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It's deja vu in Lake Worth. It always is. We have a commission that refuses to listen. It really should be no surprise by now that this commission wants its way. It can lose elections but still, just like a pit bull, they continue on with their own agenda. Last night was no exception.
Resident Peter Timm spoke in public commentary about the general obligation bond and suggested that the commission was going to bring the whole nightmare back for the people to decide again. The last time he spoke on this subject, a PBSO deputy was standing behind him. The commission didn't want to hear what he had to say then. Actually, they don't want to hear anything anyone has to say unless it's in agreement with their views.
Where Mr. Timm and I differ is that he is not exactly against the amount of money or the debt that this commission wants to straddle on all the property owners but the "fairness" of it all--some will pay nothing and those with expensive properties will pay through their nose. He still believes that everyone should pay the same amount on an assessment on their ad valorem. Glen Torcivia, city attorney, explained it again why that can't happen but said to the commission, "I will look into it again to see if there is any way." He got the consent to spend more billable hours by silence from the commission. They MUST have all this cash. I just believe in living within our means. Find government grants. Find another way of getting the money instead of taxing a poor city's poor population.
On January 27, there will be a workshop at Compass where the public is invited in order to give their suggestions as to how we can pay for all these improvements that this commission says is absolutely necessary...find a way to tax ourselves and be happy.
John Szerdi wants the residents to come up with some creative financing. Can you even imagine that? The average household makes $35,000 a year (that's after throwing in all the one-percenters into the mix) and struggles saving pennies in a jar. Christopher McVoy was taken by surprise on this financing workshop...was not told about it, a normal occurrence. He suggested that the city's message on the bond or its short-coming, if you will, was the message itself. Mayor Triolo wants suggestions from us on how to tax ourselves for God knows how many years so they can turn it all around and say, "This is what the public suggested." After the election, she blamed the people for defeating the bond--it brought their money grab to a screeching halt. She can't understand why there is a "trust" issue with elected politicians especially on a local level. Well, just consider their actions. And does anyone remember Tony Masilotti, Jim Exline and Mary McCarty?
Corruption starts at the local level because this is where a vast percentage of politicians begin their careers. Not only does it involve politicians, but staff has been known to get into the corruption act. We here in Palm Beach County now have an Inspector General which is funded by the taxpayers. The voters said it was a vital position to ensure the integrity of our system. The sense of power that drives politicians galls us all even in the prosperous times but now this commission wants to bring it all back again by taxing the people for roads that won't last as long as the tab for it all.
It just never ends and it's never a surprise when it happens. If there is any surprise at all it is that they are allowed to stay in office.
