Last night at the Genesis Neighborhood Association meeting, all the candidates showed up other than Serge Jerome. An hour and twenty minutes into the meeting Mark Parrilla gave an announcement that Mr. Jerome had a family emergency and that he sent his apologies.
In order of appearance:
Ryan Maier, running for Commissioner District 4, was the most prepared. He was one of the first arrivals at St. Andrews Church and I spotted him studying his notes. He gave a great introductory five minute speech saying that the primary responsibility of a commissioner is to act on the will of the people--guidance comes from the will of the people. He wants to see an amendment to the city charter to change the heights in our downtown to what the people voted for and an infrastructure plan that will work for the people. "Public development and public information is our business," he said.
John Szerdi, incumbent in district 4, spoke next and started off by saying that he was 62 years old but had a lot of energy. Moving here from Ft. Lauderdale, he put $100,000 into his house renovating and bringing it back to its potential. He loves Lake Worth. He mentioned his higher education, the fact that he was an environmental architect and was involved in the design of the Eco Centre Building on Lake Avenue. He taught at Indian River College.
Christopher McVoy, incumbent District 2, told us that he has been elected for two terms. He is concerned about our roads as well as the general obligation bond issue and suggested that the city go back to the drawing board as one-half of the voters did not want it. He also said that the commission needs to do a better job of listening to the people. He also mentioned the Political Action Committee that he formed years ago to save our beach from further commercialization and the City of Lake Worth sued the PAC and him. Now we have a beautiful beach park.
Craig Frost running for Commissioner District 4 spoke last. Not used to public speaking, he had some difficulty at times getting his thoughts across to the audience. He did tell us that he is a 3rd generation living in Lake Worth. His building where his business is located was built in 1952 and he doesn't want to be taxed out of it, concerned about the general obligation bond, an issue that motivated him to run. Through the years, he has not had any responses from commissioners on various issues and even had to go to the news media to get something done. Helping with his neighborhood association, he wants the neighborhoods cleaned up...mentioned the big problem with crime...not enough deputies working the districts.
Even though Serge Jerome did not attend the meeting, Mark Parrilla, the President of Genesis, gave a glowing report on him.
13 comments:
Parilla should have stayed out of it. He showed his bias by doing what he did.
bias is not possible - the na's are not political, we know because they tell us all the time.
I disagree. Parilla "said" his na was not political then advocated for a candidate who was absent, much like Maier was absent and removed from the only city involvement he has had.
That's why Parilla's na is not part of the NAPC. His na is him and he doesn't play well with others. It is his way or the highway.
That little "weak state statute" Maier referred to DOES supersede city referendum. There are also a few other areas, by "weak state statute", we cannot have a referendum about.
I think that Parilla should have had someone else make comments for the absent candidate not the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Neighborhood Association who sponsored the forum.
Gee, Lynn, I wonder who you support....
Ryan Maier seems top notch, Ryan gave the best speech of the night and is very genuine. He seems to really care and will LISTEN to the people. The two incumbents were not impressive at all.
@ 11:53--You have to wonder who I support? I support honest and ethical people--always have; always will.
One more thing--the State Statute that the city used to circumvent the vote--a court has not made the decision on the city's argument. Right now, the vote stands--45 and 35 feet.
It did seem like the only people at the meeting last night were from other parts of the city, not in Genesis, Mark, his mother, and one or two others were the only ones who raised their hands saying they lived in Genesis, the other 20 or so people do not live in Genesis. They have small numbers, but many NA are struggling now. Mark uses his power though to get things done in Genesis, they are at least getting rid of all their dirt roads, no other part of the city has had this opportunity. Mark is cleaning up this city pretty much all by himself. He does care.
Lynn,
Is the reason the court has not made a decision due to the case being unceremoniously dropped by the party bringing suit?
Honesty and ethics? Is the Ryan Maier we saw at the forum the "true" Ryan Maier? Is he the same board member dismissed for absenteeism and failure to take the ethics course required of all appointed and elected officials?
You must support Craig then. We all learned a lot about him and his dedication and involvement to the city.
Back to the statute, it does apply. The only hope you have is if a court says it cannot be applied retroactively. But someone would have to bring suit and stick with it.
Thank goodness Mark is getting all those roads paved in his neighborhood all by himself. Too bad Ryan Maier and his cabal oppose paving them. It will further gentrify the slum and help bring up property values. Something they vehimently oppose.
Mark does care-about all of the WRONG things! Szerdi, a baseball stadium in JPP, developer take-over of our city, and a bond that would have bankrupt us all for over thirty-five years. I wish Mark would stop caring for Lake Worth !
I have no idea about Ryan Maier's reasons for not attending a sister city board? Is that what it was? The sister City board was sunsetted and no one attended it other than Retha. Was it some other board? There have been many people kicked off of boards for non-attendance, even when sick or in the hospital with a good excuse.
There is no bias. If Commissioner McVoy had ever given any assistance or even attended any of our previous meetings, clean-ups, fundraisers, etc. or helped Genesis help a Lake Worth resident I assure you I would have proudly announced it at our meeting but he never has. What was I going to do make something up? Craig Frost called me yesterday and I met with him at a business in on Dixie within our newly extended boundaries that was illegally parking vehicles with no tags and illegal gatherings at 2am in commercial space hosting parties or some illegal nightclub with booming music at 2am rattling Craig's and his neighbors' windows. After calling Sgt. Cardenas, within a couple of minute several unmarked PBSO deputy vehicles arrived and spoke to the multiple owners of the different auto mechanic bays and gave them 24 hours to removed the untagged vehicles and get them off FDOT property and warned them about the loud music at 2am. There is proof I have no bias because I am voting for Szerdi but I am glad that Craig Frost cares about the community enough to call me and meet me to get action taken. Gratitude and bias are like comparing apples to oranges. God bless you.
Unbiasedly,
Mark A. Parrilla
Frost has done more in this one incident than szerdi has ever done.
Anonymous 6:56 AM that is just a boldfaced lie. I have lost count of how many times John Serdi, before and after becoming a commissioner, has been out in Genesis and other neighborhoods mowing alley ways and helping pick up garbage at our clean ups, participating in our fundraisers. How many have you attended, oh that right your anonymous so we will never know. He always responds to invites sent by neighborhood associations. That is part of the problem in this city, people will lie just because they have political differences with a candidate or commissioner.
Factually,
Mark A. Parrilla
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