Letters to the Editor The Palm Beach Post
July 5, 2013
Incident shows light on audit's findings
Regarding the article “Audit criticizes Lake Worth’s code division”: I recently witnessed an event in my neighborhood that I found singularly emblematic and comedically symptomatic of the cited issues at code compliance.
As a city vehicle drove past my home, a brand spankin’ new wheelbarrow fell off the back and right into Lucerne Avenue. Completely unaware, the vehicle drove on with its two loquacious occupants oblivious to the sight, sound or importance of the incident.
Moments later, a wily citizen cautiously emerged from the shadows, approached the wheelbarrow and, after glancing hurriedly in all directions, disappeared with it in a flash.
Similarities to the findings of auditor Kenneth Oakes are striking: Were the employees on the job? Certainly. Did they hear or see or pay attention to what was going on in their daily tasks? Not really. Did it cost the city money? Clearly. Did they care or notice enough to do anything about it? Hardly. Who benefited from such negligence? The wily resident (landlord, absentee or otherwise) who got away with a not inexpensive benefit unbeknownst to the city.
The Charlie Chaplin-Buster Keaton-Keystone Kops-esque possibilities for comedic relief are endless here, but the state of our code enforcement is no laughing matter.
BENEDICT IVES
Lake Worth
Candidates offer only lip service
After reading the article regarding the Lake Worth code division, it baffles me why enforcing various codes is such a task for the city.
Each election cycle I ask potential candidates their stance on code enforcement, and with few exceptions each one stated that this issue should be a high priority. And what did I get? More lip service. The same lame, weak enforcement that has plagued the city since I moved here more than 20 years ago.
I just don’t get it. Code enforcement would help raise property values, reduce crime and help bring businesses into our city. With all due respect to the city officials who were quoted in this article, violators are just not paying the city. Why? Why is it taking so long to make code enforcement a priority?
MIKE PALAR
Lake Worth
8 comments:
the reason this city doesnt work--code dept-----we dont have people that know how to run a city---they talk to much but doesnt know how to put anything in action----proff drive around the city and go up and down the streets ---very scarey and the people you see you wonder are we in a 3rd world country--run down looking
8:26 boy, you are the enlightened one. maybe some grammar and a spelling class would help your message.
We all understand the message from 8:26. You don't?
Past few weeks there has been 2 employees let go for unknown reasons. One just as recent as July 3RD. Always Hush Hush! Can always find out who there are when they post their job in the employment page!
the grammar is fine ---the city is not---maybe you need to be enlightened --your not use to be around class i guess--you must be use to living in a slum---a whats not spelled right --its called getting the point i dont need to spend my time on this blog with people like you---i was just getting to the point--im not in school getting a report card
You said it. Takes one to know one 9:32.
and yes i wrote fast and forgot the ing in being---sorry if you didnt get the point
Code Dept. doesn't work because we have rich famous people who own here and are allowed to use their power to leave their properties blighted, boarded up and completely uncared for, these people are to blame for why we do not have "real" enforcement. It is a sin that these people use their power to leave our city blighted, they say they do so much, volunteering on boards and serving as master of ceremonies, but they do not say they are also slum property owners and will go down in history known for that more than anything else in the eyes of most citizens. The professionals and educated know better what is really going on here and why Codes is not working to address blight.
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