Palm Beach Mobile Home Park - Lake Worth Code Cracking down

Lake Worth Beach gentrification purge now targeting low-income seniors in mobile home park

Two years after Lake Worth Beach code enforcers targeted poor migrant workers in a mobile home community, the city is now coming after another trailer park filled with low-income senior citizens.

The ongoing crackdown is part of an orchestrated campaign to gentrify Lake Worth Beach and drive out the city’s neediest residents, locals and housing advocates allege. The seven-square-mile city’s desire to move on up even led voters, at the urging of city leaders, to separate itself from unincorporated area and its higher crime statistics by adding “Beach” to its name on March 12, 2019.

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At 74 years old I shouldn’t have to deal with this bullshit,” said Jerri Greene, president of the Mobile Home Park Association.

Lake Worth mayor, Betty Resch, said she could not comment on the Palm Beach Mobile Home Park code enforcement crackdown. “I will certainly take a look at it.”

Lupita Devalle - Stress took a toll on Lake Worth resident

Oh, no.  Lupita is in a coma.

You remember Lupita and her horrible ordeal that she went through for an entire year at Palm Beach Mobile Home Park that is located right off of Boutwell Road--raw sewage under her home and no one to turn to.

On top of all of that, one of the residents there told me that the city of Lake Worth wants them to cart all of their yard waste, tree cuttings etc. to a roll off container in the compound as well as their recyclables. This is an over 55 park and many of these people can barely walk.

Palm Beach Mobile Home Park pays the highest amount of taxes in the city.

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Lupita and her Nightmare - Palm Beach Mobile Home Park in Lake Worth

Directly off of Boutwell Road is Palm Beach Mobile Home Park where Lupita Delvalle and other residents say they have been living a bad dream.

I talked with Lupita several weeks ago about her personal situation when she bought her home and leasing the lot in Palm Beach Mobile Home Park a little over one year ago, She pays $593 a month for lot rent. The pipes under Lupita's home were damaged and not connected to the sewer which is breaking the law according to an environmental specialist with Palm Beach County. No matter who she complained to, nothing was done. Management even laughed at her. She went to every agency possible that might be able to help her even the City of Lake Worth.

In the minds of most of the owners there, Riverstone Communities, owners of the park, are nothing more than slumlords. They are allowing Sober Homes, drug addicts and crime to escalate. There was even a dead body found there in July allegedly from a drug overdose.

As another owner told me, "When Lupita bought in, she was told that there was nothing wrong with the plumbing, electrical or the sewer and that she was responsible for "As Is" with regards to the inside of the home. We were told that Riverstone would rehab all homes and skirt them before they were sold to anyone. This has not happened in the past 3 years. People are being sold homes with roof leaks, plumbing is bad, electrical is bad, floors are bad etc."

This woman has had to have the city and the state come to her home and even one agency condemned the sewer, electrical and water lines. This problem has been on-going. She was told that the Park could not do what another manager promised to do. The Park residents were so desperate about the crime conditions that they called The Guardian Angels.  Lupita called Jeff Clemens' office about her sewer problem.

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Lake Worth mobile home destroyed in fire

Located near 10th Avenue North--

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Dead Body in Lake Worth Mobile Home Park

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As the City of Lake Worth concentrates on infrastructure at the Park of Commerce and pouring multi-millions of taxpayer money into that end, a dead person was found in the community pool at Palm Beach Mobile Home Park, a long time residential community located off of Boutwell Road for those over 55. The circumstances of the death  are unknown other than an abrasion on the head of the deceased. Click here...

This is a park that has had a lot of crime over the last year...drug addicts and even a Sober Home is housed there.  Crime has been escalating out of control. I have been told that the park residents have some private security help. Seniors are very vulnerable and criminals know it.

Crimes this year through May 21st:

Date Weekday Case # Address Reason 1/5/2016--Tuesday--16022569--700 Block Almond Drive--Theft/Larceny
1/5/2016--Tuesday--16051421--700 Block Almond Drive--Theft/Larceny
1/6/2016--Wednesday--16022193--311 Almond--Embezzlement
1/20/2016--Wednesday--16028604--418 Cypress Drive--Stolen Tag
3/18/2016--Friday--16052692--300 Block Almond Drive--Burglary/Residence
3/18/2016--Friday--?--300 Block Cypress Drive--Dead Body(heroine od)
3/21/2016--Monday--16054015--400 Block Banyan Drive--Theft/Larceny
3/24/2016--Thursday--16055106--400 Block Banyan Drive--Theft/Larceny
3/25/2016--Friday--16055474--409 Banyan Drive--Disturbance at 408 Almond
3/28/2016--Monday--16057008--700 Block Almond Drive--Theft/Larceny
3/29/2016--Monday--16057364--400 Block Almond Drive--Police Called(home of sexual predators)
4/3/2016--Sunday--16059572--300 Block Banyan Drive--Assault(307 Banyan)
4/4/2016--Monday--6059916--700 Block Almond Court--Vehicle Burglary
5/4/2016--Monday--16072711--200 Block Date Palm--Robbery Residence
5/5/2016--Tuesday--16073194--400 Block Almond Drive--Verbal Threats (6 calls)
5/18/2016--Monday--16079765--400 Block Cypress Drive-- Assault)
5/21/2013--Thursday--16079795--400 Block Cypress Drive--Theft/Larceny

This is only a partial list of the crimes in that area. Drug addicts and dealers are committing crimes in broad daylight and the residents are scared, rightfully so. And as I understand it, no one from city hall ever reaches out to them.

The Sad, Despicable Truth -Scott Maxwell doesn't care about the people

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Scott Maxwell clearly peeved.

In his mind, its people playing politics rather than finding the truth 

calling them "despicable."
In his "mind," he's right and everyone else is wrong,
 or a racist or a liar, or...

What IS despicable, is the letter sent out to the owner of this Mobile Home park that garbage would no longer be picked up at the curb. What IS despicable is the city manager continuing to say that the ZONING was changed in 2009 and they found through a recent audit that the park residents were not paying their fair share. What was despicable is Maxwell not knowing the facts and taking advantage of these Seniors at the demonstration and telling us last night that they had some fear of being kicked out of their homes--this never was said. And what was despicable was the mayor writing a letter to every resident there playing politics telling them that "one side has resorted to spreading lies and half-truths, telling you whatever it takes to make you afraid.  This is just plain wrong."

What was despicable, mayor, was the simple fact that you never once called anyone to get the facts or call any of the mobile home park owners.  You didn't call the HO president; you didn't call me; you didn't call anyone that you condemn. If you are focused on protecting everyone as you say, then you should have listened to both sides of the story. You only got one side which, as it turns out, is despicable in itself and as you would say, "just plain wrong."

The president of their Homeowner's Association, Jerri Greene wrote the city saying,

I do not know why your office leaked false information with regards to how much we pay for waste removal. But I would like to set the record straight and hope that you will also with the press.

 1.  There are only 333 lots in Palm Beach Mobile Home Park 2. We pay more than $4300 a month ...and definitely more than $12.88 per lot. There are 2 sides to the park. The South Side pays $4300.80 per month and there are 221 lots there of which only 213 are occupied = $19.46 per lot or $20.81 per occupied lot. The North side pays $2252.80 per month and there are 112 lots occupied = $20.11 per lot. Total is $6553.60 per month.

This is in line with what everyone else is paying. Why should be pay $8.00 more which puts us above what others are paying.

I don't suppose we could expect an apology but we would like for you all to provide accurate information to the public.

We have been given 3 different reasons for why you will no longer be providing curbside service but this, by far, is the worst reason we have been given.

Now we found out yesterday that the city couldn't find one account and was basing its "you don't pay enough" analogy on one Park (there are two parks and two accounts) when it released its figures to the Press.

This is an example of what I have been saying for the past four years--this dais does NOT listen to the people.  They do not explore the truth and they rely on staff for every answer. They complain about "us versus them" syndrome when in fact, it is their fault.  They hold the power. It should be all about the people.

Palm Beach Mobile Park and Mayor Pam Triolo

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Back on November 10, 2015, the City acquired some land for rights of way. One of the land owners was Palm Beach Mobile Home Park LLC.  The city needed and wanted this land for their Park of Commerce infrastructure project which is pouring $11 million into it this year.

So, if you want something, you can legally take it by Eminent Domain. Eminent domain is where the government can (and does) seize private property for public use - to build a road, a school or a courthouse.  Now, in cities across the country, governments are also seizing land for private use if they can prove that doing it will serve what's called "the public good." And this reminds me of what former commissioner Nadine Burns said years ago regarding the senior condos along Lake Osborne Drive. She thought the property wasn't being used for its best use. When you get officials who believe that way, no one's property is entirely safe from government land grabs.

Although out on 7th Avenue North and Joyce Street  was just a small piece of private property, the city said that the acquisition of the three (3) parcels involved will be used to address required corner clips for improved turning radius.

I believe that Eminent Domain in this instance was used for future private development, not the public good.

As part of the negotiations to acquire the properties and the eminent domain proceedings filed by the city, the owner(s) incurred legal fees for this land grab. The City is responsible to cover those legal fees in addition to the actual appraised value of the land. The total cost for the three (3) parcels including the legal fees incurred by the owner(s) is $41,637.50.

This is just another step by the city to cause concern for all those who live in the park.  It is the city that is instilling fear with the Senior residents who live there. And now they have the garbage incident.

This is a MUST read. The highly charged political letter by Pam Triolo to the residents of Palm Beach Mobile Home Park.

Quote of the Day - Mobile Home Park HO Association president speaks out

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"All notices from the City of Lake Worth are published in the Lake Worth Herald and not in the Palm Beach Post.

The Lake Worth Herald's owner is in the pocket of The Trio. Maxwell admitted at the protest that he doesn't read the Palm Beach Post that he only reads the Lake Worth Herald [for news]. That should tell you enough. The Post reports the news; the Herald reports only what they want to have posted. As it is a low reader paper that is how they got away with what they did to the mobile home park and God only knows what else."

~ Jerri Greene
President of Palm Beach Mobile Home Park Homeowner's Association

Garbage collection classification and Zoning are two different things

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I received a comment last night that said "Stop the insanity." This reader was upset that their trio of Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso was taking some sort of blame for what happened to the seniors at Palm Beach Mobile Home Park.

"Lynn, PLEASE address the fact that the ordinance was approved by a PREVIOUS Commission. At least be forthright in acknowledging this fact. How in your mind, is this somehow an "evil 3" enactment?? Stop the Insanity, please....."

City Manager Bornstein was told by staff that a resolution was passed in 2009 that rated certain establishments as "commercial" for garbage pick-up purposes. The mobile home owners were not aware of any change in their status as curbside pick-ups were done from the beginning when this land was plotted out for mobile home lots and that service continues. Some of the residents have been there, like its president, for over 30 years with garbage pick-up in front of their home.

What came as the surprise was when the park was notified just a few weeks ago that garbage would be handled differently than it had from inception. Little explanation and certainly zero sympathy was given to the mobile home owners.

I believe, and its only an assumption, that this all came to light when the City of Lake Worth contracted with Waste Management for Roll-Off services for commercial and residential properties back in August 2015. This Trio commission was getting ready for the Park of Commerce that was in the process of design, etc. and realized then that their big garbage trucks were looming down these narrow roads. Through discussions, the mobile home park's garbage designation was mentioned and that it had changed in 2009 to a commercial service and rate.

And don't forget, in January Waste Management gave Scott Maxwell a campaign contribution of $1,000.

Prior to that, in June 2015, the commission voted for Eminent Domain at the Park of Commerce. Eminent Domain, something Trump says is a wonderful thing, is used for the public good such as for government buildings and other facilities, public utilities, highways, and railroads. It is not used for the benefit of private developers. This trio of commissioners, Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso voted for Eminent Domain at the Park of Commerce.

It is no wonder that the residents there feel like they have been treated like second class citizens. Garbage pick-up classification and their zoning are two different things. The first (garbage classification) took place in 2009 which was by Resolution and did not have to be publicly noticed. The other (land-use zoning) occurred in August 2013 under this commission and public notice was required.

Author Joyce Meyer said, "Don't just let the devil use your mind as a garbage dump."  A lot of people come over here trying to do just that.  There is NO insanity, just people who want to be treated right.

Hard-Ball in Lake Worth?

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Palm Beach Mobile Home Park, 300 Cypress Drive, Lake Worth

According to the map, this is located in the Park of Commerce area off of Boutwell Road, an area that is a pipe dream of this commission.

This is what our city is doing to folks. The owner of this park does not want to sell his property but some of the residents say they are being given a hard time from the City of Lake Worth, being denied making improvements to their mobile homes.  Zoning has changed to industrial they say.

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Mobile home fire on Boutwell Road Lake Worth

Cowering in fear

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It's easier to give it away, sell it, or sweep it all under the rug or give kudos where they are undeserved. We have a bottomless pit of problems in Lake Worth and it just seems that none of them are being solved. What we are doing though, is allowing more affordable housing and finding grants (free money) for anything or everything we possibly can at the expense of the over-all welfare of our city. Standing up for principles? Oh no, we can't afford one more dime on legal expenses to defend those.

The city slum and blight keeps getting worse. Crime is unbelievable and we are not being told how dangerous our neighborhoods have become. We have to read about a horrible crime in the PB Post. Just the other night I reported two gun shots to the sheriff that came from the Orange Grove Mobile Home Park--a bed of continuous crime. The sheriff knows where the hot spots are...do you ever see a sheriff vehicle in your neighborhood?

The city has to get serious and tough on all the negative elements within our city. It isn't. It hasn't. It's about time that it does. We know what we want from our city and it's not leading from fear--fear of law suits--fear of being transparent, fear of spending money on Studies that will guide us in the right direction, worrying about development before we cleanup the slum and blight, etc. The antidote for fear-based management is not to dismiss risk but to operate with a controlled/sensible vision and following through without bankrupting us. Getting the priorities straight is what it's all about.

Dragnet in Lake Worth

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Update: Suspect Caught
Osias was found in a mobile home in the 60th block of Holiday Drive. The home apparently belongs to the mother of another ex-girlfriend, deputies said.

According to Palm Beach County Jail records, Osias has been arrested more than a half-dozen times since March of last year. The charges include robbery, battery, larceny, fraud and traffic violations.

Read more: WPTV

15 PBSO vehicles on Lake Worth Road from S. A Street to Lake Osborne Drive off of Lake Worth Road blocking ingress and egress just a short while ago. I had to drive up to Congress and down 6th to get home. Helicopters are still in the air.

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