Thanks for having your cake and eating it too! You don't pay anything towards our roads and infrastructures, you keep your insurance and registration of your vehicle up north.Yet you get to clog up a beach that is for RESIDENTS !!!(Look up the meaning of the word RESIDENT you idiot, Szerdi) The Frenchies must be laughing their asses of at Szerdi, the chicken hearted fool of a Commissioner who was stupid enough to give into their intimidation!
There are cars parking in our LW City Decal lot with license plates from all parts of Canada, North Carolina, Michigan, Delaware, etc. It just doesn't make sense why they should have this right to get one of these decals, they should have to have a car registered here in FL that is how it used to be. Now with the decal signs, more people know about the decal program too, so almost the entire city is buying these decals, yet there are only like 50 spots to park, this is really becoming problematic.
I'm very perplexed as to how the non-resident decal issue could be a 'political' one since they are unable to vote. What political advantage could be gained from a group of people with so little political power they even lack the ability to give the most basic support of casting a single vote?
For anon @ 4:09, you clearly lack the understanding of how and where certain taxes are collected, and unfortunately your whole point is not even remotely accurate.
By buying gasoline and paying the gas taxes that are included, they are indeed paying towards roads. Further to that, they pay full shot for their property taxes, but in reality only use those roads for 4 to perhaps 6 months of the year which means they are paying more percentage wise than anyone with any tax exemptions but using only half or less of the services.
Please further explain using math how this equates to them paying nothing for roads and infrastructure. In fact, it sounds like it may be them who should have an issue with you: Paying less then them and using the roads all year long.
While I find the Quebecois to be of particular annoyance personality wise, the fact remains that as non-residents they pay more and use less of our services. We should be encouraging people like that to come to our great city. They also pay more for that parking pass they only use 4 - 6 months of the year. I have one too, and I'm glad to have their revenue coming in and for them have a spot at the beach. I doubt I will have any issue finding a spot as I have yet to.
Now, let's take a good look in the mirror, and get back to calling other people stupid....
First of all this has absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact they pay taxes with no homestead. Good. That's exactly what they SHOULD BE DOING. Secondly, this has NOTHING to do with paying for roads based on their advalorem. It has nothing to do with them getting a POLTIICAL vote from the dais to give them a decal sticker because they pay more in taxes. That was Szerdi's argument...doesn't fly changing the rules for snowbirds and it doesn't fly changing the rules period for some "special" group. If they want to homestead here, have a voter's card here and a Florida driver's license, then they are RESIDENTS. Until that time, they are not residents and were awarded a privilege based on their BS outrage and this commission changed the intent of the decal parking to accommodate outraged Canadians crying to save a buck. Obviously since they own here and elsewhere, who better can pay the $2 an hour? The commission folded to their argument. You don't go around changing rules to suit people who are non-residents just because they spend money here. That is what TOURISTS do--spend money--even if they do own a home here. This is how we make our money in Florida and in the County--snowbirds. So, what do we do? change the rules for part-timers because Szerdi took the heat and could not find the word "no in his vocabulary. 50 decals stickers. 2,000 non residents? Wait until the message gets around...buy a decal sticker, Snowbird, and save a lot of money just because a Commissioner went to bat for you at the expense of residents, the guys who live here year round. If we had an unlimited number of parking spaces, it might be a different story. BUT, we only have 50 spaces.
Okay everybody.......SHUTUP!!!! What really pisses me off is the fact that I paid for the decal and I just returned from a few hours at the beach today and there were 3 Quebec tags and 2 out of Fl tags with NO decals parked in the City decal lot. The City needs $$$$$ and we need our spaces. Where are parking enforcers???????I suggest either better bright orange signs with better enforcement or add Volunteers to enforce.
Lynn, your right, I know you like hearing that, we all do when you said “we’ve gone thru this stupid argument before”. I did feel it important to point out that your comments about giving seasonal residents a decal parking sticker. What was done way allow seasonal property owners the right to buy a parking permit for more money than year-round residents pay. You said in you opinion that doesn’t fly with you. You continued to point out that in your opinion changing rules for snowbirds or some “special” group does not fly with you. Rules change all the time in this country. People used to be able to own slaves until that rule changed. Women didn’t use to be able to vote until that rule changed. It wasn’t until LBJ signed the voting rights act in 1965 that racial and ethnic minorities were guaranteed the right to vote. Rules and laws change, charters and ordinances change, all the time. Some like certain changes others don’t. IMO, like you said, we’ve gone thru this argument before. There are days that you can’t find any open parking spaces at the beach, anywhere. That’s just the way it is. The overwhelming majority of people at the beach are not LW residents anytime you go there. We all knew that when we finally submitted the plans to the county to redevelop the beach property that things were going to change. Allowing seasonal residents the opportunity to buy a decal parking permit is just another rule change in a long history of rule changes. If you’re looking for a reason to criticize those serving our city this should be way down on your bitch list. The comment above should be near the top of the list.
We are talking about FIFTY SPACES, anonymous--not slavery although sometimes it feels like we are treated as if we are back on the farm.
The truth of this matter is as I said--Szerdi just could not reasonably discuss this with the screaming Canadians. He could not say "no" without the wrath of these people in his District. It shows that the power of SOME people will prevail.
In your opinion, you should have said, about listing the priorities on my "bitch" list. This is an important one.
While I think snowbirds should have been charged a higher rate for the decal, the fact is I think they deserve a city decal. They DO pay more in taxes to the City and they use less services since they don't live here year round. These are people we want to come and stay for the winter and spend their monies. They are residents in that they own property. While the number of spaces has been reduced (we got $6 MM in return, a fair trade I would say) and of course the resident parking lot is more popular, the beach/Casino is more popular since its now super awesome post renovation.
To repeat-- This has nothing to do with what they pay in taxes. It has everything to do in the fact that they are not legal residents; they are property owners. And we have only 50 spaces. We got 5 million for the beach redevelopment with 30 years of strings. It is debateable whether or not this was a "good deal."
Things have changed for the better, it is great that our beach is now so popular. I love to see the lots full, all that parking money (mostly paid by non residents) helps to pay down our debt on this project. Walk over or ride your bike over, then you don't have to worry about parking and you get the exercise.
"Walk over or ride your bike over, then you don't have to worry about parking and you get the exercise."
Anon at 2:24 -Thanks for forgetting about people who cannot get around as well as you do. Maybe someday you will have to deal with limited mobility.Wake up and show some consideration for someone other than yourself.
I do think that taking into consideration how much this group pays in taxes, what services they utilize and their request for consideration on decals makes sense.
We can't afford to alienate snow birds, and in fact we should be offering services that attract them to our town.
If you have limited mobility than get a handicap tag and you can park for free in great spots. Mostly people are just lazy.
If you want to park at the beach in the decal lot, get there early.
Its ridiculous that people are complaining about the number of decal spots and the fact that seasonal residents can now get them (buy paying for them). Our beach is super awesome now of course parking will be more competitive.
Perhaps the solution would be to raise the decal prices, residents should pay $60 and seasonal residents should pay $120. That would likely reduce the number of people who would buy the permits and would free up spots for those that really want the decals and go to the beach every day. I've lived in the City since 1999 and I've never bought a permit. Reason, as a working professional I don't have time to go to the beach every day and complain there are no spots, second we walk or ride our bikes, third if we do drive we pay to park no biggie.
Just great. Residents, those people living here year round, used to pay $10 for a decal sticker. Now you want to make it $60? You are a swell gentleman. Open up the entire parking lot for resident parking like we had it before.
Welcome back! Thanks for buying a home or condo in Lake Worth and spending the season and your money in our welcoming and accepting city.
ReplyDeleteThanks for having your cake and eating it too! You don't pay anything towards our roads and infrastructures, you keep your insurance and registration of your vehicle up north.Yet you get to clog up a beach that is for RESIDENTS !!!(Look up the meaning of the word RESIDENT you idiot, Szerdi) The Frenchies must be laughing their asses of at Szerdi, the chicken hearted fool of a Commissioner who was stupid enough to give into their intimidation!
ReplyDeleteThere are cars parking in our LW City Decal lot with license plates from all parts of Canada, North Carolina, Michigan, Delaware, etc. It just doesn't make sense why they should have this right to get one of these decals, they should have to have a car registered here in FL that is how it used to be. Now with the decal signs, more people know about the decal program too, so almost the entire city is buying these decals, yet there are only like 50 spots to park, this is really becoming problematic.
ReplyDeleteThis decal program should only be for local year round residents who live here year round and have a car registered in FL only.
ReplyDeleteI'm very perplexed as to how the non-resident decal issue could be a 'political' one since they are unable to vote. What political advantage could be gained from a group of people with so little political power they even lack the ability to give the most basic support of casting a single vote?
ReplyDeleteFor anon @ 4:09, you clearly lack the understanding of how and where certain taxes are collected, and unfortunately your whole point is not even remotely accurate.
By buying gasoline and paying the gas taxes that are included, they are indeed paying towards roads. Further to that, they pay full shot for their property taxes, but in reality only use those roads for 4 to perhaps 6 months of the year which means they are paying more percentage wise than anyone with any tax exemptions but using only half or less of the services.
Please further explain using math how this equates to them paying nothing for roads and infrastructure. In fact, it sounds like it may be them who should have an issue with you: Paying less then them and using the roads all year long.
While I find the Quebecois to be of particular annoyance personality wise, the fact remains that as non-residents they pay more and use less of our services. We should be encouraging people like that to come to our great city. They also pay more for that parking pass they only use 4 - 6 months of the year. I have one too, and I'm glad to have their revenue coming in and for them have a spot at the beach. I doubt I will have any issue finding a spot as I have yet to.
Now, let's take a good look in the mirror, and get back to calling other people stupid....
First of all this has absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact they pay taxes with no homestead. Good. That's exactly what they SHOULD BE DOING.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, this has NOTHING to do with paying for roads based on their advalorem. It has nothing to do with them getting a POLTIICAL vote from the dais to give them a decal sticker because they pay more in taxes. That was Szerdi's argument...doesn't fly changing the rules for snowbirds and it doesn't fly changing the rules period for some "special" group.
If they want to homestead here, have a voter's card here and a Florida driver's license, then they are RESIDENTS. Until that time, they are not residents and were awarded a privilege based on their BS outrage and this commission changed the intent of the decal parking to accommodate outraged Canadians crying to save a buck. Obviously since they own here and elsewhere, who better can pay the $2 an hour? The commission folded to their argument. You don't go around changing rules to suit people who are non-residents just because they spend money here. That is what TOURISTS do--spend money--even if they do own a home here. This is how we make our money in Florida and in the County--snowbirds. So, what do we do? change the rules for part-timers because Szerdi took the heat and could not find the word "no in his vocabulary.
50 decals stickers. 2,000 non residents? Wait until the message gets around...buy a decal sticker, Snowbird, and save a lot of money just because a Commissioner went to bat for you at the expense of residents, the guys who live here year round.
If we had an unlimited number of parking spaces, it might be a different story. BUT, we only have 50 spaces.
If you live here for 4-6 months, you are not a tourist.
ReplyDeleteThey are NOT residents either in the legal sense of the word. They are property owners. But we've gone through this stupid argument so many times.
ReplyDeleteOkay everybody.......SHUTUP!!!! What really pisses me off is the fact that I paid for the decal and I just returned from a few hours at the beach today and there were 3 Quebec tags and 2 out of Fl tags with NO decals parked in the City decal lot. The City needs $$$$$ and we need our spaces. Where are parking enforcers???????I suggest either better bright orange signs with better enforcement or add Volunteers to enforce.
ReplyDeleteAnony at 134AM... when you wrote this, Commish Szerdi, it was past your beddy boo time.
ReplyDeleteLynn, your right, I know you like hearing that, we all do when you said “we’ve gone thru this stupid argument before”. I did feel it important to point out that your comments about giving seasonal residents a decal parking sticker. What was done way allow seasonal property owners the right to buy a parking permit for more money than year-round residents pay. You said in you opinion that doesn’t fly with you. You continued to point out that in your opinion changing rules for snowbirds or some “special” group does not fly with you. Rules change all the time in this country. People used to be able to own slaves until that rule changed. Women didn’t use to be able to vote until that rule changed. It wasn’t until LBJ signed the voting rights act in 1965 that racial and ethnic minorities were guaranteed the right to vote. Rules and laws change, charters and ordinances change, all the time. Some like certain changes others don’t. IMO, like you said, we’ve gone thru this argument before. There are days that you can’t find any open parking spaces at the beach, anywhere. That’s just the way it is. The overwhelming majority of people at the beach are not LW residents anytime you go there. We all knew that when we finally submitted the plans to the county to redevelop the beach property that things were going to change. Allowing seasonal residents the opportunity to buy a decal parking permit is just another rule change in a long history of rule changes. If you’re looking for a reason to criticize those serving our city this should be way down on your bitch list. The comment above should be near the top of the list.
ReplyDeleteWe are talking about FIFTY SPACES, anonymous--not slavery although sometimes it feels like we are treated as if we are back on the farm.
ReplyDeleteThe truth of this matter is as I said--Szerdi just could not reasonably discuss this with the screaming Canadians. He could not say "no" without the wrath of these people in his District. It shows that the power of SOME people will prevail.
In your opinion, you should have said, about listing the priorities on my "bitch" list. This is an important one.
While I think snowbirds should have been charged a higher rate for the decal, the fact is I think they deserve a city decal. They DO pay more in taxes to the City and they use less services since they don't live here year round. These are people we want to come and stay for the winter and spend their monies. They are residents in that they own property. While the number of spaces has been reduced (we got $6 MM in return, a fair trade I would say) and of course the resident parking lot is more popular, the beach/Casino is more popular since its now super awesome post renovation.
ReplyDeleteTo repeat--
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with what they pay in taxes. It has everything to do in the fact that they are not legal residents; they are property owners. And we have only 50 spaces.
We got 5 million for the beach redevelopment with 30 years of strings. It is debateable whether or not this was a "good deal."
Things have changed for the better, it is great that our beach is now so popular. I love to see the lots full, all that parking money (mostly paid by non residents) helps to pay down our debt on this project. Walk over or ride your bike over, then you don't have to worry about parking and you get the exercise.
ReplyDelete"Walk over or ride your bike over, then you don't have to worry about parking and you get the exercise."
ReplyDeleteAnon at 2:24 -Thanks for forgetting about people who cannot get around as well as you do. Maybe someday you will have to deal with limited mobility.Wake up and show some consideration for someone other than yourself.
I do think that taking into consideration how much this group pays in taxes, what services they utilize and their request for consideration on decals makes sense.
ReplyDeleteWe can't afford to alienate snow birds, and in fact we should be offering services that attract them to our town.
Let's go to Canada and try the same trick. It was not a request but rather a loud demand.
ReplyDeleteIf you have limited mobility than get a handicap tag and you can park for free in great spots. Mostly people are just lazy.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to park at the beach in the decal lot, get there early.
Its ridiculous that people are complaining about the number of decal spots and the fact that seasonal residents can now get them (buy paying for them). Our beach is super awesome now of course parking will be more competitive.
Perhaps the solution would be to raise the decal prices, residents should pay $60 and seasonal residents should pay $120. That would likely reduce the number of people who would buy the permits and would free up spots for those that really want the decals and go to the beach every day. I've lived in the City since 1999 and I've never bought a permit. Reason, as a working professional I don't have time to go to the beach every day and complain there are no spots, second we walk or ride our bikes, third if we do drive we pay to park no biggie.
Just great. Residents, those people living here year round, used to pay $10 for a decal sticker. Now you want to make it $60? You are a swell gentleman. Open up the entire parking lot for resident parking like we had it before.
ReplyDelete