On Saturday, I drove down to Bryant Park right before Noon and unfortunately I missed the Homeless getting fed. There was a Lake Worth barber there donating his services and giving shaves to some very nice people who were clean and friendly. They were poor but still had their dignity. Not all of the Homeless are addicted. One was a college graduate who had lost his job.
Tuesday night, one of the homeless, Ryan Hartman, from a group that attended the meeting, spoke about police harassment--if they sit down they get harassed--if they lay down, they get harassed. People clapped when he got through. Vice Mayor Maxwell said, "No clapping." This commission tolerates residents personally attacking other residents but you can't clap when it is against the dais. This commission never follows its own Rules of Protocol so now a stupid blue card rule is singled out? Sugar Bear asked if the commission was a "puppet" government hiding behind their cone of silence...who authorized the removal of the drinking fountains and benches?
Commissioner Ryan Maier used to work for the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, working closely with Glen Torcivia our city attorney, and understands what a serious issue it is. The city is looking to get the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County here in Lake Worth perhaps in January or February to inform everyone what their organization can do to help and the benefits that they can provide.
It must have been reinstalled by one of those disgruntled city employees. Yuk.
ReplyDeleteHey, the city manager's in charge. The city's going to hell? Go to him. Sugar Bear, where are you?
ReplyDeletewrong again andy it is your job to something with homeless--do you read newspapers andy or use the internet--mayors from other city has the answer and its working----take some time from what you really do and spend some time on what you should be doing---educate yourself
ReplyDeleteit looks like our city--old-dirty -run down pot hole hell --anyone says anything different must be old-dirty rundown themselves and would like to peak at their own home
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:32: Hey i dont blame the employees for being dusgruntled. Would you go above and beyond for a organization that lies and openly doesnt care if you leave or stay? The employees do the work, the CM & officials just take the credit. Were losing so many valuable people bc of the leadership of lw. The city needs a clean slate, kick all the upper chain out and start fresh
ReplyDeletethis has been a serious issue ryan for a long time and we still have to listen to we are looking into it--is that all you people can say--its like a broken record --which you all seem to end up with---look around everyone its sad just plain sad that no one can do anything because they themselves have no clue
ReplyDeletemayor pam said we had a 10 plan to end homeless---that plan was over a while ago---a really failed plan and its worse then ever
ReplyDeleteSCOTT NEEDS TO GO ----I WILL DRINK TO THAT ---AND HE WOULD TOO
ReplyDeleteThe only good thing that ive seen happen lately is that that ugly house on South D st was torn down! We "the community" needs grounds maintainence, code compliance, utility people, trash removal...etc employees that care. I bet if they showed the employees they cared this city would move forward in a positive direction instead of empty promises.
ReplyDelete@11:09. I can well understand your frustration with no salary increase and now being stone-walled because of Union contracts. However, no matter what, everyone needs to take pride in what they do and how they do their jobs. To install a filthy water fountain is no excuse for what's going on with your raise. It's an expression of your own dignity in this world and it will get you far to do the right thing. Sorry if that sounds like preaching.
ReplyDeleteLynn,
ReplyDeleteI understand everyone needs to do their job but after 7 years of mistreatment you cant blame ppl for doing the bare minimum. What incentive do extra? Thats why out of 300 plus employees less than 40 have been here longer than 5 years. The retention rate is worse than any surrounding cities. Im sure if the employees werr shown they werr valued than being stonewalled at every corner pride of work return. Which overall benefits everyone. I would love if my neighborhood looked better but why do more if your just unappreciated anyway. So i understand where their coming from. Plus now that the commission approved their miniscule raise the CITY is putting unfair stipulations on it. Thats just bad faith.
Ok people whether or not you love or hate the homeless,this incident that just happened to me is where the rubber hits the road.
ReplyDeleteI was in Paws on the Ave. buying pet food this Sunday morning. I ran into a young couple that USED to live in College Park. They moved out of Lake Worth because their kids are getting older and they do not want them assaulted by homeless people in our downtown.(Their words, not mine)They said they love Lake Worth and maybe one day they will be back, but they can't gamble with their kids welfare.
Removing water fountains and benches only makes our town more unfriendly for the residents.How does Palm Beach do it? How does Mount Dora Florida do it? Some people in this town only care about the "residentially challenged". I care about residents like myself and the young couple I ran into .I care about our businesses.A city left with only a skeleton crew of disgruntled workers is not going to be able to do anything.
Katie Mcgiveron
This whole mistreatment of employees is going viral. Soon everyone will know whats happenin. Thanks lynn for exposing it and to the employee for sharing
ReplyDeleteLet's appoint Commissioner Ryan Maier the unofficial leader to solve the homeless problem.
ReplyDeleteI'd very much like to hear his solutions/ideas. I believe he has been involved with the homeless issue for a while now.
Let's hear from you Ryan!
Good comments on both sides of the issue, and it's not an easy one. One unassailable fact is this great recession brought a great many more to homelessness. Middle class homeless. Are you at fault if you are "riffed?" (code: reduction in force)Fall through the cracks and end up without a home when the mortgage game was more like a bundle of toxic and fraudulent "assets?" I remember starting out here in FL with one suitcase, $500,and 5 lbs. of brown rice. Got a waitressing job, my LPN, worked my way up. Is that still possible now? I don't know. I don't think being homeless necessarily makes you a bad person. Just like owning a big home doesn't make you a good person. Just last week we had a woman and her kids saved from a crash in the canal by 3 homeless guys. Are they any less heroes because they don't own a home? Even a little home or apartment? How many rich bozos jumped in to help that woman? Zero. I think that act should be honored period. And not depend on where you reside.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on LW employees. No wonder morale is bad. When I got my beach sticker I was helped by an older gentleman and it was really a pleasure speaking with him. He was back just when needed; after being fired after some 25 years of good service and loved his job. It showed in the quality of his customer service. Sad that we have to waste $ on a bonus for bowtie while losing good people like this.
ReplyDeleteThis is walking the fine line of you being an advocate of the homeless Lynn......been reading this blog for years, never thought id see the day....hopefully i misunderstood
ReplyDeleteI would call most of these folks vagrants or druggies. I'm sure a few are truly down on their luck, but most appear to be young, drugged out of their minds and choosing this lifestyle. No they they should not be permitted to sleep in our parks, no they should not be allowed to use paid pavilions, City electric, City water, etc. The area by the playground is especially problematic, so many druggies that moms with kids simply don't feel safe.
ReplyDelete10:30...what I have said is that the city needs to solve this serious problem. Stop putting words in my mouth that are not there. These are people, down on their luck and need help. Not all are "druggies" or thieves and very few, I am certain, are choosing to live this way. Those are the ones with serious mental health issues. Let's get some compassion and solve this problem, not only for them but for the rest of the residents.
ReplyDeleteI'm solving the problem by calling the police, it is illegal for them to be sleeping in the park. You post all the time about the crime in this City and I agree with you that crime is a problem, a lot of it is caused by these folks engaging in crime to fund their drug problems. When I walked back from using the playground on Sat. am (the only time I use the playground is Sat am as its only safe when the do gooders go the feeding) I saw three passed out young people. These are not down on the luck folks, they are druggies and yes I called the police. It is illegal to do drugs in our parks, it is illegal to drink in our parks. We need to take back our public spaces so that families and citizens can use them without being hassled. There are services for those truly down on their luck.
ReplyDeleteI agree. There are services for them. Basically, it is government's problem to solve. It shouldn't be the city of Lake Worth's either although we are now burdened with it. Once the Homeless Coalition meets here, hopefully we will find out some answers. No one wants homeless people sleeping in our public places. When we have this meeting, all the churches need to be invited as well--
ReplyDeleteI agree to have this be Commissioner Maier's pet cause. Do we have to wait for the Homeless Coalition to meet to start having ideas and solutions? Can he reach out to the public with his thoughts for a solution at a Commission mtg?
ReplyDeleteAny human would have helped the woman and children whos car went in the water by Prince park I'm not impressed they happen to be homeless. They were there because they aren't at work like the rest of us so they should do something.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the whole point here--the Homeless ARE human.
ReplyDeleteThe worst thing we could do as a city is "host" a homeless coalition event here in Lake Worth. It will attract even more homeless, houseless, vagrants and drug addicts because of the FREE food etc. Not to mention it will mean more cities encouraging their problems to move to Lake Worth. That is not the way to handle the problem. It will just make it worse. Besides our city will be beyond help by the time that event occurs. Quit enabling.
ReplyDeleteMOST HOMELESS ARE HUMAN BEINGS THAT JUST DONT GIVE A CRAP ON LIFE--MOST I SAID NOT ALL
ReplyDelete