Residents of Lake Osborne - Defending where we live

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We are a city finally, albeit slowly, turning around  just like the rest of the country. We had a tougher time than most...older housing stock, small lot lines and a city full of poor folks, Seniors on fixed incomes, immigrants and rentals. Property values have gone up 8.2% for this year and that will be reflected on our next tax bill. We have a bully in our city who loves to ridicule anyone and everyone who disagrees with city hall for any reason--now it's the ROLO neighborhood that is feeling his wrath.  He is, after all, "one of the boys."  Loving to be liked by those in power, he spits the opposition out and chews them up like a rabid dog even resorting to name-calling. Is there anyone more insecure in this city?

typical Wright Drive house

On Tuesday, the Residents of Lake Osborne NA went before the city commission and gave its neighborhood update. It was very similar to any neighborhood association presentation ever given. They complimented their residents and their neighborhood in general. That's what you do. They didn't get into the nitty gritty or braggadocio involving their achievements such as neighbors helping neighbors or the fundraisers they have done.  It was all upbeat and positive however. And what does the bully do, he condemns them and picks apart every aspect of the presentation, twisting and turning it to unmerciful proportions, getting downright dirty and personal. This is strange politics, strange and petty behavior.

City Hall wants folks to be positive about their city and their homes and when they are, they get ridiculed for it telling us that a national ball field will improve the neighborhood when we believe just the opposite. Some politico spends oodles of time RESEARCHING property values in order to denigrate a nice neighborhood and tells them they are "full of it" blaming lower property values on a lack of leadership and implies that residents of Lake Worth should reject anything ROLO has to say.  Would he not try to protect his neighborhood the very same way if it was proposed for his backyard? But the political opposition is constantly divisive and continually critical of anyone who has any opinion that differs from theirs. They fail to mention that all property values were impacted by the economy. Purposely, they twist things out of perspective and drive wedges, neighbor against neighbor, in trying to make political points.

typical Collier Avenue house

Lake Osborne Heights has always been a working class neighborhood and property values have reflected that. Why values went down last year from 2012 is anyone's guess. There were thousands of foreclosures and this community was not immune. Why mine went down again is also curious but we had two foreclosures here in my building alone and I am sure that had something to do with value as these properties were eventually picked up for little. The one referenced in that other blog was picked up at auction. We also have people passing away and their heirs sell quickly at lesser prices than we would hope. There are always reasons why values are lower and it has nothing to do with leadership as the bully says. In the case of the condos, square footage is small (mine is  894 s.f.) and the building is 48 years old. Buyers want larger bathrooms, larger kitchens and their own laundry room that this community does not provide. Units are, however, selling higher once again.

It's really a shame when a resident of this city who lives in an upscale neighborhood and in a house whose square footage is larger than some of the homes he derides, needlessly stomps people to the ground who live in a nice neighborhood but whose property values are less. This is only because they stood up to City Hall against a national spring training facility across from where they live.  Is this "racist?" Does he have something against hard working people? Old folks?  People protecting their homes? Instead of censoring and humiliating an entire neighborhood so that he will be accepted or thought of as some sort of hero by those in power, he should be encouraging home ownership, not more affordable rentals that bring blight, slum and crime and embrace neighborhood associations standing up for the people they serve.

Once all the residents out here pay to replace his 2" pipes to 4", he might want to thank them all.

Typical house in College Park and it doesn't have a thing to do with neighborhood leadership.

Tax Year 2013 2012 2011 Assessed Value $147,409 $144,945 $157,748 Exemption Amount $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 Taxable Value $97,409 $94,945 $107,748 Typical house on Hillcrest and it definitely doesn't have a thing to do with its leadership. Tax Year 2013 2012 2011 Assessed Value $84,304 $93,500 $90,777 Exemption Amount $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 Taxable Value $34,304 $43,500 $40,777