Drug Traffickers arrested

All live in the areas of Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth, and all were charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.

Read about it.

When seconds count, count on us

The only good thing about the Firefighters going to Palm Beach County is that we did not have to witness or put up with them walking the city streets, knocking on doors and handing out fliers, hanging around at the election polling stations and robo calls coming from the Lake Worth Fire Department in support of candidates with Union leanings—one form of corruption that ended in Lake Worth.

Their motto was a reality at election time when the Lake Worth firefighters supported candidates that wanted to give away the farm, literally, to the detriment of Lake Worth taxpayers. Every city department had to closely scrutinize its budgets but the Unions bitterly fought any cuts to their very lucrative contracts. They went so far as to have their Union attorney speak on three separate occasions in front of the Commission.

The unfunded actuarial accrued liability for just the Firefighters is $15,313,639. For every $1.00 paid in salary, the City pays them $1.52 for retirement benefits. They keep crying and we keep paying these unsustainable pension benefits. The firefighters keep finding and supporting candidates sympathetic to their self-interest to the disadvantage of Lake Worth.

If you noticed, the losing candidates, Blockson and Maxwell, received a lot of money from the Unions--$1,500 each from three different firefighter PAC’s and were supported by Mayor Varela and Commissioner Scott Maxwell. One candidate's husband was our former fire chief.

This year, the biased and self motivated intrusion by local firefighters working for Union backed candidates and imposing their will on the public, was all quashed. They might have given Union money but physically they were a "no show." Lake Worth is better for it.

Riviera Beach Votes in Charter Amendment on City Marina property

Riviera Beach Charter Amendment

For Rivera Beach residents, this Charter amendment was all about keeping their marina and surrounding property public.

AMENDMENT TO CITY MARINA PROPERTY
Shall The City Of Riviera Beach Charter Be Amended To Provide That The Use Of Dedicated Submerged Public Lands At The City Marina Remain Limited To Municipal Park And Recreational Purposes According To Florida Dedication No. 24438-A; (2725) the Municipal Marina Properties, Newcomb Hall, Bicentennial Park, And Spanish Court Shall Be Owned, Managed, And Operated Solely By The City Of Riviera Beach; The Municipal Marina Properties Shall Not Permit Industrial Commercial Boat Repair Operations?

Emma Bates, the organizer of the Petition drive and Chair of the Citizens Task Force was determined, after all that hard work, to get out the vote. She did.

Riviera Beach said "yes" on Tuesday...52.39%.

This is what citizens will have to do all across our State if they don't like a land-use change. It will be interesting to see what Rick Scott does with the DCA. Soon, we may have no protection or controls for our Florida land. Developers and lobbyists will have the final say.

Allen West

U.S. Representative, District 22

General Election according to State of Florida

Allen West, REP-- 115,339, 54.32%
Ron Klein, DEM-- 97,001, 45.68%

Overall, the voter turnout State-wide was 48.1% or 5,395,650 voters of the total registered voters of 11,217,384. Palm Beach County had a 45.7% turnout.

Allen West Victory Speech

Wadda ya think, Mayor, Commish?

Comment Up

Lake Worth Mayor, Rene Varela and Commisisoner Scott Maxwell aligned themselves with the BAC PAC, a committee organized to "take back the city" under the guise of saving Lake Worth businesses. It raised a lot of money in order to support Lisa Maxwell and Carla Blockson so that they and their friends could control the dais. They were all ticked off about height limitations of three stories in Lake Worth. Some were ticked off about not being re-appointed to the CRA where they could burn through more millions. So without ever really talking about what really made them mad, they dreamed up all sorts of other reasons to make sure that McVoy and Mulvehill would not win. It didn't work. It all backfired. This PAC was turned inside out.

So, what do you think now, Mayor? More than likely the question the Mayor as well as Commissioner Scott Maxwell are asking themselves this morning is, "What does Lake Worth think of me?" One more year.

The Winners and the Loser

Carla Blockson--46.66%...2,591...
Christopher McVoy--53.34%...2,962...

Lisa Maxwell--46.59%...2,195...
Suzanne Mulvehill--53.41%...2,516......

Well, the three candidates for whom I worked, won--McVoy, Mulvehill and Col. Allen West! Amendment 4, however, was slaughtered at the polls. Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida in Tampa, said several factors — including the amount of money spent on the “Vote No on 4” campaign and the economic slowdown — contributed to the amendment’s defeat."

I want to personally thank all those who worked so hard and believed in the people's right to vote on what their communities should look like. There are so many people throughout the State who volunteered countless hours to bring awareness to Amendment 4. It truly was a grassroots movement with little money, an ingredient that you must have in order to have a chance to bring the message to the people. A special thanks to the entire FHD Team, Lesley Blackner, Steve Rosen and to Katie McGiveron in Lake Worth whose dedication and determination were amazing and whose speeches were awesome!

People were told that the Amendment would cost jobs and that it would stop growth. Neither claim was true. The fear factor worked. We now will have to depend upon our elected officials to make the right decisions, decisions in which they have miserably failed especially over the past two decades. We will have to do more to preserve our environment, the Everglades, protect our Florida panther and our wildlife and call elected officials to task, never giving up. We will have to be more vocal than ever.

Here in Lake Worth, the fear factor did not work. Union money did not make a difference nor did Sun Recycling's campaign contributions or the barbecue's in the south end of town. The people voted in two people that will do the right thing by the residents and for Lake Worth, both supporting Amendment 4. The land-use on Sunset will NOT change now.

Using the money that was raised rather than the expense figures, as there is one more report to be filed, Lisa Maxwell raised $33,485.13 to date which equates to $15.53 a vote. Carla Blockson raised $19,638.46 to date equating to $7.70 per vote. The BAC PAC reported $15,565 to date, spending nearly all of it on the Blockson and Maxwell cause. A total of $68,688 was raised by these two candidates and this PAC to defeat McVoy and Mulvehill.

Message from Lesley Blackner

Dear Supporters,

We are obviously disappointed in the apparent outcome of the referendum on Amendment 4. But we are extremely grateful for you, the countless thousands of volunteers and grassroots activists who stepped forward over the past seven years to fight the monumental battle just to get this issue on the ballot.

We fought together as a group of (very) concerned citizens in the face of the greatest pro-sprawl alliance ever put together in Florida. For seven years, those who make their living off of bad developments, real estate speculation, sprawl and back-room deals did everything they could to block our citizen initiative -- and any citizen initiative that might try to follow us. They created their own phony amendment. They created laws to attack our petition signers. They changed the state Constitution to require the approval of 60 percent of the public to pass an amendment.

To do this, they raised and spent well in excess of $16 million that we can document so far.

Make no mistake about it, we are right about the insidious affects of runaway growth. Our solution was the only one that anybody, including the state's sanctimonious news media, put forward and had the guts to stand behind.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to have a rational discussion of a solution to Florida’s horrible growth management problem in 30-second television ads that cost millions of dollars to air. Voters were subjected to the full financial power of those special interests that are committed to maintaining a death grip on their ability to control the status quo of sprawl and overbuilding in our state. We nonetheless respect the voters’ judgment at the ballot box.

For seven years, we sought to focus a discussion about how Florida will grow. We hope it is a discussion that continues beyond today, which marks the end of the Florida Hometown Democracy movement. It is left to our state’s elected leaders and residents find an answer to Florida’s addiction to promiscuous construction before it is too late for our state’s natural resources and quality of life.

Thank you for your support and hard work, and for your passion and concern,

Lesley Blackner
President, Florida Hometown Democracy

Duck killers might get jail

Duck killers face a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Read about it here.

Last night's Moon

Take some time to appreciate the beauty of this universe.

Good luck to all the "good guys" today.

Tea Party Meeting and Amendment 4

Comment Up
Last night, Katie McGiveron spoke at the South Florida Tea Party meeting for Palm Beach County that was held in Jupiter at the Abacoa Golf Club. It was a cordial crowd, unlike some other Tea Party meetings.

The Tea Party Executive Director, Pam Wohlschlegel, said that they were non-partisan and the Party took no issue on candidates. They sure did on Amendments. The Tea Party is definitely partisan. They had slick sheets on all the candidates and where they stood on certain issues and then rated the Amendments from A to F like a report card. These "information" cards have been passed out for some time to the voters in Palm Beach County.

What they wrote about Amendment 4: Hurts development and takes away local control of zoning." What in the heck does that mean? NO one knows, not even they. Amendment 4 is not about zoning. It is about land-use changes in the Comprehensive Plan. Of course, not even understanding the Amendment, they gave Amendment 4 an F. They were also FOR gerrymandering as they gave Amendments 5 & 6 an F as well. In total, they rated 4 issues as F's, 3 as A's, and 2 as B's.

The Tea party states that it is dedicated to America's founding principles of Fiscal responsibility, Limited Government and Free Markets. They are here to educate and inform others based on these principles. They had a disclaimer on their flier that said, "Guide is not an endorsement of a candidate or amendment." They really did a dis-service to those for whom they wish to educate by not understanding Amendment 4 at all.

There was a Constitutionalist who spoke earlier and he was against Comp Plans altogether and believes that someone has the right to do anything he chooses on his property regardless. We want to find out where he lives so that someone can put up a girley bar across the street from his single family house. As he was a guest speaker, I have to wonder if the Tea Party believes in the law.

I am wearing blinders and ear muffs with Katie explaining
that city and county commissions do not listen nor
do they hear the residents and treat us as if we are all invisible.
They usually vote they way they want and
look what happened in PB County--commissioners hauled off to prison,
some for development deals.

Katie further informed the crowd that developers received millions in federal bail out money and then turned around and used money to fight Amendment 4 by giving it to the Vote NO PAC, Citizens for Lower taxes, etc.

At the end of it, one lady came up to me and said, "Sorry, I already voted." People have believed the negative campaigning, the misinformation given to them from groups such as the Tea party. Money talks.

Environmental Coalition Reports on Lisa Maxwell and BAC PAC dirty money

Monday, November 1, 2010

Lisa Maxwell and Carla Blockson taking dirty money from Waste Transfer Dump

Despite ongoing efforts to keep dirty money out of election, developer candidate Lisa Maxwell accepted $2,500 from 5 different companies all operating out of the Southern Waste Systems facility on the Lantana/Lake Worth border. Last report the BACPAC took over $1000 from SWS et al, and has been using the money to support Maxwell and Blockson.

See for yourself in Lisa Maxwell's G4 financial report

Or the BACPAC's report

Message from Allen West

My Fellow Patriots -

After almost 3 years of hard work, our campaign to restore honor, integrity and character to Washington, DC culminates today, November 2nd. Over these last few months, we have seen a campaign of character assassination waged against my family and me that has truly been disgraceful. I am proud of the positive, issue-oriented-campaign that we have run, and I am confident that all of our hard work will pay off tonight.

While we are confident that we will be victorious, it is important that we each fight hard to the bitter end. Make no mistake - my opponent and the liberal machine will do anything to stay in power. So, as you have done for the last 3 years, I need each of you to once again cover my right flank.

First, go exercise your Constitutional right to vote! For a list of polling locations, click here.

Then come into one of our campaign offices to make important GOTV phone calls that will help drive our supporters to the polls. If you can't make it in, go to one of the over 400 polling locations and wave signs, pass out literature, and monitor for voter fraud. If you have any questions on how you can help, please call our HQ at 954.571.7807.

If you're unable to help us here on the ground, you can always support our campaign from anywhere in the country by clicking here.

Today, remember Plato's quote, "one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you will be governed by your inferiors".

My fellow Patriots, this has been a long and hard-fought battle for each of us, and victory is in sight. Let's not relinquish any ground, and march straight through victory tonight.

Steadfast and Loyal,

LTC(R) Allen B. West

YES ON AMENDMENT 4

Comment Up
☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4!☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ and says " ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4!☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4!☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4!☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4!☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4! ☼ I ♥ Florida! ☼ YES ON 4!☼".

Open Letter to Lesley Blackner

That, finally, is why I decided to dedicate GatorDebater first of all to you, Lesley Blackner. You clearly had faith that everyday people could rise to the responsibilities of democracy. That is a faith worth honoring.

Read the entire article here

Lisa Maxwell takes $2,500 from Sun Recycling Systems' companies

The latest Treasury Report for Lisa Maxwell reveals that she has taken $2,500 in campaign contributions from Sun Recycling Systems and their companies. Lisa is in bed with the BAC PAC.

We want to know what have they promised Sun? The next time you run into Shanon Materio or any other member of that PAC or Lisa Maxwell, ask them what they promised Phil Medico. Do they want to give him the garbage business again? Do they want him to be able to dump on our landfill? Do they want him to ruin more of the health of our Osborne Community?

WHAT?

Christopher McVoy for Lake Worth City Commissioner

Keep power in hands of people; pass Amendment 4

Palm Beach Post
October 31, 2010

Why vote YES on Amendment 4? Simple. It would give decision-making power back to the people who have a vested interest in the future and growth of Florida - the voters.

We've all heard complaints about big government. This is a chance to take back some of that power, at least on a local level. We are allowing county commissioners to make exceptions to comprehensive land-use plans. By passing Amendment 4, the voters would decide if and when exceptions should be made. Passage of Amendment 4 would put more power in the hands of voters, not big-spending developers and opportunistic county commissioners.

If Amendment 4 does not pass, we will see suburban sprawl and urban decay as developers push westward. I moved to South Florida in the late 1960s. I've seen the development move north from Miami and west, like a cancer consuming every available parcel of land. For years, I've driven past displaced dead animals on the sides of the roads, as two lanes became four, then six.

It's time to put the brakes on this insanity, time to reevaluate quality-of-life issues. Exceptions to comprehensive land-use plans should be decided by the voters and not be put up for sale to the highest bidder.

MARY PRICHARD

West Palm Beach

Who do you trust? Politicians or your neighbors to decide how your community should look?

WHY NOT GIVE YOURSELF A VOTE ON GROWTH?

Gary Borse 352/591-0128
Marion County


Why anyone in their right mind would vote against an amendment that would give them the right to vote on local land use issues is beyond unbelievable. People are literally dying to get the right to vote in other countries.

Who could be so controlling and influential in this country that they could talk someone out of their right to vote on land use?

If you don’t want a vote, then you don’t care and are willing to let your County Commissioners decide what is best for you. Right now if they say another interchange is good for you because their friends own land on both sides of the interstate, then they can build an interchange, high density residential units and lots more shopping for you. The roads, fire stations, sewer, water and schools for their projects are going to cost you. This includes the management and maintenance of these infrastructures into perpetuity at taxpayers’ expense, with annual increases that you cannot dispute. The developers make big bucks while you pick up the tab. The great Ponzi scheme is revealed.

The County Commissioners do not want you to have a vote. The Chamber of Commerce does not want you to have a vote. The Realtors’ Associations do not want you to have a vote, and of course the developer does not want you to have a vote on land use amendments, changes that increase your taxes, depress your home value and gives you gridlock.

They are all against your right to vote because they want to have total control over your quality of life without you having a say in what happens to your neighborhood. This is ludicrous and scandalous. We, the people, deserve a vote. We are the ones who are paying high real estate taxes for all this questionable infrastructure their projects require.

In some counties like Marion, many changes to the old comprehensive land use plan were made quickly and secretly, just short of this election because the County Commissioners are scared citizens might overrule their vote. From new I-75 interchanges, neighborhood overpasses, major shopping centers, high density residential development, mining preservation rezoning, and even two new municipal wells to pump water across the county to other areas they are developing. Over and over they have gone against the will of the people they are supposed to serve. ( I thought we were almost out of water.)

Hundreds of residents of the areas affected voiced their objections in writing, and verbally at several of these County Commission meetings. They were ignored and all of the written environmental, fiscal concerns and objections were “lost” by the County Commissioners when the project was submitted to the Department of Community Affairs in Tallahassee. This appears to be “Standard Operating Procedure“ deeply entrenched in the State of Florida. Too often some of our local officials, past and present, work for the developers like Del Webb, and Pulte, as well as others, or have partnerships and real estate investments that are tied tightly to the development machine. Who do you trust to keep your community safe from bad land use changes? Your elected officials or your neighbors?

I urge you to read about Amendment 4 at floridahometowndemocracy.com, and see what is happening to Florida and why we are on the top of the heap in the housing and mortgage meltdown crisis, and then I ask you, “Do you want a vote?”

Gary Borse 352/591-0128
Cattle Farmer, Fairfield, FL

Follow the Money to know how to vote on Amendment 4

Hand-made sign on Lyons Road in West Palm Beach
at a private residence.
Yes on Amendment 4 is out of signs and out of money.

We haven't been able to fight big corporation money but that doesn't mean that we have lost our spirit for truth.

We have had reports of a lot of theft and bounty being paid to steal them even though they have $15 million dollars to defeat the right to vote.

We talked to one gentleman there who has Amendment 4 signs on his expansive property.
He is scared about developers taking over and crooked politicians ruining his quality of life.
We don't blame him for that.

Vote NO sign on Lyons Road at a large development

Toll Brothers-- $ 43,000 contribution to the Vote No Group and a $78.8 million bail out by the federal government. That's your tax dollars folks! Don't you find this nauseating? Money talks and the rest of us take long walks down short piers. Our vote is being taken away by these developer corporations, the Florida Chamber, Realtors and other fat-cats. They have all of the money and they want our entire State to pave over.

Remember this on Tuesday.
End the corruption.
You deserve a voice at the table.