Comment Up
Someone commented on this blog on townhouses: Where are all the empty townhouses you speak of? Many are selling for affordable prices to new younger residents that are paying taxes and utilities, and now assessments. Also spending their money downtown. What's wrong with that? Even if they're rented?
It's true. They are selling for songs right now as they have been empty for years and many in foreclosure. Take a closer look at our townhouse housing stock:
Existing Townhouses
Parrot Cove - 35 - only 14 have homestead $248,00 built, now
$114,000.
Coco Walk - 13 - no homestead $560,000 built, now $93,000 -
103,000.
Cloisters - 36 - no homestead, $456,000 built, now $118,000.
Hammon Park - 13 - no homestead $415,000 built, now $67,000. Look what they did over there? They took away the amenities and sold the land to Publix.
Courtyards - 56 - only 11 have homestead $368,000 built, now
$103,000.
Tuscan Village - 15 - no homestead, $865,000 built, now $114,000.
Pickford Place - 8 - 4 have homestead, $360,000 built, now $82,000
Townhouses have made no economical sense in Lake Worth or anywhere else during this down economy. Is this what you want to happen on Lake and Lucerne just so that the CRA can spend its grant money on time? So you really want to take that chance of another unsuccessful townhouse project sitting empty for a developer who can't even tell you what the sales prices are? The Planning & Zoning Board needs to do its job here. The CRA, on the other hand, should present a sensible project, one that artists can afford and one in which people will want to live.
I am still troubled that the City will take out the shuffleboard courts. Recreation is a main attraction for people who want to settle here. Amenities are always an attraction for anyone wanting to buy a condo or townhouse type of dwelling. Those proposed on Lake and Lucerne will have zero amenities.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Letter to the Lake Worth Candidates
September 2011
Dear Mayor, Commission and Candidates for election:
First of all I want to wish you all the very best in your election. Normally I would work behind the scenes for my candidate and donate money and time to a campaign(s) of my choice but in this instance I feel that you have cost me:
In view of these decisions made by you, as well as interfering with the State of Arizona who is trying to enforce Federal law when it comes to illegals, your decisions have been detrimental to the welfare of your constituency causing undue hardship on the retired and the working class in this City. You have taken the easy way out by a snap of your fingers by agreeing with Staff. Therefore, I can not contribute to your campaign.
Because you have alienated many of your past supporters by ignoring their pleas and not responding to calls or e-mails except at election time, I will not support you. You have cast aside this entire section of voters on Lake Osborne Drive. Because you have not done your homework and only are mesmerized by Staff, I will not support you.
Good luck to one and all and God bless the residents of Lake Worth.
Regards,
Lynn Anderson
a disillusioned former supporter
Dear Mayor, Commission and Candidates for election:
First of all I want to wish you all the very best in your election. Normally I would work behind the scenes for my candidate and donate money and time to a campaign(s) of my choice but in this instance I feel that you have cost me:
- $60 in a fire assessment to pay for the Union retirement pensions that will go up every year
- $30 possibly in a street light assessment
- You have opened the door to more and more assessments to circumvent the 10 mil cap
- $$$$$$$$$$ when the city manager brought up the possibility of paying for $2 million in turtle lighting in a special assessment
- 13% more in sewer rates per month
- 5.25% more in water per month
- and all the other fees throughout the City that have gone up as well and the future creation of special assessments to pay for misfeasance, malfeasance or just plain lousy government
In view of these decisions made by you, as well as interfering with the State of Arizona who is trying to enforce Federal law when it comes to illegals, your decisions have been detrimental to the welfare of your constituency causing undue hardship on the retired and the working class in this City. You have taken the easy way out by a snap of your fingers by agreeing with Staff. Therefore, I can not contribute to your campaign.
Because you have alienated many of your past supporters by ignoring their pleas and not responding to calls or e-mails except at election time, I will not support you. You have cast aside this entire section of voters on Lake Osborne Drive. Because you have not done your homework and only are mesmerized by Staff, I will not support you.
Good luck to one and all and God bless the residents of Lake Worth.
Regards,
Lynn Anderson
a disillusioned former supporter
Last night's meeting
Comment Up
In a nutshell-
It began with Public Participation on Non-Agendaed items with many presidents of the neighborhood associations giving gifts of t-shirts, certificates and kudos to Joe Kroll who is leaving Lake Worth after four years to pursue greater opportunities. The crowd wore Say It Ain't So Joe t-shirts to show their appreciation. The President of the Neighborhood Council spoke and asked the City to waive its fees of $75 an hour at the Lake Worth Golf Course so that they could throw a party for Joe on October 20 and have one staff member work the bar.
Now Joe is a nice guy and all but he RESIGNED from Lake Worth. It's not like he is leaving after 27 years like Charles Stevens who was given a clock. It's not like Valerie Hurley who was forced out after 24 years or so and got nothing. It was done, all at the right time, where this Commission could not say "no" without looking like the bad guy. It was another political move by the Neighborhood Council that took advantage of the situation. Who ever heard of a boss giving an employee a party who has essentially told the boss to "stick it." Timing is everything in Lake Worth. And who said that the neighborhood associations aren't political?
The Consent Agenda was passed with no discussion--probably because public participation took about an hour to get over Joe Kroll. Sure hope everyone on the dais knew what spending all that money was all about--quicklime and sodium hypochlorite. Another Study was approved for nearly $30,000. Since assumptions are made each year in determining expenses on annual water and wastewater revenue in order to set the rate adjustments, the CM recommended performing an annual rate sufficiency analysis to update these adjustments for FY- 2012 and create an overlay district for water rates to serve the Beach-Casino property. The City wants to know how to stick it to you once again. This deserved discussion.
In the meantime, after getting the party thing out of the way, the commission finally got into the nitty gritty--spending your cash on a fire assessment. The curve ball was that the discussion was only for the 2,300 properties or so that were excluded from the original notice. The City assured us that Government Services Group that screwed up did pay for all the mailings and reduced their fee for this "inconvenience" never stating how much it all cost.
The City, cleverly so, made this Resolution 42B-2011 instead of starting the debate all over again for all of the people and businesses that this unfair tax would affect. The Commission still does NOT get it. Rachel Waterman's dilemma was the fact that they had already passed the tax for the majority of the citizens and if this resolution failed, it "would not be fair" to those who will have to pay it. She also gave a strange analogy that the delay of the CIP expenditures to cover this cost was like "selling your car to buy groceries." The city attorney reminded her that if it fails, (McVoy was absent and it left only 4 on the dais. On a 2/2 vote, the motion dies) the motion is brought back at the next meeting. Politically it worked out for Waterman who then voted "nay." It will come back next week.
Commission salaries brought forth the wrath of the public even though it was only to vote on keeping their salaries the same as they presently receive--$14,400 for a commissioner and $15,400 for the mayor.
There are a lot of people fed up. The Mayor showed her temper once again by ejecting Mark Parrilla from the Chamber for whispering to me. The last time she ejected someone it was my cousin. Now perhaps it is rude to talk while in the Chamber but jimminey, we can't all sit there like robots for hours on end. I made a big mistake last night because I should have walked out along with Mark and for that I apologize. One of the residents next to me was videoing-- so much of this will be uploaded to You-Tube and you will see many of the highlights in action.
For some reason the city manager took it upon herself to change the hours of downtown parking from 4 hours on the street to 2 hours even going to far as to have information printed, signs changed and tires marked. This never came before the commission. There was never any public input. The businesses were never approached for an opinion. Other than Maxwell, no one else on the dais saw or expressed an opinion as to how outrageous this all was. If one of you had an employee who took it upon himself to 1) change policy and 2) spend your money without your knowledge, do you think he would just get a little pat on the wrist? Even the pat did not happen from this Commission.
The big complaint was that some stores parked all day in front of their establishment. So? If any business owner is that stupid, so be it. For the most part, everyone wanted the 4 hour rule enforced, something we have not done in the past. As I stated last night, we have so many humongous problems within our city, why mess up something that has worked? Why go to this extreme for the possible parking overtime revenue? Angering residents is part of the culture at City Hall.
Today I will be in a mitigation at City Hall for probably most of the day regarding Sunset, thus the rush to get this up. Yes, after 6 years, Sunset has not yet set. There are forces out there that still want to screw up this lovely single family neighborhood. There is a belief that if you own a property you should be allowed to build anything you please on it even if it is against our zoning and land-use codes.
In a nutshell-It began with Public Participation on Non-Agendaed items with many presidents of the neighborhood associations giving gifts of t-shirts, certificates and kudos to Joe Kroll who is leaving Lake Worth after four years to pursue greater opportunities. The crowd wore Say It Ain't So Joe t-shirts to show their appreciation. The President of the Neighborhood Council spoke and asked the City to waive its fees of $75 an hour at the Lake Worth Golf Course so that they could throw a party for Joe on October 20 and have one staff member work the bar.
Now Joe is a nice guy and all but he RESIGNED from Lake Worth. It's not like he is leaving after 27 years like Charles Stevens who was given a clock. It's not like Valerie Hurley who was forced out after 24 years or so and got nothing. It was done, all at the right time, where this Commission could not say "no" without looking like the bad guy. It was another political move by the Neighborhood Council that took advantage of the situation. Who ever heard of a boss giving an employee a party who has essentially told the boss to "stick it." Timing is everything in Lake Worth. And who said that the neighborhood associations aren't political?
The Consent Agenda was passed with no discussion--probably because public participation took about an hour to get over Joe Kroll. Sure hope everyone on the dais knew what spending all that money was all about--quicklime and sodium hypochlorite. Another Study was approved for nearly $30,000. Since assumptions are made each year in determining expenses on annual water and wastewater revenue in order to set the rate adjustments, the CM recommended performing an annual rate sufficiency analysis to update these adjustments for FY- 2012 and create an overlay district for water rates to serve the Beach-Casino property. The City wants to know how to stick it to you once again. This deserved discussion.
In the meantime, after getting the party thing out of the way, the commission finally got into the nitty gritty--spending your cash on a fire assessment. The curve ball was that the discussion was only for the 2,300 properties or so that were excluded from the original notice. The City assured us that Government Services Group that screwed up did pay for all the mailings and reduced their fee for this "inconvenience" never stating how much it all cost.
The City, cleverly so, made this Resolution 42B-2011 instead of starting the debate all over again for all of the people and businesses that this unfair tax would affect. The Commission still does NOT get it. Rachel Waterman's dilemma was the fact that they had already passed the tax for the majority of the citizens and if this resolution failed, it "would not be fair" to those who will have to pay it. She also gave a strange analogy that the delay of the CIP expenditures to cover this cost was like "selling your car to buy groceries." The city attorney reminded her that if it fails, (McVoy was absent and it left only 4 on the dais. On a 2/2 vote, the motion dies) the motion is brought back at the next meeting. Politically it worked out for Waterman who then voted "nay." It will come back next week.
Commission salaries brought forth the wrath of the public even though it was only to vote on keeping their salaries the same as they presently receive--$14,400 for a commissioner and $15,400 for the mayor.
There are a lot of people fed up. The Mayor showed her temper once again by ejecting Mark Parrilla from the Chamber for whispering to me. The last time she ejected someone it was my cousin. Now perhaps it is rude to talk while in the Chamber but jimminey, we can't all sit there like robots for hours on end. I made a big mistake last night because I should have walked out along with Mark and for that I apologize. One of the residents next to me was videoing-- so much of this will be uploaded to You-Tube and you will see many of the highlights in action.
For some reason the city manager took it upon herself to change the hours of downtown parking from 4 hours on the street to 2 hours even going to far as to have information printed, signs changed and tires marked. This never came before the commission. There was never any public input. The businesses were never approached for an opinion. Other than Maxwell, no one else on the dais saw or expressed an opinion as to how outrageous this all was. If one of you had an employee who took it upon himself to 1) change policy and 2) spend your money without your knowledge, do you think he would just get a little pat on the wrist? Even the pat did not happen from this Commission.
The big complaint was that some stores parked all day in front of their establishment. So? If any business owner is that stupid, so be it. For the most part, everyone wanted the 4 hour rule enforced, something we have not done in the past. As I stated last night, we have so many humongous problems within our city, why mess up something that has worked? Why go to this extreme for the possible parking overtime revenue? Angering residents is part of the culture at City Hall.
Today I will be in a mitigation at City Hall for probably most of the day regarding Sunset, thus the rush to get this up. Yes, after 6 years, Sunset has not yet set. There are forces out there that still want to screw up this lovely single family neighborhood. There is a belief that if you own a property you should be allowed to build anything you please on it even if it is against our zoning and land-use codes.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Say NO to Fire Assessment
Comment Up
You never know what you get until you get it. And boy do we ever have it. Elected officials who do not listen and do not learn.
Ron Exline wanted to speak last week after the Finance Advisory Board (non presentation) and he was denied. Citizens aren't allowed to speak on presentations. As there was no public commentary on non-agendaed items, he had an important message and told the commission that he had information for them. Do you think that even one elected official bothered to call him to this day to find out what he had to say? Don't you think that this would be just intellectual curiosity at least? To turn down a former mayor and commissioner and former Chair of the Finance Advisory Board and someone who campaigned for all of them is just plain insulting and stupid. The City Commission does not want to hear from its citizens and they treat the majority of us like morons.
In spite of this, we all instinctively know what "fair" is and what it is not. You can't sit on the dais and reinvent the meaning of the word. Fair connotes impartiality and honesty. The word fair, in the case of the City, means that we all pay the same on a concoction to grab more money going around property taxes. They are trying to sell us the idea that this tax is marked by impartiality (we all pay the same). Is the City being honest?. This is their easy way out. They are not assessing honestly by taxing everyone the same fee. On top of that, this is not for a fire service but a pension. Better yet, assessing at all is the most dishonest part of their argument.
The City Manager says that in her mind, everyone paying the same fee for Fire pensions is fair. This is a totally different argument than that of garbage collection. Everyone here is paying for a service when it comes to garbage. But this assessment for Solid Waste was just put on our non-advalorem portion of our bill in 2009, the year that the city manager arrived to Lake Worth. It had always been in the budget and paid by property taxes. Money and process started to shift around back then. It was a visionary thing starting in 2009. We needed a strong city manager to turn it all around. We burned through money.
What is really fair is eliminating this fire tax in its entirety. We have already learned that this commission is not into "fair." They are following the City Manager while she leads them into hot burning coals.
The Commission has until tonight to see the light. I'm not going to get into all the whys again of this unfair tax. Simply, if you agree with me, and the commission votes this tax in, then change is needed at City Hall. We all understand what the word "NO" means. After tonight it is time to send that loud and clear message on November 8 and keep it alive well into next year's election.
You never know what you get until you get it. And boy do we ever have it. Elected officials who do not listen and do not learn.
Ron Exline wanted to speak last week after the Finance Advisory Board (non presentation) and he was denied. Citizens aren't allowed to speak on presentations. As there was no public commentary on non-agendaed items, he had an important message and told the commission that he had information for them. Do you think that even one elected official bothered to call him to this day to find out what he had to say? Don't you think that this would be just intellectual curiosity at least? To turn down a former mayor and commissioner and former Chair of the Finance Advisory Board and someone who campaigned for all of them is just plain insulting and stupid. The City Commission does not want to hear from its citizens and they treat the majority of us like morons.
In spite of this, we all instinctively know what "fair" is and what it is not. You can't sit on the dais and reinvent the meaning of the word. Fair connotes impartiality and honesty. The word fair, in the case of the City, means that we all pay the same on a concoction to grab more money going around property taxes. They are trying to sell us the idea that this tax is marked by impartiality (we all pay the same). Is the City being honest?. This is their easy way out. They are not assessing honestly by taxing everyone the same fee. On top of that, this is not for a fire service but a pension. Better yet, assessing at all is the most dishonest part of their argument.
The City Manager says that in her mind, everyone paying the same fee for Fire pensions is fair. This is a totally different argument than that of garbage collection. Everyone here is paying for a service when it comes to garbage. But this assessment for Solid Waste was just put on our non-advalorem portion of our bill in 2009, the year that the city manager arrived to Lake Worth. It had always been in the budget and paid by property taxes. Money and process started to shift around back then. It was a visionary thing starting in 2009. We needed a strong city manager to turn it all around. We burned through money.
What is really fair is eliminating this fire tax in its entirety. We have already learned that this commission is not into "fair." They are following the City Manager while she leads them into hot burning coals.
The Commission has until tonight to see the light. I'm not going to get into all the whys again of this unfair tax. Simply, if you agree with me, and the commission votes this tax in, then change is needed at City Hall. We all understand what the word "NO" means. After tonight it is time to send that loud and clear message on November 8 and keep it alive well into next year's election.
Dustin, the Dirty
Comment Up
I always like to sleep on a thought especially when it has me riled up. I attended the candidate forum last night with an open mind. I was looking forward to meeting the illusive Dustin Zacks.
Last night he was practicing his go to the jugular technique. He was in full swing. Zacks came across as a bully and a punk. He should have no axe to grind with Waterman. She wasn't even there the night he got turned down for the CRB. IMO, he is a plant for the "other" side.
Getting into height limits in Lake Worth just proves to me that someone hired him to do the dirty. He insulted the majority in this City when he said, "This is a small town mindset, keeping the city two stories." Where did he come from? Who in the heck is he?
He is a young attorney who specializes in people losing their homes to foreclosures. He therefore "helps" people. He had zero empathy with Waterman who went through a foreclosure herself and who handled his gross insults very well. Who gave Dusty the dirty download? If this is how he treats people who he normally would help, then he is as two-faced as any attorney hired to win the game.
Sorry Zacks. I call it as I see it. I would just like to know who hired you. Usually it takes ten attorneys to screw in a light bulb. It only took one last night to screw a mother and our present Mayor. Not pretty. Not cool. And frankly I am very ticked off about it.
Politics has become extremely ugly in Lake Worth. Every year I learn something more. There is always an incident, a mailer or something that will give someone the top honors for slime. Zacks has won the Slime Ball Award hands down.
I always like to sleep on a thought especially when it has me riled up. I attended the candidate forum last night with an open mind. I was looking forward to meeting the illusive Dustin Zacks.Last night he was practicing his go to the jugular technique. He was in full swing. Zacks came across as a bully and a punk. He should have no axe to grind with Waterman. She wasn't even there the night he got turned down for the CRB. IMO, he is a plant for the "other" side.
Getting into height limits in Lake Worth just proves to me that someone hired him to do the dirty. He insulted the majority in this City when he said, "This is a small town mindset, keeping the city two stories." Where did he come from? Who in the heck is he?
He is a young attorney who specializes in people losing their homes to foreclosures. He therefore "helps" people. He had zero empathy with Waterman who went through a foreclosure herself and who handled his gross insults very well. Who gave Dusty the dirty download? If this is how he treats people who he normally would help, then he is as two-faced as any attorney hired to win the game.
Sorry Zacks. I call it as I see it. I would just like to know who hired you. Usually it takes ten attorneys to screw in a light bulb. It only took one last night to screw a mother and our present Mayor. Not pretty. Not cool. And frankly I am very ticked off about it.
Politics has become extremely ugly in Lake Worth. Every year I learn something more. There is always an incident, a mailer or something that will give someone the top honors for slime. Zacks has won the Slime Ball Award hands down.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Lake Worth Mayoral Candidates
Comment Up
Someone there for the ḥuṣpâ
"I'm the only one running who owns a house."
"I voted for it before I voted against it."
"I speak 3 languages."
"I am Jewish with more ḥuṣpâ than you."
"I don't care if you vote for me or not!"
"I speak only one language; I keep it real."
"I am Jewish with ḥuṣpâ."
"Those applying for city boards should have a criminal background check."
I have not featured photos of Andy or Jo-Ann as I did not capture a good photo of Commissioner Golden. However, the best quote of the evening was from Commissioner District 3 candidate,
Andy Amoroso when he said,
The worse revelation of the evening was Dustin Zacks' and his motivation to run--to do a hatchet job on Rachel Waterman. I want to know who put him up to it. What or who is behind this? There is no other reason to do this other than too much ḥuṣpâ. I was disappointed as I was hoping that he was bringing something to the table. He did not. That was not his intention, only to bring Waterman down.
Someone there for the ḥuṣpâ
"I'm the only one running who owns a house."
"I voted for it before I voted against it.""I speak 3 languages."
"I am Jewish with more ḥuṣpâ than you."
"I don't care if you vote for me or not!""I speak only one language; I keep it real."
"I am Jewish with ḥuṣpâ."
"Those applying for city boards should have a criminal background check."
I have not featured photos of Andy or Jo-Ann as I did not capture a good photo of Commissioner Golden. However, the best quote of the evening was from Commissioner District 3 candidate,
Andy Amoroso when he said,
"We take better care of our animals than we do our elderly."
The worse revelation of the evening was Dustin Zacks' and his motivation to run--to do a hatchet job on Rachel Waterman. I want to know who put him up to it. What or who is behind this? There is no other reason to do this other than too much ḥuṣpâ. I was disappointed as I was hoping that he was bringing something to the table. He did not. That was not his intention, only to bring Waterman down.
City Manager Moves to Change downtown parking hours
Comment Up
Once again, the city manager has implemented policy that was not voted upon by the Commission--changing downtown parking hours from 4 to 2. You can't even go downtown, have dinner, stroll the avenue and attend Evening on the Avenues within 2 hours. Why do we continue to want to fix something that IS NOT BROKEN? No public input. No vote. The most important question is, how does the city manager take it upon herself to make these changes? Tell me I missed something here.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION:
"Regulating and enforcing downtown parking is never an effortless task. In the reparation of the FY 2012 Budget, there was City Commission consensus not to charge for on-street parking but rather adopt a shorter two hour parking limit which would generate additional short term parking and discourage people from parking their vehicles on the street for an extended length of time. All downtown merchants suffer when people doing business on Lake Avenue and Lucerne Ave, or employees working in the downtown, park their vehicles in front of a business all day because of the City is not enforcing parking restrictions.
Four hour parking limits in a downtown area promotes day long on-street parking which discourages traffic turnover and contributes to the decline of new businesses in the downtown area. However, it must also be conceded that the City has not conducted a formal independent parking study of the total parking needs of the downtown area for many years. Such a study would document existing parking conditions, identify parking deficiencies, seek input from downtown merchants and shoppers and evaluate different alternatives for improving parking. The City did not budget any funds for this study nor will every resident be excited about using tax payer money for yet 'another worthless study'."
Once again, Stanton has made a decision based on what she believes, not what the rest of us want. This is on tomorrow night's agenda under New Business D. The City Manager did not get her way with paid parking stations, thus we get this. Some of the signs have already been changed out to 2 hours and someone is marking tires, getting in practice I was told.
Once again, the city manager has implemented policy that was not voted upon by the Commission--changing downtown parking hours from 4 to 2. You can't even go downtown, have dinner, stroll the avenue and attend Evening on the Avenues within 2 hours. Why do we continue to want to fix something that IS NOT BROKEN? No public input. No vote. The most important question is, how does the city manager take it upon herself to make these changes? Tell me I missed something here.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION:
"Regulating and enforcing downtown parking is never an effortless task. In the reparation of the FY 2012 Budget, there was City Commission consensus not to charge for on-street parking but rather adopt a shorter two hour parking limit which would generate additional short term parking and discourage people from parking their vehicles on the street for an extended length of time. All downtown merchants suffer when people doing business on Lake Avenue and Lucerne Ave, or employees working in the downtown, park their vehicles in front of a business all day because of the City is not enforcing parking restrictions.
Four hour parking limits in a downtown area promotes day long on-street parking which discourages traffic turnover and contributes to the decline of new businesses in the downtown area. However, it must also be conceded that the City has not conducted a formal independent parking study of the total parking needs of the downtown area for many years. Such a study would document existing parking conditions, identify parking deficiencies, seek input from downtown merchants and shoppers and evaluate different alternatives for improving parking. The City did not budget any funds for this study nor will every resident be excited about using tax payer money for yet 'another worthless study'."
Once again, Stanton has made a decision based on what she believes, not what the rest of us want. This is on tomorrow night's agenda under New Business D. The City Manager did not get her way with paid parking stations, thus we get this. Some of the signs have already been changed out to 2 hours and someone is marking tires, getting in practice I was told.
Centennial Celebration Commission
Comment Up
This committee will consist of eleven members with each commissioner and mayor appointing one representative.
So far, the following have been appointed and accepted:
District 1: Retha Lowe
District 2: Dena McCracken
District 3: Helen Green
District 4: John Rinaldi
Mayor: Appointment to be voted upon at the October 4 meeting.
On August 2, 2011, the Commission voted on the following:
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Mulvehill and seconded by Commissioner Golden to approve the creation of this committee; each commission member to appoint one member; appoint a representative from the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Alliance, Neighborhood Association, Lake Worth Marketing and Re-Branding Task Force, a member from a Pioneer family; Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Cultural Council and appoint a liaison to the committee. The vote was 4/0 with McVoy absent.
This committee will consist of eleven members with each commissioner and mayor appointing one representative.
So far, the following have been appointed and accepted:
District 1: Retha Lowe
District 2: Dena McCracken
District 3: Helen Green
District 4: John Rinaldi
Mayor: Appointment to be voted upon at the October 4 meeting.
On August 2, 2011, the Commission voted on the following:
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Mulvehill and seconded by Commissioner Golden to approve the creation of this committee; each commission member to appoint one member; appoint a representative from the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Alliance, Neighborhood Association, Lake Worth Marketing and Re-Branding Task Force, a member from a Pioneer family; Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Cultural Council and appoint a liaison to the committee. The vote was 4/0 with McVoy absent.
City Manager Wants to Grab your Cash
Comment Up
At the end of August I wrote a blog giving you the difference in the amount of money that would be paid by taxpayers if the City of Lake Worth kept the fire pensions on the tax bill and did not special assess, data below. It was a difference in money of $72,000 and change. Just from that little bit of money difference, we can conclude that this has nothing whatsoever to do with the City Manager's excuse that properties of lower value are not paying their fair share thus we must special assess to raise the necessary cash to run our city.
The City Manager has continually told us, even writing a letter to Chief Steve Jerauld on June 23, 2011, complaining that certain homesteaded (homesteads, our right under Florida law) properties within the city of Lake Worth pay little to no taxes. If she had her druthers, she would love to do away with homesteads that have been a thorn in her side. She further stated that the use of the fire MSTU counts toward the City's Constitutional 10 mil property cap and had "adversely impacted the ability to fund other critical public safety needs." That is really bull.
If we were to tax at 1.3 Mils or Special Assess this Pension cost, following is the difference, per the Finance Department, in what the City would collect:
Residential Parcels
1.3 mils: $922,349
$60 per household: $939,300
Difference: ($16,951)
Non-Residential Parcels
1.3 mils: $427,494
price per s.f.: $476,533
Difference: ($49,039)
Mixed Use Parcels
1.3 mils: $33,376
price per s.f.:$39,414
Difference: ( $6,038)
But in this case, the millage was not reduced. The City gets it all. The CM gets the millage; she gets the special assessment; she gets to put a lien on your property.
The City Manager made a moral judgment to tax the poor disproportionately to their income and ability as well as their property value...the city manager's definition of justice. She must hate poor people. She must hate the church. She must hate granny who struggles on social security to survive. She is now taxing not for profits, poor church preachers whose mission is to help the impoverished as well as the poorest of the poor. She says that she can't collect on the schools; they are exempt. Did you know that the School Board owes us over $18,000 in unpaid utility bills and we're not collecting? The Commission agreed with the city manager (they always do) and all for $72,000. This is a Commission, or so I thought, that was concerned about the have-nots in this life. The City Manager, however, has convinced them that property taxes are not a fair way to tax. Since when?
All this is to the City Manager and the sheep who follow is nothing more than GRABBING THE CASH in the amount of $1.45 MILLION DOLLARS in order to go around the 10 mil cap and to open the door to MORE OF THE SAME in special assessments. Look for this fire pension to come back EVERY YEAR larger than ever along with anything else the Commission allows the City to get away with.
This particular tax is anything but a BENEFIT. A special assessment is a real property tax proportionately levied on homeowners and landowners to cover the costs of improvements that will be for the benefit of all upon whom it is imposed. All this special assessment is folks, is one BIG LIE and I still question its legality, no matter what Governmental Services Group says, a company that was hired to find out every way possible to screw the property owners of Lake Worth. I believe that they lied as well. Any dummy knows that fire pensions are not an improvement to our personal property nor are they a benefit.
Tomorrow night at 6pm the Commission will have its final vote on this fire assessment. It is important to attend because if this passes, it will not be the end of the screw job.
Reminder and Re-Cap of the Unjust and Unfair
Special fire assessment which is nothing more than
Special fire assessment which is nothing more than
GRABBING YOUR CASH:
At the end of August I wrote a blog giving you the difference in the amount of money that would be paid by taxpayers if the City of Lake Worth kept the fire pensions on the tax bill and did not special assess, data below. It was a difference in money of $72,000 and change. Just from that little bit of money difference, we can conclude that this has nothing whatsoever to do with the City Manager's excuse that properties of lower value are not paying their fair share thus we must special assess to raise the necessary cash to run our city.
The City Manager has continually told us, even writing a letter to Chief Steve Jerauld on June 23, 2011, complaining that certain homesteaded (homesteads, our right under Florida law) properties within the city of Lake Worth pay little to no taxes. If she had her druthers, she would love to do away with homesteads that have been a thorn in her side. She further stated that the use of the fire MSTU counts toward the City's Constitutional 10 mil property cap and had "adversely impacted the ability to fund other critical public safety needs." That is really bull.
If we were to tax at 1.3 Mils or Special Assess this Pension cost, following is the difference, per the Finance Department, in what the City would collect:
Residential Parcels
1.3 mils: $922,349
$60 per household: $939,300
Difference: ($16,951)
Non-Residential Parcels
1.3 mils: $427,494
price per s.f.: $476,533
Difference: ($49,039)
Mixed Use Parcels
1.3 mils: $33,376
price per s.f.:$39,414
Difference: ( $6,038)
But in this case, the millage was not reduced. The City gets it all. The CM gets the millage; she gets the special assessment; she gets to put a lien on your property.
The City Manager made a moral judgment to tax the poor disproportionately to their income and ability as well as their property value...the city manager's definition of justice. She must hate poor people. She must hate the church. She must hate granny who struggles on social security to survive. She is now taxing not for profits, poor church preachers whose mission is to help the impoverished as well as the poorest of the poor. She says that she can't collect on the schools; they are exempt. Did you know that the School Board owes us over $18,000 in unpaid utility bills and we're not collecting? The Commission agreed with the city manager (they always do) and all for $72,000. This is a Commission, or so I thought, that was concerned about the have-nots in this life. The City Manager, however, has convinced them that property taxes are not a fair way to tax. Since when?
All this is to the City Manager and the sheep who follow is nothing more than GRABBING THE CASH in the amount of $1.45 MILLION DOLLARS in order to go around the 10 mil cap and to open the door to MORE OF THE SAME in special assessments. Look for this fire pension to come back EVERY YEAR larger than ever along with anything else the Commission allows the City to get away with.
This particular tax is anything but a BENEFIT. A special assessment is a real property tax proportionately levied on homeowners and landowners to cover the costs of improvements that will be for the benefit of all upon whom it is imposed. All this special assessment is folks, is one BIG LIE and I still question its legality, no matter what Governmental Services Group says, a company that was hired to find out every way possible to screw the property owners of Lake Worth. I believe that they lied as well. Any dummy knows that fire pensions are not an improvement to our personal property nor are they a benefit.
Tomorrow night at 6pm the Commission will have its final vote on this fire assessment. It is important to attend because if this passes, it will not be the end of the screw job.
First Candidate Forum Tonight
Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association is having the first candidate forum of the season to be held at the Compass Building starting promptly at 7pm tonight. This might be the best hour you have ever spent. Being the first at anything has an advantage. This will be the first time that the voters will see the candidates together, up close and personal.
As Scott Maxwell is not on the ballot (no one opposed him in District 1), it is interesting that he has been invited to speak at the Candidate Forums. He is not a candidate. Since he has been invited, I hope that he will unleash and be very candid but don't put money on it.
Time Schedule
November Sample Ballot
As everyone knows, Lake Worth is the ONLY municipality to hold an election this November. Pray that there is no run-off; it will cost us.
This is the sample Ballot from the Supervisor of Elections office.
This is the sample Ballot from the Supervisor of Elections office.
Municipal | |
| LAKE WORTH | |
| City of Lake Worth Mayor | |
| LAKE WORTH - MAYOR | Candidates |
| LAKE WORTH - COMMISSIONER DISTRICT #3 | Candidates |
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Thought for the Day
There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation.
One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
~John Adams 1826
One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
~John Adams 1826
2nd Avenue North and the FEC
Comment Up
Besides the 1/2 million bucks given to Publix to come into our downtown, we also gave them a big concession to ensure success and driver access to the store-- voting on the change of 2nd Avenue North street from one way to two ways. In order for 2nd Avenue North to become a two-way street, Lake Worth must have the proper railroad crossing guards. We don't. Consequently the FEC has forced us to close the crossing at the railroad tracks until the proper guards are installed.
In the meantime, the permits have cleared and other work done to make this a two-way street. It's just a matter of the City coming up for air and "finding" the money.
Mr. Kroll has tendered his resignation after having worked for the City for the past four years with a salary of $119,995 a year. Many of his duties were re-assigned to the new Leisure Services Department. He will be leaving the City of Lake Worth at the end of October to work in private enterprise. Jaime Brown, Engineer, is taking on Joe's responsibilities until they find a permanent replacement.
Besides the 1/2 million bucks given to Publix to come into our downtown, we also gave them a big concession to ensure success and driver access to the store-- voting on the change of 2nd Avenue North street from one way to two ways. In order for 2nd Avenue North to become a two-way street, Lake Worth must have the proper railroad crossing guards. We don't. Consequently the FEC has forced us to close the crossing at the railroad tracks until the proper guards are installed.
Train accidents are far more likely to kill a motorist or pedestrian today because trains are typically operating at higher speeds than a decade ago.
I learned that it is Lake Worth's responsibility to pay for the proper railroad crossing gates. The price first quoted by the FEC was $110,000 and now it is up to $235,000 and change according to Joe Kroll, our Public Works Director. Joe has told the FEC that we do not have the funds budgeted so the City will be forced to continue with one-way operations until such time money is found in the Budget. The Budget usually has money in the CIP for situations such as this. Joe said that he normally appropriates $175,000 a year for general maintenance.In the meantime, the permits have cleared and other work done to make this a two-way street. It's just a matter of the City coming up for air and "finding" the money.
Mr. Kroll has tendered his resignation after having worked for the City for the past four years with a salary of $119,995 a year. Many of his duties were re-assigned to the new Leisure Services Department. He will be leaving the City of Lake Worth at the end of October to work in private enterprise. Jaime Brown, Engineer, is taking on Joe's responsibilities until they find a permanent replacement.
Black Bear taking a Bath
As we talk about rain barrels and cisterns and such, the story goes that a family in Colorado Springs was wondering why their rain barrel was being emptied nearly every day. They set up a few cameras and this is what they captured.
Thanks to Dick Dotter, Lake Worth High Alumnus, for sending these photos.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Reduce Legal Immigration
In spite of the legal immigration numbers being out of whack, an immigrant advocacy center based in Miami, Florida is helping illegal immigrants get legal status, the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center.
Coming to the U.S. at the age of eight, Cuban born Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, added, "The United States is known as the land of great opportunity and hope. We remain a global beacon of light through our principled values and our diverse citizenship. FIAC, now as Americans for Immigrant Justice, realizes that the American Dream is as important as ever, and I am glad that their efforts are expanding nationwide." Barf, Ileana. We need to end the Cuban Adjustment Act.
See her dreadful voting record on immigration.
It's no wonder we have to dial #1 for English. Living in Miami is an experience only an illegal would enjoy. Once the economy turns around, they will all be back here in Lake Worth, hanging out and contributing to our slum and blight problem, over-crowding our emergency rooms and our schools.
National Night Out
The Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office will be hosting the National Night Out for the citizens of Lake Worth. This will allow the residents to meet and interact with their local law enforcement representatives.
National Night Out is to inform the citizens of crime prevention and awareness.
OCTOBER
7TH
From 6PM to 9PM
Location: Cultural Plaza, Downtown Lake Worth
400 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL, 33460
7TH
From 6PM to 9PM
Location: Cultural Plaza, Downtown Lake Worth
400 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL, 33460
- A visit from the PBSO Bloodhound Unit
- The PBSO S.W.A.T. truck (the Hulk)
- PBSO Mounted Unit
- PBSO Marine Unit
- Bounce House
- And many other guests
- FREE FOOD AND DRINKS
Susan Stanton just appointed Secretary/Treasurer
Comment Up
Susan says--
At its Annual General Meeting last week, the Palm Beach County City Management Association (PBCCMA) elected me as the Secretary/Treasurer for FY 2011-2012. By way of a little history, the PBCCMA was founded in 1985 for the purpose of supporting and improving municipal and county management. PBCCMA works to provide information, assistance and training to its members, local government managers, assistants and future managers. PBCCMA sponsors monthly meetings at locations throughout the County, as well as an annual training session. Members include city, town, village and county managers/administrators and their assistants, students, and other management professionals.
The Association strives to create an arena for the exchange of ideas and I am very much looking forward to serving in the Capacity of Secretary /Treasurer and to proudly represent Lake Worth in this worthy undertaking.
Susan says--
At its Annual General Meeting last week, the Palm Beach County City Management Association (PBCCMA) elected me as the Secretary/Treasurer for FY 2011-2012. By way of a little history, the PBCCMA was founded in 1985 for the purpose of supporting and improving municipal and county management. PBCCMA works to provide information, assistance and training to its members, local government managers, assistants and future managers. PBCCMA sponsors monthly meetings at locations throughout the County, as well as an annual training session. Members include city, town, village and county managers/administrators and their assistants, students, and other management professionals.
The Association strives to create an arena for the exchange of ideas and I am very much looking forward to serving in the Capacity of Secretary /Treasurer and to proudly represent Lake Worth in this worthy undertaking.
Florida Gun Law begins Today
Comment Up
Today is the day that State law goes into effect. We all now will be able to tote concealed guns into a public building.
Today is the day that State law goes into effect. We all now will be able to tote concealed guns into a public building.
The legislation says state gun laws override local regulation of firearms and ammunition, and that if any "county, agency, municipality, district, or other entity" doesn't abide by the laws, the official who is responsible can be fined up to $5,000 and removed from office by the governor.
Can you even imagine this at Lake Worth City Hall? Even all the precautions of ten security cameras and the place literally in lockdown with secret codes to get into the interior of the building would not help anyone there.
One good thing about it, no one with a gun is allowed into the chamber where our public meetings are being conducted. They can stand outside the door and wait until you exit. Do you feel safer? Can you even imagine the over-time we would have to pay to the PBSO?
Let's hear from all you Constitutionalists out there and NRA members.
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