ROLOH has Annabeth Karson as Guest Speaker

Annabeth Karson
Co-Chair 2010 Complete Count Committee Lake Worth

The First Census was conducted in 1790 and the United States Constitution mandates a count every ten years. This count will determine the number of representatives we have in Congress and could affect the re-drawing of our congressional districts. One of the most important considerations is that it affects funding for our community.

Annabeth was the guest speaker at the ROLOH meeting this past Thursday night. She is asking for volunteers to assist her and her Co-Chair, Shauna Coolican, in this huge task. It is imperative that we count every single resident in our city.

Because of the political brouhaha from a few, Annabeth and Shauna are no longer employees of the city but rather Independent Contractors. Therefore they have new contact information. You can reach Annabeth at annabeth@getcounted.us or at 646-322-0162. Reminder to the "Dirty Dozen"--They will have Census takers knocking on your door too.

The Short and Long of It

Comment Up

On February 27, the City Commission will have a Retreat to be held at the Lake Worth Golf Course in order to discuss issues of importance that are critical to the City.

Susan Stanton—“The goals of the retreat are to define priorities for 2010 and not to develop a long-term strategic plan."

Mayor Rene Varela—“The Retreat will define the future…to give a clear and attainable path for our Staff to follow that will endure the test of time…defining government in Lake Worth for the next generation.”

What is wrong with this Picture?

It really is shocking to learn that our Senate just voted to increase the national debt by $1.9 trillion. We now owe $14.3 trillion to others who hold it. This means that you personally owe the United States government $45,000. The vote to increase our debt was under the 60 vote rule. Because Scott Brown of Massachusetts has not yet taken his seat, it passed 60 to 39.

40% of our Country owned by others.

IN BILLIONS--Top 10

China, Mainland...789.6
Japan...757.3
United Kingdom/...277.5
Oil Exporters 3/ ...187.7
Carib Bnkng Ctrs 4/...179.8
Brazil ...157.1
Hong Kong ...146.2
Russia...128.1
Luxembourg ...91.7
Taiwan...78.4

The United States is described as being the wealthiest, strongest and most influential nation in the world, but are we?

Foreign aid was meant to go to create foreign markets for US products. Israel and Egypt receive one-third of the total aid, the majority of which pays for armaments. Neither is a “developing” country. The 2010 Obama Budget plans to double our aid to other counties despite our multi-trillion dollar debt in the worst recession in over 25 years. We borrow, to then give it away. We give Stimulus money to losers. We give borrowed money to countries that can’t pick themselves up, countries that never have nor will rise above it. Corruption abounds. We borrow money only to get criticized and hated by foreign countries that say we are “not giving or doing enough.”

Is there anything wrong with this picture?

The Gang of Five

Comment Up

Knowing that the Palm Beach Post always has a left-winged slant to its editorials, I finally agree with them 100% on a recent editorial regarding the Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing corporations to spend as much as they want on election advertising thus influencing the outcome of our national elections.

Corporations are not citizens, therefore by that explanation alone, they should not have the same guarantees of free speech as does an individual.

No one, however, has mentioned the simple fact that foreign countries now can have a big foot-hold in the outcome thus controlling our government. Foreign corporations, even some controlled by their governments, can funnel money into their U.S. subsidiaries. We could feasibly be under the control of some foreign or subversive government.

What a group has to say—

The fact is that we now live in a world of giant transnational corporations, with allegiance to NO sovereign government, let alone our own, sworn only to exploit the most vulnerable and desperate workers they can find in any country of the world. How does The Supreme Court 5 propose parsing which of these extra-national legal artificialities should be allowed to corrupt our democratic election process? Apparently in their minds, all of them.

Action Page: Corporations Are NOT The People..

New Look for Lake Worth

Lake Worth has a newly designed WEB SITE

Save the Theatrics

Tuesday night I left the CRA meeting and wandered over to the City Commission workshop being held in the Conference Room. I missed every item that was up for discussion. I wanted to hear about our financial condition but as I walked in, they were talking about a Committee for the Casino renovation which would consist of all the City Commissioners and two appointed citizens.

It was debated back and forth and it was suggested that a person from the Lake Worth Alumni Association would be on the Committee. The LW Alumni Association’s entire membership endorsed the renovation/refurbishment of the Casino, so they have a keen interest in this project. The next suggestion was one of the merchants at the beach. I rather liked this idea because who is more familiar with the Casino than any of the long-time tenants there who have supported it throughout the years? Who has had a greater interest in the building and its preservation as well as its future?

The “Dirty Dozen” had their vocal reps in place and spoke for two minutes each on how egregious that entire suggestion was. They both see political conspiracies under every rock even bringing up the fact that some merchants gave campaign contributions to some of the candidates/commissioners that beat them in previous elections. All we are going to do is renovate a building, gals! Like a broken record, with the same message playing over and over again, these two are there at every meeting to cause havoc every chance they can for anything or everything, big or small, in order to put a wrench in the process.

Folks—we have serious financial problems in our city. We had a Reserve Fund that went from $5.2 million that is now $1.6 mil. The biggest reason for the decline was contributions to Pension Funds which lost $8 mil in one year. All of the Pension Funds--General Employees, Police and Fire have declined--big time. We are nearly bankrupt and these two bow to the East every day in support of the Unions (that really control our City) as well as the merger of our police and fire that still cost us small and now bigger fortunes. And they continue to badger city officials and the public.

1000 Lake Avenue

Comment Up

Apparently the decision to purchase the 1000 Lake Avenue property was placed on the CRA Agenda by Board attorney, David Tolces, without the CRA Board having a chance to study the details. The back-up was not provided on-line to the public as far as the Contract For Sale and Purchase, only the Lease Agreement. I can well understand and appreciate Michael Hyde when he pulled it and made a motion to discuss the acquisition in a workshop that will be coming up soon between the CRA and the City Commission. It is a major decision when spending this amount of dollars.

I wish that the CRA Board had moved it to a discussion item so that we all could have learned more about it. This is a perfect opportunity now that the CRA is going to be a recipient of a HUD grant for $23 million that addresses slum and blight that has been put on the back burner for many years now. The NSP grant opened up the possibility to focus on another area, spending CRA TIF on an important and historic building in a strategic location. We may not have this opportunity again. I would have liked to have learned all the details along with the financial feasibility study to ascertain if it was going to be affordable and make sense.

I can understand Hands-On when they said that they need to keep negotiations confidential. This was one of the few things they said that made sense last night. The negotiated price for this building that Hands-On brought to the table is out in the public and another potential buyer has stepped up to get the property.

After I had left the meeting, the CRA Board brought the item back, and now have called for a Special Meeting on February 2. Let’s not blow this one.

Why We Need Florida Hometown Democracy

Guest Blogger
Elizabeth Ann (Bett) Willett


First I will tell you why Amendment 4 will pass and then I will tell you why Amendment 4 is a good thing for Florida.

Amendment 4 will pass because people in this State are fed up with the poor job their elected officials have done controlling development. In fact, they have not controlled it. Their constant approval of over-development projects, together with the number of corrupt officials being indicted and convicted, has become an embarrassment to the State and has outraged the residents. By any standard you would like to apply, the present system is “broken” and we are all paying a horribly high price for this.

People blame the greed of developers and "flippers" for the fact that Florida is more seriously affected than almost any other State.The history in Florida, of our “planning legislation” being ignored and changed, is well-known. Our so-called representatives completely ignore the desire of ordinary people in local communities to maintain or improve their existing quality of life.

Ordinary people, such as those unfortunate folks who live in Tamarac, who tried to convince their local and county commissioners that a land use change to allow housing on their golf courses was a bad idea. Those folks are now reading about commissioners taking bribes to make that land use change happen.

Florida is full of those kinds of stories. I could tell you of many in my city of Deerfield Beach. Elected officials have clearly lost the trust of the voters, and nothing that the voters will hear from those that they connect with--business, government, or chambers of commerce--will change their minds. They view those anti Amendment 4 speakers as merely spreading self serving misinformation.

I have good news for you about Amendment 4. It will not, as you have been misinformed, clog up the ballots with hundreds of “vote on everything” referenda. Here’s the straight story: In 2006 Ft. Lauderdale had one change to their comprehensive plan, in 2007 they had 1 and in 2008 they had 1, In 2006 Pembroke Pines had 7, 1 in 2007, and 2 in 2008.

Amendment 4 is not a “job killer.” Right now, our city and county land use plans have, on the books, designations that could allow development for over 100 million people. The jobs that opponents are saying will be lost are construction jobs which dried up when the real estate bubble burst and construction collapsed. Keep in mind that the current economic mess has caused Florida’s population to drop.

With the population drop and the vast surplus of existing houses, the need for additional housing in the near future will be low. Also, businesses relocating to Florida will find plenty of space already designated for commercial or industrial use, with no need for comprehensive land-use changes, enough for decades to come. Businesses, which supply high paying jobs, want to locate in stable communities with good schools, uncongested roads, excellent municipal facilities and a good source of well educated young people. Those are the kinds of jobs Florida needs and can readily attract if we can learn to substitute Florida’s traditional boom-bust Ponzi economy with well considered land-use plans. Continuing with the status quo is just stupid.

The sensible planning encouraged by Amendment 4 will, as the economy recovers, promote a stronger, more diversified economy based on permanent, productive jobs, safeguarding our future, and the resources and beauty of this State. Far from harming the economy, sensible control of development will help the economy. By supporting Amendment 4, you can help Florida become prosperous and happy again. Amendment 4 represents real change for REAL, beneficial growth.

Bett Willett
Deerfield Beach

Hands-On is Hands-Off

Comment Up

Commissioner Grimm said it best last night--it was all about “communication, communication, communication."

This is all about a Sunshine Law situation that was circumvented on purpose with forethought. It appears that Hands-On-Consulting has been communicating with the CRA Director who has NOT been communicating their progress to her Board. Why is this going on? The only reason for this to be happening is to keep the plans and progress (if there is any) OUT OF THE SUNSHINE. Perhaps the Board should be communicating with its Director. This, as well as past Boards, seems to protect its Director regardless. They are just as responsible for this situation.

Joan Olivia
Have the Director give some specific direction to give to Hands-On. Have them develop a web site. Develop a program. Develop a “brand.” Develop a strategy. If this group can not perform because of market conditions, and all the other reasons given last night or if they have been told "not to worry about it" per the Director, then do not renew the Contract and count your losses. Let’s not prolong the agony for another mistake by a previous CRA Board with one former member that voted on hiring this company, defending them last night.

Hands-On has been Hands-Off. They have not performed one thing under the Contract and if they have, only the CRA Director knows what they have done as they communicate with her regularly and sometimes on a "DAILY basis." They say the plan is all "in their head." They did a "head game" on the Board last night that was trying its best to be polite and get answers. The CRA Board says it wants to see tangibles. The CRA Director has allowed this circumstance to occur with Hands-On and someone has led them to believe that it is the City Commission's fault for their lack of progress. Joan Olivia was silent throughout the entire process.

The City residents had no say a year ago when this decision was made as to how their city was going to look. The CRA made a major decision, good or bad, to have Lake Worth become an artist destination. One year later, we are where we started. One year later we have spent $200,000 with nothing to show for it and NO promises of any performance in the future with a CRA Director that is a party to the lack of transparency.

It is time to get concrete answers and to know if they have ANY possibility of performing. If we can not get them properties, then we need to stop this now. Demand that Hands-On Report in the Sunshine. Let's make this Board accountable or you will have a whole lot more questions from our elected officials. Demand that your Director keep you apprised of all progress. I am rather sure that the city commission will have no problem in communicating to you its displeasure and then we will see how "independent" you really are.

You Don't Have a Credit Card to Get into Heaven

I have seen John Giragos for nearly four decades. If you can dare describe a man as "lovely," he was. The Church of St. Luke's was filled to capacity today as we remembered his life. He did a lot for our city and in many ways put Lake Worth on the map.

Those I happened to see and recognize this morning at the service were Michelle Seifert, Betty Resch, Barbara Aubel, Laurence and Dee McNamara, Katie McGiveron, Helen Marino, Greg Rice, Tom Ramiccio, Ann Harvey, John Harvey, Mark Foley, Jack McDonald, Mayor of Palm Beach, Barry Freedman, Lorraine Bowe, Commissioners Jennings, Golden and Mulvehill, Mayor Rene Varela and City Manager, Susan Stanton.

John was such an integral and important part of Lake Worth's family for 37 years at our beach. As an immigrant, he came to America, worked hard, became a citizen, gave back to his country and to his family. He didn't come here looking for hand-outs. He did it all the old fashioned way--by giving an honest product for a hard day's work.

His legacy will be memorialized each time we visit or walk by John G's, an all cash restaurant now owned and operated by three of his children. We all had a chuckle when the Priest talked about John being in heaven when he said, "You don't have a credit card to get into heaven; it's all cash."

South Florida Fair 2010

Blame it on the economy, but the South Florida Fair lacked excitement this year. In the past several years, they have eliminated having a really top signature event like the ice show. Dennis Lee did not appear on the days we went and the main attraction, America's National Parks Expo, left a lot to be desired. The arts and crafts booths usually in the main building as you enter were not there this year but inside was some great art. Photography by Clyde Butcher was worth the admission price. Opening day handicapped parking cost $10. By the time we returned on a Saturday, it had doubled in price. Everything you bought started at $6 except for the ice tea at 75 cents. It is a time, however, to get a lot of exercise, people-watch and be a part of the ambiance.

Golfers, a Rare Breed

Recently, I had that yearly reminder that I was older. Nothing much good about birthdays other than those who remember wish you well and you get taken to lunch to some nice place, not to mention that you actually made it through another year in good health and not with too many bumps.

Atlantis CC

I was at Atlantis Country Club and got to watch the golfers from the window while having lunch. There is something about men golfers unlike all the rest of the athletes. They are a special breed. I was married to one. I dated a pro at one time. I know all about them. You’ve heard about golf widows? Trust me. Even if you play golf, they will reluctantly put up with you but they really don’t want to play with you. They are serious. They are always in competition with themselves first. It's all about self-ability and a constant competition to beat their best score. You never hear them complain about the cold or the wind but just it "was a great day." They all believe that they are just a little closer to heaven while on the course and if they had a choice of being anywhere, it would be on the nearest green.

Anything goes to make the shot!

Golfers always have complete control over their emotions unlike a lot of contact sports. Appearance, vocalization and body language are important. :)

Snow? No problem

Just use a red golf ball

Golfers don’t just like playing the game; they love playing the game. I have never met one yet who was not obsessed with it. They will play under any type of condition. And that’s no joke. They will drive anywhere with their friends to play just to hit that little ball. It is a bonding thing with men.

I told you that they were obsessed.

1000 Lake Avenue

1000 Lake Avenue

The CRA has all sorts of exciting things happening now. First was the $23 million neighborhood stabilization grant through HUD. This will be such a positive effect on the City of Lake Worth as these monies are expended for demolition and rehabilitation in our CRA district. We were one of 60 grantees across the country.

Now the CRA has the opportunity to purchase the above property that is adjacent to City Hall. Over the next four years, it will be paying $850,000 in lease payments to the owner. It will be spending another $345,000 in the rehab of this historical structure.

The Contract for Sale (Exhibit B) was not in the back-up only the Lease agreement. Perhaps that was page 9 that was missing. Come to City Hall tomorrow night at 6pm and hear why this purchase is recommended.

Also, Mark Parrilla will be giving a presentation on solar energy which he recently installed at his home.

Chemical Ali Hanged

Chemical Ali executed for the 1988 poison gas attack that killed 100,000 Iraqi Kurds and other killings and atrocities.

As the human costs keep increasing and the war is bankrupting America, it is time to pull out. Our occupation officially ended when we turned over full sovereignty to Iraq on June 28.

Find a Soup Kitchen

"Work somewhere in a soup kitchen or something
if you can't take the pressure."

Any political position has pressure. Any job affiliated with politics has pressure. Any job that has responsibility of any kind has pressure attached to it. You will always get the complainers. In our city you get much more than that. Our economy has produced a pressure never experienced before by workers as companies downsize. Budget cuts and hiring freezes have added to the responsibilities of all those workers still with jobs. Sometimes there is just too much work for employees. But even if there isn't, they lose their enthusiasm and start to complain to anyone who will listen as departments are asked to cut budgets, watch for waste and become more efficient. Sometimes it is the simplest of things like reporting to their boss once a week that will provoke the complaint.

In my last job I worked long hours as does our City manager. I didn't complain, nor does she. I did not get extra compensation for those hours; neither does she--it is part of the job. I just liked to work and I really enjoyed the self-satisfaction I received from doing the job better than the next guy. Here we have many people protected by Unions that just don't want to do anything over and above their job description. Afterall, they have the "right to complain" or so they believe.

When you have a city in crisis as we do in Lake Worth, it takes a city manager who can make the tough decisions. Because of past city managers, we are in the mess that we are in today. Because of past managers, employees are used to the status quo and not having to answer for anything. They feel offended if they are asked "What's going on?" I believe that this is the major change within our city that has attributed to the stress, real or invented, of some employees. When the CM asks them to write a written report, they say it is micro-managing and that is just an excuse to rebel against any added duty.

We hired a city manger to clean up the mess. We didn't hire Mother Teresa. If we do not get on track here we will not have a city in five years. Let's allow her to do the job. For all those who believe that they don't have to listen to their boss or if they can't take the pressure, there's always that soup kitchen.

Who Runs the Store?

Comment Up
Dilbert
Sunday, January 24, 2010

Scott Adams has a keen sense of explaining management and the workplace. He gets into the heart and soul of it. Today's comic strip depicts exactly what is going on in our city. If you can't read the cartoon, go to Dilbert and read it.

We have a City Manager who has put out a weekly Report that includes information from her department heads. This Report has been received well within the City and very much appreciated. Her Directors have been complaining about the amount of time it takes to give her this information. Can you even imagine that happening in the "real" world...the corporate world? It would never happen. To even argue with your boss is unimaginable. You present a case; you do not argue. You never tell your boss you do not have the time.

The boss, on the other hand, needs to be above the argument and to handle diversity with professionalism not expletives. Correct the wrongs going forward. Value staff; encourage their input but correct them when they err. Getting to a middle ground from both Staff and our CM is needed. Perhaps a compromise of a bi-weekly or a monthly report is in order. Would this be a solution?

The CEO is the one ultimately responsible for the operations. If, in this case our City Manager, does not get the facts, she is responsible for the final outcome, like moving a parking lot at Bryant Park as an example. How much time does it really take for a department chief to report once a week to their boss to compile a newsletter?

We have the same citizens moaning and groaning and a couple of politicians (Varela and Maxwell) feeding into their frenzy. Putting politics aside, I believe that they mean well and are just trying to act on complaints. In the same token, the minority Commission must take the CM more seriously. We have some employees who just don't like change and now side with whomever will agree with them to get out of this or that dastardly "chore"-- accountability to their boss and to the taxpayer of Lake Worth. We have a city manager who is frustrated that her very process in running the city has been undermined and has resorted to alleged verbal behavior that has resulted in Staff's supposed emotional well-being and feeling of worth.

My solution: Have the Human Resource Director report to the City Commission as far as complaints against the City Manager. Right now the HR Director reports to the City Manager, the very person that some staff feels is the problem. This is a conflict of interest and very possibly the result of some employees meeting out of the city with a Commissioner in order to vent. They believe that they have no where to go. Let's stop the abuse from all involved--citizens, commissioners, the CM as well as staff.

To even consider for one moment of making this city less transparent and less accountable by the elimination of the City Manager Report is not acceptable. It is time for all to get back on track. In the end, it is the taxpayer that pays for this "store."

There is no "Case" for Hand Guns

Comment Up

I want to say it again for one last time, guns kill. This is for all of you out there who hide behind the archaic 2^nd Amendment that is not absolute. This is for all of you who say; well I only kill an animal for food and then leave the torso of a full grown alligator on US Hwy 27 without its head. This is for all you out there who say we have the right to bear arms for protection and then shoot your entire family to death because you have some depression.

This is for all of you who say that if we ban guns, only criminals will have guns. Ban handguns in this country and you will see crime go down. You will see less gang murders. You will see fewer killings caused by domestic disputes. You will see less armed robberies. Get tough on gun laws. Anyone committing a crime with a gun goes to prison for at least 30 years with no negotiation—if it is murder—life or the chair. Some punk kid who kills his teacher “just because,” goes immediately to jail, no appeal. Simple solution.

I have heard all your arguments before and I am not interested. Personally, I am sick to death of the NRA and spending multi-millions to defeat the Brady Bill and sicker yet of the entire supply side of the gun business that have been a party to typical greed over human life and ignore the statistics on death by guns. Tell it to our Supreme Court when they told us that background checks are unconstitutional but the bill was upheld anyway. Tell it to James Brady, shot with a hollow-point "devastator" bullet that exploded the right frontal lobe of his brain during an attempted assassination of President Reagan and who is a parapalegic for the rest of his life. Tell it to all those who own a gun for protection because of our liberal gun policies that are out of control giving the United States the distinction of being in the top 25 countries in the world for murder per capita by guns.

Tell it to the Jacobson family, Franki, Eric and Joshua who were just shot to death at their home in Wellington by their sick and cowardly father.

Off to the Fair

Another day at the South Florida Fair
See ya later!

Staghorn Coral Loses - Palm Beach Wins

Blame it on the wealth or the vast influence on the island of Palm Beach, but the Island is just a little bit closer to killing the 2,400 sq. ft of Staghorn Coral reef located off its shores.

Reef Rescue was looking for added protections from the National Marine Fisheries Service for this endangered Staghorn Coral. They were turned down. The Agency believes that it would take years of study and they do not have the time. Therefore, they took the easy way out and concluded that the protections in place since November 2008 are sufficient.

Palm Beach is closer to dredging and filling with dirt sand. Why don't they use all that money and just haul in good sand for their beach re-nourishment projects that will continue until the Earth stops.

If Chutzpah could fill a Pothole...

Comment Up

You’ve got to give it to her – Strong mayor Lois Frankel has a lot of chutzpah…a non-conformist with gutsy audacity.

West Palm Beach had applied for a Stimulus Grant, never received. She decided to go to the top and speak with President Obama and plead her case for $50 million. Afterall, the money was not going to be used this time as an ode to herself but to help a poor neighborhood. Fox News picked up on her visit to Washington and yesterday she was interviewed by Neil Cavuto. Great publicity for her city.

Several years ago she was the one who plowed ahead building a huge new City Center for $154 million (her own private bathroom cost $13,323) in spite of a certified referendum to vote on the project. Opponents said that she had over-stepped her authority—that it should have gone out for a vote. There were law suits that went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court where the people won. Also, the PB Post had revealed that the original contractor she hired had put a city commissioner on its payroll, a definite conflict of interest. This resulted in a grand jury investigation and pay-to-play was on everyone’s lips.

This time she was thinking about her taxpayers. Instead of West Palm Beach picking up the entire bill, she would see if all of America would pay it. The President said, “no, we have a big pothole out there and not enough asphalt to fill it.”