Supermajority vote in Palm Beach

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Letters to the Editor

Palm Beach Daily News
January 17, 2015

Supermajority rule will help prevent over-development

By LESLEY BLACKNER

Kudos to the Town Council for passing a supermajority requirement for comprehensive plan and zoning changes. One more vote will now be required to obtain a zoning or a comprehensive plan change.

Here’s why the supermajority is beneficial to the future of Palm Beach: An applicant seeking a zoning or a comprehensive plan change doesn’t want to abide by the existing rules on the books. These rules are established after much time and effort, and are designed to protect the well-being of the entire community. But the applicant for a change says: Give me a special deal. Such “deals” should be hard to get, and requiring that one extra vote will make it a little harder. That one more vote will also ensure that any change granted truly reflects the best interest of the community.

The supermajority is a vital tool to prevent overdevelopment in Palm Beach. It will aid the struggle to preserve the Palm Beach we all love, and help to pass on a decent town to our children and grandchildren.

LESLEY BLACKNER

We need a Super-Majority

Several years back, some of us in Lake Worth were advocating for a super-majority vote in order to change our comprehensive Plan.  Back then, we were battling the same people (the power grab bunch)  who are still for development at any cost today.  The Palm Beach Post endorsed the Super Majority vote here in Lake Worth. Because of a huge and expensive lobby against it by the Chamber of Commerce and other groups with oodles of money and boots on the ground, we lost that election by 119 votes.

Now the Town of Palm Beach has some sensible commissioners...read the Letter to the Editor--

Super-majority needed to protect town

 Congratulations to the Planning Commission and the Town Council for taking the first step in the journey to protect and preserve Palm Beach from the coming development onslaught.
The motion made by council member Bill Diamond to ask the town staff to prepare an ordinance that would require a super-majority, or four out of five votes of the Town Council, to make changes to our Comprehensive Plan, is long overdue and welcome.

This ordinance will take two readings before becoming an official part of our Town Ordinances but it will help protect Palm Beach from ill thought out and radical changes to the Comprehensive Plan, the document that has served us so well.

Palm Beach’s Code of Ordinances presently requires a super-majority, or four affirmative votes of the Town Council, to make zoning changes, or change zoning boundaries. Now with the added protection of the requirement of four votes to made changes to our Comprehensive Plan, Palm Beach will be well on the way to giving the teeth to our governing documents that will help preserve and protect the Palm Beach we all moved here to enjoy.

The planned addition of 40,000 dwelling units between Interstate 95 and the Lake Worth Lagoon in West Palm Beach and surrounds, will put development pressure on the island of Palm Beach the likes of which she has never experienced before.

As a result of those 75,000 to 100,000 new citizens moving into that corridor, demand for services in Palm Beach will increase, demand for parking in Palm Beach will increase and demand for beach access in Palm Beach will increase. We have to protect the Palm Beach that we moved here to enjoy from becoming just another seaside tourist town, overrun with T-shirt shops and bars.

Hats off to the Town Council and Planning and Zoning Commission.

WILLIAM O. COOLEY
Palm Beach

Florida Hometown Democracy and Medical Marijuana - what do they have in common?

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The Strange Failure of Florida’s Medical Marijuana Initiative--

I know.  Hometown Democracy and the Medical Marijuana initiatives don't have anything in common, but...you pot loving folks did it to yourselves when this initiative lost on Tuesday!

In the early 2000’s under Gov. Jeb Bush, the GOP legislature and its patrons, Big Sugar, the Florida Homebuilders, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida and big time lobbyists, began demonizing a citizens ballot initiative rising to the forefront: Florida Hometown Democracy.

All Florida Hometown Democracy wanted to do was to provide citizens the opportunity to vote for or against changes to community and municipal master development plans, required by state law to protect quality of life and the environment. And what did you all do along with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and special interests?  Florida’s lobbyist class representing deep-pocketed campaign contributors mounted a countermeasure. They did it with 58 percent of the vote in 2006 when 2.6 million voters approved putting brakes on ballot initiatives by requiring not a simple majority to pass a ballot item, but a supermajority: from fifty to sixty percent.

That’s the history and the fact behind the reason why on Tuesday, the will of 3.3 million voters … a higher percentage than voted to legalize marijuana for adults in Oregon — failed in Florida. Ironically, both the medical marijuana amendment and the 2006 requirement of a supermajority passed by fifty eight percent of the popular vote in Florida. Only the marijuana amendment failed.

 Read about it...  and ALAN FARAGO's article and how you potheads screwed yourselves!

Personally, I believe in a Super Majority when changing the State Constitution that affects our laws and that belief also applies to our Charter in Lake Worth. On a local level and the supermajority initiative, most people who voted against years back were members of the Chamber of Commerce or were heavily influenced by their anti-supermajority campaign, spending over $100,000 in Lake Worth to defeat it. It lost by 119 votes.  It's extremely difficult for the grassroots to win anything against the powerful.  Politicians sided with special interests and needed to keep a simple majority in order to easily win the vote from the dais.

Residents never came to commission meetings and never saw the waivers and the constant changes to our Land Development Regulations that were given out like M&M's. All the commissioners wanted was to do what they wanted to do and when they wanted to do it and they conjured up the money from the "big boys" and their influence to defeat it.  Lake Worth commissioners played on the politics and were in favor of a simple majority when it came to theirs and developer interests. Read about it... and the Supermajority that was endorsed by the Palm Beach Post back then.

Majority and Super-Majority votes

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A little bit of Trivia:

California-approved a  measure that allows districts to get bonds passed with a 55 percent majority, or 67 percent supermajority if they want to ask for more money from voters.

Just think, here in Lake Worth all it takes is 50% plus 1.  And it's especially easier when you have $50,000 of taxpayer money to convince the voters to your side.

The Super-Majority should have won years ago but it is much of the same crowd supporting this bond that helped defeat it.

Nuclear Option brings unilateral government

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Rogers-Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Another hypocritical move by Democrats and Harry Reid. The vote on the filibuster rules change went according to Party line with three Democrats voting against.

It's all become a familiar tactic with this administration. Harry Reid was against it before he was for it  So was Joe Biden when he was a Senator who said that the nuclear option is “a fundamental power grab by the majority party."  Now he likes it.  Congressional approving rating is in the toilet. The Senate is sure to follow as this vote eliminates any chance of bi-partisanship. Government has become more and more of a dictatorship by changing the rules in the middle of the game. Obama wants his own way and he got closer to it today.

The vote in the Senate regarding the rules change will prevent minority members from filibustering with the intention of blocking President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees. It is precisely the same tactic Reid tore into as an assault on democracy when Democrats were in the minority in 2005.  Senate rules required a three-fifths majority ("duly chosen and sworn" -- usually 60 votes) to end debate on a bill, nomination or other proposal (or two-thirds ("present and voting" -- 67 or fewer votes) for a change to the Senate rules), effectively allowing a minority of the Senate to block the measure through the technique of the filibuster.  Today's vote results in 51 votes to pass, not 60. If its a good law, then they should be able to get a supermajority vote.

The move is informally referred to as the "nuclear option" because it blows up any protection of minority rights.  It has been a long-standing Senate procedure. Today's rule change is the most far-reaching when Senators eliminated the two-thirds requirement for ending filibusters that has been around since the 1700's.

It's more important than ever to vote out these hypocrites in 2014.

On the Agenda tonight

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On the Agenda:

• Terminate the leasing agreement with Anderson & Carr for services at the Casino Building - SUMMARY: This agreement permits the termination, without cause, upon five days notice. The City wishes to exercise its right to terminate. (I wish that we had a city commission that terminated our outside counsel, Brian Joslyn, after the first year instead of dragging the Greater Bay case out for 3 years to end up recommending settlement for $1.6 million)

• Settlement agreement in the case of Reyes, Jordan & Drenski v. City of Lake Worth -SUMMARY: This agreement resolves the lawsuit by three former Utilities Department employees.BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION: After two mediations, the plaintiffs have agreed to a proposed settlement of all claims. Funding for the agreement to come from the Electric Utility Fund. (These guys need their jobs back)

• Discuss creating an ordinance to insure electric rate parity with the surrounding market within a five-year period- SUMMARY: This item is to discuss the creation of an ordinance that would formally create a five-year goal mandate to reduce the City’s electric rates to match the surrounding market rates as provided by FP&L. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION: During the January 29, 2013, Selection Committee meeting, a request was made to create an ordinance setting a five-year goal to reduce the City’s electric rate to market rate. The ordinance would require a supermajority vote of the Commission to make any changes to the plan. The ordinance would also set the framework for the implementation of a five-year business plan for the Electric Utility to implement the necessary changes and set annual revenue limitations as the rates step down. (Not sure how you can compare our local utility with a huge conglomerate such as FPL. Not one company in the State can compare to FPL's rates which, incidentally, they did not offer to us when we were looking for an energy provider). This Ordinance, although sounding good, is probably politics over practicality.

Supermajority discussion voted down by Power and Control Freaks

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Peanut Island Before

Term Limits have always been a mixed bag for me. For years I thought that the best way to handle terms of elected officials was to "kick the bums out" at the polls. But then, there was always someone who stayed in office for way too many years thanks to special interests, gerry-mandering and/or corruption. Then I would change my mind again, afterall, the president of the United States is termed I would tell myself.

Karen Marcus is term limited unless the Florida Supreme Court kicks that out. On one hand, I would like Karen Marcus to be in office for life. 99% of the time she has been an outstanding Palm Beach County Commissioner and does think of the county and its people first and foremost. It would be good if she could be elected once again.

On the other hand, there is Burt Aaronson, another commissioner who will be term limited. He is enough reason for me to stick with the idea of term limits.

Also, The Palm Beach Post agrees: "Term limits for county commissioners have survived a state appeals court's scrutiny ... By upholding voter-imposed county commission term limits, Florida's 4th District Court of Appeal was affirming counties' rights to set their own rules for who leads them and how. In this way, it was a victory for strong local governments and local control.

On Tuesday, the Palm Beach County Commission on a 4/3 vote turned down Karen Marcus' request to consider requiring a Supermajority vote on land-use changes. All she was asking was that the Supermajority come up for discussion on a commission agenda. Burt Aaronson has always been against anything that might hamstring his power and control. The hell with the people.

Marcus was attempting to protect Peanut Island from land-use changes thus protecting Peanut Island from possible unwanted commercial development and land that was purchased by county residents for the purpose of protecting it.

The Supermajority is and always has been noble as well as a safeguard ensuring that the rights of the people will have a small chance against powerful or corrupt or compromised politicians. Our Palm Beach County Commissioners who represent Lake Worth, Shelley Vana and Priscilla Taylor, voted against discussion of a Supermajority. They didn't want any part of it. Please remember this at the polls especially if term limits do not win in Court. All these people, Vana, Taylor, Aaronson, and Abrams need to be voted out.

Peanut Island Now

Senate Bill 1738 - additional homestead exemption

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As this additional homestead exemption (Senate Bill 1738) is being considered to assist low income Seniors and could be on the ballot this year, there will be a few still complaining that some of us don't pay taxes. They want to see the elderly poor pay more no matter what but have no compunction about building affordable housing for younger poor people or 3,000 s.f. townhouses on Lucerne for the working, struggling artist.

If it passes with 60% of the Florida vote, cities will get less advalorem. This will be a big challenge for all municipalities in Florida. They will have to come up with special assessments that are not fair nor are they equitable. As we go into our Budget discussions, all involved can't forget that Lake Worth, with 14% of its population here in Lake Worth, already has a senior exemption. The vast majority of Seniors have incomes less than $20,000 a year.

The homestead exemption for low-income seniors isn't the only one Floridians might be asked to vote on this year. State legislators also unanimously approved a constitutional amendment that would provide a homestead exemption to surviving spouses of veterans or emergency first-responders who died in the line of duty.

Each measure would need to be approved by 60 percent of voters statewide (a supermajority) before it could go into effect.

Cities in PB County that already have the Senior exemption:

The additional benefit for qualified seniors applies only to taxes levied by the following authorities. The county's senior exemption does not apply to other taxing authorities, such as the school district and municipalities.

$50,000
Town of Haverhill
Town of Loxahatchee Groves
Village of Wellington

$25,000
Palm Beach County
City of Boynton Beach
City of Lake Worth
Town of Lantana
City of Palm Beach Gardens
Village of Palm Springs

$5,000
Village of Royal Palm Beach

Political Action Committee formed to fight huge development in Wellington

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Well, lo and behold--a fat cat actually fighting development and urban sprawl. Where was he during the Amendment 4 campaign? That mentality sure wasn't in Lake Worth then and nothing has changed because we still have the normal suspects with deep pockets looking out for their own special interests.

Just last month, the Wellington Town Council on a 3/2 vote approved a plan to amend the town's Comprehensive Plan, allowing developers of Equestrian Village to build structures larger in size than what current land use regulations allow. Source: Channel 5. This is why I have always said that land-use changes should be considered only on a super-majority at the least. It is easier to compromise three commissioners than it is four because land-use changes are always political.

Jeremy Jacobs, Sr. whose family owns land there and best known as the owner of the Boston Bruins, is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delaware North Companies. Forbes magazine ranks him as #746 of the world's billionaires. The development, Equestrian Village and commercial complex, is proposed to be built near the Jacobs' land at the northeast corner of Pierson Road and South Shore Boulevard. This action caused the Jacobs family to form a PAC called Taxpayers for Integrity.

Normally my antenna goes up when I hear these warm and fuzzy names for PAC's as in most cases they are far removed from what they portray. Remember back in 2007 when the Florida Chamber people, egged on by our local Chamber under Ramiccio, got involved in our Lake Worth election with a Chamber PAC called Protect Our Constitution out of Tallahassee to defeat The Supermajority. They sent money and foot soldiers into Lake Worth.

There were also all those angry looking Lake Worth citizens, many who were members of the Chamber, who were a part of Last Chance Lake Worth PAC spreading fear and falsehoods. This was only 5 years ago when developers had a hold on our City. Now that the dais has changed in Lake Worth, those same people seem to be creeping back, trying to grab the power even to the point of changing out members of our Planning & Zoning Board to their liking and to only those with "qualifications" such as developer, Realtor, land-use attorney--you know, the very same people with special interests of years ago.

The Taxpayers for Integrity PAC was formed to go after the defeat of the current Wellington Mayor, Darell Bowen, and support two new candidates running for election who are against this project. A quarter of a million big bucks has been infused into this campaign.

Of course, you have the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that is organizing and sending out fliers countering Jacobs and his new PAC. Anywhere there is development you can be assured that the Chamber of Commerce will be for it, good, bad or indifferent.


Let's see how this Wellington election goes tomorrow and whether or not John Greene, vice president of business development for an international private security firm; Matt Willhite, currently the only Democrat on the council; and Bob Margolis, a former council member running for mayor win their elections.

Jamie Titcomb - no moss under his feet

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Boynton Beach, a city as screwed up politically as Lake Worth, has also added Jamie Titcomb to its short list of city manager candidates. Mr. Titcomb is on a month to month contract with Lake Park as Interim City Manager.

In Boynton, they have a supermajority to elect a city manager, unlike Lake Worth. Therefore, they are just a little above the bell curve than we are...trying a little harder to keep politics out of the equation.

As one former mayoral candidate, Brian Edwards, in Boynton Beach said, "This is a farce. We deserve the city manager we have. Save the money and put our city manager to work and get beyond whatever the heck is going on here." Sound familiar?

It's politics and bad decisions by elected officials in many cases Mr. Edwards, and the main reason why there is such a turn over of city managers. In Lake Worth, we have been left with unfinished projects that will eventually be under a new CEO, a stressed staff and the time and effort and expense in the search for another city manager and who, with our track record, will be gone in three years or less. When a city manager leaves because of political reasons, its sets back the city in various ways.

Politics a game of Dirty Strategy

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Politics is a dirty game...a "blood sport" as Rene Varela once said and right now, the process for choosing a city manager in Lake Worth is becoming a political football between three on the dais led by the quarterback, Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell.

Boynton Beach, North Palm Beach and Lake Park are a few of the cities with similar problems as far as city managers in the political revolving door. Boynton, of course, has a different case but what was interesting about Boynton Beach, revealed in a recent PBPost, is that they need a 4/1 vote or a super majority to hire a city manager. Two commissioners in Boynton, one part of my extended family, have refused to even acknowledge the interim city manager, Lori LaVerriere blaming her on whistleblowing and the demise of Rodriguez. Ridiculous and dirty politics is everywhere.

We had a 4 to 1 vote when Lake Worth hired Susan Stanton but it is not a rule in Lake Worth. A city manager can be hired or fired on a simple majority of 3 votes. You always want to give your prospective city manager a vote of confidence going into the job. Well, most people do unless you are Lake Worth.

The only commissioner who did not vote for Susan Stanton was Retha Lowe. Lowe never gave a reason other than she liked the "other guy better." Some thought and even stated in private circles that perhaps it was this transgender business. Now we have Retha's protege and someone she endorsed, Scott Maxwell, who led the initiative to fire Susan Stanton and someone who harassed Stanton for over 2 years even before he ran for office the first time. His distaste for Stanton started well before he was first elected when he was an advocate of Border Control Now, something we never hear about since he got elected.

I would like to see this supermajority requirement in the City of Lake Worth, not only to hire a city manager but to fire as well. It is way past time to keep the politics out of the most important position in our city. We need a city manager who will concentrate on the job, not the politics that put them in place and be allowed to devote all his/her energies to the office of city manager. Even Steve Carr, Acting City Manager and our Finance Director said that the hiring decision will be the most important that this commission will ever make.

If you read between the lines, all evidence right now indicates that the process for choosing a city manager is political and the outcome may very well end up that way. We know that the firing of Stanton was.

Politics is a dirty game. Often times those very same politicians who resorted to dirty attacks (think Zacks who was running solely to bring Waterman down and get Triolo elected) are the very same politicians who eventually make gigantic mistakes that have cost this city tens of millions of dollars. We must have a strong city manager who can not be led around by the nose by 3 politicians otherwise this city is heading for disaster.

Let's change the process across the board and put it before the voters requiring a super-majority vote for hiring as well as firing of the city manager position in Lake Worth. In that way we can, at the very least, keep the process honest.

Tom Ramiccio and his run for Mayor

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Ever since Tom Ramiccio decided to run for Mayor, he has been showing up at city commission meetings, sitting on the front row next to the editor of The Herald, a long time friend.

Ramiccio has said that once he is mayor, "I will fire the city manager." He makes no bones about it. He doesn't give reasons why he doesn't like her--you don't have to have reasons when it comes to politics, a deadly game. Perhaps it is because Susan Stanton is trying to run a tight ship. Perhaps it is her bravery in standing up to the Unions and he covets their endorsements. Perhaps it is her audacity to ask for a reduction in costs with the PBSO. Perhaps.

For some reason The Herald thinks that people who complain the most must be always right. Scream and screech and you have its attention. Complain about our city manager and the newspaper agrees. Complain about some of our commissioners, and it agrees. One commissioner complains about everything and the paper agrees and treats Commissioner Maxwell like a long lost son. No opposing opinions are ever sought. Isn't that what newspapers normally do? In this city, as in most, it is to sell newspapers. Seriously.

Thursday it gave glowing accolades to Tom Ramiccio. It suggested that Tropic Fest, our July 4th event will be forever a failure too with no Tom. Tom coined its name and got kudos for that. The editorial suggested that the Chamber will be a failure because there is no Tom at the helm...but he was fired by the Chamber, Mr. Editor, and usually someone is not fired unless there is good reason. Did I say "usually?" True, the Chamber did receive increased membership under Ramiccio. What The Herald failed to mention, this was a financial gain to Mr. Ramiccio as he received 20% of each membership fee that went right into his pocket. Tom is persuasive--just ask Lake Worth Florist or Havana Hideout.

Tom won his election as Lake Worth mayor in 1997. In 1999 he was re-elected. During his second term as mayor, he violated Section 112.313(6), Florida Statutes; whereas the State imposed a civil penalty of $2,000; and issued a public censure and reprimand for his strong-arm tactics against the owner of one of our downtown shops. He did not like her putting a campaign sign in her window of the opponent. His witnesses were: Bjon Javid, Barbara Massey, Wendy Newmeyer, H. Patrick Parrish of the Lake Worth Herald, and Marianne Webber.

The editor of The Lake Worth Herald condemns the present Chamber for not coming through for this year's Fest (like Tom used to do) but fails to mention that money is tight for all budgets. Those corporations that Ramiccio used to put the squeeze on don't have the money anymore. The economy was a little different while Tom was in charge of the Chamber and so were the finances of this City.

Yesterday Ramiccio got the endorsement of the Police Benevolent Association that will encourage all its members, members' families, friends, etc. to cast their vote for Tom. As Tom has made a political statement as a proponent of keeping PBSO, I doubt that he will be able to put the arm on the Sheriff as he once did with his buddies at the LW Police. I was at a table in front of a store front with the owner's permission, and not on public right of way, for the SuperMajority. He called SWAT to kick us to our heels and stop our constitutional right. So much for abuse of power.

Now let's see who the Lake Worth Chamber endorses. That one will be interesting and nothing will surprise me. Absolutely nothing.

A Supermajority vote - Let's get that 60%

Latest Poll shows Amendments unlikely to pass

Any constitutional amendment, whether initiated or referred by the Legislature, must be approved by at least 60% of those voting on the measure. Any proposed constitutional amendment imposing a new state tax or fee must be approved by 2/3 of those the voters in the State voting in the election in which such an amendment is considered.

Even Vice President Joe Biden slammed the Republican's use of the Senate's Supermajority rules on January 17, 2010, saying that he's never before seen "the Constitution stood on its head as they've done," and that "no democracy has survived needing a Supermajority."

Joe is wrong. A Supermajority is necessary. We tried to pass one here in Lake Worth a few years back and the same groups fought it like crazy, spending a lot of money and busing in foot soldiers, and won. Now the Supermajority is working to their advantage in the State of Florida regarding Amendment 4. Win or lose, it is important that politicians do not abuse our Constitution by trying to pass important changes to our Constitution by a simple majority. The problem is the big money that influences voters who are confused on amendments. When you talk about $15 million from all these self-interest groups out to defeat Amendment 4, that carries a lot of campaign propaganda.

The Supermajority vote, however, was initiated by the Florida Legislature as a direct result of Florida Hometown Democracy in order to make it very difficult for those wanting to protect our State from being over-built. Politicians in Tallahassee, in bed with the developer lobbyists, put it on the ballot on November 7, 2006 in order to make it very challenging to change the Constitution. It passed on a 57.8% in favor and 42.2% not in favor--not even a Supermajority.

Vote Yes on Amendment 4

Well, if he would listen to the facts, he would be for 4

The Pac, Businesses Aligned for Change, is against Amendment 4. Shanon Materio, Pac member, said this to the Post reporter, Willie Howard. No surprise here. These are the same people who were against the SuperMajority. I have no reason why. If you have your bought, compromised and paid for candidates in office, no problem. But what about when honest people get elected? What then? Would it not be advantageous at that time to at least have a vote? This is democracy in action.

While at the demonstration today, I was wearing my Vote YES T-shirt for Amendment 4. A gentlemen, associate of the Lindsey PAC made a remark after seeing my shirt that he believed in a Republic. So I asked him if he didn’t believe in the people’s right to vote and he repeated that he believed in a Republic. Giving him one scenario that he agreed to, he asked that I give him 55 million more reasons to support Amendment 4.

Democracy, autonomy and capacity are the standards of accountability of a strong republic. Voters need a seat at the table. We're the ones who watch tax dollars that go to extend the police, fire, water, sewer, schools and roads to new developments. Is a new development worth it? We should get a vote to decide. We should get a vote before we are forced to pay.

Ironically, this gentleman, along with Shanon Materio and her PAC and other supporters such as the Mayor, were there to demonstrate against incumbent politicians in support of their opponents. This is the very reason why a Republic sometimes needs a little help when it comes to three votes from a Dais voting on unwanted development and sprawl.

I honestly don’t think it takes more than one main reason for most people to understand why a YES vote is the only vote on November 2. Do you?

Negative campaigning, dirty tricks and playing Gotcha

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It's that time of year--get ready!

Every election cycle we have some residents who go over Treasury Reports with a fine toothed comb, looking for anything that might be a red-flag regarding improper or incomplete reporting. They play the vigorous game of “gotcha.” If they can’t find anything there, they look for ethics violations. They are determined to find something in order to bring the opposition down in order to prove dishonesty, lack of ethics, lack of integrity, that they are liars or worse, or just to play the sleazy game. They want to plant that seed of doubt in the minds of the voters. Sometimes these complaints are over stupid, petty things and sometimes the negative seed grows.

We even have the legitimate news media doing the same thing when it comes to reporting facts or their shallow endorsements, i.e., the Palm Beach Post. Afterall, it depends upon advertising dollars and they will do what's necessary to knock out a leading candidate they do not like. The free press is corrupt surviving in a corrupt system.

We had three residents (Lindsey, Pickett and Lynch) who filed an ethics complaint against Cara Jennings that went nowhere for using her power to intimidate a local downtown business from having the Maxwell Campaign hold a fund raiser because she charged that he was "racist." There are some who still believe that Scott is racist because of this. He isn't.

Then there was Lisa Maxwell, candidate in District 4 who is presently running against Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill. She is a former long-time, shhhhhhh "lobbyist" for the building industry who filed her own complaint against Jennings regarding non-disclosure of a mortgage.

Several years back, there were four gals with a big vendetta. As I recall, they were Arevalo, Weber, Allen and Wright who got all over Marc Drautz for not having a disclaimer at the footer of a letter he mailed out. They were still fuming that 1) he beat out Rodney Romano 2) he supported the SuperMajority and 3) he really cared about the people. They filed individual complaints, virtually at the same time, with Tallahassee. This was considered a Minor Violation by the Elections Commission. Drautz ended up paying a $500 fine months after he had been defeated by Clemens. $500 was not minor to him.

Mary Brandenburg who is term-limited this year and presently our House Rep District 89 and campaign treasurer for her husband Pete, just filed a complaint against Jeff Clemens saying he under-reported the value of two fund-raising events. Tactically this was a very stupid move on Mary’s part. I would have thought that she would have been more politically astute. You could spout the Clemens record, deplorable enough, without filing a campaign violation. We could have forgiven you for "running" your husband. This "gotcha" might very well backfire on Brandenburg.

Just last year we all had to endure the sleazy tactics and lies with a campaign flier put out by the Dirty Dozen as well as robo calls made from the Lake Worth Fire Department phone line against candidate Laurence McNamara who was running against our now Mayor, Rene Varela. Last night I met Sid Dinerstein, head of the Republican Party here in Palm Beach County, who did a robo call on the behalf of Democrat Varela. Unorthodox to say the least. We are rather sure where this all originated. Of course, Varela denied knowledge of the incidents and the person behind the Dinerstein call will never admit to it.

We are all sick of negative campaigning, nit-picking and dirty tricks but secretly we love to see what's next. Who is going to body slam whom. This year we have seen more of it than any other in recent memory from candidates with unlimited personal funds. People are also disgusted with the "gotchas." Now we have Democrats running as Tea Party candidates in order to split the vote.

We have Jeff Greene, some sort of billionaire and buying his way into office, calling Kendrick Meek “corrupt” and saying there should be a criminal investigation. Kendrick Meek, Congressman now running for the U.S. Senate, is the son of the great Carrie Meek who was the granddaughter of slaves and also was our Congresswoman from Florida. Greene also said that Meek sold out the Seniors.

Then there is Dan Gelber running against Dave Aronberg who is a Harvard graduate in Government, accusing him of voting with those "dreaded" Republicans and calling him anti-consumer.

We have all witnessed the vilification of Col. Allen West by the Democrats and the left-winged media. Last night he showed us two Klein fliers that were mailed to his house full of lies.

As the negative ads appear on TV, we say, "oh no, not him again," or we hunt for the remote to mute or click them off just like the voters will do this November. We soon will see anti-Amendment 4 ads. Click them off too. These people behind the lies have more money than sense coming from special interests groups that are only interested in their self-enrichment.

Adlai Stevenson said, "Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public purse."

Some Lake Worth Highlights for 2009

A YEAR IN REVIEW

Rejected red-light image recording. Vote 4/1 with Clemens dissenting

Suspended activity with the County Water Contract. Vote 5/0

Commission authorized payment of the Motorola contract for police radios of $427,933.26 as the Sheriff had no use for them. Decide to sell them for pennies on the dollar.

Spent $2,085,985 on tube replacement to the S3 boiler. Vote 5/0

Charles Celi loses his appeal on the Gulfstream Hotel. 4/1 vote with Mulvehill dissenting

Kimley Horn selected for site plan development at our beach. Jennings brings Michael Singer Artist into the equation on Varela suggestion. Vote to eliminate 164 upper dune parking spaces and decal parking is limited to 55 spaces on northern end and spend $5 million on re-designing parking lots.

Interim Building Inspector who had re-flagged the Casino, gone. Forensic engineer hired who says building is structurally sound. Eventually the Commission votes to restore the Casino.

Public commentary changed to 2 minutes on each item. 3/2 with Clemens and Lowe dissenting

In March, prohibited the issuance of revocable permits on any real property owned or maintained by the City or has access to public waterways. Called for a Public Hearing. Vote 5/0

Larry Karns, City Attorney, terminated. 3/2 with Clemens and Lowe dissenting

Commission votes to exempt the CRA of County MSTU tax increments and approves an interlocal agreement with the County for Fire Rescue. 5/0

In March, Mock Roos says that we can build RO plant for 25% less

On April 7, Commission votes 4/1 to hire Susan Stanton as new city manager. Lowe says No. Stanton proceeds to fire many top employees.

Voted to spend $50,000 on an electrical arc study and Rebecca Mattey admits that our own staff engineer could have done it. Vote 5/0 to spend the money anyway.

Lake Worth Pier opens on May 9

Chicken Ordinance fails

Ordinance on Sunset to keep zoning at SF7. Vote 5/0

Commission votes to go downtown with a noise decibel meter. Residents nearby have complained about noise and how it affects their sleep.

Vote not to pay the County $5.9 million under the Water Contract. 4/1 with Clemens dissenting. Mary Lindsey sides with Clemens…something to do with breaking contracts even though they might be hideous for Lake Worth and the taste of West Palm Beach water that we only buy when needed.

Community Relations Board formed on 2^nd Reading in June. Vote 5/0

Celi’s appeal and Motion to deny the extension of the Gulfstream Hotel. 3/2 vote with Clemens and Lowe dissenting. Motion failed because it needed a supermajority vote.

Commission wastes $300,000 by spending $565,000 by bypassing insurance company requirements on transformer. NO valid reason for doing this. Vote 5/0

Take-over of CRA on July 23, fails on a 2/3 with Clemens, Lowe and Mulvehill dissenting. Mary Lindsey says that the qualifications for the CRA Board are more demanding than for City Commissioner.

City Hall ups the fees for public information. Vote 4/1 with Jennings dissenting

Rates go up for just about everything: water, electric, recreation

2^nd Reading on Sunset repealing Ordinance on a large scale amendment. Vote 5/0

Approves contract with Reynolds to construct a 9.0 MGD RO plant. Vote 5/0

Heights limited to 35 feet for new construction. 3/2 with Clemens and Lowe dissenting.

Adopted the Comprehensive Plan with amendments. 3/2 with Clemens and Lowe dissenting.

Rene Varela, partner in a company that is involved in Dolphin trafficking, voted in as Mayor. Deceptive flier mailed around city by Mary Lindsey indicating it is from the LW Utility Dept. Deceptive robo call made by Firefighter’s Union using Lake Worth city phone number in support of Varela. City makes NO comment.

Scott Maxwell voted in as Commissioner District 1. Jo-Ann Golden voted back in as Commissioner District 3.

Former Fire Chief Blockson says he is screwed out of accumulated sick pay benefits because the firefighter's went to the County. Stanton's position is you only get it if you retire. Chief speaks on the issue at public meetings and City Commission is silent.

City Manager hires Annabeth Karson for Census. Gives it back to the Commission to decide. Stanton says not aware of political ramifications. "Political witchhunt" from handful of residents against Annabeth Karson who is subsequently fired from her Census job. Commission goes out on RFP.

Commission approves Publix going into our downtown. CRA gives Publix, a multi-billion dollar corporation, $500,000 for infrastructure.

Compass, that occupies a city building for $83.00 a month, asks for money from the City because it spent more than anticipated to occupy the building and is about to go belly-up. City authorizes $250,000 to Compass.

Tom Ramiccio gets fired as CEO of the Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce.

Then we have the new lawsuits:

Former fired Utility employees sue the City for Whistleblower termination. Former Mayor Clemens calls employees "liars" in public meeting.

Greater Bay sues the City for kicking them out of town for non-performance.

Sunset parcel owners notify the City that they want the up-zoning promised to them by former Commission.

Shepherds sue the City because they want the right-of-way next to their property that leads to the Intracoastal to be theirs for $10.

What goes around, Comes around

Comment Up
Please forgive me when I say that I will not miss Tom.

His political shenanigans were often times too much to bear. He cultivated political cronies through the years and managed to get a lot of his friends elected, people that I might add, have done a lot of harm to Lake Worth.

He came down hard on the SuperMajority and took a prominent political stand against it not even allowing us to speak at his Chamber Forum. He was not the least bit friendly towards anyone with whom he even suspected did not agree with him. You were instantly his enemy. He bullied downtown merchants and many feared him. He bullied the school principal. He bullied private citizens. He used his power to destroy and was a "force to be reckoned with." And he surrounded himself with those with like views who cheered him on. He was their "man."

The Chamber’s web site states its mission:
The mission of the Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce is to foster and promote business growth through networking, education and leadership while preserving a positive community image. We serve as the liaison between business, government, and the community, providing member services and promoting economic development.

Our objective is to serve our membership and community through leadership, building a positive business climate while enhancing and protecting the quality of life for all.

Our Chamber of Commerce is here to develop, advance and promote all aspects of entrepreneurial, professional and civic welfare for Lake Worth. It is here to improve the business climate, not hinder it. Ending Evening on the Avenues is just one example where that leadership failed and the bully factor took over. It was not the way to make this community more prosperous. It did not demonstrate to the merchants that their best interests were at heart. He held the city hostage on this event. He held the CRA hostage as well.

It’s funny how things happen in this city. This last election gave Tom and his friends new found confidence. That confidence is being demonstrated in commission meetings as well as the Annabeth Karson firing blitz by those who have been big Tom supporters.

Now turn about is fair play I suppose.

The Power Grab Bunch is Back

The number one problem is NOT the Utility Department. That can be turned around by an excellent administrator surrounded with competent people. Stop the waste. Problem over and we will actually see a profit.

Today, the Power Grab bunch was back. You remember them don't you? Those angry faces on the anti-SuperMajority flier we got a few years ago? Well they were back in force this morning putting fliers on cars downtown (illegal I think) and placed under anonymity. They don't even have the guts to put their names on the flier and take responsibility for all the false information. Well, no wonder. They should be embarrassed. They want "green" but they hate tree huggers. This bunch of "unfriendlies" has always been unhappy and confused. Do you ever see any of them even smile? :(

Here are some of the positive and upbeat great things that have happened in Lake Worth sent to me by a Commissioner:

10/5/09- Lake Worth sculpts image as cultural capital - Palm Beach Post cover story.

9/21/09 - How businesses are persuading customers to buy local - Palm Beach Post Business Section Cover Story

9/18/09 - For South Florida homebuyers, small is the new large

9/17/09 - Oceanside market hits stride with downtown vibe

9/4/09 - Suzanne Mulvehill and Mark Barone interview with Jim Blasinghame - How to make your city more entrepreneurial

6/27/09 - Some South Floridians eschew gas, go electric

6/22/09 - Lake Worth students create Chinese-themed tabletop mural

6/15/09 - Ulysses, Joyce, and Drinks
A new writing center is bringing Bloomsday to South Florida

6/2/09 - Florida’s Best Kept Secret:
Bargain Beach Houses, $1 Beers and Lake Worth Bike Night

5/7/09 - Lake Worth pier named after man who was devoted to helping others. Palm Beach Post

5/7/09 - After years of repairs, Lake Worth pier rises again. Palm Beach Post

4/15/09 - This place is a dive, Man! Palm Beach Post

4/7/09 - Interview with Suzanne Mulvehill - Small Business Advocate Radio Show with Jim Blasinghame - Small Business Owners Getting involved in Local Politics

4/2/09 - Landscaper, volunteer ready for another stamp of approval - Palm Beach Post

4/2/09 - Artists transform Lake Worth hydrants into parrots - PB Post

4/2/09 - Palm Beach County Celebrates Pride - Boston Edge

3/24/09 - Ex-TV "psychic Miss Cleo revels new life - Miami Herald

3/24/09 - Miss Cleo, TV's proud "voodoo woman" joins Lake Worth's gay community - PB Post

3/21/09 - Palm Beach Florida prepares for Pride - Boston Edge

3/12/09 - Benny's looks forward to new Lake Worth Pier - PB Post

3/8/09 - Surfers deal a blow to a Beach Dredging Project - NY Times

3/2/09 -Off the Beaten Path - Wall Street Journal

3/2/09 -A Look Around Lake Worth - Wall Street Journal online.

2/26/09 - Vegetable garden feeds Lake Worth woman's spirit - Palm Beach Post

2/20/09 - Artists take to streets in Lake Worth - PB Post

2/19/09 - Street painting festival brings art to the people - Palm Beach Post

2/19/09 - Lake Worth garden a community labor of love - PB Post

2/9/09 - Single bin recycling a hit in Lake Worth - PB Post

2/5/09 - Lake Worth trail delivers fitness, with a view - PB Post


On November 3 the Power Grab bunch will still be frowning.

The Trio, Singing the Same Tune?

Wes Blackman, Loretta Sharpe and Scott Maxwell appear to be running for elected office in tandem. This is how it is shaping up just 19 days before election day. With Mayoral candidate Bill Coakley singing, “Throw the Bums Out,” these three appear to have joined forces to do just that. Reversing the present 3 to 2 vote is paramount in their minds. They truly believe that the present commission is the reason for all our problems and they think they are the ones to change the direction of Lake Worth. They have some sort of an idea that ALL the rest is the same and their sitting on the dais will change things for the better here. What they stand for or how they will accomplish it no one really knows at this point but what they see, they don't like. All we can do is guess by what they have said in the past.

Wes Blackman, running against Vice Mayor Jo-Ann Golden in District 3, is for building high. He is a Planner. He voted against the Lake Osborne Heights neighborhood and voted to increase height and density which was arbitrary to our Comprehensive Plan. He was for the flim flam man at our beach. He is against Florida Hometown Democracy and was against the SuperMajority. He is the one who was adamant that our Casino was a danger to the public and that it should be demolished. He was one of the people behind The Lucerne. When he ran last, Loretta Sharpe contributed to his campaign as did various members of the P&Z, CRA and don’t forget Geoffrey Pugh who owns property on 6th Avenue South and who managed to get a sweet deal from our CRA until it was exposed by Bill Coakley. The commission eventually put a halt to it. I have yet to see any campaign literature. Wes did not attend the first Forum.

Loretta Sharpe, running for Mayor, is for building high. She is a Realtor. Ditto all of the above. She was for George Goyanes instead of Cara Jennings. She supported Wes Blackman in his last run against Jo-Ann Golden. She also supported Dave Vespo, a former commissioner that made a lot of bad and questionable decisions. Loretta says that she has given up on our beach. She was on the P&Z Board and voted for The Lucerne. Loretta’s flier says that she will do a lot of things. I want to know how she will do them. She is fierce and feisty and has gone all out to say just about anything during this campaign. She even got Que excited! Loretta says that she is "building bridges to the future" but we haven’t seen that yet—Loretta did not attend the first forum.

Scott Maxwell, running for Commissioner District 1, is an unknown to me as far as his local politics is concerned. He is in retail management. All I know is that he is a conservative and against illegal immigration having had a radio show against illegal aliens. He says that he wants to bring the City together but yet, I don’t see him hanging with the “other side” meaning the non-developer backed groups. He of the three, has tried to build some bridges. He did invite me to his campaign party at Brogues, the only one of the Trio who has. Retha Lowe has endorsed Scott. Retha was supported by Wes Blackman, many of our P&Z Board and our CRA (those in control of our City), all the Sun companies (the dumping scandal on our landfill), and supported by Loretta Sharpe. Scott will do everything to reinstate Code if he wins.

I am looking forward to the forums sponsored by the Lake Worth Democratic Club tonight as well as the Neighborhood Association Council at the Lake Worth Playhouse. These are the most important forums and hopefully the committees will come up with some significant questions.

In the run-off election in 2006, only 2,574 voters went to the polls. So, less than 3,000 voters could decide on our future. Will you be one of them this year?

People will Support Business if you have a Product they want

Comment Up

Political sign at Maryann Webber Gallery

READ THE ARTICLE

Commissioner Mulvehill has a lot of good ideas and spending local is just one of them. She declared last month Buy Local Month. We at our Condo Association always use Lake Worth businesses whenever we can. That is our commitment to our city.

I believe that it goes without saying that we all love our downtown and we love Lake Worth. In today’s business section of the Post was Maryann Webber and her gallery that participated in the 3/50 project that encourages consumers to pick 3 local businesses and spend $50 in each of them for a month. The paper shows a pretty and friendly photo of Mrs. Webber, in sharp contrast to her recent treatment at her store of two of my friends who are not aligned politically with her and a third one who was treated with distain. Businesses should not be political and if they are, they take the risk.

Some of the downtown businesses did suffer after the election when they supported the defeat of the SuperMajority even going so far as to hanging banners across the front of their business establishment against the initiative. The local Chamber of Commerce (that says it is NOT political) tried to get all of its members to vote against the initiative saying it "was bad for business." Some people actually believed that, not even understanding what it was about. Bizarre Cafe believed it. That business went south and the owners finally sold the restaurant and I haven't been there since that election.

Everyone should buy locally when they can. The problem is, Lake Worth does not have enough businesses that encourage people to return shop, many being specialty shops. Most people already have all the art they want and have accumulated way too many knick knacks and art pieces. The majority living in our city are lucky to have the money to make their car payment.

The CRA’s mission is now to make Lake Worth an art destination and has budgeted a lot of money to make that happen. The downtown is in the CRA district. I have to wonder about the rest of the CRA district that is struggling because the majority of it is comprised of residential homes and those people pay the most in ad valorem compared to the local businesses.

Our city is not just about business but it is about the people who live here whose tax money is being directed towards cultural redevelopment (an art community) who perhaps could be better served in their own neighborhoods by eradicating slum and blight. Perhaps then, businesses would want to come to Lake Worth. With Peter Meyerhoefer, a former business owner in our downtown and now the Chair of the local CRA, will that be his priority as he leads this Board?