Lake Worth received Federal Money for Affordable Housing

Lake Worth Beach to receive $750,000 for affordable housing

City officials worth to alleviate ongoing housing crisis

I remember the late, great Peter Timm who always said that everything in Lake Worth was affordable. Not any more, under the present government in power in Washington, D.C.

Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Sarah Malega was among those who took part in a Monday announcement with U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla.

The city will receive $750,000 in federal money to boost a Lake Worth Beach program to build more affordable housing. Malega said. "Our goal is affordable home ownership and breaking the generational wealth gap."

Rents are ridiculously high and out of reach of the average worker.

Read more about it...

Steinhardt on the Consent Agenda

Well, this time the city actually outdid itself with 22 items on the Consent Agenda...4 short of a complete alphabet.

July 18 Agenda

One of the more interesting items on the Consent Agenda is the approval of the naming rights on the property known as the "Steinhardt property." No discussion on this--just pushing items forward in this "transparent" city environment.

A little background:
Originally leased to Marshall, owner of the Gulfstream Hotel back then, who flipped the lease to Milton Steinhardt--submerged land was leased from the City of Lake Worth in 1967 on a 99 year lease. He wanted to develop five, 10 story condos on three man-made islands at the southeast end of the Intracoastal Waterway bridge across from the Lake Worth beach. He also sought federal permits to build a boat marina at the site. The City applied for the permits on his behalf in order to bring some sort of clout to his requests and to possibly speed it along.

He was paying $6,000 a year to the City of Lake Worth and after Save the Waterfront and Town, chaired by Laurence McNamara along with other members, one of whom was the late Peter Timm,  went out on a petition in 2005, Steinhardt's dream was soon ended in spite of elected officials such as the then mayor, Rodney Romano, trying to keep it off the ballot. Eventually, the PAC got it on a March ballot and won at the ballot box on a Public Land/Public Vote Charter Amendment with 60% of the vote.

Betty Resch, former City of Lake Worth attorney represented the Steinhardts and came before the City Commission some years ago and asked for an extension of the Lease. On first vote, Romano, McKinnon and Burns voted FOR the extension. At the next regularly scheduled meeting, McKinnon brought it back on the Agenda and switched his vote to "no." Steinhardt lost again on a 3/2 vote.

The heirs eventually terminated the lease with the city and the city accepted (they owed a bunch of money to the City of Lake Worth) after their dream of development was shattered.

Read my blog of January 6, 2014. They don't deserve their name on this property as they never owned it.

Memories of Peter Timm

Comment Up

I was going to write a tribute to our wonderful Peter Timm who recently passed.  However, this one was written so beautifully that I wanted to share it.

I am so sorry to hear that this marvelous gentleman has passed. He was almost Dickensonian in character, and larger than life. The first time I met him I was just getting over chemo, and he held the door for me going into city hall. I was very touched, (it's not easy being bald).

I loved his feistiness and persistence in speaking his mind to the power cartel in city hall. Makes me feel like crying. He will be sorely missed. We need more like him.

Will never forget him  showing up wearing a copy of Margaret Menge's newspaper concerning the attempted takeover of our beach by Hudson Holdings.

He is one of the everyday heroes I would like to emulate as I age. Lake Worth has lost a strong and important voice and citizen.

Is there anyone, family we can write to??

Very sadly,
Mary W.

Commissioner John Szerdi - Dumb and Dumber

Comment Up

Well, he's done it before...being less than polite to some people who speak before the commission or even taking sides against people who have different opinions than the present commission majority. Just think about it--if you walked into your bosses office and told him he was dumber than dumb, what would happen?


Last night, resident Peter Timm was in Szerdi's cross-hairs. Mr. Timm is adamant that all property owners in this city, regardless of income or property value, pay the exact same amount of money in the form of an assessment on the advalorem tax bill for roads infrastructure. Mr. Timm is a fine fellow but just doesn't quite comprehend the impossibility of special assessments for this money grab because his mindset is "fairness." We all agree to fairness as does the Vice Mayor. Mr. Timm has had his fairness concerns answered on many occasions. I guess last night was the last straw as Commissioner Szerdi insulted Mr. Timm by inferring that he was dumber than dumb.  In front of the chamber and all those listening on the Internet, Szerdi gave a synopsis of the following from the movie Dumb and Dumber directed towards Peter Timm:

Lloyd Christmas: What do you think the chances are of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?
Mary Swanson: Well, Lloyd, that's difficult to say. I mean, we don't really...
Lloyd Christmas: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Mary Swanson: Not good.
Lloyd Christmas: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary Swanson: I'd say more like one out of a million.
[pause]
Lloyd Christmas: So you're telling me there's a chance... YEAH!

Peter Timm, Lake Worth Citizen Extraordinaire

Comment Up

Peter Timm, resident of Lake Worth and long-time attendee of city hall meetings, announced last night that he has given up on this commission, that he no longer wishes to address this body. Bottom line, people are fed up with the bullying of this commission.  I believe this transformation came about subliminally over time but the night that this commission allowed a deputy sheriff to stand behind him during commentary on the general obligation bond was the final straw. It was a sad moment when a citizen can be bullied to this extreme--sad for this commission and our city and the Constitutional rights of Peter Timm to express himself freely.

He has always studied the back-up before every meeting and is very informed. He also has given every commission hell when it was needed but I believe this commission, a body for which he had high hopes,  disappointed him the most. The saddest part of all is that this commission does not care...one down a few more to go and they will have no open vocal opposition to get in their way. This city had better awaken and take an active interest.

What he said:

"Yes, unfortunately I am going to retire from the Lake Worth commission, from these meetings. I don't want to but as I have said before, I am very disappointed in this commission. It seems that we work for you instead of you working for us. Most of my questions go unanswered and I only have two minutes to speak that is strictly enforced.

So I feel the taxpayers of Lake Worth are worth nothing more to you than their walking wallets that you are free to tap into at any time you want. And I feel that things have gotten out of hand and out of control.

Our Finance Director retired and you hired a new one but after only 6 months, he quit. All this time you and staff were working on the bond issue in the back rooms but we didn't know anything about it. Both finance directors knew all about it and I wonder if this had anything to do with their leaving. This is not a $10 an hour job and with the money they make, you would think that they would be happy to have it. So, I feel there is more to this story than the taxpayers have been told.

And since I have used up my two minutes, the rest is yet to come. Thank you."

One of the Good Guys

Comment Up

City Commission regular, Peter Timm. There was a time I disagreed with him on almost everything...then the commission changed. Mr. Timm is always looking out for you! He goes into city hall the day of the meeting and reads most of the back-up. He is probably one of the most informed residents in the city. And to rhyme a phrase-- He always brings up important facts and never ever talks about cats. (You have to go to city commission meetings to understand!) I asked him how he felt to NEVER have this commission agree with him.  He answered with a smile,

 "I don't care."