Someone had commented Friday that they had never been to a flea market. Well, I am one of those people. I don't even like World Thrift. I wanted to check out the one at the high school because of the controversial/monetarial issues that have now been created by government officials. I have to say that it was very orderly, well run, clean with friendly people...all business with no carnival effect. When I think of flea markets, I think of people dealing in stolen goods or selling Granny's old China set...none of that at this place and no sheriff presence. In fact, much of the merchandise was brand new.
I can see why they want to stay under the I-95 overpass as it is totally shaded with a breeze. Moving to their school parking lot would ruin this market.
There are future plans in the wind for a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) at the Tri-Rail. The city has even planned for it in its Land Development Regulations. Officials have been talking about it for years and this commission is development oriented. It is the commission's desire to "clean-up" the western communities.
Many years ago, the city tried to collect fees at the flea market and eventually just gave up on the idea and it has been allowed to operate solely for the children's benefit. Lake Worth High doesn't have to spend any money on advertising as the market has been around for 27 years. Proceeds enhance educational programs and provide scholarships to needy students. Why would anyone want to ruin that?
I like the flea market and have been often. Great produce.
ReplyDeleteBecause we ARE Revenue Generators!
ReplyDeleteWhat if all businesses operated like this and gave to whom they wanted when they wanted? 27 years this plan HAS WORKED! The LW Elected would step over dollars to pick up nickels and piss the community off!This is about the kids (we hear their talking points ALL THE TIME)!
Isn't the School TAX EXEMPT like CHURCHES? Why would this City Manager and his cronies want to hurt these young people who need all the help they can get?
ReplyDeleteTOD - Transit Oriented Development
ReplyDeleteor Smart Growth; walk ability...
The "SMARTEST" Commissioner on the Dais was PRESENT at the TCRPC Meeting 5.13 and heard Andre Duany SAY THIS -
“No way we’re gonna avoid building the COMPACT CITIES that the 21st century needs”. “There is no way we can dodge the bullet that the CARS are going out, that the AUTOMOBILE dependency is going out, we can’t dodge it in the long run and what I would urge you to do is that whatever we do here…that it be done FAST”.
Hummmmmm - The EXACT SAME thing I SAID at a NA Meeting with the "SMARTEST COMMISSIONER" present and he has not extended me the COURTESY OF an APOLOGY for presenting the THE FACTS. Not opinions that everyone is entitled to, but the facts.
Shouldn't the liaison to the TRRPC (Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council) be responsible to WARN EVERYONE they are gonna live in "COMPACT CITIES" & "CARS are going out"? Andre Duany said this to your LW "SMARTEST REP on the DAIS" and he has yet to REVEAL THIS PLOT to TAKE YOUR CAR AWAY & your Single Family Home and place you in COMPACT CITIES!
Do the Math! Taxes on 1 footprint
1 single family home (homesteaded)
vs.
50 + TAXABLE HOMES same footprint?
Community Benefit; "Pay to Play"
Increased Density upon the EXACT SAME FOOTPRINT if the builder "GIVES BACK" to the Community - could be a POLICE SUBSTATION! How about at the "Work Force" Housing on LW Rd and Boutwell?
Here's what Andre Duany said AGAIN to your LW "SMARTEST REP on the DAIS"
“No way we’re gonna avoid building the COMPACT CITIES that the 21st century needs”. “There is no way we can dodge the bullet that the CARS are going out, that the AUTOMOBILE dependency is going out, we can’t dodge it in the long run and what I would urge you to do is that whatever we do here…that it be done FAST”.
How much money does the City make off of the Green Market at the Old LW Bridge? Do they have City Lisceses to sell? While we are at it Does the LW Neighborhood Assoc.
ReplyDeletepay for Liscenses for selling their products and do they pay rent to the City for using their property to make Money? AND are they Tax Exempt?
Does the City of LW charge the same electric charge to its schools as the Palm Beach State College? Why Not?
ReplyDeleteLoretta Sharpe who has been complaining at the City meetings about the school not paying the city on their Fundraisers, is the same
ReplyDeleteLoretta Sharpe who with her son ran
the restaurant at the LW Golf Course and left the City with over #30,000
dollars in debts unpaid bills.
And we should listen to her?
To the poster who tried to come here with all the name calling--how can you say that the vendors at this flea market are ILLEGALS? Where did you get this information? These are poor people trying to sell items and the proceeds from the market help in student scholarships for poor students.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you have such a problem with this? Ask Retha.
Lynn, I have never been to a flea market either. And we all agree every school need additional money. For those that read the article in the PB Post about the changes underway for the flea market moving from under the I-95 flyover, property of the Department of Transportation, (DOT), to the parking lot on the schools property let’s do the math. The DOT now says that any for profit business has to pay a fee for use of their property. I have to think that all the vendors pay a weekend fee for the space they use, would be willing tp pay a little more for that location. For the sake of discussion, if there’s 50 vendors each weekend the $5,000 annual state imposed fee would, if divided equally, be an additional dollar a day using a 50 weeks per year of operation number. To be able to be out of the sun and rain for an additional $1 a day is more than justifiable by a business for that benefit. This $5,000 fee is being imposed by the state, not the city or the city manager. Yes there was mention of charging a license fee to the businesses selling their wares, (most as you stated are new merchandise) to conduct their for profit businesses in LW is also reasonable. All other business have to pay, why shouldn’t they? Just because they’ve gotten by for all these years without it doesn’t mean they should get to continue to get away without paying now. I’ll bet Forest Hill HS or Santaluces HS would love to have a location like that to rent out for extra dollars for their schools.
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of argument, and yours is rational--
ReplyDeleteYears ago, the school owned all of that property up to where the rail road tracks are. From what I understand, they turned it over to DOT when they built I-95. The agreement was that they could continue to use the land under the overpass. When the train station came in, they gave up 1/2 of the parking to Tri-Rail parking. It seems that the high school just keeps on giving and now it's going to cost them as the city just keeps on taking.
What about one license under the school's name? The $5,000 being imposed by the State--could it be the direct influence and interference of local officials who want the entire thing shut down? These vendors don't make a killing there--far from it from what I could see. Any additional cost will hurt them and hurt the school.
Do the vendors at the Green Market pay a business license? As I recall, when they went in at the beach parking lot we even paid for their electricity!
ReplyDeleteDoes the CRA pay for anything when the city hands over city owned assets to them?
Don't worry about MY principles, anonymous poster from earlier today.
“The $5,000 being imposed by the State--could it be the direct influence and interference of local officials who want the entire thing shut down?” Since all the things you stated about the school district owning that property before the state acquired the property for the interstate, are you now thinking the school district is wanting it shutdown?
ReplyDeleteWOW! Did I say that the School District wants it shut down?
ReplyDeleteLynn you are absolutely correct with the school owning the land up to the tracks. Finally someone who knows what she's talking about
ReplyDelete