The Lawyers involved in the Gulfstream Hotel in Lake Worth Re-Zoning

Comment Up

Residents came to the city hall chamber on Wednesday night to comment on the up-zoning request by the owners of the Gulfstream Hotel property, Hudson Holdings. The chair, Herman Robinson, tried to stop free speech by saying that the residents could only talk about the zoning, not the owner of the property.  Isn't it the owner who was petitioning for re-zoning/up-zoning before this Board? Therefore all comments were appropriate.

Steven Michael, primary principal, was not present nor was his partner, Avi Greenbaum.  We were told the principal (no name mentioned) was on a plane. But even so, neither was needed. They had highly skilled and competent lawyers. Ms. Miskel gave an in-depth presentation to persuade the Historic Board why an up-zoning was just perfect and how it fit in so well in the area. Her firm of Dunay, Miskel and Backman specializes in land use.

Not only was she selling and promoting for her client, she handed out compliments to our planning department like dishing out candy to kids. If she mentioned the surrounding heights of property to the Gulfstream Hotel once, she mentioned it at least six times. She reminded the Board that they were only there to consider a category of zoning, nothing else, saying that the hotel has had a "turbulent" history. However, she discussed their future plans which in the scheme of things, are all subject to change.

Bonnie Miskel

Even our own board attorney kept everything in perspective for Hudson Holdings. Mr. Engle asked a question about legal standing [of the Charter Amendment].  Ms. Ansay said that there was zero legal standing as the Board was only there to consider a re-zoning of the property. She mentioned that there was a Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit.

 What she failed to say was that this lawsuit filed against the City was withdrawn without prejudice and can be brought back. If you're going to give one fact, you should be giving all of the facts, not just what you choose to relay to win your argument. But that's what attorneys do--they represent their client. In this case, that is the city government and this commission, both that went around the people. Don't think for a minute that they represent you, Joe Citizen. It is why we have a court of law and it's also why we know, and continue to gripe about the lack of transparency in Lake Worth.

Carolyn Ansay, partner in the Torcivia Law firm

She has nearly two decades of experience representing private individuals and governmental entities in environmental and water law, governmental law, land use, and civil litigation.

The only people NOT represented were the voters. But we're not well represented by our commissioners either.