Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Federal Felonies for Fake Fix
Mo more Mr. Nice Guy
"For the next 12 to 18 months, it will be a federal felony to make, distribute or possess any of five varieties of what the feds label synthetic cannabinoids."
Will this affect the Kavasutra Kava Bar at 508 Lake Avenue located right next door to Rep. Jeff Clemen's new HQ?
"For the next 12 to 18 months, it will be a federal felony to make, distribute or possess any of five varieties of what the feds label synthetic cannabinoids."
Will this affect the Kavasutra Kava Bar at 508 Lake Avenue located right next door to Rep. Jeff Clemen's new HQ?
Creative Screw Job
Comment Up
Today, Vice Mayor Suzanne Mulvehill will be speaking to Palm Beach County Commissioners on renegotiating the Fire/Rescue Contract and eliminating the supplemental payments. Why the Vice Mayor and not the Mayor? If you recall, when we went to the County, we were charged additional monies that no other city was charged. In a few years, and for eternity, we will be paying $1.3 million a year in supplemental payments for Fire/Rescue.
Also, what will be discussed is spreading the cost for this service to all property owners in Lake Worth as some of us do not pay taxes or pay little. We have the double homestead exemption in effect as well as the Senior Exemption for people who live on less than poverty income. Mayor Varela likes this idea as everyone will be paying the same rate just like we do for Lake Worth Waste and Stormwater. Those charges were moved to our tax bill a few years ago... a creative screwing.
I have a few problems with this--as I haven't had my Wheaties yet, please bear with me--
Poor people will be paying the same rate as wealthy people. When I have a need for an ambulance, I am billed. That bill is sent to my insurance company. The balance is paid by me and there is always a balance. I can assure you, with the gigantic charges today of ambulance/paramedic services, the bill is enormous. A $500 charge is not unusual.
So, not only will I pay for the service when I use it, but I will pay for the privilege of just being offered that service on my tax bill and the rate will be the same for someone living on less than poverty income versus someone else living well above upper middle class income. I just ask if this tax really should be equal...is it fair that we all will be paying the same tax amount particularly when we have to pay to use an ambulance anyway? Fires are few and far between.
What will happen now is that it will free up some millage that the City can now use against the residents. Property values are expected to go down again and therefore they will have less money--$4.5 million is estimated. The City has to get creative once again. Not only will we all be taxed the same for a service we pay for anyway when we use it, but the City will have the ability to use that dollar difference in a tax of a different kind. They are worried that we are at an 8.85 millage now and 10 mills are the max they can charge us under State law. It will give them that much more millage to screw us with. They always say that they have not or will not raise taxes but they always find a creative way of doing just that.
In this Democratic and liberal thinking city, I am surprised that the commission believes that we should pay the same rate regardless of our income or ability to do so. All people are equal I guess.
I was against Fire going to the County to begin with and I am against this new creative tax idea.
Today, Vice Mayor Suzanne Mulvehill will be speaking to Palm Beach County Commissioners on renegotiating the Fire/Rescue Contract and eliminating the supplemental payments. Why the Vice Mayor and not the Mayor? If you recall, when we went to the County, we were charged additional monies that no other city was charged. In a few years, and for eternity, we will be paying $1.3 million a year in supplemental payments for Fire/Rescue.Also, what will be discussed is spreading the cost for this service to all property owners in Lake Worth as some of us do not pay taxes or pay little. We have the double homestead exemption in effect as well as the Senior Exemption for people who live on less than poverty income. Mayor Varela likes this idea as everyone will be paying the same rate just like we do for Lake Worth Waste and Stormwater. Those charges were moved to our tax bill a few years ago... a creative screwing.
I have a few problems with this--as I haven't had my Wheaties yet, please bear with me--
Poor people will be paying the same rate as wealthy people. When I have a need for an ambulance, I am billed. That bill is sent to my insurance company. The balance is paid by me and there is always a balance. I can assure you, with the gigantic charges today of ambulance/paramedic services, the bill is enormous. A $500 charge is not unusual.
So, not only will I pay for the service when I use it, but I will pay for the privilege of just being offered that service on my tax bill and the rate will be the same for someone living on less than poverty income versus someone else living well above upper middle class income. I just ask if this tax really should be equal...is it fair that we all will be paying the same tax amount particularly when we have to pay to use an ambulance anyway? Fires are few and far between.
What will happen now is that it will free up some millage that the City can now use against the residents. Property values are expected to go down again and therefore they will have less money--$4.5 million is estimated. The City has to get creative once again. Not only will we all be taxed the same for a service we pay for anyway when we use it, but the City will have the ability to use that dollar difference in a tax of a different kind. They are worried that we are at an 8.85 millage now and 10 mills are the max they can charge us under State law. It will give them that much more millage to screw us with. They always say that they have not or will not raise taxes but they always find a creative way of doing just that.
In this Democratic and liberal thinking city, I am surprised that the commission believes that we should pay the same rate regardless of our income or ability to do so. All people are equal I guess.
I was against Fire going to the County to begin with and I am against this new creative tax idea.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Lake Worth Utilities - How to Improve It
Comment Up
Someone very familiar with Lake Worth Utilities wrote the following e-mail with no response from the CM or the Utility Director. It went to both of them.
June 26, 2010
After reading Susan’s proposed budget for calendar year 2010/2011, and knowing as much about your city as I do, I would like to submit a group of revenue generating ideas for you to consider. You and I have already spoken about one, but the remainder may be new to you…….and the city may already be considering some of the other suggestions.
Generating revenue via the installation and maintenance of Private Area Lighting. You and I have spoken about this previously but neither of us put the numbers together.My estimate would be that the City would generate between $80K to $120K per year over and above the cost of the light, the energy costs and the maintenance costs.This is based upon a 3% coverage of your 12,000 customers. You and I both understand that once PAL’s are initiated, that the demand will grow exponentially, especially in the high crime areas.(PAL’s should never be provided to a customer without a signed two year contract.)
Yet another segway off of the same lighting idea would pertain to the area of existing business (outside) lighting. Business’ normally hire outside electrical firms to install lot lighting, and should continue to do so. But, the utility can step in and offer a service that few, if any, business’ consider, or apply.That service pertains to the setting of time clocks and the polishing of glass. While this may not seem worthwhile for the utility to undertake, I can assure you that the return on investment in both good will and dollars is substantial. Car lots, restaurants, stores, etc. are accustomed to spending between $100 and $1,000/month on these outside lights……and that is simply in terms of kwhr usage.
Once your energy savings personnel explain that the cost of your official visiting their place of business once a month to reset the time clocks (no charge to the customer) will result in a yearly savings of hundreds, even thousands of dollars, then the economics becomes clear to the business owner. Then offer a maintenance agreement at “Rates For Outside Services” and you have become an integral part of all business’ who wish to participate.The revenue generated from this will be minimal (one-half of all up & down labor costs) – or $25K to $50K per year, but the good will and off peak loading will be enormous.
Lock in long term fuel prices. Slowly convert all fleet vehicles to diesel and lock the price in. Once fuel goes back up, it will stay there. Remember, Southwest Airlines has maintained a positive cash flow throughout the hard times by using this strategy. Potential savings could be as much as $400K/year for your fleet and that is if gas prices only go up $2 from your contract price. All new customers, whether they be residential or commercial, should be paying the full cost of service – including all labor costs.Those customers who require substantial changes to infrastructure should pay those costs also.STOP giving your services away!
As a contractor, I was the first, and possibly only, person at the LW Utility to charge a private contractor all up and down labor and unsalvageable material costs. (This was for the apartment building south of Lake Worth Beach) Upgrades and service costs should be calculated by the Estimator and paid by the customer prior to the crew setting a foot on the customer’s property. While this is not a revenue generator as such, the cost savings to the Utility in give-aways could be as much as $300K -- $500K per year.
Customers should be billed all ‘Up & Down Labor’ costs for all temporary services. Again, this is not a revenue generator as much as a revenue saver. Dollars saved here can be used elsewhere.
Possibly the largest revenue generator outside of a new commercial business would be the renegotiating of all of your “Foreign Attachment” contracts. Ask your attorney’s to negotiate new fees to both Cable TV and all of your Bell providers. Increase you attachment fees (per attachment or per pole) to a minimum of $15 --$30/year per pole. This will typically generate between $500K and one million dollars annually for a city of Lake Worth’s size and area. Conduct a safety and NESC audit at the same time you are doing the attachment audit and charge each company a replacement fee for any outstanding code violations which are caused by them.This will permit you to upgrade your system while correcting all code violations.Establish a min-max (Just-in-Time) stores handling system. While this will not generate revenue in the strictest sense, it will save valuable dollars overall.
Possibly the single largest expense to the utility is in overtime hours. Eliminate these by reducing your SAIDI numbers.My guess is that you currently have a SAIDI number between 400 and 600.By reducing this to a SAIDI 50 and returning the savings to the utility for system upgrades, you will achieve the highest levels of reliability while saving the City dollars at the same time.
Much of what I have just stated will depend entirely upon how proficient your Estimating personnel are at conducting the day-to-day business of the utility.Record keeping and mapping are an essential part of the aforementioned savings and I assume that your departments are up to the task.I have provided upwards to one million/year in savings and revenue generating ideas. And, while these ideas are only a small portion of a much larger picture, it is easy to see where the city can generate revenue’s while maintaining a high standard of service.If the same ideas were applied to the other departments, then there might even be light at the end of the budgetary tunnel.
Thanks,
Someone very familiar with Lake Worth Utilities wrote the following e-mail with no response from the CM or the Utility Director. It went to both of them.
June 26, 2010
After reading Susan’s proposed budget for calendar year 2010/2011, and knowing as much about your city as I do, I would like to submit a group of revenue generating ideas for you to consider. You and I have already spoken about one, but the remainder may be new to you…….and the city may already be considering some of the other suggestions.
Generating revenue via the installation and maintenance of Private Area Lighting. You and I have spoken about this previously but neither of us put the numbers together.My estimate would be that the City would generate between $80K to $120K per year over and above the cost of the light, the energy costs and the maintenance costs.This is based upon a 3% coverage of your 12,000 customers. You and I both understand that once PAL’s are initiated, that the demand will grow exponentially, especially in the high crime areas.(PAL’s should never be provided to a customer without a signed two year contract.)
Yet another segway off of the same lighting idea would pertain to the area of existing business (outside) lighting. Business’ normally hire outside electrical firms to install lot lighting, and should continue to do so. But, the utility can step in and offer a service that few, if any, business’ consider, or apply.That service pertains to the setting of time clocks and the polishing of glass. While this may not seem worthwhile for the utility to undertake, I can assure you that the return on investment in both good will and dollars is substantial. Car lots, restaurants, stores, etc. are accustomed to spending between $100 and $1,000/month on these outside lights……and that is simply in terms of kwhr usage.
Once your energy savings personnel explain that the cost of your official visiting their place of business once a month to reset the time clocks (no charge to the customer) will result in a yearly savings of hundreds, even thousands of dollars, then the economics becomes clear to the business owner. Then offer a maintenance agreement at “Rates For Outside Services” and you have become an integral part of all business’ who wish to participate.The revenue generated from this will be minimal (one-half of all up & down labor costs) – or $25K to $50K per year, but the good will and off peak loading will be enormous.
Lock in long term fuel prices. Slowly convert all fleet vehicles to diesel and lock the price in. Once fuel goes back up, it will stay there. Remember, Southwest Airlines has maintained a positive cash flow throughout the hard times by using this strategy. Potential savings could be as much as $400K/year for your fleet and that is if gas prices only go up $2 from your contract price. All new customers, whether they be residential or commercial, should be paying the full cost of service – including all labor costs.Those customers who require substantial changes to infrastructure should pay those costs also.STOP giving your services away!
As a contractor, I was the first, and possibly only, person at the LW Utility to charge a private contractor all up and down labor and unsalvageable material costs. (This was for the apartment building south of Lake Worth Beach) Upgrades and service costs should be calculated by the Estimator and paid by the customer prior to the crew setting a foot on the customer’s property. While this is not a revenue generator as such, the cost savings to the Utility in give-aways could be as much as $300K -- $500K per year.
Customers should be billed all ‘Up & Down Labor’ costs for all temporary services. Again, this is not a revenue generator as much as a revenue saver. Dollars saved here can be used elsewhere.
Possibly the largest revenue generator outside of a new commercial business would be the renegotiating of all of your “Foreign Attachment” contracts. Ask your attorney’s to negotiate new fees to both Cable TV and all of your Bell providers. Increase you attachment fees (per attachment or per pole) to a minimum of $15 --$30/year per pole. This will typically generate between $500K and one million dollars annually for a city of Lake Worth’s size and area. Conduct a safety and NESC audit at the same time you are doing the attachment audit and charge each company a replacement fee for any outstanding code violations which are caused by them.This will permit you to upgrade your system while correcting all code violations.Establish a min-max (Just-in-Time) stores handling system. While this will not generate revenue in the strictest sense, it will save valuable dollars overall.
Possibly the single largest expense to the utility is in overtime hours. Eliminate these by reducing your SAIDI numbers.My guess is that you currently have a SAIDI number between 400 and 600.By reducing this to a SAIDI 50 and returning the savings to the utility for system upgrades, you will achieve the highest levels of reliability while saving the City dollars at the same time.
Much of what I have just stated will depend entirely upon how proficient your Estimating personnel are at conducting the day-to-day business of the utility.Record keeping and mapping are an essential part of the aforementioned savings and I assume that your departments are up to the task.I have provided upwards to one million/year in savings and revenue generating ideas. And, while these ideas are only a small portion of a much larger picture, it is easy to see where the city can generate revenue’s while maintaining a high standard of service.If the same ideas were applied to the other departments, then there might even be light at the end of the budgetary tunnel.
Thanks,
Community Redevelopment Agency in Lake Worth
Comment Up
I appreciate our city commission--everyone on it. I believe that they are doing their best to make the right decisions for Lake Worth. However, some are much more negative than others even to the point of questioning their own ability to get things done.
In today's PB Post, Scott Maxwell is quoted as saying, "The Commission has plenty to do balancing the budget and overseeing Lake Worth Utilities without having the CRA's responsibilities." I will challenge any commissioner if one even thinks he has a clue on the Budget and especially an understanding of Lake Worth Utilities, the dark hole. They haven't even authorized a forensic audit of our Utility to even find out what is going on there.
When it comes to being responsible for tax payer money, our elected officials are the only ones who should be in charge. When you have a Director who does not return phone calls or will not return e-mails and board members who have publicly said that "they can do it better than any elected official," it is time to take back the CRA a voluntary Board appointed by the Commission. It is all about responsibility of millions of taxpayer dollars not to mention the NSP2 grant.
Allow Andy Amoroso, Vice Chair of the CRA, to understand that you are not just trying to "grab the money" and that it is all about poor and improper decisions of taxpayer dollars. He can then publicly apologize to all of you and to all of us. That comment alone, shows that those responsible for CRA decisions are not.
I appreciate our city commission--everyone on it. I believe that they are doing their best to make the right decisions for Lake Worth. However, some are much more negative than others even to the point of questioning their own ability to get things done.
In today's PB Post, Scott Maxwell is quoted as saying, "The Commission has plenty to do balancing the budget and overseeing Lake Worth Utilities without having the CRA's responsibilities." I will challenge any commissioner if one even thinks he has a clue on the Budget and especially an understanding of Lake Worth Utilities, the dark hole. They haven't even authorized a forensic audit of our Utility to even find out what is going on there.
When it comes to being responsible for tax payer money, our elected officials are the only ones who should be in charge. When you have a Director who does not return phone calls or will not return e-mails and board members who have publicly said that "they can do it better than any elected official," it is time to take back the CRA a voluntary Board appointed by the Commission. It is all about responsibility of millions of taxpayer dollars not to mention the NSP2 grant.
Allow Andy Amoroso, Vice Chair of the CRA, to understand that you are not just trying to "grab the money" and that it is all about poor and improper decisions of taxpayer dollars. He can then publicly apologize to all of you and to all of us. That comment alone, shows that those responsible for CRA decisions are not.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Paula Ryan next West Palm Beach mayor?
She will be if Jeff Clemens has anything to do about it.
Backed by some Democrat hot shots, Paula Ryan, mayoral candidate in West Palm Beach, has an interesting resume and her companies were successfully sued several times. Ryan wants to re-write West Palm Beach's Comprehensive Plan as she says that she is a specialist in urban planning. Read about it HERE.
Backed by some Democrat hot shots, Paula Ryan, mayoral candidate in West Palm Beach, has an interesting resume and her companies were successfully sued several times. Ryan wants to re-write West Palm Beach's Comprehensive Plan as she says that she is a specialist in urban planning. Read about it HERE.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Lake Worth Crime Stats
Comment Up
| Crime Alert for today, February 26, 2011, which spans the last week. | ||
 | Property Crime | 10 |
 | Death | 1 |
 | Theft | 12 |
| Drugs | 16 |
| Kidnapping | 1 |
| Disorder | 8 |
| Weapons Offense | 1 |
| Family Offense | 13 |
| Liquor | 10 |
 | Robbery | 2 |
| Alarm | 8 |
 | Other | 28 |
| Missing Person | 2 |
| Pedestrian Stop | 14 |
 | Traffic | 20 |
 | Assault | 8 |
| Other Sexual Offense | 1 |
Discovery Launch
Comment Up
Although I was out there with my camera to capture the flight, there was too much cloud cover. This is a video that someone captured from the air.
Although I was out there with my camera to capture the flight, there was too much cloud cover. This is a video that someone captured from the air.
Florida Environment in Danger
Comment Up
A House committee on Thursday approved three of the most controversial environmental bills to arise prior to the start of the 2011 session.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee approved HB 13 dealing with septic tanks, HB 457 dealing with local fertilizer regulations and HB 421, involving agricultural exemptions from water management district permits.
HB 13 by Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, would repeal 2010's requirement that septic tanks be inspected every five years. The Legislature voted in November to delay implementation from Jan. 1 to July 1 in response to complaints from affected homeowners. "At a time we are trying to reduce government and make it more in favor of our citizens, this is an exciting bill," Coley told members of the subcommittee.
Representatives of the Small County Coalition of Florida and Hillsborough County said they supported the bill. But a Sierra Club Florida representative said the inspections are needed to protect water quality and public health. The Florida Department of Health estimates 10 percent of the state's estimated 2.7 million septic tanks are failing, according to a bill analysis.
The Florida Onsite Wastewater Association, Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Home Builders Association and Florida Realtors are working on alternative bill language to establish criteria for allowing local governments to have their own inspection programs. HB 13 was approved 12-1.
A similar bill in the Senate, SB 168, was approved by the Senate Health Regulation Committee by an 8-4 vote after some senators raised concerns about doing away with the inspection requirement.
HB 457 would prohibit local governments from regulating fertilizer use unless they use a state model ordinance. A similar bill was filed last year in response to Pinellas County banning the sale of lawn fertilizer during the summer rainy season.
Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola and sponsor of HB 457, said allowing local governments to adopt their own regulations would create a "patchwork" that is difficult for businesses. The Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association and Associated Industries of Florida supported the bill. But the bill faces opposition from the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Stormwater Association, Audubon of Florida and Sierra Club Florida.
Sixteen local governments out of more than 400 in Florida have adopted stricter regulations than the state model fertilizer ordinance, said Stephen James, representing the Florida Association of Counties. "It's not like local governments are chomping at the bit to adopt these more stringent ordinances," James said. "The bill seems like it's trying to kill a fly with a sledgehammer." The committee voted 10-3 to approve the bill.
Regarding HB 421, state law since 1984 exempted agriculture from permitting by water management districts for "normal and necessary" agriculture and forestry operations, according to a bill analysis. In 2009, a court ruled in favor of the St. Johns River Water Management District in a case involving A. Duda and Sons Inc., one of the state's largest farming operations. The court said law changes had virtually eliminated the agricultural exemption as it relates to altering wetlands.
Rep. Leonard Bembry, D-Greenville, introduced HB 421, which would specify the exemption in state law dating back to 1984 for activities that divert water flow or affect wetlands. Supporters include the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. A St. Johns Water River Water Management District representative said the agency is working with Bembry on its concerns about the bill.
Audubon of Florida Executive Director Eric Draper warned the committee that the bill would remove the districts' important environmental permitting responsibilities for draining agricultural land. "Slow this one down for a minute and take another look at it and make sure you heard the water management districts," Draper told the committee. Frank Matthews, an attorney representing Hay LLC, an arm of Consolidated Tomoka Land Co., said the bill is "simply a do-no-harm bill to say, 'Let agriculture continue in this state as it has for 27 years pursuant to this exemption.'"The committee voted 12-1 to approve the bill.
Source: LobbyTolls
A House committee on Thursday approved three of the most controversial environmental bills to arise prior to the start of the 2011 session.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee approved HB 13 dealing with septic tanks, HB 457 dealing with local fertilizer regulations and HB 421, involving agricultural exemptions from water management district permits.HB 13 by Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, would repeal 2010's requirement that septic tanks be inspected every five years. The Legislature voted in November to delay implementation from Jan. 1 to July 1 in response to complaints from affected homeowners. "At a time we are trying to reduce government and make it more in favor of our citizens, this is an exciting bill," Coley told members of the subcommittee.
Representatives of the Small County Coalition of Florida and Hillsborough County said they supported the bill. But a Sierra Club Florida representative said the inspections are needed to protect water quality and public health. The Florida Department of Health estimates 10 percent of the state's estimated 2.7 million septic tanks are failing, according to a bill analysis.
The Florida Onsite Wastewater Association, Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Home Builders Association and Florida Realtors are working on alternative bill language to establish criteria for allowing local governments to have their own inspection programs. HB 13 was approved 12-1.
A similar bill in the Senate, SB 168, was approved by the Senate Health Regulation Committee by an 8-4 vote after some senators raised concerns about doing away with the inspection requirement.
HB 457 would prohibit local governments from regulating fertilizer use unless they use a state model ordinance. A similar bill was filed last year in response to Pinellas County banning the sale of lawn fertilizer during the summer rainy season.
Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola and sponsor of HB 457, said allowing local governments to adopt their own regulations would create a "patchwork" that is difficult for businesses. The Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association and Associated Industries of Florida supported the bill. But the bill faces opposition from the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Stormwater Association, Audubon of Florida and Sierra Club Florida.
Sixteen local governments out of more than 400 in Florida have adopted stricter regulations than the state model fertilizer ordinance, said Stephen James, representing the Florida Association of Counties. "It's not like local governments are chomping at the bit to adopt these more stringent ordinances," James said. "The bill seems like it's trying to kill a fly with a sledgehammer." The committee voted 10-3 to approve the bill.
Regarding HB 421, state law since 1984 exempted agriculture from permitting by water management districts for "normal and necessary" agriculture and forestry operations, according to a bill analysis. In 2009, a court ruled in favor of the St. Johns River Water Management District in a case involving A. Duda and Sons Inc., one of the state's largest farming operations. The court said law changes had virtually eliminated the agricultural exemption as it relates to altering wetlands.
Rep. Leonard Bembry, D-Greenville, introduced HB 421, which would specify the exemption in state law dating back to 1984 for activities that divert water flow or affect wetlands. Supporters include the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. A St. Johns Water River Water Management District representative said the agency is working with Bembry on its concerns about the bill.
Audubon of Florida Executive Director Eric Draper warned the committee that the bill would remove the districts' important environmental permitting responsibilities for draining agricultural land. "Slow this one down for a minute and take another look at it and make sure you heard the water management districts," Draper told the committee. Frank Matthews, an attorney representing Hay LLC, an arm of Consolidated Tomoka Land Co., said the bill is "simply a do-no-harm bill to say, 'Let agriculture continue in this state as it has for 27 years pursuant to this exemption.'"The committee voted 12-1 to approve the bill.
Source: LobbyTolls
Friday, February 25, 2011
Census Lake Worth
Comment Up
There has been much to say about the Lake Worth Census--why aren't the facts out yet? What's going on? People have actually inferred that those involved did something wrong. I had a Commissioner ask me about the delay. The census takers didn't do anything wrong but did everything right and worked their butts off to boot.
Census data for Florida will be out by April 1, 2011.
There has been much to say about the Lake Worth Census--why aren't the facts out yet? What's going on? People have actually inferred that those involved did something wrong. I had a Commissioner ask me about the delay. The census takers didn't do anything wrong but did everything right and worked their butts off to boot.
Census data for Florida will be out by April 1, 2011.
Political Hackery of Federal Law?
Attorney General Eric Holder, the very same one who after suing Arizona for its Bill 1070, announced it would not prosecute sanctuary cities that flout federal immigration laws. Lake Worth is off the hook.
Read his letter on the Defense of Marriage Act.
Read his letter on the Defense of Marriage Act.
Lois Frankel Takes one Last Dive
Her last official, "crazy" act--You have to give it to her, she is one gutsy dame.
The Human Car
I just put $15 worth of gas in my car on Wednesday that came to 4.71 gallons...just enough to get me to City Hall and back for one month. Commissioner McVoy called me the other evening. He was riding his bicycle to City Hall, a part of the solution. Will I be joining the ranks of bike riders? Not having been on a bike for a million years, I would rather doubt it. Is this what's next?
Like Father, Like Son - The Murrys
Comment Up
Kent Murry, is the son of Ken Murry, one of the developers of LakeSide Point Gardens in Lake Worth, Florida, a community that was developed in 1965-66. Later his dad went on to build Murry Hills. He was a young kid of privilege back in those days. His dad was good looking, an entrepreneur and built a good product. I say this because we have withstood every major hurricane in the past 46 years and this community is solid.
His father got into financial problems. The story goes that many Murry Hills residents who had paid Ken Murry couldn't get clear title to their condos; Murry had failed to pay his sub-contractors. He was forced to clear the titles and make them whole. Finances drove him to "easy money." He become a drug dealer and his kid followed suit...like father, like son. If we can't rip people off from having a roof over their heads, we will just rip them off with a substance that plays with their heads.
In the late 1970s, Kent, the son, who it was said packed an assault weapon, was dealing in marijuana. A lot of people were smoking it--it was the "cool" thing at that time. The Hippy generation had already arrived the decade before. All the seeds had been planted by the "times" and his father's influence. He was arrested at Lantana Airport by vice agents on smuggling charges. He was later arrested again for dropping 4,500 lbs of marijuana.
His Dad was involved in a conspiracy charge to commit murder of “Goat” Roper, an employee of his in the drug trafficking trade and who was shot to death right before the trial began. Goat was about to testify against him for drug dealing. It was said that "Goat" was a redneck Cocaine Cowboy who knew where his bread was buttered if he didn't want to go to prison along with his boss. He was going to "snitch."
Through the decades, Kent, the son, has been in and out of prison and eventually got into the “pain pushing" drug business. Usually people grow up, but not Kent. Now instead of a young 23 year old involved in drugs, he is a senior citizen involved in a different type of drug--prescription. Perhaps he thought there was a ring of legitimacy to it as all of us Seniors feel pain from time to time. After all, he was dealing with doctors. He was back in the news yesterday regarding pain clinics. Drug agents charged him with doctor shopping and trafficking in prescription painkillers, saying he "duped prescribers in doctor visits dating to 2007."
Back in February 2010, the Lake Worth Commission voted to put a moratorium on pain clinics. It came back to the Commission on August 17, 2010 and on a 5/0 vote, it was decided to regulate pain clinics and extend the moratorium for another 180 days. The moratorium is now up and it is time to pass a Resolution banning them altogether.
Read about it HERE.
Kent Murry, is the son of Ken Murry, one of the developers of LakeSide Point Gardens in Lake Worth, Florida, a community that was developed in 1965-66. Later his dad went on to build Murry Hills. He was a young kid of privilege back in those days. His dad was good looking, an entrepreneur and built a good product. I say this because we have withstood every major hurricane in the past 46 years and this community is solid.
His father got into financial problems. The story goes that many Murry Hills residents who had paid Ken Murry couldn't get clear title to their condos; Murry had failed to pay his sub-contractors. He was forced to clear the titles and make them whole. Finances drove him to "easy money." He become a drug dealer and his kid followed suit...like father, like son. If we can't rip people off from having a roof over their heads, we will just rip them off with a substance that plays with their heads.
In the late 1970s, Kent, the son, who it was said packed an assault weapon, was dealing in marijuana. A lot of people were smoking it--it was the "cool" thing at that time. The Hippy generation had already arrived the decade before. All the seeds had been planted by the "times" and his father's influence. He was arrested at Lantana Airport by vice agents on smuggling charges. He was later arrested again for dropping 4,500 lbs of marijuana.
His Dad was involved in a conspiracy charge to commit murder of “Goat” Roper, an employee of his in the drug trafficking trade and who was shot to death right before the trial began. Goat was about to testify against him for drug dealing. It was said that "Goat" was a redneck Cocaine Cowboy who knew where his bread was buttered if he didn't want to go to prison along with his boss. He was going to "snitch."
Through the decades, Kent, the son, has been in and out of prison and eventually got into the “pain pushing" drug business. Usually people grow up, but not Kent. Now instead of a young 23 year old involved in drugs, he is a senior citizen involved in a different type of drug--prescription. Perhaps he thought there was a ring of legitimacy to it as all of us Seniors feel pain from time to time. After all, he was dealing with doctors. He was back in the news yesterday regarding pain clinics. Drug agents charged him with doctor shopping and trafficking in prescription painkillers, saying he "duped prescribers in doctor visits dating to 2007."
Back in February 2010, the Lake Worth Commission voted to put a moratorium on pain clinics. It came back to the Commission on August 17, 2010 and on a 5/0 vote, it was decided to regulate pain clinics and extend the moratorium for another 180 days. The moratorium is now up and it is time to pass a Resolution banning them altogether.
Read about it HERE.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Gas prices over the past decade
Gas prices over the past decade
| YR | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 1.509 | 1.463 | 1.394 | 1.367 | 1.343 | 1.322 | 1.257 | 1.238 | 1.285 | 1.227 | 1.193 | 1.117 | |
| 02 | 1.123 | 1.112 | 1.119 | 1.158 | 1.163 | 1.136 | 1.127 | 1.135 | 1.174 | 1.203 | 1.221 | 1.267 | |
| 03 | 1.396 | 1.641 | 1.766 | 1.491 | 1.372 | 1.305 | 1.279 | 1.283 | 1.284 | 1.297 | 1.331 | 1.360 | |
| 04 | 1.508 | 1.558 | 1.541 | 1.519 | 1.533 | 1.537 | 1.536 | 1.607 | 1.671 | 1.882 | 1.958 | 1.895 | |
| 05 | 1.859 | 1.962 | 2.078 | 2.120 | 2.036 | 2.059 | 2.173 | 2.276 | 2.593 | 2.626 | 2.458 | 2.407 | |
| 06 | 2.418 | 2.423 | 2.429 | 2.526 | 2.572 | 2.566 | 2.597 | 2.649 | 2.531 | 2.396 | 2.375 | 2.460 | |
| 07 | 2.368 | 2.425 | 2.505 | 2.555 | 2.567 | 2.561 | 2.621 | 2.634 | 2.706 | 2.808 | 3.169 | 3.247 | |
| 08 | 3.337 | 3.338 | 3.699 | 3.875 | 4.185 | 4.589 | 4.649 | 4.217 | 3.952 | 3.544 | 3.003 | 2.637 | |
| 09 | 2.509 | 2.451 | 2.319 | 2.354 | 2.344 | 2.449 | 2.452 | 2.559 | 2.553 | 2.603 | 2.790 | 2.788 | |
| 10 | 2.967 | 2.890 | 2.908 | 2.981 | 2.913 | 2.828 | 2.800 | 2.814 | 2.830 | 2.936 | 3.044 | 3.193 | |
| 11 | 3.415 |
Rick Scott's Pension Reform Plans getting picked apart by Democrats
Governor Rick Scott is trying to revamp Union Pensions and wants pension reform now. He has a Plan that will reduce costs by $1.3 billion by closing the Defined Pension Plan and have workers contribute 5% of their salary towards a 401(k) type of Plan.
Former Mayor of Lake Worth and now a member of our State Legislature, Jeff Clemens said, "If we're taking five percent out of people's salary that they don't have today, that's a tax."
This is typical Clemens.
Read more about it at The Orlando Sentinel.
Former Mayor of Lake Worth and now a member of our State Legislature, Jeff Clemens said, "If we're taking five percent out of people's salary that they don't have today, that's a tax."
This is typical Clemens.
Read more about it at The Orlando Sentinel.
Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce and its non-political stand
Comment Up
The local Chamber of Commerce is always getting into the political act. It says "it is not political," words right out of the mouth of its Director, Beth Johnston. Now it is encouraging residents as well as out of towners to come to the meeting on March 1 and speak out for keeping the politically appointed CRA as an independent body.
Here is Ms. (non-political) Johnston's message:
She then goes on to list the CRA's "accomplishments."
The local Chamber of Commerce is always getting into the political act. It says "it is not political," words right out of the mouth of its Director, Beth Johnston. Now it is encouraging residents as well as out of towners to come to the meeting on March 1 and speak out for keeping the politically appointed CRA as an independent body.
Here is Ms. (non-political) Johnston's message:
Dear Chamber Members,
In the past week, the Chamber has received many requests for information concerning the function of the Lake Worth CRA. A CRA works on eliminating blight, creating a sustainable downtown and encourages economic growth.
The Chamber supports the work of the Lake Worth CRA, and below, we have listed recent accomplishments. At the March 1st City Commission meeting, there will be a discussion about the dissolution of the independent CRA Board. The Chamber encourages you, as business people in Lake Worth and the surrounding area, to come to the City Commission meeting and support retaining the CRA board in its current state. Successful cities have a Chamber, Independent CRA Board and City Government that work cohesively toward progress.
She then goes on to list the CRA's "accomplishments."
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