Meeting tonight
Comment Up
More explosive comments now up!
More explosive comments now up!
TONIGHT at 6pm at the Shuffleboard Courts Building
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Latest NewsMax Poll on Immigration
Comment up
Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/Surveys/Results/id/71#ixzz2XGxiRTud
Urgent: Should Obamacare Be Repealed? Vote Here Now!
Do you believe that illegals should be given status to work in the United States after paying appropriate fines?
Yes
22,303(21%)
No
83,883(78%)
|
After working in the
United States for a period of time and paying fines, should illegals be
allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship?
Yes
23,728(22%)
No
82,975(77%)
|
Do you support Sen. Marco Rubio's efforts to reform United States immigration policies?
Yes
36,767(35%)
No
65,721(64%)
|
Do you believe the United States border with Mexico has been fully secured by the Obama administration?
Yes
3,889(3%)
No
103,056(96%)
|
Are you a veteran of United States military service?
Yes
44,649(41%)
No
62,054(58%)
|
Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/Surveys/Results/id/71#ixzz2XGxiRTud
Urgent: Should Obamacare Be Repealed? Vote Here Now!
They live among us - Another Lake Worth creep
Comment Up
Terra Redd of S. K Street used a stun gun on a cabbie in order to steal the vehicle.
Read more...
Terra Redd of S. K Street used a stun gun on a cabbie in order to steal the vehicle.
Read more...
Free cars to the youth?
Comment Up
Breitbart News has learned there is a provision included in the immigration bill that could be used to give free cars, motorcycles, scooters or other vehicles to young people around the country over a period of 15 months after the bill passes. The new provision is a result of the latest addition to the Corker-Hoeven amendment, which is essentially an entirely new version of the bill.
Breitbart News has learned there is a provision included in the immigration bill that could be used to give free cars, motorcycles, scooters or other vehicles to young people around the country over a period of 15 months after the bill passes. The new provision is a result of the latest addition to the Corker-Hoeven amendment, which is essentially an entirely new version of the bill.
Immigration Vote today
Both our Senators have voted FOR on the first vote. Please call them both. When the staffer answers, tell him/her that you want the Senator to vote NO on the Leahy amendment and you want the Senator to vote NO on final passage of S.744. We need you to call now.
NELSON (D-FL) 888-995-8349
RUBIO (R-FL) 888-995-5431
No News is BAD News
Comment Up
Usually they say that "No news is good news," but this is not the case with the City of Lake Worth that seems to have a policy of keeping anything important or considered "bad news" close to the breast. The public is the last to know under this administration that would rather tell us about light weight things like raft race building on July 4th while Rome is burning and adjourn its meetings by 8:30pm or we have to be insulted by a commissioner who threatens to leave the room if anyone disagrees with him.
The City (for this revelation, the City Manager uses the Finance Director as the official spokesperson "fall guy") says that nothing fraudulent had been done regarding its loss claims that were submitted to FEMA. The line that will be used and one that we need to swallow, will be staff incompetence...we can't find the receipts. We hear that line way too often these days especially when it involves MILLIONS OF missing DOLLARS from the past. But how do they know it's that simple? How do we know, as an example, that some staff at the utility were not padding the losses and claims to FEMA by charging some of the 26.4kv electric upgrade to them? Two sources have told me that was a strong possibility/probability at the time and when asked then about that very thing, the response by a member (not the chair) of the Electric Utility Task Force was, "That's just good business."
Who will be held accountable? Will it be the taxpayer, the very guy from whom they continue to withhold information?
Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General
HURRICANES FRANCES and JEANNE
Recommendation #1
: Instruct the State to remind the City that it is required to comply with Federal procurement standards when acquiring goods and services under FEMA awards (finding A).
Recommendation #2 : Disallow $385,890 (Federal share $348,775) of unsupported project costs (finding B).
Recommendation #3 : Disallow $38,390 (Federal share $28,792) of ineligible labor costs (finding C).
Recommendation #4 : Disallow $21,289 (Federal share $19,160) of ineligible costs for activities covered by insurance (finding D).
Recommendation #5 : Disallow $8,570 (Federal share $7,713) of ineligible costs for small project work not completed (finding E).
Recommendation #6 : Disallow $16,105 (Federal share $14,495) of ineligible costs for nondisaster activities (finding F)
REPORT on findings below
"We discussed the results of our audit with City, State, and FEMA officials during our audit. We also provided a draft report in advance to these officials and discussed it at the exit conference held on August 15, 2012. City officials agreed with findings C and E and partially agreed with finding B. They also said that they will continue to research documentation to resolve finding D. However, City officials disagreed with finding A and said that they plan to appeal if FEMA disallows the costs. Their comments, where appropriate, are included in the body of the report. FEMA and State officials withheld comments pending receipt of the report."
HURRICANE WILMA
Recommendation #1
: Disallow $6,998,095 of ineligible costs claimed for contracts that were not procured in accordance with Federal requirements unless FEMA decides to grant an exception for all or part of costs as provided for in 44 CFR 13.36(c), and determines the costs were reasonable (finding A).
Recommendation #2 : Instruct the State to remind the City that it is required to comply with Federal procurement standards when acquiring goods and services under FEMA awards (finding A).
Recommendation #3 : Disallow $476,455 of unsupported project costs (finding B).
Recommendation #4 : Disallow $180,626 of ineligible cost for activities covered by insurance (finding C).
Recommendation #5 : Disallow $8,624 of ineligible costs for small project work not completed (finding D).
Recommendation #6 : Disallow $18,732 of ineligible labor costs (finding E)
Usually they say that "No news is good news," but this is not the case with the City of Lake Worth that seems to have a policy of keeping anything important or considered "bad news" close to the breast. The public is the last to know under this administration that would rather tell us about light weight things like raft race building on July 4th while Rome is burning and adjourn its meetings by 8:30pm or we have to be insulted by a commissioner who threatens to leave the room if anyone disagrees with him.
The City (for this revelation, the City Manager uses the Finance Director as the official spokesperson "fall guy") says that nothing fraudulent had been done regarding its loss claims that were submitted to FEMA. The line that will be used and one that we need to swallow, will be staff incompetence...we can't find the receipts. We hear that line way too often these days especially when it involves MILLIONS OF missing DOLLARS from the past. But how do they know it's that simple? How do we know, as an example, that some staff at the utility were not padding the losses and claims to FEMA by charging some of the 26.4kv electric upgrade to them? Two sources have told me that was a strong possibility/probability at the time and when asked then about that very thing, the response by a member (not the chair) of the Electric Utility Task Force was, "That's just good business."
Who will be held accountable? Will it be the taxpayer, the very guy from whom they continue to withhold information?
Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General
HURRICANES FRANCES and JEANNE
Recommendation #1
: Instruct the State to remind the City that it is required to comply with Federal procurement standards when acquiring goods and services under FEMA awards (finding A).
Recommendation #2 : Disallow $385,890 (Federal share $348,775) of unsupported project costs (finding B).
Recommendation #3 : Disallow $38,390 (Federal share $28,792) of ineligible labor costs (finding C).
Recommendation #4 : Disallow $21,289 (Federal share $19,160) of ineligible costs for activities covered by insurance (finding D).
Recommendation #5 : Disallow $8,570 (Federal share $7,713) of ineligible costs for small project work not completed (finding E).
Recommendation #6 : Disallow $16,105 (Federal share $14,495) of ineligible costs for nondisaster activities (finding F)
REPORT on findings below
"We discussed the results of our audit with City, State, and FEMA officials during our audit. We also provided a draft report in advance to these officials and discussed it at the exit conference held on August 15, 2012. City officials agreed with findings C and E and partially agreed with finding B. They also said that they will continue to research documentation to resolve finding D. However, City officials disagreed with finding A and said that they plan to appeal if FEMA disallows the costs. Their comments, where appropriate, are included in the body of the report. FEMA and State officials withheld comments pending receipt of the report."
HURRICANE WILMA
Recommendation #1
: Disallow $6,998,095 of ineligible costs claimed for contracts that were not procured in accordance with Federal requirements unless FEMA decides to grant an exception for all or part of costs as provided for in 44 CFR 13.36(c), and determines the costs were reasonable (finding A).
Recommendation #2 : Instruct the State to remind the City that it is required to comply with Federal procurement standards when acquiring goods and services under FEMA awards (finding A).
Recommendation #3 : Disallow $476,455 of unsupported project costs (finding B).
Recommendation #4 : Disallow $180,626 of ineligible cost for activities covered by insurance (finding C).
Recommendation #5 : Disallow $8,624 of ineligible costs for small project work not completed (finding D).
Recommendation #6 : Disallow $18,732 of ineligible labor costs (finding E)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Illegals have invaded our country
Comment Up
There is a big movement being started by Christians on leagalizing aliens in this country and those who enter in the future. However, most pastors are against it--
Father Dominique Peridans opposes the notion that Christian charity justifies amnesty, by writing:
“If well-ordered charity begins at home, then the church ought to extend compassionate understanding to American citizens as they struggle with what amounts, in many ways, to an ‘invasion.’”
There is a big movement being started by Christians on leagalizing aliens in this country and those who enter in the future. However, most pastors are against it--
Father Dominique Peridans opposes the notion that Christian charity justifies amnesty, by writing:
“If well-ordered charity begins at home, then the church ought to extend compassionate understanding to American citizens as they struggle with what amounts, in many ways, to an ‘invasion.’”
Vehicle Robbery in Lake Worth
ROBBERY - VEHICLE - 13088912 - 4TH AVE S & OCEAN BREEZE
6/23/2013 4:04:00 AM
Watch out, Herms!
6/23/2013 4:04:00 AM
Watch out, Herms!
Edward Snowden
The Empty Seat
With his passport annulled, Snowden is doing a lot of traveling lately-- Hong Kong and then to Russia, and is awaiting word from Ecuador. He failed to board a flight to Cuba today and rumor has it that Russia might hand him over to us afterall. Julian Assange is living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after committing acts against the interests of the United States of America.
All amounts in U.S. dollars. Numbers are estimates, usually based on the closest year for which data are available.
All Grant Aid to Ecuador, All Programs, 2009-2014
2009--$64,348,540
2010--$60,541,684
2011--$35,003,155
2012--$35,690,155
2013--$35,690,155
2014--$25,849,155
TOTAL: $257,122,844
Hopefully Russia will turn him over to us and we won't have to consider Ecuador even contemplating accepting Edward Snowden. What's with Ecuador? Was it because we decreased our foreign aid?
Lake Worth keeps on taking a beating
Comment Up
UPDATE See highlight below.
Lake Worth took a beating during Wilma, ranked among the top five costly hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic which began on October 26, 2005. The eye of the storm actually crossed Lake Worth. Our loss was $12 million. Overall, the hurricane claimed 62 lives and damage was estimated at $29.1 billion. Wilma is ranked among the top five most costly hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic and the fifth costliest storm in United States history but it was Frances in 2004 that destroyed our Lake Worth Pier.
Back then, the City was put on notice by our external auditors that there were accounting errors with the FEMA money that we got from Frances during city manager Paul Boyer's administration. One of the things you must do is back up the receivables from FEMA with receipts. Boyer told us that the city can not produce the receipts and FEMA wants us to reimburse them $1.2 million.
Now Lake Worth is taking another beating-- and according to the Post, FEMA wants us to repay $500,000 because of lack of documentation after Wilma. We can't prove one-half million in expenses. We don't learn lessons well and sometimes we can't even fire those who are incompetent because of Union protection. The report by the Inspector General, Office of Homeland Security, says that we owe FEMA $7.7 million.
We had filed a claim with FEMA and now the agency says, we, once again, have shoddy bookwork. We spent the money on disaster recovery but we just can't prove it...sort of like the sewer fiasco that cost us $10 million for shoddy paperwork. There was a lot of shoddy stuff going on back in those days. Our savings disappeared too along with the millions in our beach fund. The assistant city manager, Laura Hannah, got a $50,000 raise.
Then after Stanton was hired in 2009, she changed out the Finance Department...got rid of the past problems (staff) that had cost us millions and hired a competent director, Steven Carr.
Now we know why the commission has been asked to delay the $500,000 payment of the loan to ourselves on the casino.
Read the PBPost article.
UPDATE See highlight below.
Lake Worth took a beating during Wilma, ranked among the top five costly hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic which began on October 26, 2005. The eye of the storm actually crossed Lake Worth. Our loss was $12 million. Overall, the hurricane claimed 62 lives and damage was estimated at $29.1 billion. Wilma is ranked among the top five most costly hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic and the fifth costliest storm in United States history but it was Frances in 2004 that destroyed our Lake Worth Pier.
Back then, the City was put on notice by our external auditors that there were accounting errors with the FEMA money that we got from Frances during city manager Paul Boyer's administration. One of the things you must do is back up the receivables from FEMA with receipts. Boyer told us that the city can not produce the receipts and FEMA wants us to reimburse them $1.2 million.
Now Lake Worth is taking another beating-- and according to the Post, FEMA wants us to repay $500,000 because of lack of documentation after Wilma. We can't prove one-half million in expenses. We don't learn lessons well and sometimes we can't even fire those who are incompetent because of Union protection. The report by the Inspector General, Office of Homeland Security, says that we owe FEMA $7.7 million.
We had filed a claim with FEMA and now the agency says, we, once again, have shoddy bookwork. We spent the money on disaster recovery but we just can't prove it...sort of like the sewer fiasco that cost us $10 million for shoddy paperwork. There was a lot of shoddy stuff going on back in those days. Our savings disappeared too along with the millions in our beach fund. The assistant city manager, Laura Hannah, got a $50,000 raise.
Then after Stanton was hired in 2009, she changed out the Finance Department...got rid of the past problems (staff) that had cost us millions and hired a competent director, Steven Carr.
Now we know why the commission has been asked to delay the $500,000 payment of the loan to ourselves on the casino.
Read the PBPost article.
NSA has access to our computers through our operating system
The NSA has had the ability to track us since Windows 95. Windows was released in 1995 and probably you, like me, have had most of the upgraded operating systems since that time. And just like any software, it just gets more sophisticated.
NSA gets backdoor access through some security features. Computer security specialists say that the Windows software driver used for security and encryption functions contains unusual features which give NSA that backdoor access. Read more at WND.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
FPL - some trivia
Comment Up
Lewis Hay with our commander in chief, you know, the one who is going after the 1 percenters as the problem. Hay was appointed to Obama's Job Council to help grow the economy. One thing we do know, FPL has 12,000 in its employ and the average annual salary of the utility’s workers is more than $90,000.
Lewis Hay with our commander in chief, you know, the one who is going after the 1 percenters as the problem. Hay was appointed to Obama's Job Council to help grow the economy. One thing we do know, FPL has 12,000 in its employ and the average annual salary of the utility’s workers is more than $90,000.
And the winner is...FPL's Lewis Hay
Comment Up
The winner of the top greedy CEO goes to Lewis Hay of FPL.
Being a defender of American capitalism, I find it impossible to defend greed especially from a public corporation that has a monopoly on life sustaining services--FPL's executive salaries and benefits are truly obnoxious.This is a main reason why liberals continue to come after big business.
There is nothing inherently wrong with executives getting bigger houses and the use of jets ($31 million went for a new jet at FPL just a few years ago) especially if they’re not gaining at the expense of others in a monopolistic business supported by government in that they are allowed to take gigantic tax breaks. When you have a company that votes to pay its top executive, Lewis Hay, $33 million in salary and benefits, it is a stark reminder of the average American worker who must have and can't live without their product. The average working stiffs' salary is $34,645 with CEO's, on an average, make a whopping 354% more than the average worker.
The Palm Beach Post reported today that FPL's CEO is the top paid utility executive in the country and he is right in our own back yard. Other utility CEO's highest paid executives:
William Johnson, Duke energey---$28.7 million
Gale Klappa, Wisconsin Energy---$26.7 million
John Rowe, Exelon--- $23 million
Anthony Alexander, FirstEnergy---$19.8 million
Sure, FPL has the lowest residential rates in Florida. Who wouldn't, when they can buy things much cheaper than can the small utility. They have the synergies that can provide efficiency and get better rates for virtually everything, even their cost of money. They buy in gigantic bulk that lowers prices. They have people in their pockets and lobbyists (5 lobbyist firms made an average of $500,000 a piece...source Wikipedia) up the wazoo and they are driving out competition with their advantages. With money, especially the rate payer's, you can do just about anything. Hell, they even have some Lake Worth residents pushing for FPL to buy our Lake Worth utility. They continually ask for rate increases, all in the name of long-term investment. FPL continues to rake in the profits while those who need their product can't find jobs or feed their families and many have lost their homes. Last year FPL reported $14 BILLION in revenue.
Florida Power & Light, whose service territory stretches from South Florida to the southern borders of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, charges just $93.23--add on the 6% franchise fee and it brings up the residential rate to $98.82 for 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 1000 kilowatt hours used as a benchmark of what a small residence uses in an average month. Lake Worth's comparable rate is $119.55 but we need to charge $20 more in order to operate our city and to fill in the pot-holes.
Click here to read about the obnoxious corporate CEO salaries of greedy executives, the only real winners, along with their shareholders, of these companies.
Being a defender of American capitalism, I find it impossible to defend greed especially from a public corporation that has a monopoly on life sustaining services--FPL's executive salaries and benefits are truly obnoxious.This is a main reason why liberals continue to come after big business.
There is nothing inherently wrong with executives getting bigger houses and the use of jets ($31 million went for a new jet at FPL just a few years ago) especially if they’re not gaining at the expense of others in a monopolistic business supported by government in that they are allowed to take gigantic tax breaks. When you have a company that votes to pay its top executive, Lewis Hay, $33 million in salary and benefits, it is a stark reminder of the average American worker who must have and can't live without their product. The average working stiffs' salary is $34,645 with CEO's, on an average, make a whopping 354% more than the average worker.
The Palm Beach Post reported today that FPL's CEO is the top paid utility executive in the country and he is right in our own back yard. Other utility CEO's highest paid executives:
William Johnson, Duke energey---$28.7 million
Gale Klappa, Wisconsin Energy---$26.7 million
John Rowe, Exelon--- $23 million
Anthony Alexander, FirstEnergy---$19.8 million
Sure, FPL has the lowest residential rates in Florida. Who wouldn't, when they can buy things much cheaper than can the small utility. They have the synergies that can provide efficiency and get better rates for virtually everything, even their cost of money. They buy in gigantic bulk that lowers prices. They have people in their pockets and lobbyists (5 lobbyist firms made an average of $500,000 a piece...source Wikipedia) up the wazoo and they are driving out competition with their advantages. With money, especially the rate payer's, you can do just about anything. Hell, they even have some Lake Worth residents pushing for FPL to buy our Lake Worth utility. They continually ask for rate increases, all in the name of long-term investment. FPL continues to rake in the profits while those who need their product can't find jobs or feed their families and many have lost their homes. Last year FPL reported $14 BILLION in revenue.
Florida Power & Light, whose service territory stretches from South Florida to the southern borders of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, charges just $93.23--add on the 6% franchise fee and it brings up the residential rate to $98.82 for 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 1000 kilowatt hours used as a benchmark of what a small residence uses in an average month. Lake Worth's comparable rate is $119.55 but we need to charge $20 more in order to operate our city and to fill in the pot-holes.
Click here to read about the obnoxious corporate CEO salaries of greedy executives, the only real winners, along with their shareholders, of these companies.
Restore our Privacy Act
Comment Up
Someone asked me once, "Lynn, if you are such a conservative, how come you like Bernie Sanders... I am surprised."
I like him because he has instigated some bills that make sense. Being a conservative Democrat is placing yourself in the minority of the Party that is for sure. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill (S-1168) on Friday that would put an end to open-ended court orders that have resulted in wholesale data mining by the NSA and FBI. Instead, the government would be required to provide reasonable suspicion to justify searches for each record or document that it wants to examine.
“We must give our intelligence and law enforcement agencies all of the tools that they need to combat terrorism but we must do so in a way that protects our freedom and respects the Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches,” Sanders said.
Sign and restore the Privacy Act Petition
Someone asked me once, "Lynn, if you are such a conservative, how come you like Bernie Sanders... I am surprised."
I like him because he has instigated some bills that make sense. Being a conservative Democrat is placing yourself in the minority of the Party that is for sure. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill (S-1168) on Friday that would put an end to open-ended court orders that have resulted in wholesale data mining by the NSA and FBI. Instead, the government would be required to provide reasonable suspicion to justify searches for each record or document that it wants to examine.
“We must give our intelligence and law enforcement agencies all of the tools that they need to combat terrorism but we must do so in a way that protects our freedom and respects the Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches,” Sanders said.
Sign and restore the Privacy Act Petition
ObamaCare and Jobs
This week the Bureau of Labor Statistics
announced:
"On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the-board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all "measuring green jobs" products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.
Ok, I get how measuring mass layoffs might cost some bucks; but really? Green jobs? Couldn’t a blind guy with one hand and a broken solar calculator do that job for $24,000 per year"
Read how Obama Solves Mass-Layoff Problem by Laying Off Mass-Layoff Statistics Guys at BLS. by clicking here
"On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the-board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all "measuring green jobs" products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.
Ok, I get how measuring mass layoffs might cost some bucks; but really? Green jobs? Couldn’t a blind guy with one hand and a broken solar calculator do that job for $24,000 per year"
Read how Obama Solves Mass-Layoff Problem by Laying Off Mass-Layoff Statistics Guys at BLS. by clicking here
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Milton's Message
Comment Up
Sign in the window of Milton's (dog) Grooming Parlor. That Milton is one smart dog!
Don't forget the ribbon cutting Grand Opening this Tuesday, June 25th, 704 Lucerne Avenue. Ribbon cutting at 3pm with Mayor Triolo and, of course, Milton.
Sign in the window of Milton's (dog) Grooming Parlor. That Milton is one smart dog!
Don't forget the ribbon cutting Grand Opening this Tuesday, June 25th, 704 Lucerne Avenue. Ribbon cutting at 3pm with Mayor Triolo and, of course, Milton.
Chinese Geese still hanging out
Comment Up
The Swan Geese (Anser cygnoides) -- also known as Chinese Geese - are rare, migratory geese that breed in inland Mongolia, northernmost China, and southeastern Russia; and most migrate to central and eastern China for the winter.
Vagrants travel to Japan and Korea for the winter and, on rare occasions, may winter in Kazakhstan, Laos, coastal Siberia, Taiwan, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
The Chinese goose is easily identifiable by the big lump in the forehead where it joins the beak. These geese are now widely raised in the West as well as in China.
Outside the breeding season, they form small flocks. They rarely swim and often forage far from the water.
The large Wild Swan Geese have also been introduced to countries outside their natural range, where feral populations of escaped or released domesticated birds have established themselves. We are lucky to have them.
The Swan Geese (Anser cygnoides) -- also known as Chinese Geese - are rare, migratory geese that breed in inland Mongolia, northernmost China, and southeastern Russia; and most migrate to central and eastern China for the winter.
Vagrants travel to Japan and Korea for the winter and, on rare occasions, may winter in Kazakhstan, Laos, coastal Siberia, Taiwan, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
The Chinese goose is easily identifiable by the big lump in the forehead where it joins the beak. These geese are now widely raised in the West as well as in China.
Outside the breeding season, they form small flocks. They rarely swim and often forage far from the water.
The large Wild Swan Geese have also been introduced to countries outside their natural range, where feral populations of escaped or released domesticated birds have established themselves. We are lucky to have them.
The Sun Did It
With 1/100th of the crowd he had last time, Obama's speech fell flat. It was blamed on the "Sun"...he could not read the teleprompter.
Mamma Mia at Lake Worth Casino
Comment Up
Someone had asked me about Mamma Mia's (they have terrific pizza!) now putting tables on the south side of the Casino building adjacent to their unit so I decided to check to see if they had an agreement in writing with the city to occupy this space for normal business operations. They have always been allowed to occupy the common areas for special events but it has to be in writing and approved by the City.
This is what I was told:
Mamma Mia pays for 436 sq ft of patio space on the front and side of the building per the section of the lease Exhibit H, Section 2. They pay $15.00 per square foot for the space on the common areas. They can do this as long as they are not encroaching on the walkways or common areas and as long as they are complying with the Lease and the City’s requirements.
Further by staff: There is 4'-8" of clear space between the edge of the tables adjacent to the southernmost exterior wall of Mamma Mia's Tenant space and the south "core" wall of the Casino building. ADA accessibility requires 48" of minimum clearance for wheel chair accessibility. The seating layout does not compromise the ADA or egress requirements for this area.
So, there you have it; case closed.
Someone had asked me about Mamma Mia's (they have terrific pizza!) now putting tables on the south side of the Casino building adjacent to their unit so I decided to check to see if they had an agreement in writing with the city to occupy this space for normal business operations. They have always been allowed to occupy the common areas for special events but it has to be in writing and approved by the City.
This is what I was told:
Mamma Mia pays for 436 sq ft of patio space on the front and side of the building per the section of the lease Exhibit H, Section 2. They pay $15.00 per square foot for the space on the common areas. They can do this as long as they are not encroaching on the walkways or common areas and as long as they are complying with the Lease and the City’s requirements.
Further by staff: There is 4'-8" of clear space between the edge of the tables adjacent to the southernmost exterior wall of Mamma Mia's Tenant space and the south "core" wall of the Casino building. ADA accessibility requires 48" of minimum clearance for wheel chair accessibility. The seating layout does not compromise the ADA or egress requirements for this area.
So, there you have it; case closed.
Guatemalan Identification card and Passport Event in Lake Worth
Comment Up
The Sheriff just closed down a house of prostitution last week run by Guatemalans so what better event to have than to give these people access to identification cards. It is all going hand in hand with Obama's amnesty--Lake Worth is on the cutting edge.
Guatemalan Identification Card and Passport Event
June 22 & 23 8 AM – 4:30 PM
North Grade Elementary School
824 North “K” Street
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is hosting a Guatemalan Identification Card and Passport event along with representatives from the Guatemalan Consulate. The Guatemalan Community will be able to obtain Guatemalan Passports and identification cards. This event is an excellent opportunity for the Guatemalan Community to obtain official government documents in order to help them better manage life’s daily affairs. Chase Bank will also attend this event to provide information on banking. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, District 14, will be answering questions, and informing the community on such necessary topics as crime prevention and communication with law enforcement.
The card shows a person's name, home address and fingerprint. The document will help open bank accounts, sign leases, buy health insurance and get phones. But it won't grant legal status or help them apply for a driver's license in Florida and other U.S. documents, said Guatemalan vice consul Carla Cruz.
The Sheriff just closed down a house of prostitution last week run by Guatemalans so what better event to have than to give these people access to identification cards. It is all going hand in hand with Obama's amnesty--Lake Worth is on the cutting edge.
Guatemalan Identification Card and Passport Event
June 22 & 23 8 AM – 4:30 PM
North Grade Elementary School
824 North “K” Street
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is hosting a Guatemalan Identification Card and Passport event along with representatives from the Guatemalan Consulate. The Guatemalan Community will be able to obtain Guatemalan Passports and identification cards. This event is an excellent opportunity for the Guatemalan Community to obtain official government documents in order to help them better manage life’s daily affairs. Chase Bank will also attend this event to provide information on banking. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, District 14, will be answering questions, and informing the community on such necessary topics as crime prevention and communication with law enforcement.
The card shows a person's name, home address and fingerprint. The document will help open bank accounts, sign leases, buy health insurance and get phones. But it won't grant legal status or help them apply for a driver's license in Florida and other U.S. documents, said Guatemalan vice consul Carla Cruz.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Poll Results on Ed Snowden
Is Ed Snowden a Hero or a Traitor--Poll Results
Hero of the 4th Amendment...28% |
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Dirty rotten traitor...46%
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Julian Assange in disguise...6%
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Love this guy...3%
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Not sure...21%
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The Highwaymen
There is nothing more beautiful than art by the Highwaymen particularly if you just love beach, palm and gorgeous poinsettia trees. Their paintings are considered to be an important sector of American art. I am lucky to own several paintings by R.L. Lewis, who happens to be my favorite.
Art Link Gallery, located at 809 Lucerne Avenue, will have a showing of Highwaymen paintings beginning today (4pm to 9pm) and continuing on over Saturday (10am to 7pm) and Sunday (Noon to 6pm).
Trivia on the affordable rental project
Comment Up
Affordable Housing Solutions, LLC bought this piece of property consisting of 3.3730 acres at the corner of Boutwell and Lake Worth Roads in February of this year. They paid $2,250,000, an astounding price when you consider that the last sale in April 2003 was $750,000. Just thirteen years ago the same property sold for $250,000.
So, the above leads me to believe that this company knew in February that they had the vote to proceed with affordable rentals. So, when someone supposedly in authority in this city can tell us that meeting with owners/developers/investors behind closed doors is legal and not subject to the Sunshine, then I say it can breed corruption. No one spends that kind of money when there's risk, not in this economy and especially when half the city are rentals already.
We are known as the Corruption Capital of the Country for proved reasons and most had to do with development deals.
Affordable Housing Solutions, LLC bought this piece of property consisting of 3.3730 acres at the corner of Boutwell and Lake Worth Roads in February of this year. They paid $2,250,000, an astounding price when you consider that the last sale in April 2003 was $750,000. Just thirteen years ago the same property sold for $250,000.
So, the above leads me to believe that this company knew in February that they had the vote to proceed with affordable rentals. So, when someone supposedly in authority in this city can tell us that meeting with owners/developers/investors behind closed doors is legal and not subject to the Sunshine, then I say it can breed corruption. No one spends that kind of money when there's risk, not in this economy and especially when half the city are rentals already.
We are known as the Corruption Capital of the Country for proved reasons and most had to do with development deals.
Lack of Transparency fuels the fire of doubt
Comment Up
This week, the local newspaper ran an editorial entitled Do You Really Believe that? condemning a citizen(s) for public commentary on the pool and the algae growing in it--told we "negatives" to find out/ask what the problems are with the pool before spewing "inaccuracies and fueling fire" or ridiculing the commission and staff.
No one is searching for conspiracies in Lake Worth. All of us are way too active and busy for that. The biggest problem that fuels doubt with the city government is the lack of transparency coming out of city hall. No one is giving this commission "flack" for the pool closure. What we are doing is just trying to find out why it is closed and when it will re-open and under what conditions. This is not too much to ask after three years of closure and this administrative staff, as well as the past, wanting to get rid of our pool. What would have been appropriate was telling the public that the pool pump was broken and the algae would be cleaned up soon. This had to be dragged out of staff because of one photo showing green water and a caption reading "Is this just another excuse to keep it closed?"
Now the Herald did exactly what he accused others of doing--fueling the fire. The Lake Worth Herald editorial states that the city has contracted with an outside pool company for the pool operations--now this is the exact sort of thing that keeps the embers burning because the statement is flat WRONG. An "inaccuracy." Who would have thought an error could be made by a newspaper for not checking out the facts. One phone call would have determined the truth.
According to the Recreation Manager, Juan Ruiz, "We have not contracted with any company. We will have our plans finalized and made public next week once we finalize a few details."
But this is another thing that bothers me. Why don't we, the public, even know that the city is looking to contract out for pool operations, if they are, that is? Is that, too, something that has been in the wind for 7 months and we just flat missed it or just another policy decided behind the scenes? After checking the city's web site, I could not find an RFP for a private company to operate our pool. Perhaps one exists, I just could not find it. The Herald's suggestion of "working in a positive direction" is sometimes trickier than one could ever imagine when the public and some members of the commission are kept in the dark. This is done willfully and obviously with commission approval. All of these things should be given in the city manager's report, a report that we NEVER see.
Pool equipment needs to be constantly checked and maintained whether the pool is closed or not. Sometimes things just wear out. When a city continues to ignore the public, it is human nature to believe the worst. Our trust just gets thinner and thinner and soon, just like that pool pump, the trust wears out.
This week, the local newspaper ran an editorial entitled Do You Really Believe that? condemning a citizen(s) for public commentary on the pool and the algae growing in it--told we "negatives" to find out/ask what the problems are with the pool before spewing "inaccuracies and fueling fire" or ridiculing the commission and staff.
No one is searching for conspiracies in Lake Worth. All of us are way too active and busy for that. The biggest problem that fuels doubt with the city government is the lack of transparency coming out of city hall. No one is giving this commission "flack" for the pool closure. What we are doing is just trying to find out why it is closed and when it will re-open and under what conditions. This is not too much to ask after three years of closure and this administrative staff, as well as the past, wanting to get rid of our pool. What would have been appropriate was telling the public that the pool pump was broken and the algae would be cleaned up soon. This had to be dragged out of staff because of one photo showing green water and a caption reading "Is this just another excuse to keep it closed?"
Now the Herald did exactly what he accused others of doing--fueling the fire. The Lake Worth Herald editorial states that the city has contracted with an outside pool company for the pool operations--now this is the exact sort of thing that keeps the embers burning because the statement is flat WRONG. An "inaccuracy." Who would have thought an error could be made by a newspaper for not checking out the facts. One phone call would have determined the truth.
According to the Recreation Manager, Juan Ruiz, "We have not contracted with any company. We will have our plans finalized and made public next week once we finalize a few details."
But this is another thing that bothers me. Why don't we, the public, even know that the city is looking to contract out for pool operations, if they are, that is? Is that, too, something that has been in the wind for 7 months and we just flat missed it or just another policy decided behind the scenes? After checking the city's web site, I could not find an RFP for a private company to operate our pool. Perhaps one exists, I just could not find it. The Herald's suggestion of "working in a positive direction" is sometimes trickier than one could ever imagine when the public and some members of the commission are kept in the dark. This is done willfully and obviously with commission approval. All of these things should be given in the city manager's report, a report that we NEVER see.
Pool equipment needs to be constantly checked and maintained whether the pool is closed or not. Sometimes things just wear out. When a city continues to ignore the public, it is human nature to believe the worst. Our trust just gets thinner and thinner and soon, just like that pool pump, the trust wears out.
Know thy enemy
Comment Up
See the shocking video--Syrian rebels behead man; execute 2 women
Just think--Obama is supporting these monstrous rebels. Libyan expatriates forwarded the video to WND to make bolster their claim that the “rebel forces” about to be armed by the Obama administration are made up of radical Islamic terrorist groups with international ties to al-Qaida.
See the shocking video--Syrian rebels behead man; execute 2 women
Just think--Obama is supporting these monstrous rebels. Libyan expatriates forwarded the video to WND to make bolster their claim that the “rebel forces” about to be armed by the Obama administration are made up of radical Islamic terrorist groups with international ties to al-Qaida.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Wheel chair bound woman needs our help
Comment Up
You can help!! Donate here.
Kirsten, 64, has lived in a (hot, dark) South Fla. home without electricity, ever since late June 2012 when Tropical Storm Debby tore out her power line. She is in a wheelchair, on a fixed income, and can't afford the electrician needed to fix the damage to her home, damage that must be fixed before the electric company can turn her power back on.
(I'm withholding her last name, lest she become a victim of scammers, thieves or worse). She relies on the kindness of a neighbor for minor power needs. Her family helps her with expenses when they can, but this is beyond their means.
She needs our help. She lives without lights, without hot meals, without even a fan, in the South Florida heat. Any money raised beyond what the electrician charges will go toward home repairs, and to her basic expenses.
You can help!! Donate here.
Kirsten, 64, has lived in a (hot, dark) South Fla. home without electricity, ever since late June 2012 when Tropical Storm Debby tore out her power line. She is in a wheelchair, on a fixed income, and can't afford the electrician needed to fix the damage to her home, damage that must be fixed before the electric company can turn her power back on.
(I'm withholding her last name, lest she become a victim of scammers, thieves or worse). She relies on the kindness of a neighbor for minor power needs. Her family helps her with expenses when they can, but this is beyond their means.
She needs our help. She lives without lights, without hot meals, without even a fan, in the South Florida heat. Any money raised beyond what the electrician charges will go toward home repairs, and to her basic expenses.
Park of Commerce and The Villages Trivia
Comment Up
The Villages of Lake Worth, the newly approved affordable rental housing project on Lake Worth and Boutwell Roads, will be in Phase I of the proposed Park of Commerce Improvements. The Villages is proposing a completion time of end 2014.
The cost for the various phases of the construction are as follows:
Phase 1: $5,546,000---1 to 3 years
Phase 2: $1,843,000---4 to 7 years
Phase 3: $3,271,000---8 to 15 years
When the Infrastructure Needs Assessment and Preliminary Engineering Study was done by CDM on November 9, 2010, these are the Intersection Improvements for Phase 1:
•Street lighting
•Telecommunications duct bank
•Electric – relocate under ground
•Multi-use pathways
•Gateway identification (The Villages of Lake Worth has agreed to pay for this entry identification and it is included in the community benefit of their proposal amounting to $10,000...not sure if this is for only one entry sign near their affordable rental project or on 10th Avenue North as well)
•Beautification – street trees
The Villages of Lake Worth, the newly approved affordable rental housing project on Lake Worth and Boutwell Roads, will be in Phase I of the proposed Park of Commerce Improvements. The Villages is proposing a completion time of end 2014.
The cost for the various phases of the construction are as follows:
Phase 1: $5,546,000---1 to 3 years
Phase 2: $1,843,000---4 to 7 years
Phase 3: $3,271,000---8 to 15 years
When the Infrastructure Needs Assessment and Preliminary Engineering Study was done by CDM on November 9, 2010, these are the Intersection Improvements for Phase 1:
•Street lighting
•Telecommunications duct bank
•Electric – relocate under ground
•Multi-use pathways
•Gateway identification (The Villages of Lake Worth has agreed to pay for this entry identification and it is included in the community benefit of their proposal amounting to $10,000...not sure if this is for only one entry sign near their affordable rental project or on 10th Avenue North as well)
•Beautification – street trees
Maxwell--My way or No way
Comment Up
"Let him (the developer) role the dice. Who are we to ask if his business plan will work?" asked the Vice Mayor.
Putting the 1st Amendment aside, whatever happened to the commission's policy on civility? ...or watching over the health and welfare of our city as a whole? What if it doesn't work and we end up with seven unfinished buildings of concrete there?
I contend that we have every right to ask questions when taxpayer money will be used to widen Boutwell Road and pay for infrastructure and services that will directly benefit this huge rental project. No commissioner has the right to get irritated with anyone from the public or a fellow commissioner. We get into trouble when we don't ask questions.
When McVoy got an opportunity to speak again he asked what the rental rates will be...they asked the contractor, Lopes, to come to the lectern to speak on rental rates. Then the city clerk, Pam Lopez, placed a document in front of the Vice Mayor. Maxwell glances at it and then states, "When he's done speaking (Mr. Lopes the contractor), I want to call the question" which is closing the debate. At that point he was totally tired of McVoy speaking to this affordable rental project in what he felt were "negative" terms. Commissioner McVoy then states that he had not finished speaking. The clerk then reminds the commission that the Vice Mayor had called the question. The vote was 4/1 to cease discussion. A new motion was made to approve the project. That vote ended 4/1 with McVoy again dissenting.
This Commission, as well as one Historical Planning board member who has been coming to meetings for 27 years, might feel it outrageous to ask questions of a contractor who wants to build a project of this magnitude in our city. However, when millions will be involved in developing the Park of Commerce as well as hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent directly on this property, we have not only the right but the responsibility to ask the questions, private equity used to develop private property or not. As Commissioner McVoy said, no questions were asked about this property below that was also approved by the Planning Department.
or I'm leaving the room
Putting the 1st Amendment aside, whatever happened to the commission's policy on civility? ...or watching over the health and welfare of our city as a whole? What if it doesn't work and we end up with seven unfinished buildings of concrete there?
I contend that we have every right to ask questions when taxpayer money will be used to widen Boutwell Road and pay for infrastructure and services that will directly benefit this huge rental project. No commissioner has the right to get irritated with anyone from the public or a fellow commissioner. We get into trouble when we don't ask questions.
When McVoy got an opportunity to speak again he asked what the rental rates will be...they asked the contractor, Lopes, to come to the lectern to speak on rental rates. Then the city clerk, Pam Lopez, placed a document in front of the Vice Mayor. Maxwell glances at it and then states, "When he's done speaking (Mr. Lopes the contractor), I want to call the question" which is closing the debate. At that point he was totally tired of McVoy speaking to this affordable rental project in what he felt were "negative" terms. Commissioner McVoy then states that he had not finished speaking. The clerk then reminds the commission that the Vice Mayor had called the question. The vote was 4/1 to cease discussion. A new motion was made to approve the project. That vote ended 4/1 with McVoy again dissenting.
This Commission, as well as one Historical Planning board member who has been coming to meetings for 27 years, might feel it outrageous to ask questions of a contractor who wants to build a project of this magnitude in our city. However, when millions will be involved in developing the Park of Commerce as well as hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent directly on this property, we have not only the right but the responsibility to ask the questions, private equity used to develop private property or not. As Commissioner McVoy said, no questions were asked about this property below that was also approved by the Planning Department.
17th Avenue North and D Streets
approved by Planning & Zoning?
Does the P&Z make all the major decisions that affect our city and not the commission? The City of Lake Worth, especially the residents who have to look at this eyesore every day, did not benefit from the decision allowing this owner to take advantage of our city. And, let me repeat this, it doesn't matter the amount of money invested in the building, private property and private equity or not. Are we protected by the decisions that the planning board makes?
And since ad valorem is one of the driving factors for our commission on this affordable rental project, are protections in place to ensure that the developer can't flip it to some 501(c) or something...make sure deed restrictions are in place.
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