Annual Street Painting Festival

Where you CAN'T park--from 5am Friday, February 20 until 9pm Sunday, February 22

Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue from Dixie Highway to Federal Highway

J Street from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue South

K Street from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue South

L Street from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue South

M Street from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue South

I rate this event as one of the top two events in Lake Worth. Everyone come on out and support our City. After that, head over to the Circle of Light Event at the LW Casino which starts at 2pm on Sunday--2-22 at 2

Cleats or regular sneaks, it doesn't matter

Soccer field in John Prince Park
Did the locusts arrive?...not one blade of grass

another field

There are many areas of John Prince being used for soccer fields. The above photos are just two of dozens. This is what will happen to Bryant Park. The Park maintenance man at John Prince Park said that he has worked there for three years and the County has never replaced one single blade of grass. Lake Worth won't either and it doesn't matter if they wear cleats or regular sneakers, constant trampling will eventually kill the grass.

Do we really want Bryant Park to look like this?

The Town Toilet--no honest debate there

Guns, a necesssary evil?

America without hand guns would be a much safer country but tell that to an NRA advocate or most Republicans or most men for that matter--a John Wayne, male bonding thing. Heck, two of my Republican friends have concealed weapons permits. After one of the local elections got ugly, they took defense courses and shooting lessons. They are ready for any home invader or bad guy.

Gun lovers really believe that hand guns make us safer. In their minds, gun control would only put guns in the hands of criminals and murderers and we would be left defenseless. They also contend it is our right to bear arms.

Each day in America eighty people die from a gun and another two hundred are wounded. We lead all nations in violent crime as well as all nations with incarcerations now standing at 2.3 million. American citizens also make up the greatest number of criminals serving time in overseas prisons.

• Brady proposal to Obama on gun laws

• What the NY Times says

• The only reason why I would even agree to a gun

Heath Miller of Wellington, unfortunately, had to kill someone to protect himself and his family. A friend of the home invader who was killed said, “He wasn’t the type to get into trouble. He got along with everybody.” I guess even his friends didn’t know that their buddy had been arrested six times since 2006. Perhaps we all should be notified when convicted criminals live in our neighborhoods just like sexual offenders.

We are a violent people in a violent culture. Crime is out of control. Keep that gun under your pillow. Just don’t blow your head off.

Pulverize Bernie!

Bernie Madoff, the guy everyone wants to smash to a pulp.

Now you can do just that all for $99.95 when you buy the Smash-Me-Bernie Doll. He's wearing a devil's outfit with pitchfork.

It comes with a hammer and you can smash the likeness to smithereens.

haha...only in America!

Sunset and Lake Osborne

Sunset on Lake Osborne

Robert Waples, the new President of Lake Osborne Heights, is rallying his members to attend tomorrow’s Commission meeting. Although not on the Agenda, the Sunset issue is very much on everyone’s mind who lives in that neighborhood. We have always said that the owner should build 7 units to an acre, compatible to the neighborhood zoning. Right now, there is one house on 4.02 acres that has always been in the County until Lake Worth annexed it. As Comp Plan changes are political, this is what Robert has to say:

"We once again are facing the challenge that is moving forward in regards to the property located at the end of Sunset in our neighborhood. At the City Council meeting last night it was placed on the agenda with out notice to the public to discuss the future of this property and with no regard as to how this will affect our neighborhood and our way of life in Lake Osborne Heights.

This is expected to come up again at the February 17th City Commission Meeting and regardless of it being on the agenda, we as members of ROLOH and Citizens of the City of Lake Worth need to voice our opinions on this subject.

We are asking everyone, which means everyone that lives in the boarders of our association, to attend the February 17th City Commission Meeting and stand up for our rights as citizens to have the vote as to what the zoning and future of that property is, as it will be a direct impact to all of us.

I would like to challenge all our neighbors to speak to your neighbors about this event and encourage their attendance, your friends in Lake Worth, attendance and everyone you know in this matter.

Having the say in development of our neighborhoods is so important that it is not just about Sunset and ROLOH but every neighborhood in the entire city limits. This agenda could affect the city as a whole and we need everyone's support to keep our decisions just that....Our Decisions.

Thank You"

It's about the green-backs

$35,001.72

That’s what it takes to run a campaign in Lake Worth these days. The City Clerk just sent Dave Vespo’s final T-Report. Unbelievable when you think that the job pays less than $15,000 a year which includes the expense account.

Cornerstone Solutions and Communications, LLC (Cornerstone Solutions), a public relations consultant that became an LLC on June 23, 2008, was a player behind the scenes in our elections. There is a big tie to developers with this company which has provided political services to homebuilders and Realtors with an alliance with Florida sugar companies’ positions on Everglades pollution and development controls.

Dave Vespo spent a lot of money with them, more than he would make as a Commissioner. Ric Bradshaw also used this firm. They developed his logo, did some printing and conducted a survey. I know some surveys were taken during our last local campaign but for whom or what they were trying to learn I don’t recall.

Cornerstone made a lot of money this past year with them raking in $1 million in State races and over $400,000 in local races here in Palm Beach County. Most consultants don’t mix their work with different parties but Rick Asnani’s Cornerstone Solutions included the following clients: Bob Kanjian, Republican, defeated candidate for PB County Commissioner; Michael McAuliffe, Democrat, winner of the State Attorney position; Bradshaw, a Democrat; Dave Vespo, Republican.

All candidates need to raise an ungodly amount of money to win an election. The true winner is the consultant, whether he gave good or bad advice, he takes home the green backs. I still advocate for an even playing field for all candidates--campaign with the same amount of money and may the best man win. It makes the election more honest and the outcome can never be blamed on the money.

Pollution is now out of this world

Space trash will circle the Earth and is a danger to future satellites

We have enough garbage right here in our own country known as one of the biggest polluters in the world. Every year we fill enough garbage trucks to form a line that would stretch from Earth all the way to the Moon. We even have our own landfills right here in Lake Worth. Now, we are literally polluting outer space and Scientists fear that any vehicle in our upper atmosphere is in danger of being hit by debris caused by, you guessed it, us.

I just heard on TV recently that the Great Wall of China can be seen from outer space. Well the other thing that can be seen is the Fresh Kills Landfill. Anyone from the New York area has heard of this. This site, consisting of 2,200 acres and regarded as the largest man-made structure on Earth, was closed in 2001 but then re-opened temporarily after 9-11 to accept the debris from the Towers. It was 25 plus yards taller than the Statute of Liberty which is 151 feet tall. It is now being transformed into a Park, one of the most ambitious projects in the world that will take 30 years to complete.

Two satellites crashed into each other this week 491 miles above the Earth (one Russian and one American) and now both those satellites are nothing but fragments. As all these millions of contaminants hit each other, they cause smaller fragments cluttering up the atmosphere making it extremely dangerous for other satellites to be launched without them being in grave danger. Right now there are anywhere from 600 to 800 satellites orbiting the Earth. A satellite launch can cost anywhere from $50 million to $400 million from weather satellites to those that take inventory on what’s happening on earth.

Space trash

Pollution is now so out of control that it is literally out of this world.

What Eye on Miami guest writer says

This e-mail just sent to me--

Thanks to our wonderful friends at Eye On Miami...publicizing what the Miami Herald and other major papers won’t print. Traditional media continues to be largely AWOL, just as they were during the buildup of the real estate bubble. Why the silence on the biggest economic/social/ecological debacle in Florida history? Why the failure to connect any dots?

Answer: Florida’s newspapers hyped the bubble and rode thousands of real estate ads to the bank. Complicit in the Ponzi scheme that wrecked our state, the mainstream media dare not bite the hand that fed them. Read and enjoy some real and good news for a change!

READ THE GOOD NEWS

The CRA Cookie Jar, full of Crumbs

The Lucerne, in the CRA District

One reason why we get in so much trouble in this City is that the decision makers do not have all of the facts, do not remember all of the facts or all of the facts are not revealed to them by Staff and by their politically appointed Boards. Decisions are then made. The Commission depends on Staff to give correct and complete information. There are so many factors that go into the process of decision making and when there are bits of information that are covered up or just conveniently left out of a staff report in order to subjugate the Commission, then we are in a whole lot of trouble.

I am constantly bothered by some who “spin” the argument without telling the entire story. Take the CRA’s hiring of an additional sheriff deputy for $90,000 for eight months left into their budget year, as an example. Some on that Board continue to give the argument that it had a budget of $350,000 for their own deputy and only spent $90,000 therefore it has saved $250,000. It is a line item. You saved nothing. Just because it is budgeted does not mean that you absolutely MUST spend it there.

If you take the entire cost of going with the Sheriff’s Department, we have spent so much more money than we ever realized to get the SAME ninety-one men. The CRA’s argument had no merit the other night. Actually there are members on that Board who don't have to try very hard to find ways to spend our money, like 10% raises during the worst recession, probably depression, in our life time.

Right now the Sheriff decision has cost Lake Worth taxpayers over $1 million a year for the next three years. Plus, we gave them all of the assets we owned relative to police. It just cost us police radios for which we still owe $450,000. Now on Tuesday’s agenda, the Sheriff Department is requesting that we turn over forfeiture funds in the amount of $212,109.46.

If there are members on the CRA Board who continually have tunnel vision and only think things through to this extent, then take back the CRA. They have not brought anything to the bottom line. If abolished, we will still get millions of ad valorem that is much needed in our City, not for questionable projects that may or may not ever happen or are not needed now. Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on projects in addition to the millions on The Gateways for their vision of what Lake Worth should look like or become, is ridiculous at any time but especially during this economy.

We have a city in shambles but the CRA is spending $13 million on 6th and 10th. The CRA is in control of a big budget. At least with elected officials we can vote them out of office if they are doing a lousy job. Those on the CRA Board are appointed for 4 year terms--way too long in anyone’s book but theirs.

Beagle finds new love

The fawn followed the Beagle home, right through the doggie door.
This photo was sent to me by my cousin and just too cute not to share.

Florida's weakest banks

Florida Banks with Weakest Asset Quality

12/31/2008 ($Mil)

PB County wants to raise WATER RATES again!

READ ABOUT IT

Now I understand why PB County needs us so badly! Let's get back to finishing our own RO plant--now.

Chamber of Commerce at it again

The Chamber’s plan to block Florida Hometown Democracy discriminates against military, local elections offices

By Kelly Cornelius

Here we go again. Is there no end to the dirty tricks the growth machine in Florida is willing to go to in order to stop Florida Hometown Democracy? Nope. Hometown Democracy is a citizen petition amendment that should have been on the ballot in 2008 but due to nasty gutter politics from Palm Beach to Tallahassee it was never added. If passed the amendment would allow voters instead of politicians to vote on any land use changes outside of what our Comprehensive Plan currently provides for.

To read the rest of this article, CLICK HERE

Love and beauty on Valentine's Day

I grew orchids for 26 years before moving into a condo. Orchids need a lot of humidity and other ingredients that only nature can provide. Much to my frustration, I can’t grow these beautiful flowers now. To me, the orchid, and I mean any type, is the most beautiful flower ever created and they seem to take on their own personality. The number of species has been estimated between 10,000 to 30,000; no one knows for sure.

When you buy your first orchid plant, I can guarantee it will not be the last one you ever buy. When you inspect each flower, the magnificence of it blows you away. You wonder how "anyone" could have created anything so wonderful. Most orchid lovers really do get obsessed. When one does not do as well as you hope, you take it to heart.

Being that today is Valentine’s Day, my thoughts automatically went to flowers. The orchid represents, love, luxury, beauty and strength.

The American Orchid Society in Delray that has been in existence for 88 years just announced that it can’t afford to stay open to the public. Membership has fallen nearly in half and the stock market has affected them as well.

What a pity that something as magnificent as this flower with its artful splendor has to take a back seat to the economy.

The Pinhead Peanut President

Remember the President of Peanut Corporation only interested in his bottom line? Well, he just filed for bankruptcy Chapter 7 today.

Besides the fact that he literally killed people with his tainted peanut-butter, the Department of health found rodents, excrement and bird feathers in his plant. Next we'll probably hear that he got a bonus. Such a guy.

Every time I look at my Skippy's, I think of it.

We love you baby...

Words uttered by the "creep's" family today as his bond was revoked for drug and trafficking charges from just days before the fatal crash killing Jo Ann Padilla. He wiped away tears as he was escorted out of court.

Jo Ann's husband will have tears for the rest of his life. Instead of sending her flowers for Valentine's Day, he is now ordering flowers for her burial. Our entire city has tears knowing that there are people such as Renee Rodriguez driving on our city streets. May justice be served.

CLICK HERE

City Attorney Karns

City Attorney Larry Karns gives the Commission a monthly up-date on what he is doing. It probably is an impressive read. There are only two employers of mine who knew everything I did on the job and those jobs were my first, that of a dental assistant. I had daily job performance reviews working hand in hand, literally, with my employer. Most employers have no idea what someone does in their job and all the work and time it entails to perform well. He gives a bi-monthly report at city commission meetings, or at least it is on the agenda for him to do so. Does anyone really grasp from these reports what he really does or what he has accomplished?

Even when writing your own job performance review (unheard of in the corporate world) as did Joan Oliva with the CRA although Mark Rickards, Chair, says that he wrote it, you can not evaluate the time, thought, analysis and all the ingredients that go into performing your job in order to produce a favorable result. It is difficult to even imagine, however, that Mr. Karns is doing a bang up job for the City considering we have hired so many outside attorneys even to negotiate the simplest of things but most of all, to challenge the residents and entire neighborhoods. He is never animated and one has to wonder if he is even concentrating on the matters at hand.

Back in 2004 I got interested in Lake Worth politics because of the Sunset 4.02 parcel. After the City decided to annex the parcel and give a zoning incompatible to the neighborhood, five of us formed a PAC as we felt strongly that it should be the citizens who have the final say on what their neighborhood should look like, not three politicians or a planning and zoning board out of touch and with no consideration to the residents.

Attorney Karns checked our petition language and said that the PAC was ready to proceed under our local Charter that gave us the right to petition. We did. And after hustling to get the required signatures on 2 Ordinances, we turned them into the City. Attorney Karns then informed us that we could not petition because of some State Statute. He never contacted us during this process to let us know that he made a mistake. All that we knew was 1) he gave us his legal opinion that we could petition, 2) we had the legal right to petition under the Charter of Lake Worth and 3) we had the legal right to petition under the Constitution of the United States. That is compelling.

Not only did this cost us a lot of time but it cost us personally--a lot of money. Mr. Karns gave his own citizens wrong advice. Then to make matters worse, he made the decision to pursue the law suit to the Appellate Court, a decision that should have been made by the Commission, not Mr. Karns. At the time when questioned about continuing on with the suit he said that he had the right to make decisions if the cost was under $15,000. No he doesn’t. He has the right to settle a law suit under a certain dollar amount, not to initiate one.

To prove that Karns needed help, the City of Boca Raton and The League of Cities plus Casey, Ciklin allianced themselves with the City in the pursuit of bringing down the citizens by becoming Intervenors. Because if the citizens had won the vote, it would set a precedent that city governments deemed unacceptable—taking power away from them and giving it back to the people where it rightly belongs.

This is only one example. Why I believe that Karns should not be retained goes far beyond Sunset. My opinion comes from hundreds of hours of sitting in Commission meetings and seeing him in “action.” Even just recently at the joint P&Z/Commission meeting he adamantly said that an action had been completed when it had not. We had to prove that he was wrong and did. Mr. Karns, on more occasions than I can count, admits to not even reading a contract when asked. If you don’t read it then you can’t give bad advice. He seldom has an answer when questioned.

Lake Worth is now under new leadership. We will be hiring a new City Manager soon. Mr. Karns’ contract is up in February and this is a perfect time to bid him farewell. Start with brand new leadership at the top. It took a long time to change the politics in this City and it is now time to do right by the people. Just because he has been here for nine years is not an excuse to retain him.

96% of those taking the Poll here said to change city attorneys, with one lone vote (Mr. Karns’?) saying to save his job. Polls can be effective in gauging what people think no matter the numbers. At least the people who know Larry Karns, who read this blog, who take an active interest in what is going on in our city, took the poll voting that he should not be rehired. To poll people who are not familiar with his performance would be meaningless.

Once a con artist, always a......

Terry Mahoney, wife of Tim Mahoney, did the right thing—filed for divorce after one week of discovering that Tim paid Patricia Allen $121,000 to stay quiet about their affair. Of course that was not the only affair of Tim's. He had multiple "indiscretions" throughout the years. All along Tim, said he didn’t want a divorce and wanted to work something out. Now he says it is over and he is asking the Court to award him attorney fees to be paid by, yup, his wife, the one who he treated so contemptuously.

Terry Mahoney had agreed to allow Tim to stay in their house at night while she occupied it during the day. She slept in a cottage on the property at night because she thought that he was “honest” and would live up to the agreement-- but he’s been coming around during the day. She thought he was whaaaat? Honest?

Greed and Gall -- bring in the FBI

When you consider what Mary McCarty did to possibly get sentenced to up to five years of jail time, can you really compare it to what Stewart Parnell, the owner of Peanut Corporation who knowingly shipped out peanut-butter with Salmonella that sickened 600 people and linked to 9 deaths? And what about Bernie Madoff’s crime? The SEC, equally as guilty in this matter for not getting off its butt to investigate, was informed about him and his Hedge Fund near the end of 2005 and did NOTHING. Madoff wiped out $50 billion worth of wealth that affected people all over the globe. And now we know that his wife tried to hide $15 million right before Bernie was arrested. Doesn’t she deserve to be jailed?

We have banks, that after getting bailout money, went on junkets to Las Vegas and paid themselves bonuses for failure. Merrill Lynch allocated bonuses for its top executives in December in the amount of $3.6 BILLION dollars, just days before it was merged into Bank of America.

Greed and gall comes in all degrees. Because one person takes that free trip or that discounted hotel room and does not disclose or votes in a way that he or a family member will profit, does it make it less dishonest? Less fraudulent? Less criminal? Less transparent?

These “entitlements” always start with the little things and soon, after getting away with dishonesty over and over again, it escalates to what happened above. Each time you commit an illegal or dishonest act, it gets easier. It brings down companies and government officials with a lot of the criminal activity entwined and millions of people get hurt or wiped out.

The FBI is now shifting its focus away from counter-terrorism to concentrate on corporate crime. We know that they are active here in Palm Beach County, still investigating local officials and their ties to corruption and companies that came before them for votes. If there is any crime more deserving of investigation, it is this financial mess, the worst since 1929. A lot of people need to go to jail.

I hope that they do come to Lake Worth. There have been many political decisions that have cost the taxpayers dearly and some that made absolutely no sense at all.