They have had 27 months and continue to tell us that they have done a great job but they haven't told us what exactly. The usual suspects were there last night to congratulate them for taking the city in the "right" direction--I guess what was meant by that was allowing them to erect an illegal banner on The Gulfstream Hotel, voting to disallow the election results last March thus getting the city into another legal issue and alluding to a $100 million general obligation bond to develop an industrial park to maybe attract developers and repair roads throughout the city. Maybe it was painting all those downtown planters and cutting down the tree at the Cultural Plaza. They even want to consider giving up some of our 50 decal spaces at the beach to snowbirds who own here.
Running for office in this city is literally beating your head against a brick wall. Most voters have no clue and believe that all is well. Once someone is elected, they are on a different plateau. They no longer remember who their bosses are, only their supporters and cheerleaders. They talk about crap like Seven50 as a salvation that is the "public good” moniker to help impose and implement bureaucrat led decisions in towns and cities. They have little respect for those who speak out with an opposing view. If you even get a cordial "hello," you are ahead of the game and some on the dais take it all personally believing that you are the enemy.
We are faced with a changing demographic...younger people, working folks with children, the unemployed, homeless, more poverty and illegal immigrants--people who do not keep up with the happenings of the city. If their garbage is picked up, they are happy. If the lights stay on, that's all they need. There are “good old boy” networks that make it difficult or even impossible for someone brand new to the political scene to penetrate. Too often it’s not “what you know" but "who you know." Those who are "in the know" are vilified beyond recognition by these good ole boys and done on a daily basis.
More often than not, politicians find it easier to fight a devil by blaming all the problems on whomever came before them, or a former city manager as an example (she was an easy one to blame because she already had "baggage" by being transgender), rather than doing the hard work of solving our internal problems and turning the tide. Hell, they even condemned Steve Carr, the best finance director in years, by chastising his casino finance plan. They continue to tell us they are doing their best and working hard for the city but we never see the evidence other than ribbon cuttings or the occasional neighborhood clean-up. They tell us nothing and seldom return calls.
Since I have been interested in the Lake Worth political scene, this is the first time that I have ever witnessed three incumbents sliding into office unopposed. These are the people who make policy decisions for you. People really have given up--not on Lake Worth but on its politics, its inner workings where leadership has become secretive and non-transparent and where there is no evidence of accomplishment, not really. Thanks to some on staff, our city moves along.
25 comments:
My street is over run with trash and criminals. It has gotten worse around here,not better. the mayor never calls me back and the city mgr forget about him.
I know you will not accept the fact that past commissions controlled by Jennings and Golden have so damaged our city with multi-million dollar lawsuits, incompetent legal counsel, destruction of our land use laws, failure to maintain our roads and buildings while collecting millions in taxes, creating a day labor center, destroying the code department, raising utility rates and water rates, and making this city the laughing stock of the county. It will take years to fix what they have done. The fact that no one wanted to run says volumes about the amount of work that needs to be done to fix our problems. It's time we all get together and help come up with solutions and ideas or this city will not have a chance.
You're right on one thing--I WON'T accept your deduction because it is flat wrong, exaggerated beyond belief. This is just more political rhetoric coming out of the mouth of a "good ole boy." It's hard to imagine that there are people out here in this city who have little facts of the matters and want to hold on to the lies. That's what's killing us.
Bornstien finally gave a report but not really. he introduced the new finance director that he said gthey had stolen from ft. lauderdale. they must spend every living moment trying to figure out how to fix pot holes.
why dont you run for a seat on the commission. you seem to have your finger on the pulse of the city...good and bad. You also have a built in following with your readers. Your face is familiar at all the meetings eople know who you are and what you stand for and you take nice photos.
your blog seems to get people to think about their city...i cant see why you havent been asked to run.
As I said, people get beat up on a daily basis from that side of the argument...don't need the crap. I am much more effective doing what i like to do. It takes a special kind of character and ego to be a politician. Besides, senior citizens are supposed to take it easy :)
To me, it's all about
SLUM, SLUM, SLUM, SLUM, SLUM,
BLIGHT, BLIGHT, BLIGHT, BLIGHT, BLIGHT
CRIME, CRIME AND MORE CRIME.years ago, Maxwell said he'd clean up my neighborhood. Don't see it.
THE REASON NO ONE WANTS TO RUNIS PLAIN AND SIMPLE--THE REPUTATION OF LAKE WORTH IS ALIVE AND WELL--LAKEWORTHLESS GOT ITS NAME FOR THE REASONS WE SEE ON A DAILY BASIS STILL--DRUG ADDICTS TAKING OVER--HOMELESS WALKING OUR STREETS DRUNK AND MENTALLY ILL--CRIMINAL BUSINESES(KAVA BAR)NEW JUICE ON THE WAY FROM DYLAN HARRISON--THANKS TO MAURICI OUR PARKS ARE SAFER AND LESS PROSTITUTION AND HOMELESS
I've always loved the idea of "Swearing them in" at public meetings!
"I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing bu the truth!"
Plus we need to elect the reps BY DISTRICT! Everyone votes for Mayor.
CRA MUST be elected by the people.
P&Z/Historical Board too!
Too much POWER and no accountability to We the People!
I agree with this post completely, Lynn. I wish you would run for office. Above poster is right- we need to elect our Commissioner district by district only. The Mayor should be the only one elected citywide. Then we might get some accountability. These Commissioners are traveling on OUR DIMES !!! We need to hear a report of what they accomplished for Lake Worth on these trips.
Why is it that there are some who only want to hear one side of an argument--Theirs? When they don't get that, they resort to name-calling and ridiculous comments and end up blaming all of the wrong people on their shortcomings.
This is a Constitutional Republic and democracy prevails anonymous, who just tried to post (t 1:29) a lengthy comment here. That's why we have the form of government that we do--political parties with those with different arguments, different directions.
Your comment would have been posted but you resorted to the blame-game and comments that were meritless or just plain wrong and attacking this blogger who doesn't agree with you.
Boo hoo. I don't agree with you. People don't want to run because this city is so out of whack and dysfunctional...it's a nightmare out here and NOTHING is better. To even get it better, we need the federal government to cooperate. We need ICE. We need PBSO. The biggest complainers who condemn this blogger are Democrats who love the direction politicians have taken our country and it all trickles down to local politics. They are confused because these same Democrats are part of Lake Worth's one-percent of vocal participants. I am sure the ratio is the same here as it is nationally. Their heads are in the sand to the major problems that have ruined this city as well as our nation.
Instead, you continue to use the same old tired arguments blaming the condition of our city on a few anarchists when all along it is you, the slumlord speaking with forked tongue.
The city suffers when people run unopposed. It is like a dictatorship. This is a mixed up city. They brag they're doing great things and all we have to do is drive down our street to know it ain't true.
I probably wouldn't have posted my comment either. Even though I abide by your own "rules" it is your blog and you have the right. That being said, your decision NOT to post it speaks volumes about you and your argument. The best way to quell opposition is to not let it see the light of day.
The reason you, or I for that matter, would never run for office in THIS small town is due to how vicious the rhetoric is. You are not out to place your comments and opinion to show the efficacy of your position. You wish to destroy people.
I did not attack you per se. But I did try to engage you in addressing your own words. Because my arguments make sense and reflect a large percentage of tax payers here, that is why you refuse to post it.
I did not post it, anonymous, because this is NOT a forum for your attacks against me. Start your own blog if you wish to do that. This blog is not for your snarky attacks.
I don't give squat about opposition. I get it all day long. If it's not you, it's socialists or left wing liberals or Democrats or Obama lovers or.....take your pick.
I highly resent someone coming here, NOT using their own name and taking the easy way out by posting negatives anonymously. I highly resent your calling all those who elected to keep our downtown low-rise "anti-growth." I just plain resented some of your comments.
Tell it to the people. You got re-elected. Tell us how much good has happened in our city and how YOU dissed the rights of the people.
I want to show the phoniness of electeds and the facts in this city. You don't like that, so be it. Post under your own name and we might have something to debate.
The city mgr and attny have a lot of laughs over these bozos who think they're running our city. Joke time.
No one wants to run in this city any more. Only those with something personal to gain from it all. It sure isn't the people. Anony at 3:33, politics has a way of changing. This city is no different. Ms.Anderson doesn't recruit people to run nor does she influence people to do so. She writes a blog and a damn good one I think. There needs to be a perspective that has some depth, not the smut like that other blog.
Lynn, illegal banner? All sides have done that forever.
Something must be done to the Industrial Park to attract businesses. Don't you agree? There is no point, in my opinion inletting it languish like the Gulfstream -
There are certain situations that call for making really tough decisions for the best outcome in the long run - ie: Industrial Park. Why do you believe that improving the desirability will not bring clients?
I recall a time when the certain members of the Commission wanted to re-zone it as agricultural.
Did that idea make fiscal sense to you?
Andy, Pam and Scott also had to vigorously battle "the brick wall" the first time around.
And the Commission of M,G, & Jennings.... They too treated those who didn't agree with them, with contempt.
Ribbon cuttings are good Lynn! They signify accomplishment.
Andy, Pam and Scott really aren't the devil come to town...I think you know that -
Commission mtgs don't last 5 hours any longer. Isn't that a good thing, and what we all wanted?
That says to me that a well oiled machine is in place.
You chastise the 'ol boy' network in town....I wish you'd come up with another moniker - unless you can count more than 5 'ol boys'
There are a lot of us out here who moved to LW because we LIKE it. We really LIKE it and chose to live here.
Not because we think it will someday be Boca or Delray - but because it's not.
We are not all big bad pro developer villains.
Promise.
We want it to remain the beautiful old Florida beach town that it is -
And if your fear of the 'ol boy's development crazy plans begin to surface...I promise you that we 'pavers', as we have been called, will not blindly go along. Promise.
I respect your blog Lynn, and your thoughts, but maybe,..just maybe, ...you could have a little more - ok, even a smidgeon of hope (dare I say confidence?) that we are not pavers....we sincerely love LW - Promise
Re: your comment
Lynn, illegal banner? All sides have done that forever. NAME A TIME AND PLACE
Something must be done to the Industrial Park to attract businesses. Don't you agree? There is no point, in my opinion in letting it languish like the Gulfstream - WE HAVE HEARD WHAT THEY WANT TO DO—SpEND $11 MILLION..GOOD LUCK
There are certain situations that call for making really tough decisions for the best outcome in the long run - ie: Industrial Park. Why do you believe that improving the desirability will not bring clients? WHAT ABOUT REACHING OUT FOR THE “CLIENTS” FIRST AND THEN DO WHAT IT TAKES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
I recall a time when the certain members of the Commission wanted to re-zone it as agricultural. NOT TRUE. NAME THE TIME AND PLACE. I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS CASUALLY MENTIONED TO USE IT AS A CHICKEN FARM OR SOME DAMN THING, NOTHING SERIOUS.
Did that idea make fiscal sense to you?
Andy, Pam and Scott also had to vigorously battle "the brick wall" the first time around.
And the Commission of M,G, & Jennings.... They too treated those who didn't agree with them, with contempt. NO THEY DID NOT. THEY GAVE MAXWELL A RUN FOR HIS MONEY.
Ribbon cuttings are good Lynn! They signify accomplishment. OK
Andy, Pam and Scott really aren't the devil come to town...I think you know that – I ACTUALLY LIKE SOME OF THEM
Commission mtgs don't last 5 hours any longer. Isn't that a good thing, and what we all wanted? THAT’S A BAD THING IMO.
That says to me that a well oiled machine is in place. IT SAYS TO ME THAT DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE OUT OF THE SUNSHINE.
You chastise the 'ol boy' network in town....I wish you'd come up with another moniker - unless you can count more than 5 'ol boys'
There are a lot of us out here who moved to LW because we LIKE it. We really LIKE it and chose to live here. I GET THAT, ANONYMOUS…I HAVE LIVED HERE MSOT OF MY LIFE.
Not because we think it will someday be Boca or Delray - but because it's not.
We are not all big bad pro developer villains.
Promise.
We want it to remain the beautiful old Florida beach town that it is -
And if your fear of the 'ol boy's development crazy plans begin to surface...I promise you that we 'pavers', as we have been called, will not blindly go along. Promise.
I respect your blog Lynn, and your thoughts, but maybe,..just maybe, ...you could have a little more - ok, even a smidgeon of hope (dare I say confidence?) that we are not pavers....we sincerely love LW - Promise
Re: your comment
Three candidates unopposed does mean that we've given up. But what can you do when you can never get a call returned, or any answers, or any information? Things will get worse for Lake Worth over the next two years.
Congratulations to the BCE.
Congratulations for what exactly?
haven't we been saying and talking about the same things all the time---doesn't that tell you nothing got better nothing--but crime has risen greatly--
that's right this town is not where you want to live--to many poor people,thats why we see what we see at night downtown---trash trash trash--take a look at the people,where do they come from--jail or the calvary church
Wow. This is so .... you. You ask for exactly what they are to be congratulated for and I give you several examples. Detailed examples. But you don't want your readers to see or read the truth.
You may call it rhetoric but what they are accomplishing is nothing short of exceptional. Even with you nipping on their heels 24/7.
You can have your own opinion, facts are facts. Your BCE doesn't pass the smell test.
I'm assuming you are talking to me, anonymous? Have no idea what you're talking about.
What are they accomplishing? I must have missed it.
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