Biased Fake News Threat to Democracy

Revoke ABC, NBC's FCC Licenses for Dem Bias

Continuing his crusade against leftist mainstream media outlets ABC and NBC for being "simply an arm of the Democrat Party" and a "threat to our democracy," President Donald Trump is renewing the threat of revoking their broadcast licenses.

"Why is it that ABC and NBC Fake News, two of the absolute worst and most biased networks anywhere in the world, aren't paying millions of dollars a year in license fees," Trump wrote in the second of two Truth Social posts.

"They should lose their licenses for their unfair coverage of Republicans and/or conservatives, but at a minimum, they should pay up BIG for having the privilege of using the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime!!!

"Crooked 'journalism' should not be rewarded, it should be terminated!!!"

FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in April, while license revocation is an extreme punishment — what he termed the "regulatory death penalty" — it remains within the FCC's toolkit for broadcasters who fail to serve the public interest. He said that they have a public-interest obligation that has not been enforced.

Read more...

Florida Medical Marijuana Facilities

Florida Makes Emergency Rules on Businesses’ Medical Marijuana Applications

After nearly ten years of waiting, The Florida Department of Health has finally released its guidelines on the application process for businesses to enter the state’s medical marijuana industry.

But there’s a catch. The guidelines are temporary emergency rules, not the permanent framework to use going forward.

The Department of Health, which regulates the state’s multibillion-dollar medical marijuana industry, released the two emergency rules on Monday. The rules paint the broad strokes of the application process for companies seeking a medical marijuana treatment center license. The license permits them to cultivate, process, and dispense medical marijuana. Until this point, businesses looking to enter the thriving industry had little luck.

Because of slow litigation and red tape on the part of the state, just 22 companies are currently licensed to operate in Florida’s medical marijuana industry, and only 19 have set up a store. Of course we have one in Lake Worth Beach.

The second newly published rule makes it even more expensive for marijuana businesses to renew their licenses every two years, raising the cost from about $60,000 to more than $1 million.

Read more about it...

Fascists & Marxists taking over in our country

New York Suspends Rudy Giuliani From Practicing Law

Because He Questioned 2020 Election Results

New York is one big fascist mess. No doubt about it.

"The fascist dictators in New York have effectively removed Rudy Giuliani’s ability to earn a living in his career for the crime of questioning the results of the 2020 Presidential election.

According to reports, Giuliani, a former New York City Mayor and Donald Trump Attorney was suspended after a state court ruled that he made “false and misleading statements” about the 2020 election.

The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court said it was “immediately suspending” Giuliani’s license.

This is scary folks. This court has explicitly violated Giuliani’s First Amendment right. A clear attempt to silence him by the power of government."

Read what the court said

Lake Worth Proposes Rate Reduction in Solid Waste

Is this a first? A fee actually going down?

License for Porn?

Comment Up

A citizen, who actually used her own name, filed a code complaint against one of our city commissioners.
Case Number :  16-00001370    Address :  600 LAKE AVE 

Below is a display of all the narrative which has been entered for this case.

Case Narrative

July 13, 2016 3:01:58 PM psawyer. 07/13/2016
Date 2016-07-13 12:03:09 07/13/2016
IP Address 172.56.21.9 07/13/2016
Name marleen stein 07/13/2016
Phone Number 07/13/2016
E-Mail Address 07/13/2016
Violation Property Address 600 lake avenue 07/13/2016
Complaint Description And he has an abundant amount of 07/13/2016
signs all over the windows. I know that this is not allowed. 07/13/2016
Please look into these issues. A commissioner should know 07/13/2016
better! 07/13/2016
------------------------------------------------------------ 07/13/2016
Date 2016-07-13 11:56:53 07/13/2016
IP Address 172.56.21.9 07/13/2016
Name marleen stein 07/13/2016
Phone Number 07/13/2016
E-Mail Address 07/13/2016
Violation Property Address 600 lake avenue 07/13/2016
Complaint Description Does andy moroso have a license to 07/13/2016
have a porn shop? I highly doubt he has a up-to-date one of 07/13/2016
those license inspections. 07/13/2016

14 S. J Street code complaints

Comment Up

Two complaints were filed against the property at 14 S. J Street by an anonymous person. We don't know if this person even lives in our city but whoever it is obviously is very "concerned." This is where commissioner Maier rents space for his hair salon, The Other Salon.  He is a target of some political folks in our city who just don't like him just "because" and love to put a little dent in his day.

The first complaint was filed on January 8, 2016, citing the area parking behind the building as out of compliance.  It must be paved per our code. Of course, it has been gravel from the beginning of time but someone had a huge problem with Commissioner Maier parking his car there.

On March 31, the magistrate gave a $50 a day fine for 60 days plus an administrative fee saying that the owner has been unresponsive. The property is in the historic district. Code Officer, Yolanda Robinson, is the very same officer who was involved in commissioner Maier's personal residence last year when a complaint was filed by an out-of-town citizen and a friend of John Szerdi.

That complaint wasn't enough.  I guess the anonymous complainant checked to see if a license was in effect. Another complaint was filed on 02/26/2016.

Both these code complaints are against the owner of the property, not any of the tenants or Commissioner Ryan Maier.

The AAF wants interest in our License Agreements

We couldn't stop it although it wasn't from a lack of trying.

This is just another thing that I feel should NOT be on the Consent Agenda coming before the commission tonight as I would have liked to have heard some discussion on this.

The FEC tracks used to be about passenger trains like Tri-Rail. Now it will be about High Speed Rail and Freight. But worse than that, all Aboard Florida has held us up to hostage--we had no choice in this matter that All Aboard is coming through our city and we can't afford the necessary and mandatory crossing guard safety replacements estimated to be around $5.6 million so they want us to give them something of value--an interest in our FEC License Agreements and they will pay for the crossing guard replacements.

It really "sucks" to be a poor city and in this instance, the crossing guards, etc. must be replaced at a tremendous cost to the city. We got stuck with All Aboard Florida whether we wanted it or not. Just the simple fact that 32 additional trains will come barreling through our city on the FEC tracks is bad enough and then factor in the return trips. AAF will cause longer commutes to work and could affect emergency response times.  The projected number of trains is up to 50 freight and passenger trains per day! Have you ever seen 6th Avenue South at rush hour now?

AAF has agreed to fund 100% of these improvements (identified as “initial development costs” in the agreement) for the City, in return for being named as a third-party beneficiary to the existing license agreements between the City and FEC. AAF railway line is expected to increase the ongoing maintenance costs for each crossing by approximately 10% according to FEC. officials. We get to maintain it all.

Our City Attorney requested that FEC consider updating the license agreements since some of the agreements are quite old and in need of revisions. FEC has refused to make any changes to the existing license agreements.

In order for the City to have AAF fund 100% of the “initial development costs,” the City must agree to name AAF as a third party beneficiary to the existing licenses without any changes. Once again, we are being asked to "give in" and "give it away" in order for a train company that we didn't want in the first place, other than the Trio commission, can roar through our city and totally cause havoc with our quality of life.

Lake Worth fees/taxes expected to rise in 2016

Comment Up

On the Agenda tonight--PUBLIC HEARINGS 10-A--Ordinance 2015-06

Section 205.0535(4), Florida Statutes, allows municipalities to  increase the rates for local business taxes up to five percent (5%) every other  year by ordinance. All it needs is a majority plus one vote of the commission. This commission, desperate for revenue, is not going to have any moss growing under its feet.

All those wanting to do business within our city will be subject to a 5% increase. You have a nightclub? Your new business tax will be $893.40. There are 26-27 pages covering every type of business imaginable. The city expects to reap $50,000 in increases from this tax increase. $50,000 is not that much  money in the scheme of things to generate bad will with those wanting to do business here.

So, the city plans on increasing--
parking fees at the beach up at least 12.5% minimum
ad-valorem taxes because they are not going to honor the roll-back rate
4% salary increase for all
1% increase in PBSO contract
Water and sewer increase
More requested employees: Two part-time custodians at the beach and 6 additional PT lifeguards and 2 PT cashiers. There may be more in other departments of which we are unaware.

Next the benefits we pay to our employees in Lake worth are generous. The City provides health, vision, dental, life, and Short and Long term disability. The city says "with a decrease in cost associated with the medical plan, Human Resources is recommending that the City absorb the cost of employee only coverage for dental and vision for the upcoming fiscal year. This cost is in line with the current philosophy of creating an environment where our employees feel appreciated while putting the City on track to become an employer of choice."

Another lawsuit for Lake Worth? This time it involves God

Comment Up

Mike Olive, pastor

Common Ground Church, Lake Worth

Liberty Counsel sent a letter to the City of Lake Worth demanding it retract its baseless position that all local churches—some in the community for nearly 100 years—now obtain "business licenses" to continue operating, and for its harassment of newly established Common Ground Church.

The City has threatened Common Ground's landlord with daily fines up to $500 and foreclosure if the "violation" is not corrected by the landlord making the church get a "business license" to meet for worship.  Liberty Counsel has demanded that the City drop its plan to have churches obtain business licenses, refund the business license taxes already paid and retract its threat to Common Ground church and its landlord.

City Manager Mike Bornstein said, “A duck is a duck. If someone is holding religious services as a church, it’s a church.” He said the city was forced to take action “to protect the community.”
Protect us from God?

Read more... about Lake Worth's harassment of area churches especially Common Ground Church. The city must respond by the end of today to Liberty Counsel or be subject to a lawsuit.

World Net Daily picked up the story.

See the WPEC channel 12 segment.

Bicycle rentals at Lake Worth Beach

Comment Up

Family Bicycles, a company in Lake Worth for 17 years whose main store is located at 127 South Dixie, is "leasing" a portion of space in front of the casino for $1,500 for eight weeks. The hours of operation are from 8am to 4pm. The city is calling it a license agreement (the mayor has to sign all leases/contracts and this is signed by the city manager because they are calling it a license agreement) and it commenced on May 6. No reason to bother the mayor and the commission on something so mundane, right?

The legal relationship between the property owner-landlord and a tenant established by a lease is entirely distinct from the legal relationship established by a license between the property owner-licensor and a licensee. Under a   bona fide license agreement, the tenant-licensee owns no estate in the premises and has no right to possession. A license agreement is the permission to carry out a particular activity, given by the appropriate authority, in this case, the authority of the city manager. 

This is a pilot program. It's too bad it didn't start during the Season. The manager, Albert DeGoias, says that he will be there on weekends. Rentals start at $10 on a major credit card.

Boat-Ramp Parking in Lake Worth

Comment Up

New Business (B) on tonight's Agenda
Bryant Park Boat Ramp

Permit Fees: Fees are fixed and cannot be pro-rated...unlike the beach decal parking permits where the city bends over for these Snowbirds who don't arrive until the Winter Season and can't even pay the full price.

• Palm Beach County Resident: $37.10 (includes tax) - Palm Beach County Residents must produce a current Florida boat registration showing a Palm Beach County address AND an ID such as FL driver’s license, voter registration, or property tax bill with a Palm Beach County address.

• Out of County: $159.00 (includes tax) – Out of County Users must produce a current state boat registration and provide a copy of identification (ID) such as a driver’s license.

• Commercial: $159.00 (includes tax) – Commercial Users must produce a current state boat registration and provide a copy of identification (ID) such as a driver’s license.

• Replacement Permit: $5.00 (includes tax) Will be issued for lost, stolen, defaced permits. If boat trailer is sold, original sticker needs to be peeled off and brought back with new registration in order to get a replacement for $5.

Boat Ramp Parking Permits are non-transferable: If a boat/trailer is changed during the permit year, remove the sticker from the existing boat/trailer and bring it, along with a copy of the new boat and trailer registration to the City of Lake Worth Customer Service Office, 414 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33460. Upon receipt of the old permit decal, a new numbered replacement permit will be issued at a cost of $5.

Hey Venus, oh Venus, make my wish come true

Comment Up

1414 Lake Avenue

What's worse?  The obnoxious sign or the fact they are trying to

pull one over on the city?

I want what I want when I want it and there are city board members as well as commissioners who allow it all to happen.

On April 3, 2012, the Venus Cafe got its proximity waiver for a 2COP license...they just had to have it in order to help their business be successful.  The owner spoke before the commission.  Loretta Sharpe, former member of the Historical Resource Preservation board,  spoke before the commission as well, advocating for the owner.  Well, why not?  Everyone gets waivers in this city when it comes to alcohol.  Soon after the commission voted it in, the owner "temporarily" closed it for ...?  Nearly two years later, it is still closed.

Flaunting it

Comment Up

The Canadian who is selling this car with a New Hampshire plate is not interested in rules, regulations or any of our laws. He likes doing whatever he pleases, not only on our downtown street but where he lives. He is a snowbird and pulls this trick every year--selling cars without a license and breaking ordinances to do it. He also has no problem with disobeying county codes on parking his vehicles on a particular County road where parking is prohibited from dusk to dawn.

Perhaps the city will at least enforce the 4 hour rule and give out tickets for the illegal car for sale sign and the advertisement of a business on J Street.

Lake Worth Sidewalk Cafe Use Permits

Comment Up

Downtown businesses that affect rights of way and their use on Lake and Lucerne Avenues were first issued a letter on August 28 informing them of FDOT's regulations. They were also told about the commission's decision regarding Sidewalk Cafe Use Permits that now must be approved by the Department of Public Services.

All businesses must now apply for a new Sidewalk Cafe Use Permit. If a business has renewed under its old permit, it will be given credit toward the new permit. Strict code enforcement will begin next Friday, December 20. If any business does not have the new permit, it will be cited and receive a formal notice of violation. As of yesterday, not one business had applied for the new permit.

Click to enlarge

City of Lake Worth Business License and Lake Worth's 20/20 Vision

Comment Up

Tonight, the city has called a special meeting in order to create a two (2) part city business license called a “City of Lake Worth Business License” which consists of a local business tax receipt and use and occupancy certificate for all businesses that directly or indirectly conduct any business in the City limits.

Sec. 14-1. City of Lake Worth Business License.
It shall be unlawful for any person, or business, either directly or indirectly, to engage in or to conduct any business, profession or occupation as defined by this article, in the city, without first making application for, and having obtained a City of Lake Worth Business License. A City of Lake Worth Business License shall consist of a local business tax receipt as provided for in this article; and, a use and occupancy certificate as provided for in chapter 14,article II, of this code.

After this is over with the commission voting unanimously, we will, once again, see a presentation on Lake Worth 2020--the city's wish to repair half of the roads in this town, alleys, easements, sidewalks and street lighting.  We all will agree that we have big problems with our roads infrastructure and the potholes went from bad to ridiculous. Driving down 2nd Avenue South is not a pleasant experience. But what all property owners want to know is what this "vision" or wish list will cost and for how long will owners be paying?

Not a Lake Worth pothole but it could be!

Family doctors aren't what they used to be

Comment Up

We get them all in Lake Worth:  prostitutes, murderers, robbers, thieves, gang-bangers, convicted felons with a business in our downtown, attorneys running off with the cash and now we have a family doctor accused of doing kinky stuff.

A Lake Worth family doctor with a practice on S. Federal Highway in Lake Worth was accused of sadistic "punishment therapy" torturing a patient using handcuffs, blindfolds, whips and other implements of torture. Now the Board of Osteopathic Medicine wants to pull his license.

Dr. Simon said it was just all fun sex. His exact words "It was adventurous sex between two adults."

Read more... at Health News Florida.

Lake Worth Must Enforce its laws

Comment Up

From: Sabal Palm House Bed and Breakfast Inn <sabalpalmhouse@aol.com>
To: ptriolo <ptriolo@lakeworth.org>; jszerdi <jszerdi@lakeworth.org>; smaxwell <smaxwell@lakeworth.org>; aamoroso <aamoroso@lakeworth.org>; mbornstein <mbornstein@lakeworth.org>
Cc: info <info@mangoinn.com>; wwaters <wwaters@lakeworth.org>
Sent: Fri, Mar 29, 2013 3:23 pm
Subject: Vacation Rentals - legal Issues

Dear Mayor, Commissioners and Mr. Bornstein:

Here in our city we are faced with numerous properties that are doing short term rentals starting at just two nights.  This has a major impact on our B & B business as we just can't compete with their unregulated illegal businesses.

We hope you understand that we are not against commercial multi-family properties like the parrot Cove Inn next door to us or As Time Goes By on L Street as these are not single family homes and they are properly zoned for their intended uses.

If we allow nightly rentals in single family homes without a minimum stay requirement we can expect that investors will start coming into the city and buying properties to rent as hotels.  West Palm Beach was faced with this a few years ago and they have had to strictly enforce their one week law. Without that law they would have been helpless to prevent large sections of neighborhoods from becoming transient housing.

You can't let that happen here.  We are trying to get folks to live here and raise their families here.  We are now over 60% renters as it is.  Our historical eastern neighborhoods will be affected by any change in our existing laws as I too would think of buying a home simply to rent out short term. If everyone else is doing it we will have to be in the game to succeed as a B & B. This is not what we want for our city.

I am also hearing that some are saying to restrict vacation rentals is not pro business. I see it differently. I purchased a business. I paid a price for my license and good will.  I pay commercial rates and taxes. These folks did not buy businesses.  They purchased residential homes in residential neighborhoods. That's a big difference from buying a business. Turning a home into a hotel business that is not allowed when you purchased it is not a good business move.  Why would you expect the city to help you make a business out of something that is not a business. The businesses in this city that are legitimate need your help. Working to make it easier to open a legitimate business and be successful is what you have said you were all about.  For these folks to say you are anti business is unfair and totally inappropriate. These guys have not played by the rules and now want you to bend the rules.  Than I say, I want residential utility rates and water rates and a lower tax rate. I want you to bend the rules for me since that's pro business. I hope you see how unfair these vacation rental folks are being.  If you want to be a business than come play in the business world with the rest of us.

We are very passionate about this issue as we work hard and long ours to run one of the only 4 Diamond AAA business in the city.  We promote the city and we love what you have all done to help us succeed. To see these folks come after you claiming you are against business is wrong. 

We are asking you to enforce our laws as you have taken an oath to do. The law is what it is and that's the playing field we agreed to when we came to live here.

Sincerely,

Colleen and John Rinaldi

4 COP License approved for Chaser's

The owners of Chaser's Sports Bar and Grill requested a 4 COP license. The 4 COP license was just approved unanimously by the City Commission with no minor children under the age of 18 after 10:00pm.

Commissioner Maxwell says it is not the City's responsibility to dictate whether parents can or cannot bring their children into a bar after a certain time. As far as I can ascertain, the State doesn't regulate whether or whether not children can be in bars, but the law allows local governments to prohibit anyone under 21.

They are located at 2107 10th Avenue North.

This is a family type sports bar/restaurant. They offer:

• Pay per view events

• Major sporting events

• Poker tournaments

• Video game tournaments

• 8 minute dating

• Cafe dining

Holy Mackerel--what a big Kingfish

Caught this morning at the end of the Lake Worth Pier

As explained, this fish will feed 5 families

FISHING LICENSE FACTS

Who needs a license?
Resident saltwater anglers who fish from shore or a structure affixed to shore will need to buy a shoreline fishing license unless they have a regular saltwater fishing license or are exempt.

Who is exempt?
The new license requirement allows exemptions for residents who are age 65 or older, all children under age 16, resident disabled persons who meet certain qualifications, active duty military personnel while home on leave, and all anglers who fish from a licensed pier. In addition, the license requirement includes two new exemptions - resident anglers drawing food stamps, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid, and anglers who use a pole or line without a line retrieval mechanism (such as a reel) in their home counties.

How much does the license cost?
The license cost $7.50 plus a $1.50 administrative fee.

If I have a regular saltwater fishing license, will I have to purchase a shoreline license too?
No. A resident regular fishing license that covers fishing from shore as well as from a vessel costs about $10 more than the shoreline license and may be the best option for most anglers unless they feel certain they will fish only from shore.

How will the FWC use the money from the new shoreline license sales?
The money will help fund marine resource research, management and law enforcement.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Locusts

This definitely describes some of our renter population!

If all 18 to 20 million illegal aliens here today are given guest worker amnesty along with "family reunification," it will add roughly 60 million people to the current legal population of 293 million. In 2050, just forty-two years from now, demographers say there will be half a billion people residing in America. Just imagine what kind of impact that will have on our natural resources and quality of life!

America is the greatest and most successful experiment regarding the integration and assimilation of people of differing cultures, languages, and religions.

Just imagine if millions of Americans were to enter Mexico illegally, demand that the local government provide free medical care, demand bilingual doctors and nurses, demand bilingual government forms, fly the US flag from their homes and cars, demand courses on American culture in their schools, demand local driver's licenses, and insist that local law enforcement officers speak only English. -- Alan Caruba