Some Remarkable Quotes from CRA Budget discussion

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Who said these?

• The CRA could fund The Mentoring Center.
  

• Go back and look at the trolley and make it a priority.
  

• Think of the Seniors.

• Palm Beach County gave us old, crappy trolleys that we leased.
  

• If we want to get rid of beach decals, people will want to grab a trolley.
  

• I have problems approving this budget when the Commission never has met with the CRA nor do we understand the Cultural Redevelopment Program.
  

• When all is said and done, we will be mad because the Commission never met with the CRA.
  

• The $700,000 was passed in this year's budget (suggesting that the Commission need not worry about it because it was approving a new budget)(Originally it was on the new budget...don't blink here).
  

• What does the $700,000 mean? There are no details.
  

• I don't know what it means but I know that it is good. (Commissioner talking about the PB Cultural Council and the CRA's committment of $700,000.)

We need to get out from under that Rock

The illegal (alien) immigrant situation in this country has been hidden under a rock--the forbidden topic. No one in government has been doing one thing about it, wringing their hands, “Oh my, what to do,” as more of them sneak over our borders and take advantage of our system and prosperity that hard-working legal residents have developed. We, as citizens, kept bringing it up to no avail. There are multitudes of talk-radio shows on the subject and television personalities such as Glenn Beck. Scott Maxwell even has his own show devoted solely to the topic and how illegal aliens are undermining this country.

Ever since President Obama’s mission to rage ahead with socialized healthcare reform, giving medical care to everyone in this country, the illegal immigration issue reared its ugly head once again. Obama says that the illegal immigrant is not covered under our healthcare plan but we know that he is. This time, perhaps something will be done about it. When it means that taxpayers will have to pay for non-citizens, people sit up and take notice.

“I’d like to create a situation where we’re dealing with illegal immigration, so that we don’t have illegal immigrants,” Obama said. Well, what exactly does that mean? Give them all amnesty? Shoe them out of the country?

Click HERE for a complete list of those on the House Ways and Means Committee who opposed the amendment denying illegal aliens from coverage.

There is no enforceability to Section 246. Now we are experiencing a labor law investigation showing horrible conditions and workers being taken advantage of in every way possible because they are undocumented. Click here to read the report--Center for Economic Development

Illegal immigration is again in the minds of our feds. It is way past time that they take action. Undocumented immigrants are driving up the number of people without health insurance. The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that “59% of the nation's illegal immigrants are uninsured, compared with 25% of legal immigrants and 14% of citizens. Illegal immigrants represent about 15% of the nation's 47 million uninsured people — and about 30% of the increase since 1980.”

"If you want to do something that will have a meaningful impact on the problem of the uninsured, then you must talk about undocumented immigrants," says James Smith, a senior economist at the RAND Corporation.

It is imperative that we come out from under that rock. We need to do more than talk.

Do NOT mess with Whistleblowers

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As we continue to ponder our very own employee/employer relations right here in Lake Worth with Whistleblowers and their final termination for airing their grievances, Phizer, Inc. was involved in a huge scandal involving healthcare fraud and shhhhhh--dreaded whistleblowers. No parody warranted here but this case is not just beginning as is the Utility Whistleblower case in Lake Worth; it is over. All the facts are in--Whistleblowers win a heck of a lot of money.

"As part of the settlement, Pfizer also has agreed to enter into an expansive corporate integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. That agreement provides for procedures and reviews to be put in place to avoid and promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to this matter,” the Justice Department said.

Six whistleblowers will receive payments totaling more than $102 million from the federal share of the civil recovery, the government also said."

Read the New York Times article. Don't call Tom. He will give you some sort of explanation or definition that does not apply.

Mayor Clemens ticked off at County

The budget meeting lasted all day today. The Commission disapproved of the County raising the millage 17% on fire rescue.

Read about it HERE

Peter Timm giving them hell

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Peter Timm gave them hell as well last night but as usual, no one seemed to get excited when he mentioned, for the second time, that we have $60 million dollars in outstanding code fines going back to the 1990's. This involves 1,140 violations and 972 properties.

If we could just collect 10% of that, we could pay for refurbishing our casino.

Lake Worth Security Breach Cover-Up

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William Coakley, Mayoral Candidate
Owner/Operator of lakeworthmedia.com

Last night, Bill Coakley was the first one to speak during public commentary, giving the Commission hell for what happened regarding the security breach and the coverup of same.

"City managers get the report they pay for. And this really demonstrates an essential public danger. When the city manager is covering up a public safety issue and is then allowed to seize control and steer the investigation away from the central issue of who broke into the computer and instead makes every desperate effort to discredit the two men who reported the security breach... then it's pretty clear she should come under investigation as well."

Go to Lake Worth Media and read more on the security breach at our power plant. You too, Mayor.

Deveaux

Last night the City Commission approved over $1.3 million dollars--just like that. One of the Contracts that was approved was for the South Golfview Road Drainage Project.

In the amount of $235,307.02, this came in as low bid and allowed our own Lake Worthians, Ed and Carl Deveaux, to be awarded the contract through their company Devland Site, Inc.

This project is expected to be done in 4 months.

Florida Hometown Democracy - I'm a Bear

The End of the Beach Saga?

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They want to screw this up?

Mayor Jeff Clemens thanked City Manager Stanton for exposing the "security breach hoax" but that is another story. I had to throw it in here because it is a good one. Jeff does have some lines.

This synopsis, however, is what happened on our beach last night.

Under Unfinished Business (the understatement of the decade), was to approve the conceptual plan on the beach renovations. Michael Spruce of Kimley Horn proposed two concepts each with designated decal parking areas, his assignment.

Under the City’s rules and written directly on the reverse side of the Comment Card, it states that any business discussed over 30 minutes will move to a workshop. This was brought to the City’s attention by Barbara Jean Webber who borrowed Katie Mcgiveron’s watch and started pointing at it while holding it in the air. Retha took the clue and mentioned the rule from the dais. The Commission voted to extend the discussion that had already been in place for over an hour. Incidentally, the beach discussion went on for almost 3 hours. They were still discussing it after 10pm when I was home listening.

But back to the story—The plans are confusing to some degree, allowing traffic going in both directions on one plan, traffic going through a parking lot on the upper level (Michael Singer’s plan did that too) whereby parked cars backing up will cause untold accidents. In that area and up to almost where the casino’s south end, you will not be able to even see the ocean as you drive by. I asked Michael Spruce the distance and he said about 80 feet from the sidewalk. You can see the ocean now, the reason why people just take a drive to the beach and what makes our beachfront unique for the world. There are not too many places today that you can drive by and see the ocean as Florida was over-developed and land bought up for condo development all along our coast. People actually come here for our natural beach. That IS the money maker and the main contributor to its popularity. This ambiance will be gone now until you get in front of the Casino for a short stretch but then you will be worried about cars coming in the other direction.

But back to the story—These new plans will have as many of the Singer amenities that are affordable. Windmills? Yes, even that. You know that is how we operate; if you have the money, spend it. One plan has 550 parking spaces for the public with 30 decal parking spaces. The problem with this plan is that the County, in its agreement, states 628 public parking spaces. The other plan has 669 parking spaces with 41 designated to decal holders in a section starting at A1A on the north side of the property. Retha and Jeff both say that the County will not budge on 628—that they have talked to various members of the PB County Commission. I say get a better, tougher, more dedicated city commissioner to negotiate. They chose Cara Jennings and she is the best choice. This was Cara’s doing from the get go—more green and sacrifice income for our city by eliminating convenient parking across from Benny’s—eliminating convenient parking for trees. She, obviously, has the passion here.

Back to the story—The Michael Singer Plan was introduced by Candidate for Mayor, Rene Varela six months ago or so. Just mention the word “green” and certain commissioners go nuts. Cara introduced his plan; Singer had an entire day showing it to the public with a skewed survey whereby we could vote. The decision to change our beach was decided by about 184 people in this entire city of 36,000 +-. Last night, on the other hand, it was decided by 3 people on the Commission. The people of this City should have had the right to vote on the beach.

Back to the story again—There was one person who appeared unhappy with the changes to Life is Beautiful, Michael Singer and his plan—Rene Varela. The rest who were there were just unhappy in general that the Commission had decided to “sell” our beach for $5 million and to encumber it with strings and controls. There was no one there in support of changing our beach at all. No Palm Beach County Commissioner was there and basically they could care less just as long we stay under their thumb and do what they say. A representative for new commissioner, Patricia Taylor, was present and taking notes. School teacher, Becky Hinson, blasted the decision as well as the “sale” of our beach to the County all the while looking right at the County rep.

The end of the story—We will get a changed beachfront. We will have less parking. We will probably get decal parking in a designated area. We will no longer be able to drive up there and see the ocean. We will have more trees and sea oats. We will no longer have what makes Lake Worth beach great. The negative is that we will be spending $5 million to ruin our beachfront and be under the control of PB County for 30 years. The positive? We will have a new, clean, fresh looking boardwalk and newly designed parking lots until we mess that up a few years down the road and all for the measly sum of $5 million, if not more by the time it is all through. Does anything ever come under budget other than 6^th Avenue South which was overpriced to begin with?

This was decided on a 3 to 2 vote with Retha and Jeff steadfast in their opinion...Retha saying she doesn't want so much asphalt and Jeff insisting that negotiating with the County is a waste of time. It is the asphalt that will ultimately pay for our new casino building. The more people we can accommodate to park at our beach, the more revenue generated and less burden on the taxpayers of Lake Worth. There were 3 commissioners, although ultimately responsible for spending $5 mil to redesign parking, who cared enough for the people they represent to include decal parking on new conceptual plans.

Is it really the end of the story?

Pahokee and Belle Glade to receive Loan

On a 5 to 2 vote, PB County elected to loan money to Belle Glade and Pahokee to supplement their budgets to be repaid in 3 three year installments. READ ABOUT IT HERE

The $5 million dollar carrot is rotting

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This is what has held up our beach since 2002...a $5 million dollar carrot. The County is giving us orders on how we can use this money that we have been paying on for 7 years. This agreement between Lake Worth and the County is for 30 years. No where in it does it say that we can NOT have decal parking--just that any part of this money cannot be used for Lake Worth decal permit holders.

Okay then, Commissioners. Figure this one out. Since you want to screw up our parking at the beach, do something here for the residents you represent. Decal parking has been in existence here for multi-decades--longer than a few of you have been alive.

This carrot has been dangling before us for 7 long years. Palm Beach County has given us its message--Our way or forget it--Lake Worth citizens continue to pay for all the expenses and will have no special privileges at their own beach.

Also on the Agenda tonight is the approval for over $1.32 million for various items. Come on out and see your City in action.

Susan Stanton says firings justified

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City in fast forward position to do "hatchet" job on two fired employees.

Lake Worth Leaders defend firing of whistleblowers. READ THE ARTICLE and view the video.

City Manager, Susan Stanton, equates it to someone yelling "fire" in an auditorium just to see what happens.

Larry Drenski, former Superintendent of Energy, now fired for defending whistleblowers. See LETTER posted at Lake Worth Media.

Don't mess with Lois

"The report comes at a time when the West Palm Beach Association of Firefighters says it has reached an impasse in contract negotiations with the city. The 198-member union local's contract expires Sept. 30."

Once again, Unions are reluctant to negotiate. The solution? Cut 52 jobs and change the work week from 48 to 53 hours. READ MORE

The threat is there and the Union needs to know that Lois always means business.

A cry for Help - Susan Stanton

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Dear Ms. Stanton:

I hope all is well. I wanted to write to share with you my extreme disappointment that you were not able to meet with us today as scheduled. I had scheduled a meeting with your assistant a week ago and myself and others from the Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association (TRNA) really wanted to meet with you today and walk around so you could see the conditions and issues we face daily here.

I feel that we are not valued and today being stood up by you is just another example that we are not a priority in this area of the city, I really feel disrespected as a homeowner and citizen of Lake Worth. I know Vince our TRNA President and Sylvia another homeowner that were all here waiting to meet with you too this afternoon were disappointed as well. You need to realize that we deal with so much on a daily basis here in this area of the city, things like: shootings, stabbings, gangs, litter, blight, graffiti, illegals out-of-control, drunks, drug dealers, prostitutes, lack of code enforcement, overcrowding, lawlessness, high rental, lack of pride and respect in our neighborhood by our illegal/immigrant population, etc.

The quality of life is poor to say the least. We are ignored constantly by our city leaders. The current mayor says that there is little crime and that I fabricate about the amount of crime, yet we have a lot, often in the news, and the city is ranked 17th in the state of Florida with the highest crime rates.

The commissioner in our district is a champion for the illegals, yet overlooks codes and laws for them creating a lawless environment for all of us, like: bikes on sidewalks, no lights on bikes at night, drunks, whore houses for the illegals, overcrowding, public urination in our streets, litter all over the place, on and on, and there is such a double standard for the illegals instead of maintaining high standards for them in our country, the mentality of the city and county leaders is to overlook any codes or laws for the illegals/immigrants, keeping them in a lower and more impoverished conditions here. It almost seems as if the city and county are using a form of ethnic cleansing of all Americans in our neighborhood to get rid of us Americans, and that is why you all in the city never do anything for this area west of Dixie. You want us Americans to move out of here. The conditions are deplorable and blighted, infested with too much crime, drugs, and prostitution, along with tons of slumlords that do not fix up their properties.

I recall one day, your old assist. manager Hannah told me that you all in the city do not want to enforce laws and codes for the slumlords as then the illegals will suffer-- as you all from the city are worried-- if you do, then the slumlords will raise the rents of the illegals and create more cost for them. So you overlook overcrowding and other codes and allow 10-20 guys to live in a 2-bed home, many laws and codes over here are overlooked, creating horrid living conditions for all of us.

Many of my neighbors over the years have up and sold and moved out of here, so many I lost count. Many now want to sell and cannot. With the recent shootings and stabbing again, we do not feel good about our area west of Dixie.

Your continued ignoring of all these problems over here only creates more animosity between the illegals/immigrants and the Americans. We are fed up with living in such slums and lawlessness here. You need more education programs for the immigrants and maintain high standards for them too. They want it as they feel unsafe here as well.I speak Spanish fluently and many are my friends and tell me this. I am not racist and love all the people who live here, I just want laws and codes respected and enforced here for all of us the same. I have lived in this city for 13 years. My spouse is Colombia and I have lived in Mexico and Colombia for several years prior, I have traveled extensively throughout Latin America and know the issues. I am not xenophobic or racist. I just want our laws respected and enforced and the city to clean up the blight and crime here, while bringing more equality to the poor on this side of the city and having high standards for all
of us.

The entire block between Lucerne and 2nd Ave. North and D and E Streets is a disaster. I had Capt. Silva walk around shortly after he took office, I still see many of the same problems here. Can't you do a model block and improve this place? Concentrate on one block, clean it up and then go from there. Or look at all the graffiti and code violations on 1211 and 1213 Lake Avenue, that building at 1213 has been burned down and partially boarded up and painted with graffiti for years and overlooked and the city does nothing. It can't be to code. Can you report it for us please? There are countless examples that I know Vince our TRNA President and others would love to share with you. I am concerned about the sidewalks that are missing in the downtown area between Lake and Lucerne from B to F Streets too. I want you to see these things and walk it and see the safety issues that exist along with the inequality for the poor western areas. There is just too many overgrown and blighted properties around here and the city looks horrible and we need our leaders and you to help us, to work with us, to improve these conditions once and for all.

We look forward to our new meeting time with you on Sept. 11 at 4pm. We hope you will not stand us up this time. Vince also wanted you to attend our TRNA meeting at 7pm on Sept. 14 at the church here. We really need you more involved with our concerns, safety and quality of life issues. We do hope you can be more involved in our area and help us to get it in better shape. We have not had much help with our current mayor or dist. commissioner to get things cleaned up here in this area of the city, these are not priorities for them. They don't want it clean and I think would prefer we move and not bother them, their actions as it relates to our area are weak and there is little to show in terms of progress here by their poor leadership concerning our neighborhood.

Thanks so much for your attention. Again, I am sorry you didn't make it today. We look forward to seeing you on Sept. 11 then at 4pm for an hour or two. I will copy some of the others mentioned in this e-mail or that may be able to help us too. God bless.

Peace,
Joseph Furner, Ph.D.
202 North D Street
Tel. 561-585-1168

CRA appointments - Congratulations!

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Candidate Wes Blackman for City Commission District 3 wrote a letter to the entire Commission, including the City Manager and City Attorney this morning asking for his opponent, Jo-Ann Golden, to recuse herself from voting for CRA Board member Ed Grimm's re-appointment as well as any interviewee. Inspite of his objection, Mr. Grimm was voted back on the Board. Mr. Grimm works for the CDC, the same employer as Vice Mayor Golden.

As everyone knows, Board appointments ARE political. That is the bottom line. Evidently our City Attorney saw no conflict of interest.

There were six slots opened with the original field of thirty applicants narrowed down to seventeen because of voluntary withdrawals. Those who the Commission felt were the most qualified and showed respect for the City Commission were appointed as follows:

Ed Grimm 4 votes, 2013
Michael Hyde 4 votes, 2013
Cary Sabol 4 votes, 2013
Andy Amoroso 3 votes, 2011
Jessica Rockstein 3 votes, 2011
Peter Meyerhoefer 2 votes, 2010

CRA Interviews starting at 5:40pm

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I understand that several people have dropped out due to two things 1) the postponement at the last minute when they were to interview previously and 2) what the CRA did last week and what they voted upon.

I have been told that these two decisions, the first made by the Mayor and the other made by the present CRA Board itself, have put a damper on the process. Hopefully, we will have a new Board that will understand what the goal is...eliminate slum and blight, not spend nearly a $million on a dream or $15 million on two roads.

There is a cross section of the city applying for this Board and hopefully the City Commission will pick from all the different interests who live and/or have businesses in the city and choose from the various neighborhoods.

A local Hero - Ed Tichenor

If there was a Palm Beach County Hero Award, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Ed Tichenor. Ed is with Reef Rescue, an organization totally focused and dedicated to saving our coral reefs. It is a continuous battle from boats scraping anchors along the ocean’s bottom thereby killing this living breathing animal to man’s pollution. He is now fighting the greed of a municipality.

Ed wants to bring the Federal protection from as far as the Dry Tortugas just a little farther north of its ending point, the Boynton Inlet, because this protected coral has grown and has reached the Lake Worth Inlet. His biggest opponent? The Town of Palm Beach. Palm Beach still insists on dredge and fill for its eroding beaches, a solution that has proved to be NO solution and one that is destroying our Staghorn coral reefs, protected since 2006 and facing extinction in 30 years.

Reef Rescue has proof positive of its assertions but Palm Beach argues that this is of little significance to them--they don't care--that it is a small amount and uncommon. The Town of Palm Beach is determined to smother over and kill living animals in our ocean. Ed says “no way” will we allow that. Lake Worth concurs.

Commissioner Jennings has brought forth a ballot initiative where all voters who live in Lake Worth can vote on November 3 to prohibit dredge and fill beach re-nourishment projects within the municipal boundaries of Lake Worth and prohibit the use of the Lake Worth beach as a means of ingress and egress for beach re-nourishment projects. This is a big step to protecting our reefs.

With Ed’s tenacity, and the help of Lake Worth, the Staghorn Coral might have a living chance.

Pacific Legal Foundation - My name is Sue

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Nicholas Gieseler from the Pacific Legal Foundation was present on Tuesday for the Sunset issue. This was Sunset Holding's secret weapon. His spiel? The Bert J. Harris Act will do the City in. Pacific Legal specializes in pro business causes. Nicholas drove all the way down from his office located in Stuart.

Pacific Legal is described as "the key right-wing public interest litigation firm in a network of similar organizations funded initially by Scaife Foundations money across the USA to support capitalism and oppose environmental and health activism and government regulation. The organization has been partially funded by a range of corporations and conservative foundations." Say what?

I asked him how much he was being paid and he said "nothing." He told me that he graduated from law school two years ago. He was an earnest and pleasant young guy and I got the impression that he probably never had to do homework when he was in law school. He was only there to try to intimidate a commission old enough, in a few cases, to be his grandparents...people who have actually lived a little and can understand what they read particularly when it comes to the Bert J. Harris Act. Nicholas says the City should settle now because Bert J. Harris is a "slam dunk" case against the City...that the City needs to settle with the property owners now before the ordinances are repealed.

Nicholas, nothing is a slam dunk and that is something that all lawyers should learn in law school. I offer you that advice for free. One thing that they probably do teach those in law school is that the man who wins is the man who thinks he can. Nicholas was not lacking in confidence.

Try again, Nicholas. This is the real world where homework would have helped you realize that there is NO Bert J. Harris taking here.

Blight right across Lake Osborne

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Right along with the billboard blight we also have property on Lake Osborne drive in need of some attention. I have been wondering about this property for some time. It has been in this shape for the last 5 years--probably the hurricane did its toll. To my amazement, it is located in the unincorporated area of Lake Worth on Detroit and Lake Osborne Dr. Across the other side of Detroit on Lake Osborne directly to the east of it is the City. So, now I have to wonder if the County even knows about this eyesore.

According to the property records, this property was homesteaded even getting a double homestead last year. The value has gone UP from $75,783 to $101,389. How can this be when it has been abandoned and it is totally falling down. This would be a beautiful property for land alone for someone--high on a hill, direct lake view and cheap. Last years taxes are unpaid. Perhaps someone has bought it on a tax deed.

Lake Worth Alumni Fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner

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Thanks to Katherine Snyder Graves, Class of 1953 for all the hard work to make this such a great success.