Thursday, February 12, 2015

Lake Worth wants to outsource our valuable beach property

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This has to be the strangest mindset of any commission in the history of Lake worth, to put it mildly--get rid of every asset we own (this commission still wants to sell our electric utility) and now it wants to outsource our casino and pool that is situated in our 19 acre beach park. It's bad enough that the city wants to grab your cash and that they can't manage anything. We fought to save our beach from a non-performing flim flam artist who sued us and this commission turned over $1.6 million to him to walk away.

...which brings us to Hudson holdings. Who, what is Hudson Holdings?  Yes, we know.  They bought the Gulfstream Hotel nearly a year ago telling us that they planned on renovating it.  They told everyone that their first goals were to bring in a top-notch restaurateur and that they were going to start immediately to get that opened before anything else, open up a roof top restaurant/lounge with groovy music, build a 4 story parking garage and find a brand to manage the hotel. They also told everyone who would listen about their plans to upgrade the rooms and the interior. So far, nothing seems to be going on 9 months later.

Hudson Holdings just acquired the historic Starks Building, a landmark 14-story building on Fourth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It was built in 1913 and Hudson is telling everyone that it may be renovated and converted into a mixed-use site with some hotel rooms and apartments.

They seem to be an acquisitions company.

If you go to their web site they are even featuring our new Lake Worth Casino. Now why are they doing that?  Back on November 4, 2014,  two reps from Hudson Holdings were in a meeting with 13 others to discuss the outsourcing of our beach park.  Why?
Because Lake Worth can't manage itself out of a wet paper bag.

Other distinguished "notables" were in attendance at that meeting--Andy Amoroso (who nominated himself to this committee)  and our city attorney, Cristy Goddeau.  Even the Realtors from Anderson & Carr who had the listing for several years to find a tenant for the upstairs 5,000 sq/ foot space were in attendance. It was called a Negotiation Community Meeting.  Now with a name like that with "community" in it, was the public invited?  No. These are shhhh secret meetings.

Cristy Goddeau responded to my Public Information request-- The City issued the ITN in September 2014 and received the initial replies.  Attached are the minutes for the public meeting held on 11.4.2014 to discuss the next steps in the process pursuant to the ITN. Since that time, the Negotiations Team has been having meetings and reviewing the replies.  The meetings and replies are exempt from the Public Records laws and the Sunshine Law at this time (see section 286.0113(2)(b) and 119.071(1)(b)(2), Florida Statutes).

Oh, of course...everything is exempt even answering a question at neighborhood candidate forums because it will be coming before the commission (something they have not yet told the public) for a vote. So, the city is looking to outsource our biggest asset and one of those companies that probably want to get their hands on our valuable beach property could very well be Hudson Holdings.

Perhaps we need to hire people who CAN do their jobs and managers who can manage and a city government that is honest with the people they serve for the money they grab.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What do you mean by outsourcing? Exactly what would the city use Hudson Holdings to do?

Lynn Anderson said...

Take over the management of the enterprise. Hudson Holdings--they are in the picture as a possible because they are
1) featuring our casino on their web site
2) they were at that secret meeting

Anonymous said...

The other picture on that website looks like a bank to me, maybe the are laundering money.

Anonymous said...

Taking over the management of the property makes sense to me. Our city does not have the manpower or the where with all to know how to manage a commercial enterprise like the beach or the golf course. Many cities outsource these functions to enterprises that specialize in what is typically not a municipal function.

Lynn Anderson said...

Oh I see. Instead of hiring someone who CAN manage and LW getting the profits, we give them ALL AWAY to someone else. Sounds like a plan especially when we need money so desperately.

Anonymous said...

Please post the proof to support your claims otherwise it is just more hot air meant to cause disruption in the city.

Lynn Anderson said...

Wise up, anonymous at 5:28.

Anonymous said...

Obviously Lynn, with an answer like that you have no proof. And as the commenter at 5:28 this is just another attempt to sway the election, Just remember the Truth always prevails.

Lynn Anderson said...

Proof of what, anonymous? If you want to spar with me, call me on the phone. I don't need to respond to an anonymous poster.
Next, do your homework. I do mine all of the time.
The city plans on outsourcing the management of our pool/casino at our beach. Hudson is just an educated guess because they were at the table of discussions.
So, obviously, you have some sort of chip on your shoulder and believe these people are some sort of demigods who need to be defended by you. how nobel. God, get real. Whether or not this all comes to fruition remains to be seen.
Don't come back over here with your "obvious" comments when you are totally clueless and just want to defend what can't be defended.

Anonymous said...

Let's ask Szerdi, he's on the payroll for Hudson Holdings.

Anonymous said...

How can there be proof one way or another when there are no public meetings. This IS an important issue and one voters should know about before the election.

I'm actually generally supportive of this administration (except the bond issue) but all this back room dealings leafs need to believe there are shenanigans.

Finally, let's talk about the beach/pool/casino, sure it might make sense to outsource management, but we need to be cognizant that the beach/pool us a recreational facility that provides services that are not necessarily profit centers. We don't require the osborne gym I'd the ball fields to turn a profit, similarly here I'd be concerned that recreational benefits would be foreclosed in favor of profit.