It could be Worse!

The Easy Way Out

We are closer than ever before to have Palm Beach County control our beach. All along I said that Commissioner Jennings was the one to bring this one home as far as retaining decal parking; she did.

The City Manager along with Commissioner Jennings and Kimley-Horn met with Commissioner Vana and County Staff on September 17. It appears that the County is amenable to 628 parking spaces with 55 of those spaces being Lake Worth resident decal spots. They are requiring another traffic study to be conducted in 7 to 10 years at our expense in order to determine that there is enough public access and whether additional parking would be required to meet the growing County need for public access to our (their) beach.

The County was concerned about the “improvements” to the upper dune; (DON'T BLAME THEM THERE) they were also concerned about equal access for county residents; they want the project to move forward quickly and have suggested it be completed within 3 years and the City of Lake Worth maintain the improvements for 30 years at which time their control will cease.

So, for approximately $167,000 a year for 30 years, we will be under the thumb of Palm Beach County. It seems to me that we could have structured our own "deal" and kept total control of our beachfront property.

Trojan Football

Our Lake Worth Trojans just could not stop Jupiter Christian's offense last night. Great game, nevertheless, and a perfect night to be out to cheer on the hometeam. The Trojans lost 21 to 40.

City Manager to Lift Ban

Comment Up
Through a series of e-mails yesterday and ending at 10:09pm last night, the City Manager has agreed to lift the ban/block at Lake Worth Media. Susan Stanton indicated that now that he (William Coakley) is a candidate, she "will remove the block."

This is a start in the right direction. All blocks to all web sites other than those that are illegal, should be removed immediately in order to preserve the First Amendment. Restrictions of this nature never work and do more to bring down morale.

The City should have nothing to fear but the wrath of employees if it continues to restrict access to local information blogs or web sites. I have been told that there is already a policy in place whereas employees are allowed to view web sites during their lunch or personal time. To restrict this even further gives the very strong impression that the City is not open and transparent and is involved in a cover-up or has something to hide.

Last night's sky

The sky from the football stadium last night. The only thing spoiling the view is the billboard that shone all night...lower left of photo. In fact, from the stadium, three billboards are prevalent, one flashing 24/7. We have never received one dime from this blight and rip-off on Lake Worth.

Sheriff Major under investigation

Remember Sheriff Major Michael Veccia who spoke in front of City Hall on numerous occasions telling us what a wonderful deal we would get by going with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department? You remember him.

Well, today we learn that he is under administrative leave for sexual harassment. Read about it HERE

Swift Kick of Censorship

It has been 24 hours now since the City of Lake Worth has been asked about its egregious act of censorship and the targeting of one candidate. How long does anyone think it will take from a city that has just complained about even fulfilling basic public information requests as too time consuming--upping the fees to boot for bad service.

Will the City do what is right and unblock this Firewall from this candidate's web site as well as any others for which they disagree?

Quote of the Day

The definition of "negative" to some in this city is when you do NOT agree with them.
Lynn Anderson

There are some who continue to ride the coattails of others instead of just writing their own article.

I welcome debate and rebuttal but it is still sport to a few as they use your face in graphics with the sole purpose to ridicule. To some, having a viewpoint other than theirs is totally unacceptable and they continue to go after you with a vengeance. My advice--Debate the issue; don't ridicule. That is juvenile.

Instead of ever agreeing with you on anything, they prefer to find the one statement, the one opinion that is opposite than theirs and focus on that to bring the author to his knees by condemning it or by using inappropriate satire. What they accuse you of being, they are. It just shows that real issues are not as important as the attack, not as important as "falling into their line."

Lake Worth is as progressive as North Korea

William Coakley’s web site is still blocked by the City of Lake Worth through a Firewall by SonicWall. This is Coakley’s campaign web site so this is a very unfortunate decision made by the City Manager, someone William Coakley has been challenging on various issues particularly our Utility. I say the City Manager because who else would it be? Doesn't the buck stop with Susan Stanton?

Do we live in North Korea? Is this a government that only allows media with its point of view? This is about government playing hardball with the First Amendment and stifling the freedom of speech. I or Bill Coakley didn’t wake up this morning and decide to attack the decisions of Lake Worth. These are real issues with real consequences for the residents here. Everyday there is something absurd or just plain bizarre to write about even at times, corrupt.

There are some private companies now that are blocking their employees from social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, justifying their action saying that employees should be concentrating on company business, not their own.

In the City, I don’t believe there is any evidence that the taxpayers are not being well served if an employee happens to check a local blog a few times a day. More and more of the First Amendment is being eroded when local governments pull these bully tactics and block certain web sites that challenge them under a disingenuous claim of “protecting workers or the city commissioners.” It is Ms. Stanton, afterall, who has publicly stated that she doesn’t want a “police state.” Is the blocking of a web site just the very action she says she opposes? What web site will it be next? Glenn Beck’s? Fox News? The Drudge Report?

By hindering the Internet media for an unfounded assertion, is a solution to a problem that, given the odds, probably does not even exist. An outright ban because of views that differ from City Hall’s, will only have more negative consequences than the non-existent problem the ban purports to fix.

Unlike people behind restrictive national firewalls in countries such as China and North Korea where there is no guarantee of free speech, we are largely allowed to access anything we wish as long as it is legal. So why is the City of Lake Worth being arbitrary? What are they afraid of? Surely not the First Amendment.

We must continually fight for the freedom of press. More and more information is being produced these days by bloggers. If we don’t stand up for this freedom, we will lose it. Secretive policy making must be contested as it will lead to more corruption. It is the press and the blogs that will keep it all honest.

We urge that the City of Lake Worth immediately lift the ban on www.lakeworthmedia.com and any other blog that may be subject to discrimination, now or in the future, because of its popularity relative to its stand on issues. Focusing on challenging ideas and decisions made by City Hall should not be condemned. Banning a web site because of information or facts that may differ from the City Manager’s or the elected officials is suppressing the right of free speech.

This is a City that supposedly continues to purport that it is “progressive.” Censorship is not cool.

ACORN loses funding

Looking at only the good things that ACORN does (are there any?), Robert Wexler voted NO today because of what he considered unconstitutional language when it came to cutting off funds to this group placing him in a minority of those still supporting a highly questionable enterprise.

The vote was 345 to 75. Alcee Hastings, the most liberal Congressman we have in the State of Florida, voted simply by stating “present.” On the correct side of the vote were Ron Klein and Tom Rooney who well understood that this is an entity with multiple problems not to mention the latest expose which shows ACORN employees advising a supposed pimp and prostitute on how to set up a business and hide income and another case on smuggling illegals into the country.

Whatever were you thinking Congressman Wexler?

What Bertha Lewis, ACORN'S CEO says--

The behavior of some ACORN employees has been completely indefensible, but make no mistake -- the resulting sideshow is being fueled by the Right to distract all of us from the truth. And the truth is this: ACORN's work is invaluable. We make sure the have-nots and have-lesses get some say and some political power in this country -- and the people protecting the status quo have never been a big fan of that.

The conservative answer to ACORN, Freedom Nuts

City of Lake Worth Employment

CLICK HERE for list of job openings in the City of Lake Worth.

Coakley Jingle

CLICK HERE for William Coakley's campaign jingle

What's going on with Code?

Owner of 1201 N H St with her attorney, Cary Sabol, new member of our CRA and code enforcement office Kerry Hurley

Curious as to what is going on with our Code Enforcement, I headed down to the Special Magistrate’s meeting this morning at City Hall.

There were 67 cases on the Agenda. 30 were discussed with only one owner bothering to show up to appear before the Magistrate. Her case was settled from a fine of $15,000 to $1,500 payable within 6 months. This is a property consisting of two rental units located at 1201 N ‘H’ Street, owned by Trade Winds Investment Partners and involved a licensure issue. Further checking on this owner, ad valorem tax for 2008 is unpaid in the amount of $3,770.92.

Our Code officers are still in limbo not knowing if they will be given other jobs within our City. They have not yet been terminated but they have no idea of their status.

Park ING Day Event - Play Day in Lake Worth

2008 Park (ING) Day announcement at City Hall

National Park ING Day will be on Friday, September 18. The Downtown Cultural Alliance and the CRA are sponsoring it. Park ING Day is held annually on one day where our neighborhood associations are involved in temporarily transforming an existing allocated space in the parking lot at J and Lucerne into temporary public parks. Stop by tomorrow afternoon and see several of the same people who want to redesign our parking lots at the beach for seaoats. The only difference here is $5 million dollars and it is only "play."

They say that the purpose of the event is to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, social interaction, generosity and PLAY.

Well, why not? Turn a parking lot into a park? Will we see Michael Singer there? We have nothing pressing in this city at the moment. This was a great place for politicians to politic last time around. And the merchants love it--it brings people to the downtown. You do remember Dave Vespo sitting on a throne, right? They all spent the entire day there "playing" by turning asphalt into little parks.

The purpose of the event is to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, social interaction, generosity and PLAY. Oh, did I already say that?

Just think if all those participants combined all of that energy and cleaned up a city block. They could even start with the Shuffleboard Court Building. What a difference they could make. But as I said, we don't have any pressing problems here in Lake Worth, not even parking. Do we?

Can we get an Audit of our Utility?

Comment Up

I demand an Audit of our Utility
I demand an Audit of our Utility
I demand an Audit of our Utility
I demand an Audit of our Utility
I demand an Audit of our Utility

Stars in their eyes, clouds in their minds

The most ridiculous situation of last night was the Commission being obligated to vote on additional funds to rebuild the TPTL-2 transformer in the amount of $59,975. I equate this to your car mechanic giving you an estimate on repairs and he "discovers" another problem. We all have experienced that one!

Back on July 7, the Commission, voted to spend $565,000 to re-build the power transformer. They chose to believe the City Manager and Utility Director who said they needed it for the summer load. We now know that this won’t even be rebuilt for at least 5-6 months, well into Winter. There was no question that something was wrong with the transformer because gases were present in the transformer oil. It was reported by the Utility Department that it was caused by internal arcing. They contacted NuCat to provide a diagnostic and NuCat said onsite repair was impossible because it couldn’t be taken apart on site and repaired or rebuilt. They sent the transformer on to GE in Bradenton. GE Energy took it apart and said that it needed to be re-manufactured or re-built. What else do you suppose they would say? They are in business to rebuild these things.

It was pointed out during commentary in July, even I asking the question, is this transformer insured and what are the conditions of our insurance policy…has the insurance company (The League of Cities) given the Utility Department any requirements in order to be able to pay for this transformer under the policy coverage? Well, as it turned out, there were/are requirements. The insurance provider wanted the unit flushed out first and if that didn’t solve the problem, then Lake Worth Utility could send it on for repair with the City having to spend a $300,000 deductible. This would have been a delay of about three weeks.

So, if we had complied with insurance procedure we only would have spent $300,000.

Allocated or already expended in this process are the following:

1. Nu/Cat, $14,433
2. Nu/Cat, $27,333 for dismantling and transport
3. Beyel Bros, $31,300 for crane and transport
4. GE Energy, $38,832 for de-tanking, disassembly and diagnostics
5. FMPA payment of $30,000 for at least 6 months (the city's estimate) or $180,000
6. Nu/Cat $30,000 for re-assemble
7. GE Energy $565,000
8. Additional repairs charged by GE of $59,975

But now, instead of paying the insurance deductible of $300,000, the city now has to pay $946,873 --$646,873 in costs that we NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY because the city didn’t follow simple insurance procedure. And that doesn’t include the legal fees incurred by the city in trying to get the insurance company to pay what it has already said it will not pay.

The only Commissioner asking any questions last night was Retha Lowe. It's time for a reality check and the City has a whole lot of explaining to do.

Purple Light for Domestic Violence

Last night, Commissioner Mulvehill had me crying. She was crying too. It was a sad moment as she talked about the killing on South D Street while the mother of Yamika Murphy, the victim, was there. I think she had a lot of us crying last night.

A Proclamation was read declaring October 2009 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The lighting of purple lights that signify saving a life for victims of domestic violence will shine at our City Hall all month long. The purpose is to increase the awareness of domestic violence and its affect on children and families.

Thank you Commissioner Mulvehill for caring and saying that domestic violence has no place in our community.

Citizens defense of her did not faze Jennings

Last night, during public commentary, several citizens spoke up in defense of Commissioner Jennings and the outrageous breach of decorum of Planning & Zoning Vice Chair, Phil Spinelli, when he called her a Liar on Monday night, not just once but three times. It was rather surprising. What got him so excited was the simple fact that Jennings disagreed with him. What surprised some of the crowd in attendance was that the Mayor did not ask him to leave the Chamber after his discourse.

We have all come down to acceptance and acquiescence of this so called, freedom of speech. People nowadays believe that they can say anything to you and you should role over and play dead and say thanks. Here in Lake Worth, the bully attacks started with a local talk forum and now it has resulted in an appointed Board member showing the ultimate disrespect towards a City Commissioner, an elected official. No one should have to put up with this behavior. I remember when a former Commissioner was shockingly ugly towards our former Mayor, Mark Drautz when he was on the dais. This sort of act should never be condoned.

Jennings later said that she was the one who originally said that the Spinelli action was okay with her and that what she thought was inappropriate were those speaking in front of the dais against immigrants. With some people, you just can’t even defend decency. They will bite the hand that feeds them.

Commissioner Jennings—we are not talking about immigrants. I, as is everyone in this country, are the offspring of immigrants. What we are talking about, Commissioner Jennings, is the ILLEGAL alien who has come to our country uninvited and has not assimilated legally, who is a drag on our system and on the citizens here, who, if you don’t know, have enough of their own problems with which to contend.

One of the local open border advocates said that we all should “merge” together. No we shouldn’t. Illegal aliens need to go through the process of coming to the United States the legal way. Then we can talk about “merging.” If that citizen wants to merge, I say, let her go to Mexico, Haiti, Guatemala, wherever and merge there. Do it legally though.

Post on Decals and Bond money

POST EDITORIAL ON LAKE WORTH BEACH AND RESIDENTS WANTING DECALS

Do you think that the mayor instigated this editorial?

Demographics

Last night candidate Ron Exline, District 1, made a statement that we had higher density than Delray Beach and West Palm Beach combined when it came to how many people per square mile. I thought this was an interesting statement. Here are the facts:

Delray Beach: 4,659 per square mile

West Palm Beach: 1,791 per square mile

Lake Worth: 6,516 per square mile

This data is taken from the 2000 Census. I am rather sure that after the 2010 Census, we will find that Lake Worth is more dense than we ever realized. We must have the largest immigrant population per square mile as well.

Building higher is not going to fix this problem.