Showing posts with label Debate; Lake Worth 2020. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Debate; Lake Worth 2020. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Thought for the Day - Lake Worth Bond
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
College Park Neighborhood Association to present tonight
Comment Up
Tonight at the city commission meeting, we will listen to an update from the College Park Neighborhood Association. We will have to listen to its invitation/appeal for everyone in the city to go to its Lake Worth 2020 presentation three days before the election. Of course, neighborhood associations are not political or so we have been told.
It's sickening that the City strategically put College Park on the agenda as a presenter tonight. The City really believes that we are all stupid and nothing they are doing is anything but "education." After all, City Attorney Glen Torcivia did a 13 page report telling them that.
Tonight at the city commission meeting, we will listen to an update from the College Park Neighborhood Association. We will have to listen to its invitation/appeal for everyone in the city to go to its Lake Worth 2020 presentation three days before the election. Of course, neighborhood associations are not political or so we have been told.
It's sickening that the City strategically put College Park on the agenda as a presenter tonight. The City really believes that we are all stupid and nothing they are doing is anything but "education." After all, City Attorney Glen Torcivia did a 13 page report telling them that.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Lake Worth's General Obligation Bond
Comment Up
"Under the plan, property tax rates could rise by 35 percent, making Lake Worth’s rate by far the county’s highest. The resulting jolt to the city’s economy will likely drive up rents for businesses and renters, which could lead to some businesses closing or looking elsewhere to open up. We hope the negative effects will be minimal, but no one should pretend there will be none. ...No one denies the city’s need to repairs its infrastructure. But the proposal has been remarkably divisive, and for legitimate reasons. The $63 million loan would be more than twice the city’s annual operating budget, and repaying it would require huge property tax increases on its residents." The Palm Beach Post
The Palm Beach Post's editorial today recommends passing the bond referendum. No surprise there. The Post and I agree on little from local to national politics. However, at least the editorial was not a marketing piece for Lake Worth 2020 and the City. It did give the good, the bad and the ugly in its editorial. We all agree that roads and infrastructure must be repaired or in some cases, totally rebuilt, but we are looking for a worst case scenario to do first and not put the property owners in debt for 34 years. As we come out of this recession that hit us harder than most, we are optimistic that property values will increase, thus more money to the city.
We also agree that there is a lot of poverty in our city along with the beautiful and important assets that we have. It has always been a poor city and even during the economical boom years, money was spent and went "missing." To rebuild the infrastructure on 70%, according to the city's figures, in a 100 year old city that had a line item for street maintenance of $1 mil a year until this commission, boggles the mind. Politicians don't blink an eye on asking residents to vote themselves into a massive debt and put their properties in jeopardy.
I am still looking for Plan B and someone at city hall who can come up with it instead of grabbing all the cash in a city that gives away city assets for a dollar a year and has never maintained one darn thing--past city administrations or this one.
Don't vote for any more money to go down the drain or that pothole.
"Under the plan, property tax rates could rise by 35 percent, making Lake Worth’s rate by far the county’s highest. The resulting jolt to the city’s economy will likely drive up rents for businesses and renters, which could lead to some businesses closing or looking elsewhere to open up. We hope the negative effects will be minimal, but no one should pretend there will be none. ...No one denies the city’s need to repairs its infrastructure. But the proposal has been remarkably divisive, and for legitimate reasons. The $63 million loan would be more than twice the city’s annual operating budget, and repaying it would require huge property tax increases on its residents." The Palm Beach Post
The Palm Beach Post's editorial today recommends passing the bond referendum. No surprise there. The Post and I agree on little from local to national politics. However, at least the editorial was not a marketing piece for Lake Worth 2020 and the City. It did give the good, the bad and the ugly in its editorial. We all agree that roads and infrastructure must be repaired or in some cases, totally rebuilt, but we are looking for a worst case scenario to do first and not put the property owners in debt for 34 years. As we come out of this recession that hit us harder than most, we are optimistic that property values will increase, thus more money to the city.
We also agree that there is a lot of poverty in our city along with the beautiful and important assets that we have. It has always been a poor city and even during the economical boom years, money was spent and went "missing." To rebuild the infrastructure on 70%, according to the city's figures, in a 100 year old city that had a line item for street maintenance of $1 mil a year until this commission, boggles the mind. Politicians don't blink an eye on asking residents to vote themselves into a massive debt and put their properties in jeopardy.
I am still looking for Plan B and someone at city hall who can come up with it instead of grabbing all the cash in a city that gives away city assets for a dollar a year and has never maintained one darn thing--past city administrations or this one.
Don't vote for any more money to go down the drain or that pothole.
Questions and Answers on Grabbing the Cash in Lake Worth
Comment Up
Now we learn that the general obligation bond will also be a SLUSH FUND for district commissioners and the neighborhood associations will have a big say in how the money is spent (you know, the NA's that are NOT political)---$800,000 each to be exact, to do what they want for certain improvements whether you as a resident want them or not. This is pay-back time to the NAPC. No wonder they refused to hold a debate on this issue--$3,200,000 is a lot of do re mi.
Questions to Lake Worth 2020: Saturday, August 09, 2014 1:09 PM and the City's answers
To: LW 2020
Subject: Lake Worth 2020 Questions and Answers
QUESTION:
1. Where can I find a map or chart that shows where features such as street lights, trees, and traffic calming devices will be installed?
ANSWER:
Thank you for your interest in learning more about Lake Worth 2020. I have forwarded the questions. I am not able to answer to the appropriate department for a response. In answer to some of your questions:.
Question 1 – there is no map; however each district will have $800,000 to use for specific issues such as street lighting and traffic calming devices which is under the category neighborhood enhancements. How and where they will be installed has not yet been determined; however, the Commissioner from each district as well as the neighborhood associations will be heavily involved in the identifying process.
QUESTION
2. Where can I find information about the costs for each item in the plan?
ANSWER:
Question 2 – has been referred to the appropriate department
QUESTION:
3. Is there a way to refuse certain items, for instance, if a traffic calming device is planned for in front on a resident's house (causing noise), can that resident refuse?
ANSWER:
Question 3 – the ballot language is asking for approval of $63.5 million under a plan called Lake Worth 2020. It does not allow for certain items within 2020 to be voted on separately; however, like my response in Question 2, each district will decide whether or not they want these neighborhood enhancements and where they will be located.
QUESTION:
4. What are the interest rate projections for the bonds?
ANSWER:
Question 4 – The City’s Financial Advisor estimated the rate to be 5.5%. This conservative rate was used for the following reasons: a. Three bonds will be issued over a 5-year period. Estimating what rates will be in 2015, 2017, or 2019 is difficult and consequently, a conservative rate is prudent. b. The rate is an estimate for use in discussing the program. The final rate for each issue will be determined by market at the time of issuance. c. Each issue will be sold for the most advantageous rates that can be obtained at the time of issuance d. The ballot question asks for approval of a total amount of debt service. Each issue will be determined by the marketplace rate at the time of issuance
QUESTION:
5. I see lots of vacant storefronts on Dixie highway; how will the plan help improve this major artery?
ANSWER:
Question 5 - has been referred to the appropriate department
Now we learn that the general obligation bond will also be a SLUSH FUND for district commissioners and the neighborhood associations will have a big say in how the money is spent (you know, the NA's that are NOT political)---$800,000 each to be exact, to do what they want for certain improvements whether you as a resident want them or not. This is pay-back time to the NAPC. No wonder they refused to hold a debate on this issue--$3,200,000 is a lot of do re mi.
Questions to Lake Worth 2020: Saturday, August 09, 2014 1:09 PM and the City's answers
To: LW 2020
Subject: Lake Worth 2020 Questions and Answers
QUESTION:
1. Where can I find a map or chart that shows where features such as street lights, trees, and traffic calming devices will be installed?
ANSWER:
Thank you for your interest in learning more about Lake Worth 2020. I have forwarded the questions. I am not able to answer to the appropriate department for a response. In answer to some of your questions:.
Question 1 – there is no map; however each district will have $800,000 to use for specific issues such as street lighting and traffic calming devices which is under the category neighborhood enhancements. How and where they will be installed has not yet been determined; however, the Commissioner from each district as well as the neighborhood associations will be heavily involved in the identifying process.
QUESTION
2. Where can I find information about the costs for each item in the plan?
ANSWER:
Question 2 – has been referred to the appropriate department
QUESTION:
3. Is there a way to refuse certain items, for instance, if a traffic calming device is planned for in front on a resident's house (causing noise), can that resident refuse?
ANSWER:
Question 3 – the ballot language is asking for approval of $63.5 million under a plan called Lake Worth 2020. It does not allow for certain items within 2020 to be voted on separately; however, like my response in Question 2, each district will decide whether or not they want these neighborhood enhancements and where they will be located.
QUESTION:
4. What are the interest rate projections for the bonds?
ANSWER:
Question 4 – The City’s Financial Advisor estimated the rate to be 5.5%. This conservative rate was used for the following reasons: a. Three bonds will be issued over a 5-year period. Estimating what rates will be in 2015, 2017, or 2019 is difficult and consequently, a conservative rate is prudent. b. The rate is an estimate for use in discussing the program. The final rate for each issue will be determined by market at the time of issuance. c. Each issue will be sold for the most advantageous rates that can be obtained at the time of issuance d. The ballot question asks for approval of a total amount of debt service. Each issue will be determined by the marketplace rate at the time of issuance
QUESTION:
5. I see lots of vacant storefronts on Dixie highway; how will the plan help improve this major artery?
ANSWER:
Question 5 - has been referred to the appropriate department
Sunday, August 3, 2014
No Debate; NO trust; No bonds
Comment Up
Although the neighborhood association council lead by Mary Lindsey, consisting of 16 neighborhood presidents, are supposed to represent the voice of all of the people, they will not even discuss a debate on the most important issue ever to face voters in Lake Worth over the last 100 years. This is a vote that could put you in hock until year 2049, 34 years from the first issue. They have had issue debates in the past so why is this issue different?
Now, you have to ask yourself, "Why not allow a two-sided political forum?" What do they fear? Debate is one of the most basic signposts of a democracy with participation being a right...debating the issues is a normal function of democracy but our elected officials and representatives won't allow it. They just want us to hear their biased presentation that is costing you $50,000.
How can you trust giving a government $63.5 million that will really cost you $131 million when it's all over (if it's EVER over), when they won't allow a basic democratic principle of debate? Debate is what makes this country great...it certainly is not grabbing the cash and taxing every property owner for 34 years without allowing the other side of the argument.
So, let your voice be heard on August 26 and then again at the ballot box in March 2015.
Although the neighborhood association council lead by Mary Lindsey, consisting of 16 neighborhood presidents, are supposed to represent the voice of all of the people, they will not even discuss a debate on the most important issue ever to face voters in Lake Worth over the last 100 years. This is a vote that could put you in hock until year 2049, 34 years from the first issue. They have had issue debates in the past so why is this issue different?
Now, you have to ask yourself, "Why not allow a two-sided political forum?" What do they fear? Debate is one of the most basic signposts of a democracy with participation being a right...debating the issues is a normal function of democracy but our elected officials and representatives won't allow it. They just want us to hear their biased presentation that is costing you $50,000.
How can you trust giving a government $63.5 million that will really cost you $131 million when it's all over (if it's EVER over), when they won't allow a basic democratic principle of debate? Debate is what makes this country great...it certainly is not grabbing the cash and taxing every property owner for 34 years without allowing the other side of the argument.
So, let your voice be heard on August 26 and then again at the ballot box in March 2015.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)