Reverse Racism in Lake Worth

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God, is no one happy here?  You can't win no matter what you do.  Now someone is pissed off because of a mural on the rear side of La Joya Villages depicting a white boy and painted by an artist trying to give a little beauty back to the area. Get a freaking life, complainer!

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La Joya Villages Lake Worth

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La Joya Villages are affordable rentals built on the railroad tracks at 1105 6th Ave S, Lake Worth.

About the property:

Geoff Pugh got $643,500 for the land from the CRA; the CRA sold it to La Joya Villages for $1; the CRA paid for the demolition even before it owned the property; the CRA paid for the option for quite some time at $14,000 a month in order to control the outcome; if there was a  Realtor involved, he got his money; the CRA got to spend government money; the developer lined his pockets; poor people can rent and live on the railroad tracks. There was going to be a traffic nightmare so the City of Lake Worth, being the compatible guys they are, decided to pour hundreds of thousands to re-pave 7th Avenue South, make it a one-way street running all the way from South F Street to South A.  And the CRA gets any increase in tax money from the project, not the city.

They told us that well, gee, we need affordable rentals as people shouldn't have to live in dumps. These were supposed to "bring up" the hood and change the neighborhood.  I guess a graffiti artist got inspiration from the mural painted on the backside across from the railroad tracks but who can see it but freight conductors?

Message from the President of Genesis Neighborhood Association

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Genesis Neighborhood Association has been incorporated and active since January 2010. Every year since we started, we have attended Palm Beach County Resident Education to Action Program and for two years in a row, we have acquired grants. We have also acquired other funding through our very successful efforts, thanks to local small businesses and resident donations.

This year we are working with the city to identify a city owned property in order to acquire it and install playground equipment within the Genesis boundaries.  We have acquired three corporate sponsors as well as two church organizations that stand in solidarity with our efforts.  We have initiated, developed and maintained a healthy productive line of communication with municipal, county and state elected officials and staff.  Shelly Vanna personally awarded Genesis a certificate of recognition for our accomplishments at a meeting before Genesis was even one year old.

When Genesis had its first meeting, the majority of residents clamored for the paving of the major avenues that traverse our east - west boundaries and speed bumps on A Street.  In 2011, we got our speed bumps after Genesis distributed a petition that acquired a 90% approval from all the residents who lived on A street between 6th and 12th Avenues South.  It took nearly five years of constant attendance to commission meetings, meetings with multiple Directors of Public Services and two different city managers and here we are today happy to announce that 10th Avenue South is no longer a sand dirt road, 8th Avenue south is under construction and 7th Avenue South is a green light to begin paving in 2015!

Countless residents can attest to the assistance, advocacy and compassion and care they have received from Genesis members and the board of directors, one of whom is known as the “Grandmother of Lake Worth.” We are most proud of her testament. We have painted so many homes in our city and county.  This year we will launch our Leocadia Fonseca Endowment Fund which will award a $1,209.00 dollar grant to a worthy Lake Worth neighborhood association that does not have funds to perform a community improvement project of their choice.  A twelve member Board of Directors will vote to approve one application.  This was due to launch this month but with my four major life threatening hospitalizations, the roll out schedule had to be pushed back.  Genesis has also negotiated commercial space that we toured last month in the new La Joya Villages development where we can have our meetings and a Genesis Community Center.

On the eve of our first quarterly meeting in 2015, I extend an open invitation to the board of directors of Memorial Park Neighborhood Association.  They are listed on the NAPC website for approximately a year now but are not legally incorporated nor have they ever held any meetings or yet done anything for the neighborhood.  If they are serious about doing something positive for the community, then I extend my hand in a sincere invitation to join forces with an organization that has a five year track record of amazing results.  We need as many hands on deck to accelerate or progress.  There should be no room for egos or personality conflicts if the common goal of community improvement is sincere.  I will reiterate our willingness to take part in the call for spirit of unity in our city for the New Year.  Let us make a difference as a team! Best wishes,

James Ward and I look forward to seeing you at our meeting on Monday, 6pm, January 26, 2015 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 928 S. E Street, Lake Worth, FL. Come on out and meet your candidates!

Mark A. Parrilla
Genesis Neighborhood Association, Inc.
Genesis Website

PB County Environmental Coalition

Today in the local section of the Palm Beach Post is an article on the Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition and its planned protest at the Briger site on December 5.  The Coalition says, "If completed, the development would destroy the 681-acre Briger Forest, one of the largest unprotected forests of its size in the southern region of the state."

This group is an active group that speaks out on the injustices in our society and looks out for our environment and natural resources.  Sometimes, during their enthusiasm, they get arrested for such things as disturbing the peace or tree hugging, etc. They are always polite but stand up for their convictions, something that the status quo and developer enthusiasts absolutely abhor.

An excerpt from Panagioti Tsolkas co-chair, PBC Environmental Coalition on 7th Avenue South and the City of Lake Worth's desire to pave it over all for the convenience of the development, La Joya Villages:

When I went out to knock on doors in the neighborhood surrounding 6th Avenue South yesterday—spreading the word about an attempt to pave a new road—I was reminded of the years I spent in the area working with families in a community garden on 6th Avenue and F Street.   After 8 years of growing fruits, vegetables and community bonds, the land we had worked was bulldozed, in 2007, by the forces of greed and indifference.

Read the rest of this article. We have a segment in our city who believe that everything should be paved or built higher. This is Panagioti's story and it's worth the read to understand the other side of this argument.

La Joya Villages and 7th Avenue South

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Building affordable housing is the latest cash grab scheme, cash the government really doesn't have but doles it out anyway in the form of grants to those clever enough to qualify and sing the right tune.

Built on 1.9 acres on the railroad tracks, La Joya Village (low-cost rentals built out nearly to the curb), is almost complete. If you recall, the CRA used money from the $23 million NSP2 grant to purchase the land. The CRA was to contribute $1.8 million from the federal NSP2 grant toward the $10.6 million projected cost of the project. When you build affordable housing, a developer can always expect to receive other financing and tax credits:  low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bond money provided by the county’s Housing Finance Authority.

7th Avenue South across from La Joya Village

7th Avenue South is the street that the City of Lake Worth wants to pave using $480,750 in CDBG grant funds for the road project that will go through from directly across from La Joya Village to A Street. The city wants to put in a two-way street in order to accommodate the Texas-based Realtex Development Corporation and the Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, a not-for-profit affordable housing group.

Paving 7th Avenue South is all a part of the free cash scam--government grants to the City of Lake Worth.

7th Avenue South is a street that has been quiet with little traffic with most of it blocked off, used by neighborhood kids who have no park and no where to play. Now the city wants to change all of that to suit a low-cost housing developer that is getting much of his money from the government including Lake Worth and the CRA.

Citizens from around the 7th Avenue South neighborhood and in the city came to a recent city commission meeting to relay their concerns.  Of course, the "best commission ever" supporters believe that these residents are thwarting progress even complaining about Commissioner McVoy who brought forth the complaints and pulled the item from the Consent Agenda for discussion.  People who have concerns seem to solicit the help of Commissioner McVoy knowing that he will listen and try to resolve them.

All of us are hoping that this low income project (La Joya Villages) does not add problems to this neighborhood and that all the surrounding residents' anxieties will be addressed.

Lake Worth pushing its agenda

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Tuesday night's Consent Agenda consisted of four CDBG block grants. This is a grant program through HUD and there are no matching funds involved. One of the programs was pulled for discussion.

If you recall, during the bond referendum and the mayor's Palm Beach Post publicity, she  complained that "Some of our roads aren't even paved."

Nearly one year ago, and six months after the La Joya Villages project was approved,  Palm Beach County and the City entered into an Interlocal Agreement for the 7th Avenue South Right-of-Way Improvements Project. The Grant was for an expenditure of $450,750 setting the terms. The city now says that it needs $30,000 more for design and installation of water mains and appurtenances, bringing up the total cost to $480,750 for the road project on 7th Avenue South that will include new road base, installation of curbs and gutters, asphalt roadway, concrete sidewalks, sod and restoration of areas that they mess up during the project.

When you receive CDBG funding, you must develop and follow a detailed plan that provides for and encourages citizen participation usually in the area where residents will be affected. The process is specific and the plan must provide citizens with reasonable and timely access to local meetings; an opportunity to review proposed activities and program performance; provide for timely written answers to written complaints and grievances; and identify how the needs of non-English speaking residents will be met in the case of public hearings where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can be reasonably expected to participate.

Many people contacted Commissioner McVoy about the proposed project that will affect where they live.  They had no prior knowledge of the project  that would change their street to something less than desirable in their minds as their kids play there in safety on what is a majority of unpaved roadway from A to F Street.  I haven't seen Commissioner Cara Jennings in nearly two years and she was there defending the concerns of the residents who had not had a chance to weigh in on the city's proposed changes. Also, former commissioner Jo-Ann Golden turned in a card to speak. There were three or four cards turned in by Commissioner McVoy without the person in attendance and Scott Maxwell, leading the meeting that night, referred to the city attorney for an opinion to accept.

According to the LW Herald, it seems now that the city is putting out the word that it had about four prior meetings for the public to participate and about 30 people attended each meeting. It is condemning the people because they didn't know one thing about it and also blaming others who they believe are behind this dreadful conspiracy as well as for a "beach disaster" that only exists in the mind of one commissioner.  I didn't know about it either but I don't live in the neighborhood.

The Herald's advice to the commission is for them to ignore "the late tactics so this city can move forward."  This is not about "blocking progress" as the news editor states but public participation is mandated by law. What this is about, however, is installing a paved road to accommodate La Joya Village, low-cost affordable rentals on the railroad tracks so that it will have better access to get to I-95. 6th Avenue South is impossible to cross and there are no lights other than at A Street.

All people should matter. Their opinions should count and not be condemned. But some in Lake Worth disagree. The item will come back again to the commission.

Low cost rentals ground-breaking in Lake Worth

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Originally selling the land for $1, last year, the CRA defended the low-cost apartment rental building and its investment of $2 million from the NSP2 grant. Read what they had to say... back in August. There is a long history with this piece of property involving the CRA.

La Joya Village was on the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners agenda on March 12, 2013 approving the issuance of up to $6 million in revenue bonds to finance the acquisition approving GA Housing LLC or other tax exempt investment fund sponsored by Red Stone Partners and community & Southern Bank or an affiliate thereof, as the Purchaser of said bonds, within the meaning of Palm Beach County Code Section 2-190. The county is not involved in any way to pay the principal or interest on the bonds.

One property owner across from La Joya said at the time this was first announced that "There's a lot of things going on, drugs deals, things you wouldn't want in your neighborhood." City Manager  Mike Bornstein has said that he hopes La Joya Villages will “inspire some confidence and reinvestment” in this neighborhood.  Just because it is new housing stock does not mean that the neighborhood will stabilize or that crime and blight will be eliminated.  That often comes with the growth of low-cost rentals which can and very often does undermine the quality of life and threatens residents who simply want safe and clean places to live.

La Joya Village (the Jewel) approved by Lake Worth

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For some background on the La Joya property said in an earlier blog: Pugh, the original owner, gets $643,500 for the land from the CRA; the CRA sells it to La Joya Villages for $1; the CRA paid for the demolition even before it owned the property; the CRA paid for the option for quite some time at $14,000 a month in order to control the outcome; if there is a  Realtor involved, he gets his money; the CRA gets to spend government money; the developer lines his pockets; poor people can rent and live on the railroad tracks and traffic will be a nightmare at that intersection. And the CRA gets any tax money from the project, not the city.

La Joya Villages is a 55 unit apartment complex that will be located at southeast corner of 6th Avenue S. and S. “F” Street. The project is a venture between La Joya Villages and the City of Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).  Last night when it came to the discussion and eventual passing of the La Joya Village (everyone there knew there would be no burps), Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell recused himself from the discussion and the vote and left the chambers. Scott Maxwell is the 2nd vice President of the League of Cities and the League appointed him to the Community Land Trust Board.

The Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, Inc. (CLT of PBC) is a countywide housing non-profit organization created for the purpose of  providing permanently affordable housing opportunities for residents of Palm Beach County.  

The CLT of PBC acquires land and makes it available in perpetuity for affordable housing.  The CLT separates ownership of the land from ownership of the housing unit.  The housing units are sold to income eligible households at an affordable price.  The land is made available to homeowners through a 99 year land lease.

So?  With the above explanation on the CLT, did Maxwell really have to recuse himself using the CLT as the reason?

The interesting part of the presentation was when La Joya Villages gave all sorts of kudos to Director Joan Olivia and the CRA for all their work in making this project an acceptable one to the Planning & Zoning board who approved unanimously as well as to the city commission. All they had to do was spend and turn over government money. Now we will have 55 more rentals in a sea of 60% rentals in Lake Worth with these located on the railroad tracks costing poor renters, who will probably get government subsidies, over $700/$1,000 a month. No wonder this country is broke...trickle down economics.

More affordable housing in Lake Worth - La Joya Villages

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It's fun to spend other people's money and the CRA after years of wasteful spending on the Pugh property (Pugh is the guy who did the renovation of our pool for Greater Bay) located at 6th Avenue South and F Street, finally is seeing its development dream begin. It has committed to spend a ton of money to build affordable rental housing on the parcel. Imagine that?  More affordable housing.  Spending more federal money to attract more poor people to a city that can't rise above the ashes. This project is being built on the railroad tracks--lucky devils--with what appears to be not much in set-backs from the street. More bang from the buck that way.  Renters will be leasing for $712 a month up to $1,000 a month for 3 bedrooms.

Ever since the CRA got the NSP2 $23 million grant, it has been burning holes in their pocket. The CRA will contribute $1.8 million from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant toward the $10.6 million projected cost of the project. Other financing is expected to come from low-income housing tax credits and from tax-exempt bond money provided by the county’s Housing Finance Authority. The $1.8 million will pay for the impact and permit fees to the City and the County. The remainder of the $1.8 will be used for infrastructure costs, recording and closing costs, engineering and architectural fees, the bond application, utility relocation and other fees that all constitute the NSP-2 eligible expenses.

The CRA was very excited as this development site put them well over their stated 100 unit goal in the NSP2 plan. When it spent $5.8  million redeveloping this county road years ago, it was to attract development. The only way their dream is coming true for development is because the CRA bought this property with federal grant money and will be using grant money for its development. This will be the very first development project on 6th Avenue South, a costly pipe-dream.

So, Pugh gets $643,500 for the land from the CRA; the CRA sells it to La Joya Villages for $1; the CRA paid for the demolition even before it owned the property; the CRA paid for the option for quite some time at $14,000 a month in order to control the outcome; if there is a  Realtor involved, he gets his money; the CRA gets to spend government money; the developer lines his pockets; poor people can rent and live on the railroad tracks and traffic will be a nightmare at that intersection. And the CRA gets any tax money from the project, not the city.

As Bill Coakley said back in 2008 who was carefully tracking all the shenanigans regarding the CRA's continued waste of taxpayer money and particularly the Pugh property, "It is time to step back and think about the role of government and the fundamental obligations of volunteer boards to serve the public interest." The commission had a chance to take back the CRA several years ago and lost on a 3 to 2 vote.

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It is apparent why this country is in so much trouble. Any sort of building looks better than what was there especially with "free" money. And the slum and blight goes on.