Throw me a bone

Last night the Lake Worth Democratic Club had its election of officers. I decided not to attend. What’s the use? To put in my protest votes?

Two months before our last local election, one of the former presidents of the Club who was supporting a Republican as well as the then President of the Club, told Rene Varela that he could be the next President of the LW Democratic Club, not commissioner. Some of these newly elected officers who have been voted back in were out on election day holding Dave Vespo (Republican) signs.

Rene is now the new President and will be working in 2009 with some of the very same officers who campaigned against him during this past election. Those people should have done the right thing and stepped down as they were advised. Because they didn’t, this Club is impotent. Can you even imagine working with people who have no loyalty to fellow Democrats even when told by the new Chair of the Democratic Executive Committee that what they were doing was against the By-Laws and they needed to resign? Can you even imagine building up a Club with the very same people who rejected you so arrogantly and so publicly?

Good luck, Rene. You will surely need it. Perhaps this year instead of ending up with the bone you will end up with a nice juicy steak and turn this Club’s loyalty around. It’s a big challenge.

Funky sales in the Lucerne

Latest sales in Lucerne

NOV 18 2008 • 511 Lucerne Ave, Unit: 402: $250,000
This unit was purchased in June 06 for $375,793

NOV 13 2008 • 511 Lucerne Ave, Unit: 314: $107,000
This unit was purchased in June 06 for $164,640

OCT 16 2008 • 511 Lucerne Ave, Unit: 308: $115,000
OCT 06 2008 • 511 Lucerne Ave, Unit: 310: $119,900
SEP 25 2008 • 511 Lucerne Ave, Unit: 514: $158,000
FEB 29 2008 • 511 Lucerne Ave, Unit: 613: $250,000

In the meantime, a downtown merchant who wants to remain anonymous says, "It is war," speaking about the Code Enforcement raid at the Havana Hideout.

Home on Collier Ave burglarized and owner terrorized

The owner of a home on Collier interrupted a burglary. He came home and found 2 Hispanic males in a tan SUV removing TV's etc. from the home. The owner parked his truck in the driveway and blocked the men in. The two men held him down, stole his wallet and keys, moved his truck out of the way and got away. The owner just had a stroke 3 mos ago and was taken to the hospital for observation. The police got fingerprints from the truck and the scene.

Is crime any less since the Sheriff took over?

Santa Baby

It’s almost Christmas; I’m making a list

Dear Santa,

If you would kindly consider the following suggestions and pass them on to our City Commission so that they can act on them, I would be forever grateful and it would be the best X'mas present ever:

Christmas Wish List

Santa, I hope Rudolph doesn’t get his radar screwed up or get blinded when he looks at that neon billboard blight when flying towards my apartment.

Love,

A citizen with re-found hope whose fingers are crossed

Casino restoration project

Lake Worth votes to restore Beach Casino

Don't cross the "boss"

Havana Hideout closed? for code violations
It was reported that various violations were found as well as the fact they did not have a license. Checking further.

CRA

In The City of Lake Worth, Notes to Financial Statements it states:

Blended Component Unit

The CRA was established under the authority of Florida Statute Chapter 163, Part III in 1993 to promote and guide the physical and economic redevelopment of targeted areas within the city. The CRA is a legally separate entity governed by a board comprised of seven citizens of the City appointed by the City Commission. Because of the CRA’s separate legal status, the ability of the City to impose its will on the CRA through budget approval, and the composition of its governing board, the CRA is reported as a blended component unit as a special revenue fund.

This stands out to me for a few important reasons:

• seven citizens OF the City. Does this mean someone who resides here or can it be someone who just has a business here when it uses the words-- OF the city. Perhaps a homeless guy who lives under the 6th Ave Overpass?
  
• budget must be approved by the Commission. When Commissioner Jennings asked for a workshop before making a decision on the Cultural Redevelopment hire, it seems that the CRA should have been wise and prudent and complied with her request and engage the Commission instead of blowing her off.
  

Lamb Chop says 10%

Lamb Chop (Ed) says he is very happy with the performance--10%.

Come see the Mayor

It is advertised as "Bike Night"

All agree, raises unreasonable right now

St. Lucie and union make wise decision

What's going on?

This has been going on for 2 days now at the foot of Lake Osborne.

Going on right next to the billboard blight.

Economy bleak? Who cares? 10% is the number

10% raises for 100 staff members irk FAU professors
CLICK HERE

Well, it seems there are others disturbed about high raises being awarded in this economy. Even with these FAU employees who supposedly took on extra duties to earn the 10%, the Unions had the stronghold.

On our local CRA Board, the Director was just given a raise of 10%. Also, a questionable CPI figure was used but when you write your own review, so what. She didn't need the clout of a Union, just Board members held to hostage, intimidated and not looking after public money.

We also found out last night exactly what this Board thinks about our City Commission. Commissioner Jennings asked that the Cultural Development project go to a workshop. She was totally ignored and the Chair stated that he wanted to make a decision tonight in order to go forward. It voted unanimously in favor of Hands On Consulting. Mark Rickards, the Chair, talking about our City Commission said that it was “talking about crazy things” last year. During the performance review raise segment, Mrs. Materio said, “I don’t think that any City Commission is an objective body.”

What is reality is the simple fact that the City Commission appoints these people.

Gimme a Raise!

When giving raises, you first have to look at the bottom line. Did the company make any money this year? In this case, did the City bring in more TIF money this year or was it less? How is the economy? Is it affecting us dramatically. We know that the City laid off people, reduced services and raised taxes. This salary increase had nothing to do with whether Joan was worth a ton of money. We all think we are worth a ton of money and all good bosses want to pay their employees well. I have no doubt, however, that Joan is worth every penny.

If you think about the City as your “company,” and the raise was coming out of your bottom line, would you have given a valued employee a 10% raise just for meeting the goals you set for her when you paid her an excellent salary to do that job…in fact, a salary much higher than any other predecessor? A merit raise is for services performed over and above the job description.

Even in tough times, the CRA Board is a generous employer.

Lantana says NO!

Commissioner Mulvehill, you should have stuck to your guns!
Lantana votes NO on cameras to catch red-light runners

Stepping up to the Plate

It is rare when private citizens will stick their neck out for justice with nothing to gain from it but big legal bills, in the case of McCauley and McNamara, or the PAC that put in a lot of sweat equity and then got sued by the City, all for the greater good. We have a lot of active citizenry in Lake Worth but the real, true saviors of the beach were the citizens behind the law suit to save our beach from Greater Bay (McCauley/McNamara) as well as the petitioners.

Without the McCauley/McNamara law suit and all those who helped gather signatures, the present casino would have been long gone, our upper level parking lot would have been eradicated, we would have valet parking and the entire beach experience would be now catering to the wealthy shoppers in a 50 foot building across from Benny’s-- not those coming to swim and tan.

All those who fought for the rights of our citizens should get lifetime parking passes to our beach. They stepped up to the plate and hit a home run--for the people.

For anyone with a problem with being described as an “activist,” I would say there is no better title to bestow upon you. Hold the title proudly. You are of a rare breed. And we are grateful.

Tomorrow night we will see what the new Commission plans for our beach. So, all you activists out there, don’t put your sneakers away just yet.

State E-Verify Legislation

Mandates the use of E-Verify	AZ, AK, MS,GA,CO,OK,RI
Encourages the use of E-Verify	TN,MO
Requires state agencies to use E-Verify	ID,NC,PA,MN,UT,RI
Legislation is still pending	CA,MN,PA,SC,TN,WV,IL, IN,IA,MO,RI,KS,NJ,CP,FL

Senate needs to pass E-Verify Program-H.R. 6633

Passing on the message--

E-Verify is the program that employers use to make sure they don't hire illegal aliens. Several states and localities now require businesses to use E-Verify. And the Bush Administration has just started requiring nearly all federal contractors to use it. It is our best weapon against illegal immigration.

If you have not phoned or faxed yet, please go now to your Action Buffet corkboard and click to send faxes and then click on the phone note to get your talking points to call your Senators' offices and urge that the Senate pass H.R. 6633 this week to extend the E-Verify anti-illegal program.

“H.R. 6633 passed the House in a 407-2 bipartisan vote. The Senate must prioritize the needs of American workers by setting politics aside and voting to pass E-Verify.”
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas)

Locusts

This definitely describes some of our renter population!

If all 18 to 20 million illegal aliens here today are given guest worker amnesty along with "family reunification," it will add roughly 60 million people to the current legal population of 293 million. In 2050, just forty-two years from now, demographers say there will be half a billion people residing in America. Just imagine what kind of impact that will have on our natural resources and quality of life!

America is the greatest and most successful experiment regarding the integration and assimilation of people of differing cultures, languages, and religions.

Just imagine if millions of Americans were to enter Mexico illegally, demand that the local government provide free medical care, demand bilingual doctors and nurses, demand bilingual government forms, fly the US flag from their homes and cars, demand courses on American culture in their schools, demand local driver's licenses, and insist that local law enforcement officers speak only English. -- Alan Caruba

Santa, are you listening?

Even though we are going through hard times here in Lake Worth and we have less TIF money than last year, it doesn’t matter to some people that perhaps our CRA Director might be paid very well: $100,000 a year, a car allowance and cell phone allowance of $4,000, retirement, health and life insurance plus 32 paid days off annually.

Although this is the highest salary we have ever paid to a CRA Director in Lake Worth of which I am aware, it is being recommended by the Chair of the CRA Board that Joan Oliva get up to a 15% pay raise. I know that the average Joe Blow government employee makes more than corporate America (and that's a different story...see graph on lakeworthmedia.com) but this is taking it to a whole new level.

Illegal is illegal, Dan and Lisa

This time Lake Worth Works

Are you kidding me? Really, Dan, you state that 15 to 20 people are finding employment every day. 15 to 20!!!!! There are a hundred standing on the street getting picked up for work and these people are making much more money. They are not interested in paying FIT. They don't want anything withheld. If there is any success there it is the free donuts they give out every morning.

Ms. Wilson, the Director of The Mentoring Center says, "People miss the point." Ms. Wilson, you have missed the point. You make it sound like Utopia when in fact it is an illegal operation.