It never gets any better. Money comes in the front door and immediately goes out the back. We pay the PBSO a small fortune and crime escalates. Taxes are raised and some other "need" eats it up.
One can only assume that being left in the dark is how the residents want to be when it comes to actually knowing what is going on in their city. They are all wrapped up in their own lives, their families, their jobs, and have no time to be bothered. They want the "other guy" to be the community watchdog. Bully and developer backed politicians count on them. Voters are taken advantage of but either don't realize it or don't care. The city wants the public to shut the heck up and the Unions to go away and they love playing the blame game.
With 545 pages of back-up in support of everything they will pass tomorrow night, 14 items are on the Consent Agenda. That generally means nothing is pulled for discussion and when discussion is requested by a minority on the dais, the majority refuses to allow it. There is one 2nd Reading changing the Land Development Regulations that passed the first time around on a 3/1 vote. Guess who the three were. They are going to pass over $1.8 million in expenditures with not the slightest explanation. There is way too much power in politically appointed Boards and this Trio commission.
There is nothing else on the agenda other than two presentations--one will be from Jeff Clemens and Lori Berman. I am sure that they will touch on Sober Homes as they have been contacted by residents about that growing problem within our city. We are looking for solutions, not banality. The other presentation is about the Genesis Neighborhood that is not even recognized by the Neighborhood Association President's Council and it will be given by its highly controversial and inflammatory president who is allowed by this mayor to say or do what he pleases.
When you have an elected body that ignores the vote of the people, you have a reign of terror. That's what the people voted for...dictatorial leadership in Lake Worth. How disengaged are voters? Special interest politicians and those with Field of Dreams pie in the sky beliefs keep getting elected. How do we ever expect anything different going forward? In many ways you must blame it on apathy and the lack of involvement from the public at large. Politicians count on this and virtually can lie their way back into office.
National politics is all affected by attitudes that began at the local level. It is a trickle up effect. If we in Lake Worth refuse to get involved, find excuses for not making it to city commission meetings, and do not elect a majority of representatives who put the welfare of the people, our home and our assets before the special interests, how can we ever expect anything better on the state and national levels?
The only two elected officials on our dais who continually put the people first are Christopher McVoy and Ryan Maier. The rest just want to get meetings over with so that they can get the heck home or to their favorite watering hole. These two commissioners are constantly bullied and treated disrespectfully by fellow commissioners and their political supporters who do show up for meetings.
15 comments:
Beautifully written. Thanks. All so sadly true.
Mark Parilla is a sad joke. Why does the city even recognize "genesis neighborhood"? The NAPC doesn't . And good for them.
1.8 million dollars in expenditures and not one word in public? Govt. out of the Sunshine.
Lake Worth you voted these guys back into office,so good luck with that !
The cards were stacked against us in the past elections.
The candidates running did not have the money to pay for votes.
One candidate was unable to campaign early due to illness that was beyond her control.
Our candidates told the truth but the lies won out as they are very convincing to those who do not know the truth.
We had too many running for the mayor's position.
I have noticed and have spoken to people who voted for the trio and they are very sorry they did but it is too late now. They now realize the were lied to. People need to do their homework before an election and find out what is really going on and where the money has gone. The candidates that I had the privilege of speaking to even gave information where we could see the truth but many did not bother to check it out. Lesson learned but too late.
Well most people are too busy to pay attention because they are too busy. Working, families, children, life, most people don't have time to attend City meetings. Many of the meetings are held at times not convenient for working folks. It would be great if the City started doing more surveys or communicating with residents outside of the very limited public comment time at meetings.
If you want to limit duplication in surveys, just send a PIN or identifier in the Utility bill. We are in the internet age, we should be communicating and polling via the internet.
True @11:23.
The incumbents had so much money that they could reach out to ALL 15,000 registered voters in this city most of whom are clueless when it comes to what is going on. They see the photo ops and the ribbon cuttings and all the smiles...that's all they know.
It was name recognition during a Primary election. <any came only to vote for those running for President and they had no idea who our local candidates were. The voted for the mailer that they remember or the out of touch editorial board of the Palm Beach Post.
It was a big advantage to incumbents. In a scenario like this, incumbents rarely lose. But the challengers had some challenges, no doubt about it. When you get bozos like these incumbents resorting to personal attacks instead of their record (which was lied about anyway), and then even sending out a 9 page mailer claiming that I am an anarchist, it is a joke of major proportions.
The joke is on us and it will continue for years.
To: Most people are too busy--
That may be the truth. however, their side always finds a way to come to a meeting for a few hours a month.
I have a big problem with polls because the desired outcome can be manipulated. If the city is putting one on, it's not to be trusted, IMO.
Ask Chris McVoy about the incident at a Haitian Church the Sunday before the election and tell us all how much he is for the people.
What's the excuse for the Palm Beach Post? No excuse,just fear and greed. The Post was told -"If you want your advertising dollars to continue, you better endorse the three growth whores. Triolo,Amoroso and Maxell.
@4:21--I did ask him about the incident and this is his explanation:
Incident was that this church had illegal political signs on their premises (see attached). Two weeks prior to the Sunday mentioned I had noticed the signs. I specifically went out of my way to meet with Pastor Louissaint and to explain that he was endangering his 501(3c) status and that the church needed to take them down presto pronto. Two weeks later they were still there. On that Sunday I went to the church and indicated that I was not happy with the Pastor (who I have repeatedly helped out) and that he and I should go outside and take them down. He sent one of his people outside to do it with me instead.
AND I have the photos.
Ask him if he threatened the pastor that he would have his 501c3 license revoked if he didn't. Ask him if he pulled him out of a sermon because of the signs. Shame. Shame. The pastor has already spoken!
What ever happened to free speech? I fail to see how the a churches ' 501(c3) status is jeopardized by political signs planted on their property.
If that were true, then messages from the pulpit regarding specific support on any topic would also jeopardize that status, but voice and opinion still flow from pulpits across the country. Examples; church support steered against gay constitutional rights or those undermining legal abortion rights, or against immigrants. Preachers across this country are encouraging their congregations to cite for specific candidates that support the pastors or churches views, examples would be the evangelical churches support of Ted Cruz over John Kasich.
Churches should encourage people to be active in their community and register to vote. They have the right to support whatever position they want without interference, inference of imagined legal jeopardy, or collusion.
It seems like McVoy attempted to use intimidation in our Haitian community to influence their support for specific candidates.or view point is crossing the line.
12:22 it's was past your bedtime when you wrote that.
McVoy happens to know the rules and he would never be anything but polite but assertive. Maxwell crossed the line and used a little Haitian minister for his political end who didn't know better or how to say "no."
Shame.
Churches should be non-political and do what they are supposed to do...preach the word of God, IMO. It gets its laws from a book over 2000 years old.
For those who were opposed to commissioner McVoy warning the church with regards to POSSIBLY loosing their 501(3c) status: He was doing the right thing. He didn't threaten them he just expressed his concerns. In case you need a refresher course here are the requirements:
What are the requirements of an IRS 501c3 exemption?
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
WHAT IS IT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND WITH REGARDS TO THE LAST SENTENCE. He was being kind when he warned them unlike the Trio that jeopardizes this church with their greed and lies.
This has been going on way tooooo long in black churches. For some reason it seems they can get away with it. If it were a white church, this doesn't happen. Why is that???? I wish someone would file a complaint and send those pictures in. This needs to stop. Seems like Federal Law means nothing since that POS Obama got in.
It is the Trio and their supporters that think that McVoy was wrong in what he did. Even though he was trying to protect them from losing their 501c3 status. They are the ones that are saying that McVoy was being rude and intimidating when in fact he was doing his job. Unlike the Trio that bend and break the rules at their leisure. Pastor Louissant please listen to McVoy or Maier and you will not have any trouble with following the laws of the state or IRS.
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