Mexico doesn't give a damn about us

Not only is Mexico encouraging its citizens to cross our borders illegally and cause havoc on our system, they are also polluting the San Diego County beaches and waterway. One of our border agents caught a flesh eating disease because of the sewage spilling into the water.



CBS8 San Diego News reported that Joshua Willey, 40, contracted the dangerous flesh eating bacteria in April 2010 while participating in a training exercise at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado along the Silver Strand State Beach after a rainstorm.

Willey is hoping to draw President Trump’s attention to the issue when he visits the area to look at the border wall prototypes next week, and will ask him to take a tour of the Tijuana River Valley. [dennismichaellynch.com]

Please Sign the Audubon Society's Petition

We are asking that you take a minute from your busy day to sign a petition demanding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, begin immediate planning for and implementation of  a water storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA).

Please use this link, to the Audubon Florida petition website, to learn more about this grave issue that is now upon our collective doorsteps and to add your voice to  Demand that Planning for the EAA Reservoir Begin Now--Click here...

The foul waters being discharged from Lake "O" are now being directed into Palm Beach County. The problems that polluted water creates won't just disappear and solutions have been in the "planning stages" for decades. Your immediate action is necessary to force SFWMD to take decisive action now to protect our water.

Sincerely,
Audubon Society of the Everglades

Rick Scott declared Algae emergency

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"As bad as the massive algae bloom on the Treasure Coast is now, sometime in the coming days or weeks or months, it’s going to die. And when it does, the impact on flora and fauna will make the current disaster look like a tipped bait bucket by comparison."

Read about this disaster... by Eliot Kleinberg now in two counties.

The Environmental Protection Agency

The Scoop on the Everglades

Because the cost of the 46,800 acres owned by Big Sugar doubled in asking price from an estimated $350 mil to $700 mil, the deal did not go through.  The contract stipulated that the land would sell for current market rates. It was due to delay after delay after delay by Florida officials. According to the Sierra Club, the next option to buy this land is in five years. Who knows what it will be worth then.

This video was produced in April but it shows the severity and the urgency.

Important vote tommorow in Florida Senate

Politicians always seem to do what they want to do, not what the voters have told them to do. And this is true regarding Florida Amendment 1 that was passed by 4.2 million voters or (75%), ensuring that keeping our drinking water clean, protecting our rivers, lakes, and springs, as well as restoring the Everglades without any increase in taxes would be a law they could not screw around with. We voted and spoke and this vote was placed in our Constitution. The information below hit my desk this morning from Dave Cullen, Sierra Club and it is important.

The Senate will meet on Wednesday  to vote on, SB 2500, the General Appropriations Act (the budget).   The current Senate proposal provides only $2 million for Florida Forever, and the House is not much better at $10 million. But an important amendment that would provide $300 million for land acquisition under Florida Forever has been filed by Sen. Thad Altman (R - Brevard and Indian River counties). The amendment would also provide $15 million for state parks and $20 million for Kissimmee River land acquisition.

The Altman amendment is a chance for the Senate to fulfill the intent of the 4.2 million Floridians who voted for Amendment 1 by an overwhelming 75% because they know conservation lands are important for Florida’s future. 
It is amendment number 24, barcode 995031, and it can be seen here: http://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2015/2500/Amendment/995031/HTML

Everyone please contact Senator Jeff Clemens asking him to vote YES at 850-487-5027 or e-mail him at clemens.jeff.web@flsenate.gov and anyone out of the Palm Beach area, call your state Senator.

SB 2500: Appropriations
GENERAL BILL by Appropriations

Appropriations; Providing moneys for the annual period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016, to pay salaries, and other expenses, capital outlay-buildings, and other improvements, and for other specified purposes of the various agencies of state government, etc.

APPROPRIATION: $80,424,571,670.00 Effective Date: Except as otherwise provided herein, this act shall take effect July 1, 2015, or upon becoming law, whichever occurs later; however, if this act becomes law after July 1, 2015, then it shall operate retroactively to July 1, 2015

Last Action: 3/26/2015 Senate - Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/01/15 Location: On Special Order Calendar Bill Text: Web Page | PDF

Protecting the Intent of Amendment 1

As a member of Nature's Watchdog Alliance of Florida, I have reprinted the group's letter to the Florida Senate.

Dear Senators,

Our organization's members supported Amendment 1, which passed with the votes of 75% of those voting.

The purpose of Amendment 1 was to renew state spending on existing water and land conservation programs. Amendment 1 was not intended to fund water supply development projects that further deplete our water resources or to bail out developments that have neglected their own wastewater infrastructure needs. Nor was it intended that these new funds would simply replace other existing funds so that no additional benefits would accrue to these programs. The voters do not deserve to have another Lotto-like shift occur when they knew what they were doing by approving this expanded funding.

Our existing conservation programs have a strong track record of ensuring that our rivers, lakes, streams and natural areas are protected for future generations of Floridians.

Please ensure that Amendment 1 funds go to restoring and protecting water resources, providing access to public lands, and keeping working lands, farms, and forests as part of Florida’s rural landscapes and not to projects that fuel irresponsible growth in Florida's vulnerable natural areas nor simply shift funds around and end up accomplishing nothing new.

Respectfully yours,

Nature's Watchdog Alliance of Florida
By John Hedrick

Deviation from the Intent of Amendment 1?

Voting for water protection, not sewer projects, Amendment 1 passed by 75% of the voters in order to keep drinking water clean, protect our rivers, lakes, and springs, restore natural treasures like the Everglades, and protect our beaches and shores without any increase in taxes. Now there are some legislators and even Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam in support of using some of the money for different sewer projects throughout the state. Some want to divert some of this money for roads and infrastructure as well.

This is NOT what Amendment 1 was about. Maybe this is why the entire Lake Worth Commission is going to Tallahassee begging for grants for our roads and infrastructure. Diverting/twisting/stopping/ignoring the will of the voters is something they understand.

SB 1464 Environmental Regulation bill dead for the moment

SB 1464 Environmental Regulation did not pass yesterday in the Senate Community Affairs Committee  says environmental activist, David Cullen.

I'm happy to report that SB 1464 Environmental Regulation by Sen. Simpson was not heard in today's committee meeting.  Chair Simpson "Temporarily Passed" his own bill (which is more or less the equivalent of postponing it indefinitely under Robert's Rules.)  The bill is likely dead for the year, thoug pieces of it can be amended onto other vehicles.  We'll be watching closely for them.

In the meantime, congratulate yourself for helping to stop this bad legislation and please thank Sen. Simpson for stopping his own bill.  He did the right thing and should be recognized for it.  

His contact information:

Sen. Wilton Simpson

Hernando, Pasco , Sumter

(850) 487-5018

simpson.wilton.web@flsenate.gov

SB 1464 is the companion bill to Rep. Patronis’ HB 703 Sen. Simpson filed an amendment that strikes the section of the bill that is aimed at Martin County which requires a super-majority for the adoption of comprehensive plan amendments.  (Since Martin now has a pro-environmental commission, this is giving the development community fits.)   But there are still serious problems with the bill.

Chief among them is the provision for 30 year consumptive use permits (for water) that incentivizes big projects (developments of regional impact) in “rural areas of economic concern.”  Sierra opposes using access to water as an incentive and instead advocates treating it as a resource belonging to all the residents of the state.

CS/SB 1464: Environmental Regulation
GENERAL BILL by Environmental Preservation and Conservation ; Simpson

Environmental Regulation; Revising procedures for the transmittal and adoption of a comprehensive plan or plan amendment; exempting certain lessees of sovereignty submerged lands from lease renewal processing fees under certain circumstances; specifying the authorized duration of consumptive use permits for certain developments; encouraging certain counties to establish water well construction advisory boards; providing that proof of insurance satisfies a specified requirement to obtain a mitigation bank permit; requiring that certain criteria be incorporated into a regional water supply plan, etc.

Effective Date: 7/1/2014
Last Action: 4/3/2014 Senate - On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 04/08/14, 3:00 pm, 301 Senate Office Building
Location: On agenda (CA)
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF
Senate Committee References:
Environmental Preservation and Conservation (EP)
Community Affairs (CA)
Appropriations (AP)
Rules (RC)

Panama Hatties- A beautiful spot on the Intracoastal on the chopping block

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Panama Hatties
North Palm Beach has this--

Now North Palm Beach is going to get something similar to this-- What a shame--Click here...

Thank God our golf course in Lake Worth is deed restricted I hear!

It's over for Big Sugar - No more dumping in Lake Okeechobee

No more toxic green slime--

Earthjustice contended that the South Florida Water Management District was violating the Clean Water Act by allowing the agricultural companies (Big Sugar)  to send fertilizer-laden water into public water supplies, instead of cleaning it up first. They just won an eleven year legal battle. The government can wear you down and wear you out using your own tax dollars to fight you.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas in the Southern District of New York ruled today that the water transfer practice does, indeed, violate the Clean Water Act. Read how it got in the jurisdiction of a New York judge. And read about how environmentalists can make a difference.

It has to make you wonder why we even have to go to court to sue government and/or their agencies to do the right thing. Thank God this judge was sensible and knew his stuff.

The Waiver - The Suits - Chapel by the Sea

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They came and protested. There were two town hall meetings.  There were months on months of contention and the people spoke. The West Palm Beach City Commission never listened. They never had any intention of listening--just fooling the people by telling them, "Look what we've done--we've negotiated the project down from 25 floors to 22." You see, they had the power to make the decision to allow a highrise to be built on the Chapel By the Sea land, land that was filled in by the State with the caveat that it never be sold or developed. The West Palm Beach commission didn't care about that nor did the developer who hired Kilday & Associates to talk down to the public by telling them that nearly every city around has given waivers to developers.

Commissions NEVER listen to the people.  They listen to the developers. They continually make decisions and waive rules for unwanted development or projects that they want. They rule. They are allowed to do that if they believe that the development project is justified even if it is three times what the Comp Plan calls for or in the case of Lake Worth, not even honor an election. With the chapel project, they had GOD on their side. All they could see is tax base. Screw the waterfront. Screw the people they serve. Screw Florida.

NOTHING WAS ethically JUSTIFIED about it.

Now the citizens have filed two lawsuits.

It is all about Greed

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It is always unsettling when you realize that the church has committed a sin--that of Greed, which is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. In fact, it is a cardinal sin. Some people might think that the church was "evil" in what it did and categorize its action as lustful appetite, (gluttony, or extreme avarice). Yes, the church has the right to make money but look at what has been lost because of its action.

ROBERT DAVIDSSON, West Palm Beach, wrote a good opinion piece for the Palm  Beach Post today on the recent approval of the West Palm Beach Commission regarding the sale of the Chapel on the Lake property for a 22 story condo highrise to be built on the waterfront, blocking gorgeous views forever.

"The losers are the people of West Palm Beach. Citizens have lost another section of the waterfront to an emerging condominium wall along the Lake Worth Lagoon. Smart developers know how to game the city’s existing zoning variance rules and will continue to do so. As the result of the City Commission’s action, more high-rise projects will follow along Flagler Drive."

Read his point of view.

Pasco County Denied permit that would have damaged the environment

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District has denied a Department of the Army permit application, requested by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, to construct a county park with boat access to the Gulf of Mexico. If constructed, the proposed project, called SunWest County Park, would have impacted nearly four acres of jurisdictional wetlands and nearly 29 acres of seagrass habitat.

Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Corps regulates the discharge of dredge and fill material in waters of the United States, including many wetlands. Under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, the Corps is responsible for the protection and maintenance of the nation’s navigable waterways. In making its decision, the Corps considers the value of the aquatic ecosystems involved, the views of federal, state and local agencies and interest groups and 21 public interest factors.

In accordance with the Clean Water Act, the permit applicant must demonstrate that there are no practicable alternatives that would be less damaging to the aquatic environment than the preferred alternative. The Corps determined that the applicant failed to clearly demonstrate that the preferred alternative met this criterion. Additionally, the Corps determined that the proposed project is contrary to the public interest based on several factors, including conservation, economics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, navigation, recreation, water quality and safety.

In response to three public notices relative to the proposed project since 2008, approximately 9,000 individual petition e-mails and two group petition e-mails consisting of approximately 40,000 signatures requested denial of the project. The National Marine Fisheries Service, Center for Biological Diversity, Citizens for Sanity, Gulf Coast Conservancy, Save the Manatee Club, Sierra Club of Florida, Florida Wildlife Federation and Gulf Restoration Network all submitted comments expressing opposition to the proposed project.

"The mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Regulatory program is to protect the nation’s aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development t through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions," said Kevin O’Kane, chief of the Tampa Regulatory Office. "We are confident that our decision is based on sound science and a comprehensive, thorough review of potential impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the proposed project on the public’s interest."

Application filed to build in Intracoastal Waterway

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The Application

3/4's of a mile south of the Lake Worth Bridge on the Intracoastal Waterway, William Donner of Aventura, Florida, has made application to build 21 mutli-family townhouses along with a pool, recreation center, parking and 2 bridges that will connect the proposed island to A1A.

This property is just south of the submerged property that was leased to Steinhart for 99 years by the City of lake Worth. The fill will cover 1.94 acres and it will impact 2.72 acres of navigable waters.

The Army Corp of Engineers has reported that it may affect the smalltooth sawfish, the endangered West Indian manatee and Johnson's sawgrass.

Nancy R. Shepherd vs. City of Lake Worth

Comment Up

Right-Of-Way at end of Wellesley Drive

Nancy Shepherd, married to Dan Shepherd, former Commissioner City of Lake Worth, and who resides at 1902 Notre Dame Drive, sued the City on November 9th for the right-of-way property adjacent to her property at the end of Wellesley Drive. The dispute is simple--Shepherd says that she owns the property because the City

1. has never accepted the dedication of the Unimproved Property
2. has never improved or used the unimproved property as a street or road
3. She has filed a Notice of Withdrawal of Offer to Dedicate the Unimproved Property
4. any interest in the property has been abandoned by the City

She wants the City to quiet title to her for $10 because she says that as a matter of law, the City has no right to it and she owns it. What prompted the lawsuit was the day Joe Kroll tried to deliver a picnic table to the property. One of Shepherd's neighbors had asked one of our commissioners for the table. On the day that Joe Kroll tried to install the picnic table, he was confronted by Shepherd. Kroll was asked by whose authority he was doing this and when told it was one of our elected officials, Shepherd then said that no commissioner had the right. Subsequently a law suit was filed.

The city responded to Shepherd's complaint on November 30^th and has said that Ms. Shepherd has failed to state a cause of action and jurisdiction over the property in question and wants the complaint denied by the Court.

According to a local Realtor, the property in question is worth $6,000 dollars a linear foot. In 2006, when property values were high, it was selling for $10,000 a linear foot. Therefore, that particular piece of property is worth an estimated $240,000. The Shepherds want it for ten dollars.

End of Wellesley a fisherman enjoys the ambiance

Neighbors can stroll down the City's right-of-way and fish, sit and watch the sunrise or just relax and enjoy the beautiful Intra-Coastal Waterway.

Mayor Varela's position on "pocket parks"--

I have been fighting Commissioner Mullvehill's plan to create pocket parks out of abandoned right of ways on the water. We need to maximize the use of our ample waterfront park space to get more people to use those parks and the actual water itself. If It can be shown to me that we have a need for even more access to the water, then I might be swayed. As it stands now, the waterfront right of ways need to be maintained by the residents as a security buffer, saving the city money and giving responsible residents peace of mind.

Best,

Rene'

Please note that the Varela statement was sent in an e-mail during the campaign as a paid political advertisement.

At Lake Osborne

Taken Saturday, November 21

I agree with Rene. We have a wonderful little city. Every day I tell myself how lucky I am to live in Lake Worth and on Lake Osborne, a fresh water lake, which spreads nearly 400 acres.

Over the years, this lake system has been greatly impacted by human activities. It has been extensively modified and reduced in size by dredge and fill activities from urban/residential development. Several lakes were completely filled and built upon. We want to protect our wildlife and our waterfront for the public and that includes the rights of way to the Intracoastal Waterway.

There is a wonderful 4.5 mile walking/bike path.

Just a few years ago we had many birds. Now our wildlife, that was never in harm's way from humans, is disappearing at the lake and on the 726 acres of John Prince Park. It is rare to find ducks or even see a turtle anymore. As our immigrant population explodes, they are seen with nets at our lake either walking in small groups or pulling up in cars usually in the early evening.

Even though some of these creatures are exotic and/or unprotected, we should respect our wildlife as well as our local and County laws. What these immigrants are doing is illegal and for us to look the other way is wrong.

Message from Commissioner Jennings

Comment Up
Tomorrow Night, Tuesday October 20, 6pm at our Regular City Commission Meeting, we will be taking two exciting votes regarding public land and future growth. As always, your input on these issues is encouraged before or during the meeting.


Approving EAR-based Amendments
The Comprehensive Plan is a very important planning document; it lays out the current and future plan for growth and development in our City. We are required to amend the plan every seven years. The Comp Plan Amendments that we are voting on Tuesday night include important changes to ensure that future growth is harmonious with our existing neighborhoods and commercial areas. One of these changes is reducing building height limits to max 25 - 35’ throughout most areas of the city. Compatible development has been highly encouraged by our residents; finally it will be formalized into the Comp Plan.

Protecting Public Rights of Way for Public Benefit
This is an item Commissioner Mulvehill has brought forward to the Commission. The protection of public right-of-ways will ensure that we do not give away important pieces of public land including the roadways that dead-end into the Intracoastal. These pieces of land are important access points to public waterways and should be retained for public use and access.

I hope to see many of you at the meeting.

Best Regards,
Cara Jennings
561-584-2644

On "Pocket Parks"

I did not stay for the segment on "pocket parks" at the public workshop on Tuesday but I am in total agreement with Commissioner Mulvehill in protecting and preserving these public lands for the citizens of Lake Worth.

The political battle is that those living on the Intracoastal Waterway, or in those neighborhoods, do not want anyone who is walking on city property walking too close to their private property. They believe that only criminals will use these "pocket parks" and therefore, they say, their property or welfare will be in jeopardy. This is a public right of way that must be maintained as any other area in our city with the same amount of safety patrols. The question was asked of the candidates in one of the recent Forums.

I was talking to a citizen this morning that called me and stated that Commissioner Mulvehill was wrong. He equated it to the same thing as negotiating for decal parking spaces at our beach after taking County money. I do not see the correlation here and therefore do not understand the argument as only City money will be used toward the parking for residents with permits, not the County's. It is OUR beach.

The beach, as do the "pocket parks," belongs to the taxpayers of Lake Worth. It is all the taxpayers who maintain both and the city is responsible for that maintenance. The $5 million dollar bond money that was allocated to the City of Lake Worth for our beach is our money. We have been paying on this since 2002. It is about time that the County pays off. And we finally have a site plan that we will submit.

The caller reminded me that it was they who live in these areas who pay the majority of the taxes, a reason I guess for not allowing public access. I really was stunned by this argument. Because someone can afford an expensive home, lives better than most people in the United States, does not give them any more justification to grab public land for their own private use with some flimsy excuse of safety. Has anyone bothered to ask the public at large?

All dead end rights of way were designated in 1982 as mini-parks. These are public rights of way that belong to ALL the citizens of Lake Worth, not just to the wealthy few.

Candidate for Mayor, Bill Coakley says, "If it's public property, it's public property. We can't restrict some public property and not others. We need to have a consensus from the greater public and let them listen to the neighborhood concerns. The Democracy Project on my web site is a perfect tool."

Laurence McNamara, candidate for Mayor says, "Any waterfront access that is now public needs to remain public."

Lake Worth Golfcourse

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Aside from our oceanfront Lake Worth beach, our golf course is the most valuable land we own in this city. Aren't we lucky to have an 18 hole, par 70 course right on the IntraCoastal Waterway?

Golfers are a special breed of cat. They will play golf in rain, snow, sleet or hail. Nothing deters them from their sport. Yesterday in 95^ weather, these golfers were not deterred either.

The City Manager has stated that the golf course rounds are picking up. I am sure that our new golf pro, Chris Waller, will make our fabulous property a great success. We needed our own pro.

The Lagoon Restaurant opens at 8am and is doing well according to Karen who answered the phone. When asked if the golfers were supporting the restaurant, she said "yes." If any of you just want a nice place to have lunch with a gorgeous view, remember The Lagoon Restaurant. Let's support our golf course in every way that we can.