Lebanon and Israel meeting today

Another uncertain diplomatic meeting happening on U.S. soil

With the Middle East on edge, and the world watching after failed U.S.-Iran talks, a lesser-known diplomatic meeting is set for today between Israel and Lebanon.

Diplomats from both sides are scheduled to meet on U.S. soil, at the State Department, to discuss an end to Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah that parallel the combined U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran.

At issue is a ceasefire, which will be demanded by Lebanon’s ambassador at the same time the IDF is striking Hezbollah targets in and around Beirut. That ongoing military operation is a counterattack after the terrorist group, which is funded and supported by Iran, launched cross-border attacks when the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury.

The face-to-face diplomatic talks, which are being called unusual and historic, are also complicated since Lebanon’s well-armed radical Muslims perceive diplomacy with Israel as weakness if not traitorous.

Read more about it...

Trump's meeting with Xi

Soybeans, Rare Earths, Fentanyl: 9 Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Xi

Traditionally a top importer of American soybeans, China had not made any purchases from the United States this harvest season.

1. China to Buy US Soybeans
2. Rare Earth Minerals to Flow
3. Port Fees Pause for one year
4. US to Halve Fentanyl Tariffs from 20% to 10%
5. Trump to Visit China Next April
6. Taiwan not discussed
7. TikTok Deal not discussed but will probably advance in the near future
8. ‘American Energy’ working to complete an agreement that would see China make a “very large-scale transaction” of oil and gas from Alaska.
9. The Semiconductor Question was discussed

Click here to get the details

Trump's Meeting with Xi

Trump Caught on Hot Mic

President Donald Trump revealed new details about his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, telling officials at a diplomatic dinner in Seoul that their meeting is expected to last “three to four hours.”

The remarks came on a hot mic as Trump sat down for the meal hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Trump said he expects the talks to produce a “very, very satisfactory” outcome for both countries, adding, “I think it’s going to be a very good meeting. I look forward to it tomorrow morning (which is today and already concluded) when we meet.”

The meeting with Xi comes during the final leg of Trump’s five-day trip through Asia, which included stops in Japan and South Korea. The primary focus of his talks with President Lee will be trade and security.

Henry Haggard, former minister counselor for political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, said Trump’s priority is securing a major trade agreement along with $350 billion in investments into the United States. He added that Trump is also expected to urge Lee to take a stronger stance against China and boost South Korea’s defense spending.

Lee, who leads a left-leaning government, has been cautious about deepening security ties with Washington for fear of retaliation from Beijing. Observers say the success of the meeting will depend largely on how effectively Lee can build a personal rapport with Trump.

Read more...

Trump and Putin to meet in Hungary

Trump Announces Budapest Summit with Putin Following ‘Productive’ Phone Call on Ukraine War

For three years, the Ukraine-Russia conflict has resembled a Gordian knot that establishment scissors couldn’t cut. Thousands of lives lost, billions in aid spent, and diplomatic meetings that produced little more than strongly-worded statements.

The Washington foreign policy establishment seemed content to manage the crisis rather than solve it, treating the conflict as an inevitable feature of the international landscape rather than a problem demanding resolution.

The human cost mounted daily while bureaucrats shuffled between capitals, achieving nothing. American taxpayers watched their dollars flow overseas with no end in sight. The previous administration’s approach – if one could call passive observation an approach – left both sides entrenched and the world wondering if anyone in Washington even remembered what decisive leadership looked like.

Something had to change. The old playbook of multilateral committees and indirect messaging through diplomatic channels had produced exactly what skeptics predicted: an expensive stalemate paid for in Ukrainian and Russian blood while enriching defense contractors and international bureaucrats.

Now, barely ten months into his presidency, Donald Trump has done what his predecessor couldn’t or wouldn’t: pick up the phone and talk directly to Vladimir Putin.

In a two-and-a-half-hour conversation, Trump and Putin agreed to meet in Budapest, Hungary, with high-level advisors from both nations meeting next week to prepare the groundwork.

Read more about it...

Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce

Anne Gannon has a rich and distinguished record of public service in Florida. She is currently serving her sixth term as the Constitutional Tax Collector in Palm Beach County. Elected in 2006, she saw an opportunity to revamp an antiquated bureaucracy into a top-notch client-driven service organization. Anne is the first woman to hold this office.

Trump and Zelensky at the Vatican

Trump Reveals What He Told Zelensky at the Vatican

President Donald Trump revealed new details Tuesday night about his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders crossed paths at the Vatican during the funeral for Pope Francis. It was their first face-to-face meeting since their tense Oval Office exchange earlier this year.

"I was telling him that it's a very good thing if we can produce a deal, that you sign it, because Russia is much bigger and much stronger," Trump said during a NewsNation town hall. He called the discussion meaningful and stressed the importance of reaching an agreement to end the war.

The White House and Ukrainian officials kept quiet about the conversation at the time. They described it only as “productive” and “symbolic.” But Zelenskyy later posted on X, sharing that the meeting focused on peace and preventing further bloodshed.

“We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.” He called it a symbolic meeting with the potential to become historic.

Over the weekend, Trump spoke to reporters about one of Zelenskyy's key requests. “He told me that he needs more weapons, but he's been saying that for three years,” Trump said. He added that the U.S. will be watching how Russia responds before making further decisions.

Read more...

Trump and Zelensky meet in Rome

Donald Trump and Zelenskyy held a brief one-on-one discussion inside St. Peter’s Basilica

on April 26 before convening with other leaders to attend Pope Francis’s funeral.

The conversation took place before the funeral Mass began, at a point in the morning when the Vatican’s vast basilica was shut to allow world leaders and diplomats to visit the pontiff’s closed coffin and pay their respects.

Pictures showing Trump and Zelenskyy seated in a corner as if they just pulled up a couple of chairs, hunched over deep in discussion, were shared across social media.

This was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since their heated meeting in the Oval Office in February that ended with Zelenskyy being asked to leave. [EpochTimes]

Both said it was a good meeting.

Establishing dialogue with Moscow

Efforts to Arrange Trump–Putin Meeting Underway

A meeting would mark the first time U.S. and Russian heads of state have sat down together since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

Moscow is working to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced on Feb. 22.

In remarks he shared with Russian state media, Ryabkov indicated that efforts to arrange the meeting have begun in earnest but will require “the most intensive preparatory work.”

The Russian official said U.S. and Russian envoys could meet “within the next two weeks” to lay the groundwork for the eventual talks between the two leaders.

If Washington and Moscow can arrange for the two leaders to meet, it will mark the first time that a U.S. president and a Russian president met directly since June 2021, when Putin met with then-U.S. President Joe Biden in Geneva, Switzerland.

Such a meeting would also mark the first in-person between the leaders of the United States and Russia since Moscow’s troops marched on Ukraine three years ago.

A meeting will take place whether and "until we can make any progress on ending the war in Ukraine, and if we can, and that meeting is what seals the deal," said Secretary of Stgate, Marco Rubio.

Read more...

April 16 City Commission Meeting

It started off with two presentations 1) resurfacing project on Lake and Lucerne and 2) Palm Beach Fire Rescue Report. These presentations were followed by 8 Proclamations. Then the commission skipped to the Subregional forcemain break on Florida Mango Road where sewage has entered our waterways, even Lake Osborne.

Finally it got back to the Designation of Appointments around 2:10 into the meeting:

• 1. Appointment of Vice Mayor and Vice Mayor Pro Tem.

Mayor Resch asked for a motion for Vice Mayor. Mimi May nominated Sara Malega. There was no second to the motion so Mayor Resch passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Commissioner McVoy and seconded the motion. She then asked for the vote and it passed to appoint Malega. Public comments followed although the city clerk told the commission that there were public comment submissions before the vote was taken. McVoy had his supporters in the chamber who gave public commentary but their wishes were stomped on as the Mayor went against protocol and Roberts' Rules. The initial vote should have been recanted and then taken the vote after public commentary.
McVoy was voted in as Vice Mayor Pro-Tem

• 2. Transportation Planning Authority--Reinaldo Diaz with Christopher McVoy as an alternate

• 3. Palm Beach County League of Cities--Betty Resch

• 4. CRA--Sarah Malega

• 5. NAPC--Mimi May

• 6. Education Task Force--Reinaldo Diaz

New Club--Conservative Club of Lake Worth & Atlantis

Residences of Lake Osborne Neighborhood Association Meeting

Top City Executives Spoke at ROLO Meeting

Neighborhood Association, ROLO, met on July 11 with approx 50 in attendance

The main topic of the evening was the Sunset property that sold in 2005 for $1,500,000.

In 2005, we formed Save Our Neighborhood PAC to lobby and ensure that this property would remain Single Family 7 and not have it over-developed in our single family neighborhood. We even went to mediation to no avail.

It has languished through the years with several zoning changes: Agriculture, Single Family 7 and even Medium Density Residential. At the moment, someone, and we don't know who but we can only guess who made another zoning change, has the zoning as NZ - NOT ZONED-- ( 38-LAKE WORTH BEACH ).

There is a neglected house on the 4.02 acres that should be demolished.

We were told that SCG Florida, Chris Raley, has submitted plans to build on the acreage. Their web site says, "SCG Florida, LLC, builds sustainable single-family homes with a pathway to ownership with an ESG focus for affordable living." It was said at the meeting that he wants to build 42 townhouses with 6 as affordable units. There will be no sustainable bonus to the developer. I don't want to speak for our PAC that is now dissolved, but I believe we would agree that 42 townhouses are acceptable for the parcel.

Mayor Betty Resch was also in the audience.

City Attorney, Glen Torcivia (my favorite lawyer)

Commissioner Sarah Malega (my favorite commissioner) District 1

William Waters, (AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, GGP, ID, SEED), Director of Sustainability

 and

 Carmen Davis, City Manager. Ms. Davis did not speak to the Sunset property.

ROLO Meeting tomorrow night

TONIGHT! Special Commission Meeting on Benny's on the Beach

AGENDA
CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
BENNY'S ON THE BEACH
CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBER

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023 - 5:00 PM

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A. Consideration and decision regarding the lease options for Benny's on the Beach, Inc., the current tenant/assignee

The meeting will last only for one hour and comments are limited to 1 minute.

China threatens US & Taiwan if McCarthy meeting takes place

China Issues Threat Ahead of Meeting Between House Speaker, Taiwan leader

According to recent reports, China warned it was planning to take action against the United States and Taiwan if Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meet today

China has repeatedly criticized the US’s attitude toward Taiwan, accusing the US of trying to help Taiwan win its independence.

China has now warned that if the leaders proceed with their scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 5, then the country will retaliate. As part of the meeting, Tsai is going to be visiting Los Angeles, California where he will meet with McCarthy.

Read about it...

Biden to meet with Xi Jinping

Biden looks to build "floor" for China relations in Xi meeting

President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will hold a high-level meeting on Monday before the G20 summit in Indonesia for their first bilateral talks, according to a statement released by the White House.

U.S. President Joe Biden hopes to build a "floor" for relations with China when meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week, but he will be honest about U.S. concerns, including over Taiwan and human rights, a senior administration official said on Thursday.

The White House said Biden will hold talks with Xi on Nov. 14 on the sidelines of a Group of 20 nations summit in Indonesia, their first face-to-face meeting since Biden became president.

The meeting comes amid deeply strained Sino-U.S. ties, particularly after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's August trip to Taiwan, the self-governed democratic island which Beijing claims as its territory.

Read about it... and our leader who can't navigate his way out of a wet paper bag.

Tonight's Lake Worth Commission Meeting HIGHLIGHTS

PRESENTATIONS:

A. Presentation by County Commissioner Mack Bernard regarding the housing bond issue on the November ballot

B. The LWB Pool Complex and the path to the 350 million dollar a year Grand Cayman 7-mile beach economy presented by Dan Volker, creator of South Florida Dive Journal, brought forward by Vice Mayor McVoy

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Meetings now will end at 11pm

NEW BUSINESS:
Base rate of sewer increase to 7.5% Base Salary increase for City Manager Carmen Davis of 3%

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT:
Report on CRA Governance

Gulfstream Hotel Agenda moved to August 25 at the Casino

Per the Bryant Park Neighborhood Association:
The August 2nd Gulfstream Hotel agenda item regarding an Economic Development Agreement along with Beach Services agreement has been rescheduled for a special City Commission Meeting on August 25th at 6pm at the Casino Ballroom.

Restoration St Louis, the City's third party negotiators, along with City staff have been working diligently to finalize the agreements and look forward to bringing the items forward at the August 25th meeting.

City wants to move $75,000 to EV Charging Stations at City Hall

NEW BUSINESS F

Andre in Finance added the item but it is joint item between Finance and Electric

But who is really behind this? It must be our liberal, progressive commission.

SUMMARY:
The Electric Utility department is requesting to re-purpose $75,000 originally appropriated to the PBC School Board WiFi project, to fund installation of electric vehicle charging stations at City Hall

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION: In FY21 the City worked with the PBC School Board to implement a PBC School Board WiFi system to be installed on the City’s Electric Utility poles. The purpose of the PBC WiFi system was to provide WiFi service to school students who did not have access in their home, so that they could participate in remote learning opportunities due to the Corona Virus.

The project was budgeted at $75,000 to allow for the City to install transformers, poles & wires where needed to implement the project. Through careful planning and identifying locations for the WiFi devices in the field, minimal work was required by the City to implement the project. We are currently working with PBC to complete their fiber installation to complete the project.

Because of how the Electric Utility planned and selected the locations of the needed devices, it was able to realize a cost savings by completing some work in-house, rather than by contractor. It also identified locations with existing power, which eliminated another expense. As a result of the cost savings, the Electric Utility is requesting to re-purpose the $75,000 allocated for PBC WiFi project to be used to fund installation of a Level 3 charging station at City Hall.

 🤣 “I think that there’s a lot more to be desired there. [Electric vehicles], while they are great, they are not the main form of transit for millions of people who live in urban or urban-adjacent areas in the United States." Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez