President Obama and Vice President Biden would impeach the president, Barack Obama. Joe Biden said in unequivocal terms that President George W. Bush should be impeached if he dared authorize a unilateral military attack on Iran. Read more... at WND.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Impeachment - Obama
President Obama and Vice President Biden would impeach the president, Barack Obama. Joe Biden said in unequivocal terms that President George W. Bush should be impeached if he dared authorize a unilateral military attack on Iran. Read more... at WND.
"The Butler"
What 'The Butler' gets wrong about Ronald Reagan and race
Hollywood has a responsibility to produce films by reporting the message correctly as do media in general. Bloggers also need to do their research and have the facts before making an opinion. Ethics is very much a part of what we do when we disseminate information to the public. Being truthful, accurate, objective, fair and accountable are requisites.
The movie, "The Butler" is now under scrutiny for its inaccuracies in portraying Ronald Reagan. The movie industry, of all media outlets, has a duty to get it right. It can be a great movie and this one is a box office smash that captures the spirit of the times. However, if facts are omitted, it can become revisionist history years later.
Hollywood has a responsibility to produce films by reporting the message correctly as do media in general. Bloggers also need to do their research and have the facts before making an opinion. Ethics is very much a part of what we do when we disseminate information to the public. Being truthful, accurate, objective, fair and accountable are requisites.
The movie, "The Butler" is now under scrutiny for its inaccuracies in portraying Ronald Reagan. The movie industry, of all media outlets, has a duty to get it right. It can be a great movie and this one is a box office smash that captures the spirit of the times. However, if facts are omitted, it can become revisionist history years later.
Friday Night Lights - Lake Worth Football
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Lake Worth had 8 penalties for a total of 95 yards but still managed to pull it through, beating Jensen Beach (20 -14), their first exciting win of the regular season under new head coach, Jessee Hester. Lake Worth plays Boynton Beach at home next Friday night, September 6. Game starts at 7pm. Come on out and support Lake Worth High football. See you on the 50 yard line.
Dante Fils-Aime ran for a 54 yard touchdown early in the game
Friday, August 30, 2013
Shooting on S. J Street
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Instead of posting all of the crimes within a mile of where I live...here's one that we all should be made aware
SHOOTING--13114400--6TH AVE S & S J ST--8/30/2013 1:18:00 AM
Instead of posting all of the crimes within a mile of where I live...here's one that we all should be made aware
SHOOTING--13114400--6TH AVE S & S J ST--8/30/2013 1:18:00 AM
Quotes of the Day - Rubio, Cruz, Paul & West
“My advice is to either lay out a comprehensive plan using all of the tools at our disposal that stands a reasonable chance of allowing the moderate opposition to remove Assad and replace him with a stable secular government or, at this point, simply focus our resources on helping our allies in the region protect themselves from the threat they and we will increasingly face from an unstable Syria.”
~Marco Rubio
"The United States Armed Forces doesn't exist to be a policeman for the world."
~Ted Cruz
"Syria has no clear national security connection to the United States."
~Rand Paul
Obama’s grand strategy in the Middle East seems to be how many countries he can destabilize: Libya, Egypt, and now Syria? In each case he has removed not so good guys, but has enabled Islamic terrorists and totalitarians to gain power. Therefore, not only has Obama sought to 'fundamentally transform' America but also the Middle East. He is becoming the best buddy of the Muslim Brotherhood and jihadists and a nightmare for our true buddy, Israel.”
~ Allen West
More vicious Black on White
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A couple’s early-morning walk in the world famous French Quarter of New Orleans turned into a nightmare when they were beaten savagely by three black attackers in a horrifying scene that was caught on camera.
Then it got worse: The responding police officer decided it wasn’t worth filing a report.
Read more...
Haven't heard a peep from Al, Jessee or Oprah.
A couple’s early-morning walk in the world famous French Quarter of New Orleans turned into a nightmare when they were beaten savagely by three black attackers in a horrifying scene that was caught on camera.
Then it got worse: The responding police officer decided it wasn’t worth filing a report.
Read more...
Haven't heard a peep from Al, Jessee or Oprah.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Third Florida mayor to get arrested
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The mayor of Homestead, Fla., has been arrested on illegal compensation charges from a secret consulting job he had with a Florida health clinic company. He is the third mayor of a Miami-Dade County city to be arrested in the past month on corruption or ethics charges. It's getting closer.
Read more..
The mayor of Homestead, Fla., has been arrested on illegal compensation charges from a secret consulting job he had with a Florida health clinic company. He is the third mayor of a Miami-Dade County city to be arrested in the past month on corruption or ethics charges. It's getting closer.
Read more..
Florida's medically uninsured
Florida has the 2nd highest rate of the medically uninsured. Right now, small businesses are not required to provide health insurance. Also there are a large number of employees in the tourism-oriented economy with workers in service jobs. We have many illegals with no insurance and no one wants to talk about that stat. They have contributed to Florida's historic high rate of uninsured.
Democrats are already using this 1 out of 4 uninsured statistic against Gov. Rick Scott. Read more...
Democrats are already using this 1 out of 4 uninsured statistic against Gov. Rick Scott. Read more...
A Day of Crime in parts of Lake Worth
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DRUNK DRIVER-- 13114013-- LAKE AVE & N F ST-- 8/29/2013 2:54:00 AM
ASSAULT-- 13113962-- 2600 BLOCK 6TH AVE S-- 8/28/2013 9:55:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113917-- 100 BLOCK N GOLFVIEW RD-- 8/28/2013 7:34:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113899-- 2900 BLOCK 2ND AVE N-- 8/28/2013 6:12:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113838-- 1600 BLOCK S N ST-- 8/28/2013 3:27:00 PM
BEVERAGE VIOLATION-- 13113806-- 000 BLOCK S GOLFVIEW RD -- 8/28/2013 3:10:00 PM
BEVERAGE VIOLATION-- 13113793-- 1400 BLOCK S DIXIE HWY-- 8/28/2013 2:40:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113742-- 2500 BLOCK 10TH AVE N-- 8/28/2013 12:30:00 PM
THEFT/LARCENY-- 13113737-- 1700 BLOCK LAKE WORTH RD 8/28/2013 12:21:00 PM
BURGLARY - VEHICLE-- 13113650-- 100 BLOCK N FEDERAL HWY -- 8/28/2013 8:23:00 AM
DRUNK DRIVER-- 13114013-- LAKE AVE & N F ST-- 8/29/2013 2:54:00 AM
ASSAULT-- 13113962-- 2600 BLOCK 6TH AVE S-- 8/28/2013 9:55:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113917-- 100 BLOCK N GOLFVIEW RD-- 8/28/2013 7:34:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113899-- 2900 BLOCK 2ND AVE N-- 8/28/2013 6:12:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113838-- 1600 BLOCK S N ST-- 8/28/2013 3:27:00 PM
BEVERAGE VIOLATION-- 13113806-- 000 BLOCK S GOLFVIEW RD -- 8/28/2013 3:10:00 PM
BEVERAGE VIOLATION-- 13113793-- 1400 BLOCK S DIXIE HWY-- 8/28/2013 2:40:00 PM
BURGLARY - RESIDENCE-- 13113742-- 2500 BLOCK 10TH AVE N-- 8/28/2013 12:30:00 PM
THEFT/LARCENY-- 13113737-- 1700 BLOCK LAKE WORTH RD 8/28/2013 12:21:00 PM
BURGLARY - VEHICLE-- 13113650-- 100 BLOCK N FEDERAL HWY -- 8/28/2013 8:23:00 AM
Black on White
Dear Black Thugs: You’re Making It Hard For White Devils to Believe that You’re Innocent Children
Click here to read an article right in your face on the black on white issue.Will you be replaced by a robot?
And speaking of jobs earlier, "Smart machines may make higher GDP possible, but also reduce the demand for people — including smart people. So we could be looking at a society that grows ever richer, but in which all the gains in wealth accrue to whoever owns the robots."
There are 1.2 million industrial robots working worldwide.
Keeping up with Obama and the American worker
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When Barack Obama entered the White House--
“If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. … I’m always struck by people who think it must be because I was so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there.”
“It must be because I worked harder than everybody else,” Obama said. “If you have a business, you didn’t build that, somebody else made that happen.”
Barack Obama quotes:60.6 percent of working age Americans had a job. Today, only 58.7 percent of working age Americans have a job. Since Obama has been president, seven out of every eight jobs that have been "created" in the U.S. economy have been part-time jobs. The number of full-time workers in the United States is still nearly 6 million below the old record that was set back in 2007.It is hard to believe, but an astounding 53 percent of all American workers now make less than $30,000 a year. 40 percent of all workers in the United States actually make less than what a full-time minimum wage worker made back in 1968.
By: Michael T. Snyder, author of the gloom and doom book "The Beginning of the End"
“If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. … I’m always struck by people who think it must be because I was so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there.”
“It must be because I worked harder than everybody else,” Obama said. “If you have a business, you didn’t build that, somebody else made that happen.”
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Obama Boyz Gang
As kids, every generation has its heroes....Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers in my day. The most violence I had ever seen was the movie Psycho...that scared me for years. That is calm in today's world. Now kids worship hip hop with messages of sex, drive-bys and violence and stupid Miley Cyrus. We had best friends or "clicks" back then; now there are street gangs with a new and extremely violent one in St. Louis. Obama is the new role model for young black men. Trayvon gave these gang bangers new found power.
There are four felony counts of first-degree assault, four felony counts of armed criminal action and two felonies for allegedly firing a gun from a vehicle and hitting people pending against a St. Louis suspect whom police identified as being a member of the “Obama Boyz” gang, a bunch of thugs who worship Obama and his "having a son he would look like Trayon" comment.
Read more at http://theblacksphere.net/2013/08/street-gang-named-obama-boyz/#W7sS0Ux6L7qXlslF.99
Obama is indeed a role model for young black men, so much so that in St. Louis there is a new gang, aptly called “Obama Boyz.”
Read more at http://theblacksphere.net/2013/08/street-gang-named-obama-boyz/#W7sS0Ux6L7qXlslF.99
Read more at http://theblacksphere.net/2013/08/street-gang-named-obama-boyz/#W7sS0Ux6L7qXlslF.99
Letters to the Editor- Police and Fire Pensions
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Letters to the Editor
The Palm Beach Post
August 28, 2013
Police, fire unions remain untouchable
On a recent driving vacation through western North Carolina, each town seemed to have a volunteer fire department, which ignited a very fond memory from my early childhood and the pride I felt to see the fire trucks racing by with my father steering the back end of the long hook-and-ladder truck.
The contrast between what is still the norm in most of rural America and what has happened in the urban areas is a textbook case of unions running amok. In every town or city, to be elected to a political office each candidate scrambles for the bloc vote of the fire and police unions, and to remain in office they must remain in the good graces of this constituency. People with jobs in the public sector, teachers and trash haulers included, should have good jobs with good benefits, but the spiraling cost of benefits, particularly pension benefits, accrued by this block of voters has brought some municipalities to the financial brink, and the current holders of public office are holding the bag.
The difficulty of dealing with this problem cannot be underestimated, as indicated by the union-busting governor of Wisconsin who exempted police and fire unions from his draconian legislation in hope of staying on the right side of this voting bloc.
JERRY UTTER
Lake Worth
Letters to the Editor The Palm Beach Post
August 28, 2013
Police, fire unions remain untouchable
On a recent driving vacation through western North Carolina, each town seemed to have a volunteer fire department, which ignited a very fond memory from my early childhood and the pride I felt to see the fire trucks racing by with my father steering the back end of the long hook-and-ladder truck.
The contrast between what is still the norm in most of rural America and what has happened in the urban areas is a textbook case of unions running amok. In every town or city, to be elected to a political office each candidate scrambles for the bloc vote of the fire and police unions, and to remain in office they must remain in the good graces of this constituency. People with jobs in the public sector, teachers and trash haulers included, should have good jobs with good benefits, but the spiraling cost of benefits, particularly pension benefits, accrued by this block of voters has brought some municipalities to the financial brink, and the current holders of public office are holding the bag.
The difficulty of dealing with this problem cannot be underestimated, as indicated by the union-busting governor of Wisconsin who exempted police and fire unions from his draconian legislation in hope of staying on the right side of this voting bloc.
JERRY UTTER
Lake Worth
Demise of America - seen through the eyes of a reknown artist
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As Lake Worth has a large population of artists who are inspired by things they see, events that have transpired, feelings in general or even inspiration from the gods, this is the new painting by Jon McNaughton.
He says, "Many Americans today feel a sense of dismay and horror as we see our country in a downward spiral; both economically, morally, and politically. President Obama’s indifferent attitude and the continuous list of scandals and bad policy is leading the country to ruin."
As Lake Worth has a large population of artists who are inspired by things they see, events that have transpired, feelings in general or even inspiration from the gods, this is the new painting by Jon McNaughton.
He says, "Many Americans today feel a sense of dismay and horror as we see our country in a downward spiral; both economically, morally, and politically. President Obama’s indifferent attitude and the continuous list of scandals and bad policy is leading the country to ruin."
Syria - committing moral obscenities
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Who are the "good" guys and the 'bad" guys in Syria? It is confusing as to whom is committing the moral obscenities...Is it the rebels and our enemy the Muslim Brotherhood or is it the Syrian government? John Kerry has accused the Assad government of "indiscriminate slaughter of civilians," and that Obama was going to hold the Syrian government responsible. As our intelligence hasn't been so hot over the past decade and this could be an a la Bush moment, we need to be sure without any doubt.
Assad has been facing an insurgency at home and has refused to step down. He believes the uprising to be an international conspiracy carried out by Islamic extremists and fundamentalist groups such as the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood — a branch of the Egyptian group with the same name to which Morsi belongs.
Back in May, it was reported by the Washington Times that,
Obama knows, because our U.S. intelligence agencies have told him, that they have uncovered new evidence that al Qaeda-linked terrorists in Benghazi are training foreign jihadists to fight with Syria’s Islamist rebels.
The UK Independent reports that Obama has agreed to launch cruise missile attacks against the Syrian government within two weeks despite the lack of any authorization from the UN and despite the absence of any evidence in behalf of Washington’s claim that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. The Congress has given no authority either but that won't stop Obama just like it didn't stop him in Libya two years ago.
So, what are we doing? Who is the enemy?
Who are the "good" guys and the 'bad" guys in Syria? It is confusing as to whom is committing the moral obscenities...Is it the rebels and our enemy the Muslim Brotherhood or is it the Syrian government? John Kerry has accused the Assad government of "indiscriminate slaughter of civilians," and that Obama was going to hold the Syrian government responsible. As our intelligence hasn't been so hot over the past decade and this could be an a la Bush moment, we need to be sure without any doubt.
Assad has been facing an insurgency at home and has refused to step down. He believes the uprising to be an international conspiracy carried out by Islamic extremists and fundamentalist groups such as the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood — a branch of the Egyptian group with the same name to which Morsi belongs.
Back in May, it was reported by the Washington Times that,
Testimony from victims strongly suggests it was the rebels, not the Syrian government, that used Sarin nerve gas during a recent incident in the revolution-wracked nation, a senior U.N. diplomat said Monday. Carla del Ponte, a member of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told Swiss TV there were “strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof,” that rebels seeking to oust Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad had used the nerve agent. But she said her panel had not yet seen any evidence of Syrian government forces using chemical weapons, according to the BBC, but she added that more investigation was needed. {emphasis ours}So far, reports are coming in that Assad now used chemicals killing 355 up to 1,300 of his people. No one is sure of the number but we are sending in a team to investigate. Some have said it is the rebels. We have seen the photos on TV and they're not pretty. Assad said these reports are an "outrage against common sense." He also warned that any U.S. intervention in Syria would bring "failure just like in all the previous wars that were waged by us beginning with VietNam.
Obama knows, because our U.S. intelligence agencies have told him, that they have uncovered new evidence that al Qaeda-linked terrorists in Benghazi are training foreign jihadists to fight with Syria’s Islamist rebels.
The UK Independent reports that Obama has agreed to launch cruise missile attacks against the Syrian government within two weeks despite the lack of any authorization from the UN and despite the absence of any evidence in behalf of Washington’s claim that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. The Congress has given no authority either but that won't stop Obama just like it didn't stop him in Libya two years ago.
So, what are we doing? Who is the enemy?
Vote for Lake Worth
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One week left to vote for your favorite town! Put Lake Worth on the map by voting during the final week of the 2013 Best of the Road contest. We will have to get half this city to vote between now and September 3rd. :)
Remember to encourage your friends, family and neighbors to participate on Facebook, Twittter, Instagram and Vine using the hashtag #Bestoftheroad to promote your town and increase votes. Votes may be submitted once-a-day per town in 6 categories: Most Beautiful, Best Food, Most Fun, Friendliest, Most Patriotic, and Best for Geocaching! Voting will close September 3rd at 12:00 pm CST. There is still time to make your town the Best Small Town in America!
Vote now for your favorite small town in America
One week left to vote for your favorite town! Put Lake Worth on the map by voting during the final week of the 2013 Best of the Road contest. We will have to get half this city to vote between now and September 3rd. :)
Remember to encourage your friends, family and neighbors to participate on Facebook, Twittter, Instagram and Vine using the hashtag #Bestoftheroad to promote your town and increase votes. Votes may be submitted once-a-day per town in 6 categories: Most Beautiful, Best Food, Most Fun, Friendliest, Most Patriotic, and Best for Geocaching! Voting will close September 3rd at 12:00 pm CST. There is still time to make your town the Best Small Town in America!
Vote now for your favorite small town in America
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Park Avenue Grill in Lake Worth to close
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Having the best ribs in town, the Park Avenue Grill located on North Dixie Highway will be closing its doors and selling the property.
Read about it...
Having the best ribs in town, the Park Avenue Grill located on North Dixie Highway will be closing its doors and selling the property.
Read about it...
Help coming to Lake Worth
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Maybe at some point down the road we won't have to be writing about the Mess of the Week when it comes to a property in Lake Worth.
Read more...
Maybe at some point down the road we won't have to be writing about the Mess of the Week when it comes to a property in Lake Worth.
Read more...
Inspector General's Office - Palm Beach County
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There is a lot of controversy regarding the Inspector General's Office. Are they doing the job for which it was intended? Are municipalities paying too much or being doubled billed? I can't ascertain if all the brouhaha is because they have half the staff it needs (23 instead of 40) or if they have become political or both. The very reason the voters wanted this department was to end the corruption in this County. To date, Lake Worth is committed to paying $149,554 but has only paid $34,159. Sharon Bock's office has been holding up the funds and suspended collections from the 24 municipalities that did not join the law suit because of the 14 cities that are suing.
The OIG will be forced to begin employee layoffs next month unless the County acts to provide interim funding. The lack of funding, Sheryl Steckler, says, "is the most serious threat to confront the office since the cities, led by West Palm Beach, began their move to thwart the will of the voters and escape legal oversight. If allowed to happen, it will be a major setback for ethics reform in 'corruption county' and recovery will be difficult."
So far, we haven't seen any evidence that there has been any ethics reform and we are not privy to the cases they have acted upon assuming that any cases were fully investigated instead of a quick phone call to a municipality's city attorney for their version of the story. Were most complaints thrown out on their ears or did some citizens complaints actually have merit in their eyes?
One thing she has done is to recommend that county officials take "appropriate personnel action" when they bypass competitive bidding or circumvent procurement policies. This occasionally happens in Lake Worth when we don't go out on an RFP and hear that there is "no other firm in the world that can do this type of work."
Semi Annual Report
"The IG Committee expressed frustration with workload and funding details while at the same time expressing concern that it was significant part of the IG report.
There is a lot of controversy regarding the Inspector General's Office. Are they doing the job for which it was intended? Are municipalities paying too much or being doubled billed? I can't ascertain if all the brouhaha is because they have half the staff it needs (23 instead of 40) or if they have become political or both. The very reason the voters wanted this department was to end the corruption in this County. To date, Lake Worth is committed to paying $149,554 but has only paid $34,159. Sharon Bock's office has been holding up the funds and suspended collections from the 24 municipalities that did not join the law suit because of the 14 cities that are suing.
The OIG will be forced to begin employee layoffs next month unless the County acts to provide interim funding. The lack of funding, Sheryl Steckler, says, "is the most serious threat to confront the office since the cities, led by West Palm Beach, began their move to thwart the will of the voters and escape legal oversight. If allowed to happen, it will be a major setback for ethics reform in 'corruption county' and recovery will be difficult."
So far, we haven't seen any evidence that there has been any ethics reform and we are not privy to the cases they have acted upon assuming that any cases were fully investigated instead of a quick phone call to a municipality's city attorney for their version of the story. Were most complaints thrown out on their ears or did some citizens complaints actually have merit in their eyes?
One thing she has done is to recommend that county officials take "appropriate personnel action" when they bypass competitive bidding or circumvent procurement policies. This occasionally happens in Lake Worth when we don't go out on an RFP and hear that there is "no other firm in the world that can do this type of work."
Semi Annual Report
"The IG Committee expressed frustration with workload and funding details while at the same time expressing concern that it was significant part of the IG report.
- Commissioner Gallo expressed a desire for more cost/benefit analysis, cost avoidance
- In the context of comparing Palm Beach County OIG funding versus that of the $5 million budget in Miami-Dade, Commissioner Farach stated that the Miami-Dade Clerk had given Comptroller functions to their OIG. This was an incorrect statement and IG Steckler will be sending the IG Committee a clarification: “We contacted Miami OIG regarding the Clerk’s duties. As far as they knew, the Miami Clerk still has all the duties set out in the Constitution which includes auditor and comptroller. Miami Clerk jointly with the Mayor appoints the County’s Finance Director (see Section 5.03 of the Miami-Dade County Home
- Rule Charter). The Clerk has recently agreed to conduct an audit of the County’s Health Insurance Reserve. Read Miami Herald article There is also an internal auditor (under the purview of the Mayor).
- There is the Commission Auditor (under purview of the BCC). And there is the OIG.”
- (PBCEDA’s editorial comment would also be that if one was to compare that the PBC BCC has an internal audit department, the Clerk and Comptroller is comparable, and PBC does not have a separately elected Mayor so does not have a Mayor’s auditor. Miami-Dade IG also does not cover municipalities.) Public Comments were made by Mr. Lozman who was extremely dissatisfied with how his complaint about the Riviera Beach Tiki Bar was investigated, the quality of the OIG report and how he was personally treated. Charlot Taylor spoke in support of the OIG funding, and Iris Scheibl clarifying the funding base of .25% of contracts as a limiting factor in the staffing or size of the OIG.
Cloud over Lake Osborne
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As the sun rose, it gave this cloud to the north a beautiful glow that reflected on the water.
As the sun rose, it gave this cloud to the north a beautiful glow that reflected on the water.
Jogger discovers body in Lake Osborne
Yesterday as I was driving by on the northwestern part of Lake Osborne Drive, there were at least 8 sheriff vehicles and a few unmarked trucks. I noticed two men in the water who appeared to have on high boots but it was unclear from my position. On the way back, the entire area was roped off. They had removed the body of Dragu Magda, 41, who was reported missing earlier that morning.
That entire section is still roped off with yellow tape.
That entire section is still roped off with yellow tape.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Lake Worth Budget Summary tonight
Tonight's the night for the electric fund discussion along with the comparables between Lake Worth Utilities and Florida Power and Light as well as projections. This will be followed by a summary of the entire 2014 Budget that includes the Roads Improvement Plan.
Meeting 6pm at City Hall.
Meeting 6pm at City Hall.
Lake Worth Alumni Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
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An estimated 275 to 300 people showed up for the Lake Worth Alumni Spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Roberta Stephens, class of 1956 and on the board of the Alumni Association, won the 50/50. I apologize for not capturing everyone in a photo who was there.
Money goes towards Alumni Association expenses some of which include producing two newsletters a year that literally are mailed all over the world, Dollars for Scholars expenses, insurance, etc. Three members of the association gathered gifts from the businesses for the Silent auction, prizes and towards the food itself.
WalMart gave a total of goods and money equaling around $175, Home Depot donated the barbecue grill in the silent auction worth $100, Costco's, Sam's, B.J's and Publix were among the contributors with Kevin Addison even bringing fresh baked bread from Publix.
Those merchants at our Lake Worth Beach who contributed towards its success were Benny's, Mulligans and Barry Freedman at Lake Worth T-Shop. Dave's Last Resort downtown also donated a fabulous prize.
Much thanks to Doris Dorsey and Virginia Thomas for all their work as well as all the volunteers who tirelessly gave of their time and energy (mostly senior citizens I might add) to put on another wonderful fundraiser that allows the Association to continue the important Dollars for Scholars program.
An estimated 275 to 300 people showed up for the Lake Worth Alumni Spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Roberta Stephens, class of 1956 and on the board of the Alumni Association, won the 50/50. I apologize for not capturing everyone in a photo who was there.
Money goes towards Alumni Association expenses some of which include producing two newsletters a year that literally are mailed all over the world, Dollars for Scholars expenses, insurance, etc. Three members of the association gathered gifts from the businesses for the Silent auction, prizes and towards the food itself.
WalMart gave a total of goods and money equaling around $175, Home Depot donated the barbecue grill in the silent auction worth $100, Costco's, Sam's, B.J's and Publix were among the contributors with Kevin Addison even bringing fresh baked bread from Publix.
Those merchants at our Lake Worth Beach who contributed towards its success were Benny's, Mulligans and Barry Freedman at Lake Worth T-Shop. Dave's Last Resort downtown also donated a fabulous prize.
Much thanks to Doris Dorsey and Virginia Thomas for all their work as well as all the volunteers who tirelessly gave of their time and energy (mostly senior citizens I might add) to put on another wonderful fundraiser that allows the Association to continue the important Dollars for Scholars program.
Floridan Aquifer pushed to its limits
Analysis: Floridan Aquifer can only handle 6% more pumping before serious environmental harm
Read about our water dilemma as Florida's population grows from nearly 3 million today to 4.1 million in 2035.Crime in Lake Worth
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ROBBERY - PERSON--13112164--400 BLOCK S D ST--8/24/2013 4:26:00 AM
DRUNK DRIVER--13112143--800 BLOCK S G ST--8/24/2013-- 2:18:00 AM
BURGLARY - VEHICLE--13112128--700 BLOCK S N ST--8/24/2013 1:16:00 AM
ASSAULT--13112095--500 BLOCK S J ST--8/23/2013 11:02:00 PM
ROBBERY - PERSON--13112078--400 BLOCK S DIXIE HWY--8/23/2013 10:13:00 PM
ROBBERY - PERSON--13112074--12TH AVE S & S FEDERAL HWY--8/23/2013 10:08:00 PM
THEFT/LARCENY--13111905--300 BLOCK N FEDERAL HWY--8/23/2013 1:50:00 PM
ASSAULT--13111839--800 BLOCK MATHIS ST--8/23/2013 11:41:00 AM
THEFT OF AUTO PARTS--13111764--800 BLOCK N M ST--8/23/2013 9:03:00 AM
BURGLARY - BUSINESS--13111758--1600 BLOCK S DOUGLAS ST--8/23/2013 8:16:00 AM
BURGLARY - VEHICLE--13111736--4400 BLOCK GULFSTREAM RD--8/23/2013 6:54:00 AM
STABBING--13112306--200 BLOCK OF N D ST--8/24/2013--3:34:00 PM
ROBBERY - PERSON--13112164--400 BLOCK S D ST--8/24/2013 4:26:00 AM
DRUNK DRIVER--13112143--800 BLOCK S G ST--8/24/2013-- 2:18:00 AM
BURGLARY - VEHICLE--13112128--700 BLOCK S N ST--8/24/2013 1:16:00 AM
ASSAULT--13112095--500 BLOCK S J ST--8/23/2013 11:02:00 PM
ROBBERY - PERSON--13112078--400 BLOCK S DIXIE HWY--8/23/2013 10:13:00 PM
ROBBERY - PERSON--13112074--12TH AVE S & S FEDERAL HWY--8/23/2013 10:08:00 PM
THEFT/LARCENY--13111905--300 BLOCK N FEDERAL HWY--8/23/2013 1:50:00 PM
ASSAULT--13111839--800 BLOCK MATHIS ST--8/23/2013 11:41:00 AM
THEFT OF AUTO PARTS--13111764--800 BLOCK N M ST--8/23/2013 9:03:00 AM
BURGLARY - BUSINESS--13111758--1600 BLOCK S DOUGLAS ST--8/23/2013 8:16:00 AM
BURGLARY - VEHICLE--13111736--4400 BLOCK GULFSTREAM RD--8/23/2013 6:54:00 AM
STABBING--13112306--200 BLOCK OF N D ST--8/24/2013--3:34:00 PM
Is Stars Wars really here?
"...the Chinese are preparing to conduct space warfare against satellites, said the official who is familiar with intelligence reports about the satellites. The Chinese appear to be testing their capability for intercepting and either damaging or destroying orbiting satellites by testing how close they can maneuver to a satellite, the U.S. official said."
Can you even imagine that we ever would have come this far? Weather and information satellites that have morphed into intelligence gathering satellites now may be shot down by our enemies which have grown daily. According to our intelligence, China has now launhced three such satellites. Read about it here.
MFN (Most favored nation) status for China, a non-market economy, which had been originally suspended in 1951, was restored in 1980 and has continued in effect.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Bradley Manning
Comment Up
An Open Letter to President Obama: "As commander in chief, you’ve been responsible for the treatment of the most high-profile whistleblower in the history of the U.S. armed forces. Under your command, the United States military tried—and failed—to crush the spirit of Bradley Manning. From the outset, your administration set out to destroy Bradley Manning. But you failed to break the spirit of Bradley Manning. And that spirit will continue to inspire."
Read more... at Nation of Change.
"You Failed to Break the Spirit of Bradley Manning,"
says Norman Solomon, in an Op-Ed piece
against our government.
An Open Letter to President Obama: "As commander in chief, you’ve been responsible for the treatment of the most high-profile whistleblower in the history of the U.S. armed forces. Under your command, the United States military tried—and failed—to crush the spirit of Bradley Manning. From the outset, your administration set out to destroy Bradley Manning. But you failed to break the spirit of Bradley Manning. And that spirit will continue to inspire."
Read more... at Nation of Change.
A Lake Worth colorful personality
Comment Up
She's been around for years but her rats keep dying. I wonder if it has anything to do with all that cigarette smoke? Here she is with a new rat...an albino. Wes says that she "voted for him years ago"...her rats had been whispering in her ear.
She's been around for years but her rats keep dying. I wonder if it has anything to do with all that cigarette smoke? Here she is with a new rat...an albino. Wes says that she "voted for him years ago"...her rats had been whispering in her ear.
Lake Worth's Field of Dreams
Comment Up
This morning's headline is "Maximum tax hike: $98 million." The PBPost was talking about Palm Beach County property owners paying that much more in property taxes as well as special assessments next year, up 3.5%. Click on their Interactive Map to see how your property compares with your neighbors.
And when considering Lake Worth, the 2nd poorest city in Palm Beach County (we are reminded from the dais on how poor we are), any sort of a tax hike is painful. And thanks to the economic meltdown from which we have never recovered, 87% of the properties in Lake Worth are worth under $100,000, many paying no taxes. My property has gone down again this year which was a shocking discovery this week.
It's getting like the federal government around here. The only difference is, Lake Worth can't print money and we can't borrow from China. What we can do, however, is obligate the residents to more debt with the more affluent paying much, much more. Perhaps an assessment is off the table but now the city commission with the mayor leading the way wants to commit Lake Worth taxpayers to anywhere from $48 million to $81 million in MORE debt for roads and a piece of land on Boutwell Road known as the Park of Commerce, the commission's Field of Dreams. They keep us poor through debt and then blame all the poor people for all the economic problems here.
We have plenty of debt on the books that we are paying on or can't fund right now--
$55,955,000 on the utility upgrade
$87 million in unfunded pension liability--that's,
$143 MILLION we owe right now and a heck of a lot for a city that is generating less than $6 million a year in ad-valorem. And we can't forget that public safety takes 2/3rds of our operating revenue.
The City Commission's direction and philosophy has been a commitment to electric rate parity with FPL and researching the Lake Worth Electric Utility's value for a possible sale. They have voted on the reduction of the General fund dependency on Utility contributions and will wean us off within a five year plan. The only way they can do this is to hope that every taxpayer wants to pay for a General Obligation Bond for 30 years of payments and debt for road infrastructure and the Park of Commerce so that we can get those potholes repaired and spur development. In that way the commission gets its cake and eats it too--off electrical utility funding dependency but then have the money to repair our roads and attract developers. If they can't get the money on one end (the electric utility), they will get it on another end.
They plan on re-doing our roads and infrastructure along with a dream of developing the Park of Commerce for businesses that may or may not want to locate there as well as reducing the dependency on the electric utility. To make up for our general fund shortfall of nearly $10 million a year, they will attempt to commit us to maybe $81 million in more bond debt over 30 years. Not once has the commission touched on controlling the "un-controllable" costs such as pensions. PBSO's charges are going up and not once have I heard mention of this.The final draft of the budget is online--Click here
The commission and city staff will be bringing its presentation and propaganda to the neighborhood associations to "educate" the voters. If the commission passes its field of dreams idea to obligate the taxpayers to a general obligation bond to fix the potholes and entice development, it will go to the voters to decide.
This morning's headline is "Maximum tax hike: $98 million." The PBPost was talking about Palm Beach County property owners paying that much more in property taxes as well as special assessments next year, up 3.5%. Click on their Interactive Map to see how your property compares with your neighbors.
And when considering Lake Worth, the 2nd poorest city in Palm Beach County (we are reminded from the dais on how poor we are), any sort of a tax hike is painful. And thanks to the economic meltdown from which we have never recovered, 87% of the properties in Lake Worth are worth under $100,000, many paying no taxes. My property has gone down again this year which was a shocking discovery this week.
It's getting like the federal government around here. The only difference is, Lake Worth can't print money and we can't borrow from China. What we can do, however, is obligate the residents to more debt with the more affluent paying much, much more. Perhaps an assessment is off the table but now the city commission with the mayor leading the way wants to commit Lake Worth taxpayers to anywhere from $48 million to $81 million in MORE debt for roads and a piece of land on Boutwell Road known as the Park of Commerce, the commission's Field of Dreams. They keep us poor through debt and then blame all the poor people for all the economic problems here.
We have plenty of debt on the books that we are paying on or can't fund right now--
$55,955,000 on the utility upgrade
$87 million in unfunded pension liability--that's,
$143 MILLION we owe right now and a heck of a lot for a city that is generating less than $6 million a year in ad-valorem. And we can't forget that public safety takes 2/3rds of our operating revenue.
The City Commission's direction and philosophy has been a commitment to electric rate parity with FPL and researching the Lake Worth Electric Utility's value for a possible sale. They have voted on the reduction of the General fund dependency on Utility contributions and will wean us off within a five year plan. The only way they can do this is to hope that every taxpayer wants to pay for a General Obligation Bond for 30 years of payments and debt for road infrastructure and the Park of Commerce so that we can get those potholes repaired and spur development. In that way the commission gets its cake and eats it too--off electrical utility funding dependency but then have the money to repair our roads and attract developers. If they can't get the money on one end (the electric utility), they will get it on another end.
They plan on re-doing our roads and infrastructure along with a dream of developing the Park of Commerce for businesses that may or may not want to locate there as well as reducing the dependency on the electric utility. To make up for our general fund shortfall of nearly $10 million a year, they will attempt to commit us to maybe $81 million in more bond debt over 30 years. Not once has the commission touched on controlling the "un-controllable" costs such as pensions. PBSO's charges are going up and not once have I heard mention of this.The final draft of the budget is online--Click here
The commission and city staff will be bringing its presentation and propaganda to the neighborhood associations to "educate" the voters. If the commission passes its field of dreams idea to obligate the taxpayers to a general obligation bond to fix the potholes and entice development, it will go to the voters to decide.
Know thy Enemy
A question apparently being raised in next week’s trial in Cairo of
Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leaders facing criminal charges is this: Was
the Obama administration paying bribes as large as $850,000 a year to
the Morsi government that were distributed by top ministerial level
officials to Muslim Brotherhood leaders, with the direct involvement of
the U.S. Embassy in Cairo?
Read more... at WND that says it has the proof.
Read more... at WND that says it has the proof.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Quote of the Day - Allen West
“Last year after the 9/11 terror attack in Benghazi, President Obama, vociferously condemned a video of Muhammad during a speech at the U.N. Now we hear little to nothing from the president specifically condemning the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and their savage and cowardly attacks against the Coptic Christians -- including the murder of a 10-year-old girl leaving Bible study
President Obama demanded Hosni Mubarak step down, yet called and congratulated Mohammed Morsi, a former imprisoned member of the Muslim Brotherhood, on becoming Egypt's president.
The Egyptian military is not fighting against peaceful protesters, they are trying to save their country from the group founded in 1928 that is the ideological foundation of Islamic terrorism.There can be no ‘coexistence’ and reconciliation with this band of violent jihadists who seek worldwide Islamic domination under sharia law.
We are watching and wondering, on whose side does the Obama administration really stand?”
~ Allen West
Yorkie visits Hoffman's in Lake Worth
Comment Up
While Teddie's owners were enjoying some ice cream at an outside table at Hoffman's Chocolates' last night, she posed for us.
While Teddie's owners were enjoying some ice cream at an outside table at Hoffman's Chocolates' last night, she posed for us.
A Drunk takes on PBSO
Comment up
We don't want these people in OUR city.
Read about the creep who tried to drive his car into a PBSO deputy in Lake Worth
Will the new ordinance on drinking at special events cause more of this? I wonder what the PBSO has to say about it all.
We don't want these people in OUR city.
Read about the creep who tried to drive his car into a PBSO deputy in Lake Worth
Will the new ordinance on drinking at special events cause more of this? I wonder what the PBSO has to say about it all.
Sidewalk Cafes in Lake Worth
Comment Up
Decided to stroll the Avenue last night after having had dinner in our downtown. The restaurants and bars were filled. A few of the stores remained opened, the ones who hope/want to make some money. I have to say that it was disappointing to see all the cigarette butts on the sidewalks and trash strewn about. Talked to the manager at Toojays and he says they sweep twice a day but to handle all of the trash it would take a full-time employee. They even have a container to extinguish cigarettes and instead of people using it, they stomp them on the ground. Butts were spotted directly around the drains. It is discouraging. Perhaps an ordinance can be enacted for littering and a fine imposed. Its time has come.
Dave's Last Resort seems to be one of the the biggest offenders in our city for blocking the sidewalks. Tuesday, Ordinance 2013-43 was passed on the First Reading to enforce ADA compliant laws. There has to be a four foot unobstructed pathway down the sidewalk. This ordinance was scheduled to come back to the commission on September 3.
Some of the restaurants are using space not owned by them as sidewalk cafe space. Tables, chairs and planters must be six feet away from the curb according to FDOT.
The question is, who will be enforcing this? Will the PBSO be on hand to enforce our law?
Decided to stroll the Avenue last night after having had dinner in our downtown. The restaurants and bars were filled. A few of the stores remained opened, the ones who hope/want to make some money. I have to say that it was disappointing to see all the cigarette butts on the sidewalks and trash strewn about. Talked to the manager at Toojays and he says they sweep twice a day but to handle all of the trash it would take a full-time employee. They even have a container to extinguish cigarettes and instead of people using it, they stomp them on the ground. Butts were spotted directly around the drains. It is discouraging. Perhaps an ordinance can be enacted for littering and a fine imposed. Its time has come.
Known as the vice mayor's office away from the office
Dave's Last Resort seems to be one of the the biggest offenders in our city for blocking the sidewalks. Tuesday, Ordinance 2013-43 was passed on the First Reading to enforce ADA compliant laws. There has to be a four foot unobstructed pathway down the sidewalk. This ordinance was scheduled to come back to the commission on September 3.
Some of the restaurants are using space not owned by them as sidewalk cafe space. Tables, chairs and planters must be six feet away from the curb according to FDOT.
The question is, who will be enforcing this? Will the PBSO be on hand to enforce our law?
Friday, August 23, 2013
Black teens beat 89 year old white Vet to death
Comment Up
Click to see video
It's getting worse every day. Two despicable creeps beat
an old man to death--probably for the fun of it and the
mainstream media describes them as "two teenagers."
an old man to death--probably for the fun of it and the
mainstream media describes them as "two teenagers."
Where's Al? Where's Oprah?
Visioning Work session Lake Worth
Comment Up
Tomorrow at Noon, the Visionaries will meet for a workshop on a "visioning plan." This is the same commission that believes development, any kind of development in any place, is a cure all for all ills. It is a date scheduled for more budget discussions, discussions that never once talked about serious issues we have in our city such as--
Unfunded liabilities in the union pensions
Cost of public safety (PBSO) that will rise by 2.45% to $14,781,834
Cost of Fire services that is going up by 12.64%
What they describe as "non-controllable" costs, take 70% of our operating revenues which include healthcare and employee costs. The remaining 30% is spent on fixing pot holes, etc.
These won't be discussed...they can't control them or can't/won't negotiate them...someone else holds the strings here or it's all too much of a hassle. Instead, the commission will be discussing the Roadway/Utilities Master Plan and the Park of Commerce, both tremendous and exorbitant expenses for a city with NO money. They won't be talking about pot holes that are driving everyone crazy throughout the city and something the city can't even afford to repair right--but huge future capital costs. The Park of Commerce is a campaign promise of Scott Maxwell's and anything that might bring jobs is good for the mayor.
City government is one big beauracracy that has managed to arrive at unsustainable union pensions and medical benefit costs with other restrictive elements of union contracts. No discussion about them but plenty of talk about spending tens of millions, perhaps a hundred million, down the road that ad-valorem can't handle and never will.
This should be an interesting meeting.
Tomorrow at Noon, the Visionaries will meet for a workshop on a "visioning plan." This is the same commission that believes development, any kind of development in any place, is a cure all for all ills. It is a date scheduled for more budget discussions, discussions that never once talked about serious issues we have in our city such as--
Unfunded liabilities in the union pensions
Cost of public safety (PBSO) that will rise by 2.45% to $14,781,834
Cost of Fire services that is going up by 12.64%
What they describe as "non-controllable" costs, take 70% of our operating revenues which include healthcare and employee costs. The remaining 30% is spent on fixing pot holes, etc.
These won't be discussed...they can't control them or can't/won't negotiate them...someone else holds the strings here or it's all too much of a hassle. Instead, the commission will be discussing the Roadway/Utilities Master Plan and the Park of Commerce, both tremendous and exorbitant expenses for a city with NO money. They won't be talking about pot holes that are driving everyone crazy throughout the city and something the city can't even afford to repair right--but huge future capital costs. The Park of Commerce is a campaign promise of Scott Maxwell's and anything that might bring jobs is good for the mayor.
City government is one big beauracracy that has managed to arrive at unsustainable union pensions and medical benefit costs with other restrictive elements of union contracts. No discussion about them but plenty of talk about spending tens of millions, perhaps a hundred million, down the road that ad-valorem can't handle and never will.
This should be an interesting meeting.
“unsustainable”
union pension and medical benefits costs and other restrictive elements
of their SEIU labor agreements. - See more at:
http://hcmatters.com/2013/02/seiu-labor-agreements-called-out-as-unsustainable/#sthash.eeuRaS36.dpuf
“unsustainable”
union pension and medical benefits costs and other restrictive elements
of their SEIU labor agreements. - See more at:
http://hcmatters.com/2013/02/seiu-labor-agreements-called-out-as-unsustainable/#sthash.eeuRaS36.dpuf
“unsustainable”
union pension and medical benefits costs and other restrictive elements
of their SEIU labor agreements. - See more at:
http://hcmatters.com/2013/02/seiu-labor-agreements-called-out-as-unsustainable/#sthash.eeuRaS36.dpuf
Reminder from the DCA Lake Worth
The following is a message from the Downtown Cultural Alliance to the merchants. As far as reporting crime, it is something that all of us must do who live in Lake Worth. Get involved. Let's rid Lake Worth of slum, blight and crime.
Report Graffiti and Crime
a. Report Graffiti to the Sheriff’s Department as soon as you see it. Get a bucket of paint and cover it immediately. If your building is looking shabby, don’t wait for your landlord to paint it. Get a bucket of paint and make your building look great. We want folks to come into town and patronize our shops. Crummy looking walls do not help attract or keep customers.
b. Report crime immediately. The Sheriff’s Department wants the calls. Call as often as you must.
Report Graffiti and Crime
a. Report Graffiti to the Sheriff’s Department as soon as you see it. Get a bucket of paint and cover it immediately. If your building is looking shabby, don’t wait for your landlord to paint it. Get a bucket of paint and make your building look great. We want folks to come into town and patronize our shops. Crummy looking walls do not help attract or keep customers.
b. Report crime immediately. The Sheriff’s Department wants the calls. Call as often as you must.
Illegals and Dream Defenders go after Rick Scott
"The
Dream Defenders value many things: we value love, we value peace, we
value unity, and more than anything, we value the power of our vote," Dream Defenders Executive Director Philip Agnew said at a press conference.
Back in my day we had the Hippy generation. Being a hippy meant peace, love and questioning authority. They didn't hurt anyone and didn't make demands to which they were not entitled. They were nothing compared to this group who want the most precious of what they say are "entitlements" and all that goes with it--citizenship.
Video streaming by Ustream
Back in my day we had the Hippy generation. Being a hippy meant peace, love and questioning authority. They didn't hurt anyone and didn't make demands to which they were not entitled. They were nothing compared to this group who want the most precious of what they say are "entitlements" and all that goes with it--citizenship.
Video streaming by Ustream
Message from Allen West
Could this be the end of Israel?
While President Obama vacationed in Martha's Vineyard, Egypt descended into apocalyptic chaos and is taking the entire Middle East with it. As you read this, the violence is escalating in the Sinai Peninsula. Islamic terrorists are attacking Egyptian security forces and firing missiles at the Israeli resort city of Eilat.
Obama's desire to "pivot" America's foreign policy away from the Middle East is incredibly dangerous. If Egypt falls to radical Islam, Israel will be besieged by enemies from all sides.
Obama's completely incoherent foreign policy is putting our strongest allies in grave danger. His extreme ambivalence is simply unacceptable.
America can do better.
I'm not going to settle for second-rate leadership and you shouldn't either.
America stands by her friends – Israel most of all – and we honor that commitment by our actions and not empty Obama-style rhetoric.
What is the world left to think when the same nation that is leading the War on Terror now abandons its own diplomats to be murdered at the hands of a terrorist mob in Libya?
Obama's Jimmy Carter-style foreign policy has turned us into the laughing stock of the world. Our enemies oppose us and threaten our friends because Obama's leadership lacks true American courage.
America can do better! Let's get started today.
Steadfast and Loyal,
Lt. Col. Allen B. West, USA (ret)
U.S. Congressman (2011-2013)
While President Obama vacationed in Martha's Vineyard, Egypt descended into apocalyptic chaos and is taking the entire Middle East with it. As you read this, the violence is escalating in the Sinai Peninsula. Islamic terrorists are attacking Egyptian security forces and firing missiles at the Israeli resort city of Eilat.
Obama's desire to "pivot" America's foreign policy away from the Middle East is incredibly dangerous. If Egypt falls to radical Islam, Israel will be besieged by enemies from all sides.
Obama's completely incoherent foreign policy is putting our strongest allies in grave danger. His extreme ambivalence is simply unacceptable.
America can do better.
I'm not going to settle for second-rate leadership and you shouldn't either.
America stands by her friends – Israel most of all – and we honor that commitment by our actions and not empty Obama-style rhetoric.
What is the world left to think when the same nation that is leading the War on Terror now abandons its own diplomats to be murdered at the hands of a terrorist mob in Libya?
Obama's Jimmy Carter-style foreign policy has turned us into the laughing stock of the world. Our enemies oppose us and threaten our friends because Obama's leadership lacks true American courage.
America can do better! Let's get started today.
Steadfast and Loyal,
Lt. Col. Allen B. West, USA (ret)
U.S. Congressman (2011-2013)
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Thrill Killer Twitter account
Twitter account of James Edwards, one of the thrill killers. Read before it is taken down.
Chaz Equipment and Operation "Dirty Water"
Comment Up
Back on April 3, 2011, I wrote a blog on Chaz Equipment and the pay to play corruption that also involved a former Lake Worth city employee. Click here.
Today, construction company owner Gary Czajkowski was convicted on more than a dozen charges that he unlawfully supplied public employees with gifts in exchange for public work. Read about it...
Back on April 3, 2011, I wrote a blog on Chaz Equipment and the pay to play corruption that also involved a former Lake Worth city employee. Click here.
Today, construction company owner Gary Czajkowski was convicted on more than a dozen charges that he unlawfully supplied public employees with gifts in exchange for public work. Read about it...
Glen J. Torcivia, Lake Worth City Attorney
Comment Up
With his own law firm since 1989, City Attorney, Glen Torcivia had a commission "review" on Tuesday night. He has been acting as our interim city attorney for over one year. Actually the review was done informally and all five commissioners are pleased with Mr. Torcivia and his law firm's performance. Also they are happy to have engaged an entire law firm with various expertise and save money all at the same time.
Commissioner Szerdi said: "accessible, clear, good repoire and a good economic decision.
Commissioner Amoroso: "happy with him and his team...phenomenal job."
Vice Mayor Maxwell: "surprised he is so responsive...refreshing to know that when we have a problem, he gives an opinion quickly."
Commissioner McVoy: "happy with Glen and the benefit of multi-attorneys as well as their experience with other attorneys."
Mayor Triolo: "surprised that Torcivia and the firm is so available. The level of expertise has helped us contain our costs."
They voted on a 5/0 to make the Law Office of Glen J. Torcivia and Associates, P.A as our permanent city attorney.
Two nice guys: personable and approachable
City Manager, Michael Bornstein and City Attorney, Glen Torcivia
City Manager, Michael Bornstein and City Attorney, Glen Torcivia
both with tremendously huge responsibilities
With his own law firm since 1989, City Attorney, Glen Torcivia had a commission "review" on Tuesday night. He has been acting as our interim city attorney for over one year. Actually the review was done informally and all five commissioners are pleased with Mr. Torcivia and his law firm's performance. Also they are happy to have engaged an entire law firm with various expertise and save money all at the same time.
Commissioner Szerdi said: "accessible, clear, good repoire and a good economic decision.
Commissioner Amoroso: "happy with him and his team...phenomenal job."
Vice Mayor Maxwell: "surprised he is so responsive...refreshing to know that when we have a problem, he gives an opinion quickly."
Commissioner McVoy: "happy with Glen and the benefit of multi-attorneys as well as their experience with other attorneys."
Mayor Triolo: "surprised that Torcivia and the firm is so available. The level of expertise has helped us contain our costs."
They voted on a 5/0 to make the Law Office of Glen J. Torcivia and Associates, P.A as our permanent city attorney.
Obama and the Race Card
To me, it is unbelievable that we are still playing the "race card" in this country. Personally, I do not believe there is racism among 99.9% of Americans. If there is prejudice, different than racism, there are always extenuating circumstances. We can read the statistics every day about who is committing 85% to 95% of the crimes.
But the Obama administration and our Leader himself, finds racism under every rock. Now they have gone after companies for the background checks they do before hiring. Even the City of Lake Worth does background checks. Everyone should. The city has failed at times and sign contracts without doing due diligence like the Greater Bay fiasco that ended up costing us a bundle or come up with some sole provider without going out on an RFP.
The Obama administration alleged that a company, by doing background checks, had created a “pattern or practice” of “discrimination against African-American job applicants by using poor credit history as a hiring criterion … and against African-American, Hispanic, and male job applicants by using criminal history as a hiring criterion.”
The Judge laughed the case out of court and condemned the EEOC for trying to make a mockery. Read the case
And this government is doing the same thing in housing with HUD, filing lawsuits to force condo association owners to sell to unqualified buyers with lousy credit or no credit at all or with no jobs.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Obama's brother has connection to the Muslim Brotherhood
Comment Up
Usually the advice is to follow the money when you want to know what's up but in this case it's following family members--
Egyptian government and mainstream media have reported a major development regarding the role of Barack Obama’s brother (presumably, his half-brother Malik Obama) with the Muslim Brotherhood. Malik is a member of the Islamic Da’wa Organization (IDO), an arm of the Sudanese government, which is led by President Omar al-Bashir, who is himself a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Read more
Usually the advice is to follow the money when you want to know what's up but in this case it's following family members--
Egyptian government and mainstream media have reported a major development regarding the role of Barack Obama’s brother (presumably, his half-brother Malik Obama) with the Muslim Brotherhood. Malik is a member of the Islamic Da’wa Organization (IDO), an arm of the Sudanese government, which is led by President Omar al-Bashir, who is himself a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Read more
Another Lake Worth man arrested
| BRAVONAVARRO, YOEL--Race: White--DOB:05/06/1980 | |
Address:
500 BLOCK N 24TH AV APT. 501,
LAKE WORTH,
FL 33460
| |
Lake Worth man accused of defrauding insurance company
Citizens Speak Out in Lake Worth
The last item on last night's agenda was for the purchase of the Quartered Quick Bar Code System for the utility warehouse. It is something we have been talking about for several years. The cost is $31,779.56 and recommended for approval by our Internal Auditor. Apparently we paid for a bar code system that we never received that was included in another contract from a different company in May 2011, a paid contract worth $164,000.
In the back-up there is one sentence that says: This item was reviewed by the Electric Utility Advisory Board on July 17, 2013. By Staff Including this statement in the back-up gives the impression that the Electric Utility Advisory Board approved of this recommendation to spend money on Quartered Quick Bar Code System.. It did not.
Kudos to two citizens who spoke up on this agenda item, Peggy Fisher, Secretary of the EUAB and Mary Lindsey, former chair with the perseverance to stay until the end of the meeting. Peggy Fisher further stated that the EUAB did discuss the item at length and asked for further information be provided to them so that they could eventually make a recommendation. This request went unfulfilled. She further said, "When we raise questions, we are doing so to help the commission." The problem occurs when the Board does not have enough information to make a sound recommendation.
Sometimes the Commission does listen to citizens. It was mentioned that items need to be vetted through the various volunteer board and in this case, should have come before the EUAB for its recommendation. City Manager Bornstein asked the commission to pull the item and allow it to go to the Board.
In the back-up there is one sentence that says: This item was reviewed by the Electric Utility Advisory Board on July 17, 2013. By Staff Including this statement in the back-up gives the impression that the Electric Utility Advisory Board approved of this recommendation to spend money on Quartered Quick Bar Code System.. It did not.
Kudos to two citizens who spoke up on this agenda item, Peggy Fisher, Secretary of the EUAB and Mary Lindsey, former chair with the perseverance to stay until the end of the meeting. Peggy Fisher further stated that the EUAB did discuss the item at length and asked for further information be provided to them so that they could eventually make a recommendation. This request went unfulfilled. She further said, "When we raise questions, we are doing so to help the commission." The problem occurs when the Board does not have enough information to make a sound recommendation.
Sometimes the Commission does listen to citizens. It was mentioned that items need to be vetted through the various volunteer board and in this case, should have come before the EUAB for its recommendation. City Manager Bornstein asked the commission to pull the item and allow it to go to the Board.
Lost Dog
UPDATE: OWNER FOUND
Lost dog found around Sunset and Mark. Please let us know if this is yours.....THANKS --
Lost dog found around Sunset and Mark. Please let us know if this is yours.....THANKS --
ROLOH
Proudly serving the Residents
Of Lake Osborne Heights
www.roloh.org
rolohlakeworth@gmail.com
(561) 247-3606
Key Lime House gets scammed
Comment Up
Key Lime House in Lantana gets scammed. Eight servers stole $93,000 over one year. Read about it.
Key Lime House in Lantana gets scammed. Eight servers stole $93,000 over one year. Read about it.
Political Theater - Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell
Comment Up
"Height issue was political theater...we need to change things."
I like the vice mayor's political sound bytes--he is adept at those. Sometimes they are actually humorous and some are right on point but last night's remark was not the least bit funny nor accurate. You have to wonder if he really loves to antagonize half the voters and you have to wonder if this commission is playing with the same deck of cards as the rest of us. I think we already know that answer.
The vice mayor was referring to the height referendum believing that a referendum began at the last 98 seconds of the Comprehensive Plan process after years of them trying to get a workable plan...the Respectful Planning volunteers just wanted to do all of that work because we love to walk our azzes off in the sweltering heat to exercise our rights and to allow the voices of the people to be heard. Maxwell wondered why we didn't do it before. Well, there NEVER was a problem before. He believes that it was the YES people who put the cog in the wheel and it was the YES people playing politics. We just didn't roll over and play dead. Comprehensive Plans and zoning changes ARE political and he did this from the dais when he voted in 65 foot heights. He started the political process and those who disagreed with our city growing taller exercised their rights to referendum and took the issue to the voters.
I was there that night when the commission voted to raise the heights in our downtown from an agreed 45 feet and ignored the consensus reached by a former Planning Zoning board, the former Historical preservation Board and a former city commission itself at a meeting held on January 26, 2012. It was this vote that started the political process. The "theatrics" began from this commission and this vote that night. Nothing was mentioned by them that it was just being relegated to east of Federal--no mention of it being just in a hotel district--it incorporated our entire downtown.
The night this commission voted to raise the heights to 65 feet in our downtown the Commission then took a ten minute break. I then went over to Maxwell and said, "Well, I guess we will have to go out on a referendum." We did. We won. Well, sort of. The issue is still in limbo thanks to this cracker-jack commission that want heights and are still playing political theater and a vice mayor who wants to blame the voters and stomp all over them.
If he had cared one iota about voter's rights, he had a perfect time to ask about this law of Rick Scott's when the governor was here last week as to whether or not the charter amendment vote three months before the signed legislation was legally sufficient to declare the election results null and void. But that was not in the theatrical script.
If he had cared one iota about voter's rights, he had a perfect time to ask about this law of Rick Scott's when the governor was here last week as to whether or not the charter amendment vote three months before the signed legislation was legally sufficient to declare the election results null and void. But that was not in the theatrical script.
Honky Tonk Lake Worth?
Comment Up
Last night's commission meeting was all predictable-- Every single item was voted in with no challenge other than one Ordinance on opening up our city owned properties to allow people to walk around with open containers of alcoholic beverages at certain city events, even extending the "go-cup" to our beach. That was a 4/1 vote with McVoy dissenting.
The city now will be a bartender and vendor for special events. There's lots of money in alcohol and that's why so many establishments in Lake Worth ask for waivers for COP licenses and are granted them every time...without fail. The city needs the money too and wants to be a part of the action and has voted to open up our parks to booze at city special events so that visitors can carry around beer, wine or mixed drinks in a paper cup in our family-friendly city. Why not? Those establishments that sell it are the only ones making any money and the city has become one big drinking town until 2am.
This Ordinance would allow for the possession and consumption of approved alcoholic beverages at City coordinated events and within the approved event boundaries. Locations to include: Bryant Park, Cultural Plaza, City streets, Beach Complex and other designated City event spaces used in the production of City coordinated events.
The city says that it celebrates special events ranging from community-based festivals, parades to its annual Fourth of July Celebration, which host thousands of citizens and visitors in the city each year, many of which include the possession, sale and consumption of alcohol in outdoor and public areas.
The City further states that it is their goal to enhance the vitality, quality of life, and economic prosperity of the city through the support of special events and festivals in Lake Worth, while ensuring the safety of the city’s guests, citizens, and the surrounding environment affected by such events. What a bunch of hogwash. How does that work out? Who checks for ID's? Who determines if someone has "had enough?" What happens when someone leaves our city event and is in a DUI caused accident? It was not said who was behind this ordinance but I can well imagine...anything to attract business...and it was decided by a Commission thinking "outside the box."
It is unlawful, under any normal circumstance, for any vendor licensed to sell alcoholic beverages or its agents or employees, to knowingly allow any person to take any opened beer, wine, liquor, or other alcoholic beverage container, or to knowingly allow any person to take from the premises any glass or other open or unsealed container of an alcoholic beverage from that business. The "go-cup" was outlawed years ago. But we're going to be different. All along we have been told that County and State laws prevail over ours but this law is more important than a Charter Amendment and obviously supersedes any other in Palm Beach County.
So, all you "I just have to have a drink" folks have a ball while our city turns into one big HonkyTonk throughout the year. Burp!
You won't be allowed to take it on the sand
Last night's commission meeting was all predictable-- Every single item was voted in with no challenge other than one Ordinance on opening up our city owned properties to allow people to walk around with open containers of alcoholic beverages at certain city events, even extending the "go-cup" to our beach. That was a 4/1 vote with McVoy dissenting.
The city now will be a bartender and vendor for special events. There's lots of money in alcohol and that's why so many establishments in Lake Worth ask for waivers for COP licenses and are granted them every time...without fail. The city needs the money too and wants to be a part of the action and has voted to open up our parks to booze at city special events so that visitors can carry around beer, wine or mixed drinks in a paper cup in our family-friendly city. Why not? Those establishments that sell it are the only ones making any money and the city has become one big drinking town until 2am.
This Ordinance would allow for the possession and consumption of approved alcoholic beverages at City coordinated events and within the approved event boundaries. Locations to include: Bryant Park, Cultural Plaza, City streets, Beach Complex and other designated City event spaces used in the production of City coordinated events.
The city says that it celebrates special events ranging from community-based festivals, parades to its annual Fourth of July Celebration, which host thousands of citizens and visitors in the city each year, many of which include the possession, sale and consumption of alcohol in outdoor and public areas.
The City further states that it is their goal to enhance the vitality, quality of life, and economic prosperity of the city through the support of special events and festivals in Lake Worth, while ensuring the safety of the city’s guests, citizens, and the surrounding environment affected by such events. What a bunch of hogwash. How does that work out? Who checks for ID's? Who determines if someone has "had enough?" What happens when someone leaves our city event and is in a DUI caused accident? It was not said who was behind this ordinance but I can well imagine...anything to attract business...and it was decided by a Commission thinking "outside the box."
It is unlawful, under any normal circumstance, for any vendor licensed to sell alcoholic beverages or its agents or employees, to knowingly allow any person to take any opened beer, wine, liquor, or other alcoholic beverage container, or to knowingly allow any person to take from the premises any glass or other open or unsealed container of an alcoholic beverage from that business. The "go-cup" was outlawed years ago. But we're going to be different. All along we have been told that County and State laws prevail over ours but this law is more important than a Charter Amendment and obviously supersedes any other in Palm Beach County.
So, all you "I just have to have a drink" folks have a ball while our city turns into one big HonkyTonk throughout the year. Burp!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Where's Al? Where's Jessee? On the thrill seeking killers
Comment Up
I heard about this on Fox News today, Shephard Smith's show, and the killer kids were not identified. Now they are.
This is a most disgusting story and everyone should feel shame as well as fear. What about you, Oprah?
Australians told to boycott US after black teens kill white man for fun
I heard about this on Fox News today, Shephard Smith's show, and the killer kids were not identified. Now they are.
This is a most disgusting story and everyone should feel shame as well as fear. What about you, Oprah?
Australians told to boycott US after black teens kill white man for fun
Kicking the Can down the Road - City of Lake Worth and Sunset Drive Holdings, land speculators
Comment Up
**The most important blog of today**
Under New Business D--Tolling agreement
A tolling agreement is an agreement to waive a right to claim that litigation should be dismissed due to the expiration of a statute of limitations. Its purpose is typically to allow a party additional time to assess and determine the legitimacy and viability of their claims and/or the amount of their damages without the necessity of filing an action. During this period, the parties waive any defense by way of any statute of limitations which would otherwise arise during such period.
Well, why in the hell not. This has been dragging on since 2005. FLUEDRA is used as a stall tactic to the benefit of the property owners with the municipality picking up the tab. Usually it is used to intimate a city to cave into unreasonable demands by owners who want their way or else threaten a law suit. Public records will show that four years ago, the city went into a FLUEDRA process, hired a special magistrate because of a threat of a lawsuit by the owners under Bert J. Harris. FLUEDRA has a statute of limitations of 4 years which is up next month on Sunset. FLUEDRA requires the special magistrate to wear two hats: first, as a mediator, and second, as an administrative law judge issuing a recommended order, albeit one that is not binding on the local government.
What the city says:
Tolling Agreement between the City of Lake Worth and Sunset Drive Holdings, LLC
In September, 2009, as a result of various land use approvals and subsequent recessions of those approvals--
Sunset Drive Holdings, LLC (Sunset) initiated a Request for Relief under Florida Statues Sec. 70.51, The initiation of the Request for Relief under this statute results in a mediation procedure which involves the City, Sunset and interested parties who are various residents who have been participants in the process. Recently, there have been some productive discussions and compromises as a result of the mediation, however, there is more work to be done before we can all agree to a solution. to bring before the Commission for approval.
If an agreement ultimately cannot be reached, the statute provides that a hearing before the mediation/special magistrate would take place. The mediator would then make recommendations which would be taken to the commission for approval or denial. Although the statutes imply that the time to file a lawsuit is tolled during the mediation process, it is not completely clear and there is no case law to support the position.
Therefore, in order to avoid the expense to both the property owner to file a lawsuit, and the expense to the City to begin to answer and defend that lawsuit, I am recommending that the City approve the attached tolling agreement.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION: This agreement simply provides Sunset with the assurance that in the event that the mediation or recommendation of the mediator are not acceptable to the City or Sunset, then Sunset will not lose their right to file any appropriate litigation at the end of this process. The agreement does however limit the tolled period to sixty (60) days after the City takes an action on either an agreement reached by the parties, or the recommendation of the mediator.
**The facts of the matter:
Unfortunately, the city and the owner can continue to stall. No action has to be taken UNTIL THE CITY TAKES AN ACTION. In the meantime, legal bills keep mounting. FLUEDRA does not permit the special magistrate to make a formal recommendation to the governing body without first issuing findings against the local government. The special magistrate is, therefore, encouraged to find against the local government. Although the findings are not binding, they may embolden a property owner to continue to pursue a weak claim. Thus, rather than resolving matters, this aspect of FLUEDRA instead prolongs disputes and encourages unproductive litigation.
You know what Save Our Neighborhood, Inc. recommends.
**The most important blog of today**
Under New Business D--Tolling agreement
A tolling agreement is an agreement to waive a right to claim that litigation should be dismissed due to the expiration of a statute of limitations. Its purpose is typically to allow a party additional time to assess and determine the legitimacy and viability of their claims and/or the amount of their damages without the necessity of filing an action. During this period, the parties waive any defense by way of any statute of limitations which would otherwise arise during such period.
Well, why in the hell not. This has been dragging on since 2005. FLUEDRA is used as a stall tactic to the benefit of the property owners with the municipality picking up the tab. Usually it is used to intimate a city to cave into unreasonable demands by owners who want their way or else threaten a law suit. Public records will show that four years ago, the city went into a FLUEDRA process, hired a special magistrate because of a threat of a lawsuit by the owners under Bert J. Harris. FLUEDRA has a statute of limitations of 4 years which is up next month on Sunset. FLUEDRA requires the special magistrate to wear two hats: first, as a mediator, and second, as an administrative law judge issuing a recommended order, albeit one that is not binding on the local government.
What the city says:
Tolling Agreement between the City of Lake Worth and Sunset Drive Holdings, LLC
In September, 2009, as a result of various land use approvals and subsequent recessions of those approvals--
Sunset Drive Holdings, LLC (Sunset) initiated a Request for Relief under Florida Statues Sec. 70.51, The initiation of the Request for Relief under this statute results in a mediation procedure which involves the City, Sunset and interested parties who are various residents who have been participants in the process. Recently, there have been some productive discussions and compromises as a result of the mediation, however, there is more work to be done before we can all agree to a solution. to bring before the Commission for approval.
If an agreement ultimately cannot be reached, the statute provides that a hearing before the mediation/special magistrate would take place. The mediator would then make recommendations which would be taken to the commission for approval or denial. Although the statutes imply that the time to file a lawsuit is tolled during the mediation process, it is not completely clear and there is no case law to support the position.
Therefore, in order to avoid the expense to both the property owner to file a lawsuit, and the expense to the City to begin to answer and defend that lawsuit, I am recommending that the City approve the attached tolling agreement.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION: This agreement simply provides Sunset with the assurance that in the event that the mediation or recommendation of the mediator are not acceptable to the City or Sunset, then Sunset will not lose their right to file any appropriate litigation at the end of this process. The agreement does however limit the tolled period to sixty (60) days after the City takes an action on either an agreement reached by the parties, or the recommendation of the mediator.
**The facts of the matter:
Unfortunately, the city and the owner can continue to stall. No action has to be taken UNTIL THE CITY TAKES AN ACTION. In the meantime, legal bills keep mounting. FLUEDRA does not permit the special magistrate to make a formal recommendation to the governing body without first issuing findings against the local government. The special magistrate is, therefore, encouraged to find against the local government. Although the findings are not binding, they may embolden a property owner to continue to pursue a weak claim. Thus, rather than resolving matters, this aspect of FLUEDRA instead prolongs disputes and encourages unproductive litigation.
You know what Save Our Neighborhood, Inc. recommends.
Sunset Drive 4.02 parcel
Comment Up
According to City-Data.com--
Owner: SUNSET DRIVE HOLDINGS LLC
Total land value: $450,240
Taxable value: $450,240
Market value for property: $450,240
Total assessed value for property: $450,240
Lot size: 175,111 square feet
Parcel usage: Multi Family Residential 10 units
Read more
According to the Palm Beach Property Appraisers' office--
Number of Units: 2
*Total Square Feet: 4760
Acres: 4.02
Use Code
0800 - MULTIFAMILY < 10 UNITS
Zoning
RH - ( 38-LAKE WORTH )
The assessed value in 2012 was $257,280
Read more: PAPA
826 S Sunset Drive
Lake Worth, FL 33461
According to City-Data.com--
Owner: SUNSET DRIVE HOLDINGS LLC
Total land value: $450,240
Taxable value: $450,240
Market value for property: $450,240
Total assessed value for property: $450,240
Lot size: 175,111 square feet
Parcel usage: Multi Family Residential 10 units
Read more
According to the Palm Beach Property Appraisers' office--
Number of Units: 2
*Total Square Feet: 4760
Acres: 4.02
Use Code
0800 - MULTIFAMILY < 10 UNITS
Zoning
RH - ( 38-LAKE WORTH )
The assessed value in 2012 was $257,280
Read more: PAPA