Anthony Pugliese and powerful developer interests

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On March 11, 2013, a Judge agreed to return the passports of Delray Beach developer Anthony Pugliese and his business manager Joseph Reamer as they await trial on charges they stole nearly $1.2 million from Subway franchise founder Fred DeLuca in a failed land development, Destiny, Florida. He's back in the news today. Even though he's facing grand theft and money laundering charges as well as stealing approximately $1.2  million...he now has asked the Judge to allow him to travel to Italy for 9 days.

The Destiny project had been highly controversial and contentious from inception. In 2009 Osceola County proposed an amendment in its comprehensive building plan for a "new city overlay on more than 500,000 acres in a rural area in the county," which would allow for the construction of the Destiny development as well as several other large-scale projects. The Florida Department of Community Affairs opposed the amendment, citing the Florida’s Growth Management Act and stating the amendment would contribute to urban sprawl. The PB Post back in 2009 said "it is an inappropriate exploitation of natural resources and will be a setback for Florida."

In 2011, Florida legislators wiped out 30 years of growth management law and passed measures to restrict the public from challenging controversial development projects in the name of economic development. We here in Lake Worth know what all these shenanigans are about and have been dealing with developer backed politicians for years. Recently the Lake Worth city commission denied the results of an election to change its Charter held this past March that would have limited heights in downtown Lake Worth to 4 stories because of some law that Rick Scott passed in June 2013, three months AFTER the election, that they say makes our vote moot. This is being challenged. The commission has now passed an overlay Hotel District allowing heights to go to 6 stories.

Throughout the years, Florida residents have had to challenge those with the power--developers and politicians, and those sitting on major boards who are forcing heights and/or sprawl even believing their own lies and twisting the truth to get their way. Lobbyists, politicians and those hell bent on ruining our State and local  municipalities, continue to effect laws under the guise of "we need growth" and the hell with what you want and your quality of life and the Florida environment.

And Anthony Pugliese gets to have a European vacation.