Donald Trump is a Pragmatist

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Trump Is Not a Liberal or Conservative, He’s A Pragmatist

By:  Noah Rosenblum, a Facebook Friend

We recently enjoyed a belated holiday dinner with friends at the home of other friends. The dinner conversation was jocund, ranging from discussions about antique glass and china to theology and politics. At one point reference was made to Donald Trump being a conservative to which I responded that Trump is not a conservative.

I said that I neither view nor do I believe Trump views himself as a conservative. I stated it was my opinion that Trump is a pragmatist. He sees a problem and understands it must be fixed. He doesn't see the problem as liberal or conservative; he sees it only as a problem. That is a quality that should be admired and applauded, not condemned. But I get ahead of myself.

Viewing problems from a liberal perspective has resulted in the creation of more problems, more entitlement programs, more victims, more government, more political correctness, and more attacks on the working class in all economic strata.

Viewing things according to the so-called Republican conservative perspective has brought continued spending, globalism to the detriment of American interests and well-being, denial of what the real problems are, weak, ineffective, milquetoast, leadership that amounts to Barney Fife Deputy Sheriff, appeasement oriented and afraid of its own shadow. In brief, it has brought liberal ideology with a pachyderm as a mascot juxtaposed to the ass of the Democrat Party.

Immigration isn't a Republican problem – it isn't a liberal problem – it is a problem that threatens the very fabric and infrastructure of America. It demands a pragmatic approach not an approach that is intended to appease one group or another.

The impending collapse of the economy isn't a liberal or conservative problem, it is an American problem. That said, until it is viewed as a problem that demands a common sense approach to resolution, it will never be fixed because the Democrats and Republicans know only one way to fix things and the longevity of their impracticality has proven to have no lasting effect. Successful businessmen like Donald Trump find ways to make things work, they do not promise to accommodate.

Trump uniquely understands that China’s manipulation of currency is not a Republican problem or a Democrat problem. It is a problem that threatens our financial stability and he understands the proper balance needed to fix it. Here again successful businessmen like Trump who have weathered the changing tides of economic reality understand what is necessary to make business work and they, unlike both sides of the political aisle, know that if something doesn't work, you don't continue trying to make it work hoping that at some point it will.

As a pragmatist Donald Trump hasn't made wild pie-in-the-sky promises of a cell phone in every pocket, free college tuition, and a $15 hour minimum wage for working the drive-through a Carl’s Hamburgers.

I argue that America needs pragmatists because pragmatists see a problem and find ways to fix them. They do not see a problem and compound it by creating more problems.

You may not like Donald Trump, but I suspect that the reason people do not like him is because: (1) he is antithetical to the “good old boy” method of brokering backroom deals that fatten the coffers of politicians; (2) they are unaccustomed to hearing a candidate speak who is unencumbered by the financial shackles of those who own them vis-a`-vis donations; (3) he is someone who is free of idiomatic political ideology; and (4) he is someone who understands that it takes more than hollow promises and political correctness to make America great again.

Listening to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders talk about fixing America is like listening to two lunatics trying to “out crazy” one another. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are owned lock, stock, and barrel by the bankers, corporations, and big dollar donors funding their campaigns. Bush can deny it but common sense tells anyone willing to face facts is that people don't give tens of millions without expecting something in return.

We have had Democrats and Republican ideologues and what has it brought us? Are we better off today or worse off? Has it happened overnight or has it been a steady decline brought on by both parties?

I submit that a pragmatist might be just what America needs right now. And as I said earlier, a pragmatist sees a problem and understands that the solution to fix same is not about a party, but a willingness and boldness to get it done.

People are quick to confuse and despise confidence as arrogance, but that is common amongst those who have never accomplished anything in their lives, and who have always played it safe not willing to risk failure.

Plea from Concerned Lake Worth Citizen - Wake Up Lake Worth

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I don't know if you can help us or not but the over 600 "seniors" at Palm Beach Mobile Home Park are very upset with the current Lake Worth City Council and Mayor.  It does not appear that they care about what is happening to our city or our specific community.

We have the following concerns:

1. They changed the zoning of the park to Industrial without giving us a chance to voice our opinion.  They used the excuse that they sent out a letter several years ago to the previous owners of the park that the current owners did not know anythings about.  The previous owners objected to their plans but that did not matter to Lake Worth.  A few years back we found out only by having one of our residents being refused a permit to add a Florida room to his home.  He was told that no one could add any square footage to their homes as we were now zoned as industrial.

2. We just found out recently that since we were zoned as Commercial (now they are using this term) that they no longer had to provide us with curbside Garbage pick up.  They would now require the residents to place their garbage in a container that will be placed in the common area of the park.  WE ARE SENIORS IN THIS PARK and to expect people in their 70's, 80's and 90's to haul their garbage to a container and then try to get it in the container is in our opinion elder abuse.  Their excuse is that our streets are too narrow to do safe pick up.  I have lived here since 1982 and they have not had this problem in the past, why is it a problem now.

3. We have a street that the residents used to come in and out of the park (Joyce Street) that is full of pot holes and they state that they have no intention of repairing the street.

4. With their new plan of "building their 'Park of Commerce' there are plans to take some of the property that is now park property to achieve their goals.

5.We have had an increase in crimes in our park as well as the area around us and yet that does not seem to concern them.

We feel that they are trying to take the park away from us.  We live on limited incomes (maybe we don't pay the city enough to live here).  To force over 600 senior citizens out of the park or to take services away from us or to zone this park as Industrial shows us that seniors do not matter to the city.  From their plans it looks like they just want the upper class here.  They treat us like trailer trash.

The city needs to concentrate on decreasing crimes rather than building more useless buildings.  They need to care more about the people of this city and not on how they can make more money to spend it anyway they want or lining their pockets.

I don't care what they say, this city has declined tremendously since I moved here.  It was a safer and cleaner city.  Making Lake Avenue beautiful did not make the city more beautiful.  Making the beach more beautiful only took more of the beach away from the residents.  They took the naturalness away from it and made it look like something from a ritzy resort.  I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

We were a beautiful quaint little town and now we are a town with crime so bad that you can no longer walk the streets and be ensured of a nice evening.  Their vision is obscured by their own personal needs.  Wake up Lake Worth.  Tourists have come here for years.  The Canadians have been coming here and buying property for years.  Now they are selling their properties because of the decline in Lake Worth.  Stop making laws that are pointless and that no one is going to enforce and start fixing the problem.

Thank you for allowing me to vent my concerns that are felt by all of us.

A very Concerned Citizen

Christopher McVoy on Hudson Holding's meeting

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Guest Blogger
Commissioner Christopher McVoy

Good morning Lake Worth Residents:

I want to alert you to some development plans that seem to have been kept from the public eye and are rapidly moving forward.

I attended a meeting yesterday hosted by Hudson Holdings. Only Gulfstream Condominium property owners were invited. The developer announced that a six story hotel will be built on the property next to the Gulfstream, in addition to a parking garage that would provide complimentary private parking spaces to the Gulfstream Condominium owners.

Hudson Holdings also announced that they have submitted plans to the city for a Conference Center on our beach property that would include a Beach Club (that would sell memberships), a retail component, and 20,000 sf of conference space. This development is designed to be located directly south of our new Casino building. It is planned to cover at least one acre of our beach-front property.

I was not formally invited to the HH meeting and this information has not, to my knowledge, been made available to the public.

A meeting of the project Selection Committee was held on Election Day Tuesday Nov 4, 2014. Obviously, this is not a convenient time for even the most active of our residents to attend. Commissioner Amoroso is on the selection committee and I assume he has knowledge of this project, its size, the intensity, and the fast-track approach the developer is purportedly taking.

I personally worked very hard with a dedicated group of residents to keep our beach property 100% public and entirely under the control of our city. I will be demanding more information about this project and I will keep you up to date. I hope you will contact the commissioners with your comments and input.

Christopher McVoy

Editor's Note:  Should anyone make a complaint about this blog for not having a campaign disclosure, I have included it below.

 Political advertisement paid for and approved by Christopher McVoy for Lake Worth City Commissioner

"The city's full of crap," says Lake Worth lobbyist

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TIVOLI, DOWNLOW,

GODDAMIT, & NOSAY, P.A.

========================

666 Lobbyist Parkway, Suite 000

West Bum Beach, Florida

Telephone:  561-555-screwwu

December 2, 2014

Via Electronic Mail

Mr. Joe Low Baller

Town Mgr, June Beach

Subject:  Lake Worth City Hall Crap Collecting Facility

Dear Joe:

As you may know, the cities of Lake Worth, Palmetto Bug Springs, Brownacres, Atlandisthis, Belly Glade, Lowland Beach, Jupiter Outlet Center and Puddle Ridge are supporting the location of a crap collecting facility at Lake Worth City Hall.

As you are probably aware, the county is up to its ass in crap. And nowhere is this problem more serious than in Lake Worth. We are swimming in the stuff.

Recently we had a very positive meeting with representatives of the facility and we would appreciate your sending me a formal letter of support for the Lake Worth Crap Collection Facility.  If you agree, enclosed is a sample resolution that you can utilize for your letter. The problem is really reaching crisis proportions.  Several of our commissioners have had close calls with the huge amount of crap here at City Hall. As a matter of fact, one of our commissioners, Andy Imaloser, almost drowned when he slipped and fell into the crap.

As Lake Worth City Hall is already the crap epicenter, we thought it best to put the Crap Collecting Facility here and contain it all in one place.

If you agree, it would be much appreciated if any letter of support could be provided to me by Friday, December 12.  In addition, it would be appreciated if your governing body would adopt a resolution supporting the Crap Collecting Facility at Lake Worth City Hall.

Sincerely,

Gin Tivoli

Attachment

cc:  Nike Bornstone

Life is Not Free -

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AOL.com Article - Massachusetts mayor: Stop sending my city refugees

This guest blogger says that the world is F*&^%$ up and we are headed towards dooms day and there is nothing that can be done to correct the eventual order of things--a New World Order.   For more information and explanation on New World Order, Click here. I for one, enjoy conspiracy stories/theories and you just never know if this is a "story" or not because of the way things are progressing in the world today.

"Our government, under both political parties, has/is sending a lot of middle eastern, north African and Asian, not to mention all the Latin Americans, into the larger cities as well as here in the northeast. Now the Latin Americas are sending their children to the US and a lot of them are winding up here in the northeast!!! They know the American system and they will take advantage of it until it is stopped, and I don't think it will be stopped.  It's a mess boiling to a point of no return.

Then on top of all of this, besides government employment, there are very little jobs and all the baby boomers are retiring and counting the days to their government pensions which most will never get or a very reduced amount. The days of people retiring and moving to Florida, that used to move the Florida economy, are over. The people who do move to Florida are broke and are going to be looking for a government hand out there.

The problems of the world are not politically based; they are economic, based on a monetary system whose foundation is that of credit and debt and it's reaching its end cycle. We can not possibly extend more credit to anybody and our country is all tapped out. The middle east is on fire, Europe is on fire, all the Americas are on fire and the US is the frog in the pot that does not know it yet.  Asia is starting to fire up and China is a mess.

This is all by design by the world bankers and their agents -- governments who own everything. There will be civil war just like the Middle East and the Ukraine--everywhere including here in the land of milk and honey, the  U.S.A.  They will let the masses "genocide" themselves with civil war, just like in the past and clear the money game and then tell the survivors that a one world government will be implemented going forward.

Nothing has changed...same as it always was. Lie about everything, divide and concur. We have all contributed to this mess in one way or another because the system is not broke but stacked against you--it's fixed whether we know it or not and now there will be a price to pay.

Life is not free."

Anonymous Guest Blogger from New York

On LW 2020 and the General Obligation Bond

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The recent editorial in the Palm Beach Post is extremely generous with other people’s money-the Lake Worth taxpayers-by its suggestion that we add an additional burden of 3.43 mills for 30 years to our already over taxed property owners to pay for the neglect of the past 50 years and to add infrastructure to benefit residents for the next 100 years. Waterfront property owners could possibly see annual tax increases of several thousand dollars.

Do you think it equitable to burden the present homeowner for past and present neglect and for a future which only a very small number will be around to enjoy? In addition, our Commission was planning a revenue bond for $14 million for water pipe replacement which is now off the table as it is not legally possible, and 16% higher water rates.

This is the same Commission that ran on lowering electric rates to attract business and homeowner investment. (Lowering electric rates was able to be accomplished because a 5 year notice was given to FMPA in 2008 of our desire to exit by a past Commission for whom they excoriate at every opportunity.)

Does the present Commission think that a huge increase in both taxes and water rates will encourage investment in our community? A much more sensible and equitable approach would be to address the water distribution system on an as needed basis. A water supervisor told me a few weeks ago that they are aware of the pipes most in need of replacement.

The “tens of thousands of dollars a year” the City allegedly “burns through” likely refers to the salaries of the employees who patch the roads. A small investment in better equipment and use of a greater quantity of asphalt can make the fixes longer lasting.

Cities all over America have neglected infrastructure and with little means to afford replacement, so Lake Worth is not alone. It is time for our Commission and City Manager to come up with a new and less grandiose plan to gradually improve our infrastructure without penalizing the present taxpayers. And now we learn that the $62.3 million bond will really amount to $131 million when it is all said and done.

Laurence McNamara

Lake Worth Chronicles - A Parody - Part IV

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A huge crowd is forming in front of the Gulfstream Hotel where poor Scud Maxwealth is hanging from a half ripped down banner. To the crowds huge relief, Maxwealth is able to work his way onto a ledge, but he is still stuck high up on the side of the building.

Windy-Runt: We’ve got to do something!

Rolaround Silver: We have a big problem. We don’t have a ladder that can reach that high.

Les Lackman: What?! Practically the entire budget of Lake Worthless goes to your department!

Rolaround Silver: What budget? Nearly all of Lake Worthless' remaining funds have disappeared and nobody can account for them. It all started back there around 2020. All of the city's departments have been drastically cut.

Suddenly the crowd parts as a huge ladder truck with the words “Andershine Aerodynamics” on the side makes its way forward. Neighborhood activist Marley Linseed is sitting on top directing the crew with her megaphone.

Marley Linseed: EVERYBODY STAND BACK! WE HAVE THIS BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT THANKS TO A VERY, EXTREMELY GENEROUS GRANT THAT I APPLIED FOR THROUGH THE LYNNLEY ANDERSHINE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT FOUNDATION!

Scud Maxwealth is lowered to the ground and the crowd begins to disperse.

Windy-Runt: Scud, thank goodness you’re okay! And thank goodness for Lynnley Andershine! It’s a miracle!

Hermit Robertson comes speeding up in Glug Riceballs segway taxi.

Hermit Robertson: This must be a day for miracles. I just got the news- Mayor Pim Tralala is alive!

Les Lackman: What? How?

Hermit Robertson: Tralala was thrown clear of the stadium and knocked unconscious by the explosion. In the chaos following the blast, Tralala wandered off. She didn’t know who she was. Apparently she was picked up by a truck driver and has spent the last twenty-five years working on an animal farm in Alabama.

Windy-Runt: But how in the world did she get her memory back?

Hermit Robertson: A wild sow kicked her in the head and her memory just suddenly came back. She’s on her way back to town as we speak.

A huge white helicopter lands in the road in front of the Gulfstream Hotel. Lynnley Andershine, the richest woman in the world, steps out to address the crowd.

Les Lackman: She looks like an angel!

Windy-Runt: With the sun behind that gorgeous hair of hers, it almost looks like she has a halo!

Lynnley Andershine: I have decided to open a free wellness and healing mental health facility to help the many troubled people of Lake Worthless. Bark Eastmens has asked to be our first patient. In addition, I have agreed to buy the old Lake Worthless Herald and rename it the Lake Worth Chronicles. It is time for a new beginning.

Willy Waterson, (internationally known hair model): Thank God Bark is finally getting some help.

Someone from the crowd yells, "Yes, he never was quite right...but now...he’s gone completely batty.

Les Lackman: This has turned out to be quite a day. Where to next, Windy-Runt?

Windy-Runt: I don’t know. You decide.

As the sun begins to set, Les Lackman and Windy–Runt wander aimlessly back towards the docks. A low-flying Pelican, startled by Andershine’s helicopter, drops something on Les Lackman’s head.


The End.
Or is it?

Lake Worth Chronicles - A Parody - Part III

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The former bloggers, Windy-Runt and Les Lackman, finally make it to the fish house.

Hermit Robertson: Hey, it’s Windy-Runt and Les Lackman, two of my best customers!

Les Lackman: Hermit,you have the best fish in town!

Hermit Robertson: I owe it all to my fish girls, Loritta Shatz, Narine Burnt and Piggy Fishbottom. Those girls can clean any fish in nothing flat. Loritta chops off the heads and Narine and Piggy clean and filet the rest. Piggy does eat the occasional catfish researching it to death but that’s okay. She’s a big gal and needs to keep up her strength.

Windy-Runt: Hermit, is it true that our ex-city manager, Nike Bornstone, is up for parole again?

Hermit Robertson: Yep. That’s a sad tale for sure.

Les Lackman: What exactly happened? It’s been so long ago…

Hermit Robertson: It happened right after the baseball stadium in old JPP got blown up by the radical male cheerleaders, Martian Passed, Grim Stapherd and Barty Illfeld. City Manager Nike Bornstone went crazy. He thought he was a pirate, kidnapped city clerk Pom Garcia, and tried to hijack the Casino Cruise gambling ship. Poor Pom, an angry mob of senior snowbirds, denied their rights to gamble, trampled her. She was so close to retirement, too.

Windy-Runt: How tragic!

Hermit Robertson: The only attorney that would defend Bornstone was ex-city attorney Gin Tivoli. Then Bornstone had the bad luck to get federal judge Denley Dorsii.

Les Lackman: Dorsii? There’s no tougher judge than Dorsii.

Hermit Robertson: Right. Well, the only person Gin Tivoli could get to speak on Bornstone’s behalf was former Lake Worthless mayor Ron Ex-lax. When Dorsii asked Bornstone to make a statement, he stood up and started shouting “Arghhh, Arghhh!"  Poor Nike Bornstone got sixty years in a Federal prison.

Thom Ramitchyoho, the day old bread salesman, has been eavesdropping on the conversation. At the mention of Bornstone’s name he begins weeping, trips over an empty rainbow colored can of Dunty Moor stew, and is almost run over by a speeding segway taxi, operated by Bobo Allende, Lake Worthless rat catcher.

Hermit Robertson: On a happier note, I managed to get my hands on a couple of copies of Kat McShiverin’s latest novel. “Your Life Sucks Compared to Mine.” Our local Kat got her start writing petitions.

Les Lackman: Wow, she really looks good for her age.

Windy-Runt: You’d look good too, if all you had to do was go to spas and live on your own private island, provided by Lynnley Andershine, of course.

Les Lackman: I think that they used to call it “Cuba.” Don’t be bitter. Windy-Runt, Kat Mcshiverin does happen to be the bestselling author of all time. I should have learned from Lynnley Andershine when I had the chance instead of my being a revisionist!

Everyone looks up as emergency vehicles fly by, sirens blaring, headed towards the Gulfstream Hotel where Scud Maxwealth is hanging from an illegal banner.

More to come...

Lake Worth Chronicles - A Parody - Part II

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Our garbage could make us a wealthy city-

Now that's turning a negative into a positive!

Windy-Runt: Since the Lake Worthless Herald went belly up, there’s no way to get the latest gossip. Why don’t you start writing your blog again, Les?

Les Lackman: I don't have anything to write about since Andershine left town. Without Andershine, there is no blog.

Windy-Runt: Anyway, we’re stuck in Lake Worthless. I hate to admit it, but we all would have starved to death if it hadn’t been for Carrot Jennings and her boyfriend Pantyslokesxyzqrszzyxx starting the Lake Worthless Community Garden. After twenty years of Obummer the Dictator...

Les Lackman: ALL HAIL OBUMMER! Be careful about what you say. There might be some rogue drones left.

Windy-Runt and Les Lackman continue their aimless wanderings down Lake Worthless main Street. Uncollected garbage is piled up on both sides. They decide to go down to the fish house on the Intracoastal, run by Hermit Robertson. Suddenly, a pile of garbage near Windy-Runt starts to move! Windy-Runt: Oh my God! That’s not a pile of garbage! It’s Bark Eastmens, the ex-editor of the now defunct Lake Worthless Herald!

Les Lackman: He’s gone crazy and turned violent! Run!

Les Lackman and Windy-Runt run for their lives, but Bark Eastmens, fueled by insane rage, begins to overtake them. Out of nowhere, Glug Riceball and his Segway taxi swoops in and delivers Les Lackman and Windy-Runt from danger. Glug Riceball is one of the few remaining businessmen left in Lake Worthless. His Segway Taxi Service took off after gasoline became unaffordable for the average person and before the visionaries acted on Andershine's idea of turning all our garbage into fuel.

Glug Riceball:  Eastmens out of control. He used to be satisfied with chasing Pelicans down by the docks. Earlier today he took a bite out of some poor guy’s leg. I’m going to have to call Lake Worthless top cop, Rolaround Silver. Since Lake Worthless was awarded a national graffiti painting grant from the Andershine Foundation last month, Silver is going to be able to put more cops on the street.

Windy-Runt: He must be Lake Worthless' oldest cop by now.

Les Lackmen: And he’s still Lake Worthless' FINEST cop, if you know what I mean !

Lake Worth Chronicles - A Parody

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Our story opens in a small town called Lake Worthless, twenty-five years into the future. Les Lackman and Anna Marie Windy-Runt walk hand in hand down the bombed out, bummed out and blighted main street of Lake Worthless.

Windy-Runt: I can't believe that you aren't gay anymore.

Les Lackman:(Singing) I like big boobs and I cannot lie... Sorry. There was just no more political capital in being gay.

Windy-Runt: Do you want to go over to the crater?

Les Lackman: No . It depresses me. Who knew Wobbles would be so right? The brand new baseball stadium in old John Prince Park, bombed by terrorists on the pre-opening day gala. We lost a lot of good people on that day...Mayor Pim Tralala, Commissioner Andy Imaloser...

Windy-Runt: It could have been a lot worse. Only the officials and local politicians were there. Are you sure that you don't want to bring your noodle, jump on your bike and go to Memorial Lake ? Ex- Lake Worthless commissioner Scud Maxwealth runs the paddleboat concessions there. He might let us ride for free and throw in a free burger or two.

Les Lackman: Remind me again why Scud Maxwealth and Christopher Mcvan didn't get blown up.

Windy-Runt: Rumor has it that Maxwealth was up late the night before partying with Marsha Foley and the old Lake Worthless Herald editor, Bark Eastmens. They were all passed out and didn't wake  up in time to make it to the ceremony. Mcvan boycotted the event and was off on a mission to save dolphins in Japan.

Les Lackman: Lynnley Andershine funded that dolphin saving trip. I can't believe that Andershine is the richest woman in the world.

Windy-Runt: I know. Andershine won the biggest Power Ball in history and left town with all her friends, the reason stated was because of all the corrupt elected officials who decided to put the baseball stadium in old JPP. Andershine's wealth and influence just kept expanding, getting bigger and bigger! I hate it !

To be continued by Anonymous Guest Blogger...

Lake Worth, more or less

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Coming up--a Lake Worthless parody by guest blogger

John Prince Park as possible location for Spring training site through the eyes of a neighbor

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Regarding John Prince Park as a site for a national baseball Spring training site, the will of the people who will be affected by this enterprise is the primary consideration.  It's easy to armchair it ...if you're not the families impacted by this project. 

The prevailing thinking is... 'that's their problem and it doesn't affect me so let them deal with it.' Special interests bank on this thinking to isolate and marginalize the impact of their projects on the public.  This is how it happens that one day when a problem affects your neighborhood... no one is there to help and when you try to get neighbors involved they say "what can we do... it's just a few of us." 

The sudden reversal of zoning at Hypoluxo and High Ridge Road last year looked like an inevitable slam-dunk.  The neighbors to the project were few in number but we helped them get organized, appeared in photos and at commission meetings with them and stood in solidarity with their position which was appropriate and reasonable.  In the end, the project was voted down despite Commissioner Vana's desperate efforts to keep the deal alive for the developer who wanted a 24 pump RaceWay gas station across the street from their homes.  

Unless we are willing to accept that our neighbor's problems are our problems, special interests will continue to successfully nibble away at our quality of life one little neighborhood at a time ...and isolated communities are prime pickin's for those interests.  In fact, it's the first consideration... "are there any neighborhood organizations?"  And unless we connect with our neighbor's concerns, how can we expect them to connect with ours when our time of need arises?  Mostly it takes numbers and bodies to change things.

That being said, I think Mr Haine's indicated that deed restrictions moved this project to another location... so this may all be over before it begins.

One other thing, Lake Worth's problems are self inflicted and no matter how much money rolls into that city... the money will just roll back out again in the form of waste and in support of special interests.  No one there, once in power, is willing to address either the waste or corruption issues that have plagued that city for decades.  What other city has electric, water and sewer utilities they can rob and still can't balance their budget?  How do other cities without an electric utility do it?  Imagine losing 8 million dollars by a supposed accounting error or imagine not being able to find 4 million in CASH in a bond account.


William Coakley
President of the Lake Osborne Estates Civic Association, Inc.

Guest Blogger on the Lake Worth Electric Utility - He says "sell it"

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Anonymous Guest Blogger

What is the difference in the end cost to the ratepayers under the new purchased power contract with OUC?  If the new costs under the contract with Orlando Utilities Commission are integrated into the cost the ratepayers are now getting as of October 1, 2013, what is the cost difference between what LW is/was and the fully loaded cost to purchase a megawatt of power from FMPA and the new cost to purchase that same megawatt of power from OUC? That question has never been fully explored or explained.

Under the contract with FMPA, the city received capacity credits of 3.5 to 4 million dollars a year from the generation availability of LW for the FMPA power pool.  Also under the same contract, FMPA paid the 60k monthly charge for the gas transmission line that was installed for the failed Enron project, another LW boondoggle. Lake Worth failed to have a performance bond clause. Since we elected to exit FMPA, we  had to pay for the gas transmission line until that dispute was settled. The capacity revenue streams will end on January 1 and it is factored into the new contract.

How do we, the ratepayers, know if we are receiving a cost savings with the transition to OUC. With the blending of the two suppliers into the 4.5 % rate reduction, it is not transparent as required.  One can't say LW Utilities has a very good track record with providing facts and trust, so to provide us with public information isn't exactly transparent.

Also under item F of the PCA calculation it stipulates a contribution to the city that is improper. Under rules set forth by the Florida Public Service Commission, that is not to be imposed on any utility ratepayers but we do not have to go before a Public Service Commission. The PCA is to be a "pass through" charge only and not intended to be an additional revenue stream for the Utility.  Again when has LW played by the same rules as say FPL or any trustworthy entity.

There has been failed direction to make LW a viable Utility that is for the benefit of the customers and not the employees.  A municipal electric utility is predicated on the premise stated previously.  LW lost sight of that many years ago and the Utility is in the condition it is because of that failure and continues to elect not to challenge the status quo.

SELL THE UTILITY.

Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect those of Lynn's Little Bit of Trivia.  The electric utility board is presently exploring all options on whether to maintain/retain what we have or sell. I have always wanted to see the numbers and the pros and cons of both options.

A Desperate Cry for Help - A neighborhood in despair

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Guest Blogger:
Joe Furner, PhD
a resident of Tropical Ridge Neighborhood with important questions for our elected officials

Dear Mayor Pam and other City Officials:

I am writing to follow up on a meeting I had with Mayor Pam Triolo back over a year ago now when Pam said she would get back to me on getting us sidewalks on C, D, and E Streets between Lake and Lucerne Ave (each one block lengths). But to this date she has not gotten back to me. We walked the area and I showed you Mayor how there are many sections incomplete where we have to walk in the road, which create safety hazards for drivers and the pedestrians in this area.  Pam, you told me you would get back to me (and that was over a year ago) about what sidewalks would be fixed and when.  You never got back to me, never sent me the plans. When will these sidewalks be put in?  When will the safety of the citizens in this area be addressed? Can I expect these sidewalks to be done before election time, as I do vote.  It also does matter to me as a citizen and a resident in this area of the city where I drive and walk and my safety is at risk. Pam, what do you know at this point about the status of these sidewalks?

I wanted to write again to mention the concern we all have about crime.  About 10 days ago, a man was attacked and robbed outside my house at *** North D Street.  He was a drunk Guatemalan man and targeted likely due to his drunkenness, but was attacked and robbed about midnight on Aug. 27. We are seeing way too much crime again in this area of the city.  What action plans do you all and the city have in place to address crime? How are you working with the PBSO to deal with so much crime in this sector where I live-- there is so much prostitution, drug dealing, drunks all over, and loitering. We have a real problem; what is the city doing to address this?  Can you please let me know?  What can I do to help? Tonight we met with our TRNA group and the police officer assigned to our area. It seems they feel their hands are tied and they cannot do much. The police officer said her sector is so large that she can't be everywhere and they can't do much about the prostitutes.  What is anyone (city leaders and PBSO) doing to make the streets safer? What are you all doing about all the blight? The abandoned and uncared for  properties, like at 204 North E Streets or 110 North D Streets? 

Lastly, can you all please send a street sweeper over in the area of North D and E Streets and 2nd Ave North, there is so much broken glass here, partly due to all the drunks breaking beer bottles on the weekend, but also I think your recycle truck broke a lot of glass on Thursday during their last pick up. Normally you send a street sweeper each Monday to clean things up in this area, I didn't see one today.  We really need a street sweeper desperately to clean up the streets please. 

Thanks so much for serving us as our elected officials. I hope we can start seeing some results and I do hope to hear from you about these matters.  Please email me back when you read this email and also let me know how I can help as a citizen to better help all of you.

I met with a county commissioner, Paulette Burdick, a few months ago and she said you can contact her (5613552202) as she may have funds for the sidewalks. Also, I will write to Sheriff Bradshaw to see how he can better help address crime in this city. The blight and crime is just out of control lately. I hope you all will also contact him and give him more support to improve the conditions of these areas of the city, especially a few blocks west of city hall.

Thanks so much, I look forward to hearing from you once you receive this. I am happy to meet with the city manager as well to discuss this and walk the areas of concern so he can see firsthand what I am talking about. What more can the City Manager of Lake Worth do to improve the conditions over here?

Thanks and God bless.

Peace,
Joseph Furner

It's the Spirt of the people--not its Poverty

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From: May Goodstein [mailto:maygoodstein@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 5:14 PM
To: Wes Blackman; Mary Lindsey; Lynn Anderson
Subject: blight
Dear Lake Worth Bloggers:

Reading each of you this week left me thoroughly depressed. Here in my little blighted end of Lake Worth, I find a lot of people happily living their lives and being friendly in the world. Not everyone, of course, lots of people in various kinds of personal and social disorder, and passing their stresses on to their neighbors. Despite what Mark Easton thinks, there was not a row of developers waiting to build us a nice hotel at Bryant Park. Our city's future does not rest on hotels, but on community spirit, which we have. Our present dilemma is part of the national dilemma from social imbalance and for-sale legislators who see their own careers not their responsibility to the greater good.

Even if there were many developers waiting to build and so bring up our property values, a trip down A1A from St Augustine reinforced my understanding of the risks of big development. I recommend you all take that trip. Huge wealthy condos surrounded by blight and poverty. In Lake Worth, we choose to be a real place, not a winter haven for the very well to do. We are a real place, full of history and long term residents. Plus we own our beach, and to date, our utilities.

We are a small town which hopes to stay livable. Here in Lake Worth, we need more bed and breakfasts, and more help in reworking the 20 foot lot layouts. That is work done by small developers, not Marriotts. We need real code enforcement accompanied by volunteers who can help those people fix their problems. The combination of poverty and ignorance makes up much of our problem. In the old days, people fixed their own problems, now permits are required and no one knows how to do anything anyway. (Before the city gets volunteers to clean the alleys, volunteers need to go to the front doors and invite the inhabitants to join the team. Community building is job one in those areas.)

When you are complaining about the illegal immigrants, think of the early inhabitants of this continent who were overcome and destroyed by our own ancestors. Not a proud story. But from the earliest roots of history, we know that people have migrated to find better forage and there is no likelihood that we can change that. What we can do is educate and improve our stewardship of our own community. We can celebrate our accomplishments......this last year brought sidewalk by Pinecrest cemetary, where kids had to walk in the street for generations. We also got storm drains a few years ago, great help. If you drive down the lower alphabet streets south of 6th, you will see lots of nicely painted homes and trim yards, much progress visible. Not all discarded beer cans and needles down here.

And those young people conspiring to make the world a better place are not half the menace you paint them as, time will cure their idealism and bring the grim reality that the more things change the more they are the same.

May Goodstein

The Cold Hard Facts of our economy

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Guest Blogger
In Saturday’s ( 3/16/13) Palm Beach Post there is an article on biotech company leaving PB county.

The hardest thing about any start-up company is starting up-- it takes a lot of money that most do not have so when you are a biotech start up you need a sucker to give you free money. And that sucker was all of us in south Florida. We have given them free tax payer money to get them started ( not to mention the Federal grant money that they also received which is of course tax payer money too), put in infrastructure and buildings that our regular economy has no use for and now we are holding the bag for years to come.

In Florida there are 3 sectors and only 3 sectors for business: Agriculture , Tourism , and Housing construction. We have killed Agriculture by de-mucking all the good farm land on the coast (the only place that you can farm year around, east of congress to the coast, it gets too cold west of congress in winter) to over building of houses. We just don't have enough small farming to help the economy.

Tourism is not what it used to be any more. Tourist season has gotten shorter and shorter over the years for a lot of reasons, and by over building all over the state of Florida, we are now competing with ourselves (Florida has the longest sea shore area of the country-- people don't have to come to Lake Worth or Palm Beach County to get good beaches) and our taxes have gone up so much that most people just don't want to come here anymore. We just don't have enough tourism to help the economy.

We have killed construction by over building to the point that we will not need much going forward for a long time. Not to mention that the financial sector has screwed us by over lending on construction that is not worth much anymore and most are up-side down.

The housing rental bubble is on now and when the hedge fund guys and all the smaller speculators finally realize that the rental business is not much good (unemployed and $9 / $10 dollars an hour just will not cut it to pay rent), they will dump all those properties because they paid cash and now own the deeds. They will sell at a loss just to get out and home prices will go down again. We will not get enough new construction to help the economy.

And now all we have is service work at $9.00 to $10.00 an hour to get by. It will not be enough to help the economy. We will never be Silicon Valley here. It is anchored very well on the west coast of the country where it's closer to Asia where most of the action is for a good while yet, but we are left holding the bag on all the speculation that we have done.

Cesar Figueroa
Lake Worth

Guest Blogger on Heights Referendum in Lake Worth

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Guest Blogger:
Gael Silverblatt
(Former Chair of Lake Worth's Tree board and former member of the Planning and Zoning board, Lake Worth)

I just watched the news story called Pros and Cons- Lake Worth height limit vote,  and was surprised the reporter only presented the Cons side. Perhaps  he only heard from the proponents of the hotel district.

I heard him say repeatedly that the proposed Hotel District will only be 'one block long'. The actual area proposed is 4 blocks long  and 2 to 3 blocks wide and abuts to the North and to the South strictly residential historic neighborhoods. They would be adversely effected by the 6 story buildings looming over them and the increased traffic.

The architectural renderings prepared by city staff showing the proposed Hotel District are on the Lake Worth City Website. The renderings, which staff admits do not even depict  maximum build-out,  show 833 hotel rooms, over 1000 parking spaces, 4 buildings of 6 stories and 1 building of 5 stories all east of Federal creating a very congested area.

This is not a one block hotel district as he said on air.

The reporter said that a NO vote is for jobs but the Lake Worth Economic Development Manager, Delores Key, reported to the city commission at a recent meeting, that hotels only bring minimum wage jobs. She also said there were no grants or tax incentives for hotels and that the city should concentrate it's efforts to encourage the creation of higher wage jobs for which there are grants and tax incentives available. Not that I am totally against hotels but where is it written that hotels have to be 6 stories.

Who will benefit from this over development? Not the residents because the area is within the Community Redevelopment Agency’s boundaries and the increase in the tax base will mostly go to them and not to the general revenue fund to pay the city’s bills.

The idea of a hotel district originated as an excuse for the commission to raise the height limits and not follow the wishes of the residents.

This referendum proposal was originated by a grass roots group of residents who were offended that a new city commission majority disregarded years of work and compromise in developing the city's new comprehensive plan and zoning regulations that gave clear direction to the type of development the city wanted that would bring progress but still respect and maintain the city's low rise flavor.

The purpose of the referendum was to place appropriate height limits in the charter that could not be changed without another vote of the residents and prevent the look and character of the city's most important gateways from being changed forever by a 3 to 2 vote of a sitting city commission.

One-sided news report from channel 12

Centennial Ball - A well-heeled event

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It is ironic that the upcoming February 16th Centennial Ball to be held at our new public Casino has a theme where the elite in 1922 were doing very well and didn't bother to think about the people who couldn't afford the fancy beaded gowns, expensive suits, rag top automobiles and speakeasy parties.

Fast forward to 2013, the year of our city's centennial, and we begin the festivities with the formal inauguration and grand opening festivities at our municipal ballroom with Ferris wheels and most likely cotton candy and a sold out crowd of 300, most having paid $75.00 per ticket plus whatever it would cost them to rent a costume to fit the required Gatsby/Zoot suit attire to be in harmony with the celebrated theme of this grand event.

Those of you who were at the commission meeting recently heard me make a humble request to raffle off or gift via lottery one or two tickets so that at least a couple of our residents for whom I am sure would have loved to have attended but could not afford to spend $75.00 plus at least another $75.00 for costume rental. The commission was quick to state they didn't host the event. Really? That did not have to stop them from at least stating they would make an attempt to approach the committee who did plan this and ask them for this concession.   

Brings me to my closing point...My personal opinion is that we are falling short of sending the message that we care about ALL of our residents not just the more affluent ones in our city.  Many of our senior residents who would enjoy a 1920's themed event mostly live on fixed incomes and could not afford the stress that a $150.00 incidental expense would cause to their budget.

I wonder if anybody thought to gift some tickets to some of the residents of Lake Worth Towers, I hope so.  I hope a comment gets posted saying "Mark, you spoke too soon we donated X amount of tickets to residents of Lake Worth Towers or a Senior Care Facility operating within our city."  One of the few times I HOPE I am wrong about something, I really want to be wrong on this one.

Just because it's a fundraising event doesn't mean there isn't value in the good will created by my suggestion.  I dare to suggest it outweighs the monetary benefit of the sale of one or two tickets.

Sincerely,
Mark A. Parrilla