Comment Up
The Palm Beach Post editor is getting closer but close only counts in "Horseshoes." Mr. Marra used Lake Worth's city attorney's line of "blame state legislators." The blame is clearly the city attorney's legal OPINION that was given to this commission.
We still contend that this referendum was not on a comp plan change, development orders or comp plan map changes but it was a CHARTER change. Mr. Marra's prejudice in this matter is clearly shown because he advocated for higher buildings in our downtown in a previous editorial. Mr. Marra, you do know that this affects the entire downtown from Dixie highway to Golfview Road and not just the Gulfstream hotel area east of Federal Highway as you claim in your editorial don't you?
Read the editorial in the Palm Beach post.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Quote of the Day - Rick Scott
“Two years ago unemployment and state-debt were up, while housing
prices were down. To grow jobs, we cut taxes, cut burdensome
regulations, made strategic investments and made state government more
accountable to taxpayers. The results are in – and IT’S WORKING. Moody’s
has given credit to our management of taxpayer dollars, and we’ve paid
down $3.5 billion in state debt, which won’t burden our future
generations.According to the Division of Bond Finance, by reducing total debt by $3.5 billion, costs related to servicing the debt has decreased by $6.9 billion since 2010, which over time has freed additional resources for state priorities. Refinancing debt at historically low interest rates has also contributed to lower debt service payments. The State has refinanced $2 billion in debt during fiscal year 2013 generating $500 million in debt service savings.”
~ Gov. Rick Scott
Friday, August 9, 2013
Marco
Comment Up
He has ignored the very people who helped elect him. He has totally ignored the Tea Party, a group that consists primarily of advocates for smaller government and were known as protesters with a big voice. They are now considered a political group. They helped herald him into office. He totally ignored the 19,000 signed signatures we delivered to his office against amnesty for illegal aliens.
I had a lot of hopes for Marco.
He has ignored the very people who helped elect him. He has totally ignored the Tea Party, a group that consists primarily of advocates for smaller government and were known as protesters with a big voice. They are now considered a political group. They helped herald him into office. He totally ignored the 19,000 signed signatures we delivered to his office against amnesty for illegal aliens.
I had a lot of hopes for Marco.
Poor Nicholas Torgerson
Comment Up
Poor Nicholas Torgerson--This guy just makes bad personal choices and bad business decisions. Not only did he buy his 2,472 sq. foot townhouse in September 2008 for $560,000 located at 219 N 'L' Street that is now worth $103,000, but the State of Florida just moved to shut down his Whitestone Capital Trust for alleged mortgage deed fraud and corruption. Torgerson fits right in with other scam artists who have a connection to Lake Worth...think Greater Bay. At least with this guy he didn't get wealthy from our Lake Worth City Commission.
Read more...
Poor Nicholas Torgerson--This guy just makes bad personal choices and bad business decisions. Not only did he buy his 2,472 sq. foot townhouse in September 2008 for $560,000 located at 219 N 'L' Street that is now worth $103,000, but the State of Florida just moved to shut down his Whitestone Capital Trust for alleged mortgage deed fraud and corruption. Torgerson fits right in with other scam artists who have a connection to Lake Worth...think Greater Bay. At least with this guy he didn't get wealthy from our Lake Worth City Commission.
Read more...
Quote of the Day - Allen West
Comment Up
"Three
15-yr-old black teens beat up a 13-yr-old white kid because he told
school officials they tried to sell him drugs. Do you hear anything from
Sharpton, Jackson, NAACP, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, liberal media, or
Hollywood? Cat got your tongues or is it that pathetic hypocrisy
revealing itself once again?
Y'all just make me sick."
~ Allen West
"Three
15-yr-old black teens beat up a 13-yr-old white kid because he told
school officials they tried to sell him drugs. Do you hear anything from
Sharpton, Jackson, NAACP, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, liberal media, or
Hollywood? Cat got your tongues or is it that pathetic hypocrisy
revealing itself once again?Y'all just make me sick."
~ Allen West
Public corruption
Comment Up
Someone just asked me what the four commissioners on the Lake Worth commission were getting out of this by not honoring our vote and instead voted in 65 feet in the LDR's instead of 45 feet, the number of feet that was decided in the March election. Good question. I can't figure it out at all. They have given us all a song and dance and have skirted around all reason.
The Commission and those wanting 65 feet made it out to be all about a hotel when in reality the Charter Amendment affects the entire downtown right now--with them passing the LDR's to 65 feet, a builder can develop anywhere on Lake and Lucerne to 65 feet...another building as tall as the Lucerne. Nothing precludes a builder to buy up an entire block and build to his heart's content.
But we do know that people are still getting arrested for public corruption. Take the Mayor of Sweetwater and the Mayor of Miami Lakes as examples who were just lead away in handcuffs. One even used his position as president of the Florida League of Cities. I mean now, who can you trust?
Someone just asked me what the four commissioners on the Lake Worth commission were getting out of this by not honoring our vote and instead voted in 65 feet in the LDR's instead of 45 feet, the number of feet that was decided in the March election. Good question. I can't figure it out at all. They have given us all a song and dance and have skirted around all reason.
The Commission and those wanting 65 feet made it out to be all about a hotel when in reality the Charter Amendment affects the entire downtown right now--with them passing the LDR's to 65 feet, a builder can develop anywhere on Lake and Lucerne to 65 feet...another building as tall as the Lucerne. Nothing precludes a builder to buy up an entire block and build to his heart's content.
But we do know that people are still getting arrested for public corruption. Take the Mayor of Sweetwater and the Mayor of Miami Lakes as examples who were just lead away in handcuffs. One even used his position as president of the Florida League of Cities. I mean now, who can you trust?
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Drama Queen
Comment Up
The main message in today's newspaper (on heights, an election won by those wanting buildings no more than 45 feet in the downtown) is: State laws take precedence over local laws and that the Charter Amendment is affected by recent Florida legislation, HB 537 and therefore the win by the "low-rise" people is null and void. We totally disagree with this assessment, our right to do so, drama or not. This law did not pertain to referendums on Charter Amendments as this editor claims, facts fed to him by the city attorney who works for the commission that wants 65 feet. Get the picture?
He sums up his editorial with the following:
"The drama at the commission meeting is just that, drama, and it is poorly acted by the same cast at every meeting."
Well, as most of the people who showed up to speak are not at every meeting, (I seldom see any of them and some were new) I guess he is talking about the four commissioners on the dais who are there at EVERY meeting and who are happy in their own skin to usurp the outcome of the vote by the electorate. That must be it. The only drama was delivered by the mayor herself. Ninety-nine percent of those citizens who spoke were calm and professional--no drama but matter-of-fact.
It only fits one head on the dais
The main message in today's newspaper (on heights, an election won by those wanting buildings no more than 45 feet in the downtown) is: State laws take precedence over local laws and that the Charter Amendment is affected by recent Florida legislation, HB 537 and therefore the win by the "low-rise" people is null and void. We totally disagree with this assessment, our right to do so, drama or not. This law did not pertain to referendums on Charter Amendments as this editor claims, facts fed to him by the city attorney who works for the commission that wants 65 feet. Get the picture?
He sums up his editorial with the following:
"The drama at the commission meeting is just that, drama, and it is poorly acted by the same cast at every meeting."
Well, as most of the people who showed up to speak are not at every meeting, (I seldom see any of them and some were new) I guess he is talking about the four commissioners on the dais who are there at EVERY meeting and who are happy in their own skin to usurp the outcome of the vote by the electorate. That must be it. The only drama was delivered by the mayor herself. Ninety-nine percent of those citizens who spoke were calm and professional--no drama but matter-of-fact.
Ratings of Florida Senators and Congressmen supporting Illegal Alien Amnesty
What the heck is WRONG with these people? Two Republicans and five Democrats get a rating of D to F- on Immigration. Why do they want to undermine our country this way by supporting criminals who have crossed our borders not to mention the billions it has cost us from our Treasury? They are all for giving rights to illegals at the expense and detriment to citizens' rights.
Rating on stopping amnesty for illegals
D- (3% of peer group)
Rubio, Marco (Sen.) R - FL 19%
F (10% of peer group)
Nelson, Bill (Sen.) D - FL 14%
Hastings, Alcee (Rep. - 20th) D - FL 12%
Brown, Corrine (Rep. - 5th) D - FL 8%
F- (17% of peer group) (How much lower can you get?)
Wilson, Frederica (Rep. - 24th) D - FL 5%
Castor, Kathy (Rep. - 14th) D - FL 0%
DeSantis, Ron (Rep. - 6th) R - FL 0%
Deutch, Ted (Rep. - 21st) D - FL 0%
Wasserman-Schultz, Debbie (Rep. - 23rd) D - FL 0%
Rating on stopping amnesty for illegals
D- (3% of peer group)
Rubio, Marco (Sen.) R - FL 19%
F (10% of peer group)
Nelson, Bill (Sen.) D - FL 14%
Hastings, Alcee (Rep. - 20th) D - FL 12%
Brown, Corrine (Rep. - 5th) D - FL 8%
F- (17% of peer group) (How much lower can you get?)
Wilson, Frederica (Rep. - 24th) D - FL 5%
Castor, Kathy (Rep. - 14th) D - FL 0%
DeSantis, Ron (Rep. - 6th) R - FL 0%
Deutch, Ted (Rep. - 21st) D - FL 0%
Wasserman-Schultz, Debbie (Rep. - 23rd) D - FL 0%
August - Townhall Meeting Month
Republicans are indeed being made to feel the heat…now Republican Town Hall meetings are being infiltrated by Democratic operatives with cool, click tactics. Infiltration is nothing new. Hell, we see it right here in Lake Worth--a few sneaks always attend fundraisers for someone they can't stand just to pick up information. On the national front, this is a new strategy by filling the Town Hall meetings and packing it with Democratic activists who appear like Republicans to put the Republicans on the hot seat for all the ills of the country. Read Breitbart
Right here, in our neck of the woods, socialists, immigrants and activists who don't mind undermining the United States and who demand a pathway for citizenship for illegal aliens, will be targeting Rep. Tom Rooney.
Friend Joyce Tarnow says, "During the August recess an all-out effort to stop the House from considering any legislation is a must do. If your Congressional rep will be holding a Town Hall meeting, let that person know that no "reform" bill is needed. The laws on the books from the 1986 Amnesty just need to be enforced. Make a call or visit the office of your rep."
Politics is a dirty game.
Orlando Seeks Federal Grant
Comment Up
Another total, freaking waste of tax dollars...as our national debt climbs...It's the exact same mindset here in Lake Worth--if we don't apply for the money someone else will get it.
Read here...
Another total, freaking waste of tax dollars...as our national debt climbs...It's the exact same mindset here in Lake Worth--if we don't apply for the money someone else will get it.
Read here...
Urban Lofts
Comment Up
Lake Worth celebrates opening of live/work lofts. Well, hey, we just might as well celebrate something.
Read about the Urban Lofts grand opening Friday @ 10am, built by the CRA with NSP2 grant funds. The CRA is selling the twelve, 3,000 square foot townhouses to those artists whose credit score is 550 or better and not making more than 120 percent of the area median income for Palm Beach County of $73,080 for a family of two in a neighborhood already filled with families of the working poor. Originally CRA Director, Joan Oliva, said that the price on these 3,000 s.f. units with garage will range from $90,000 to $110,000. I heard that someone bought there for $134,000. Perhaps all of the above numbers changed by the time they were finally built.
As I recall, the lofts were going to cost between $4.5 and $5 million to build. Divide that by 12. Ain't America wonderful?
Lake Worth celebrates opening of live/work lofts. Well, hey, we just might as well celebrate something.
Read about the Urban Lofts grand opening Friday @ 10am, built by the CRA with NSP2 grant funds. The CRA is selling the twelve, 3,000 square foot townhouses to those artists whose credit score is 550 or better and not making more than 120 percent of the area median income for Palm Beach County of $73,080 for a family of two in a neighborhood already filled with families of the working poor. Originally CRA Director, Joan Oliva, said that the price on these 3,000 s.f. units with garage will range from $90,000 to $110,000. I heard that someone bought there for $134,000. Perhaps all of the above numbers changed by the time they were finally built.
As I recall, the lofts were going to cost between $4.5 and $5 million to build. Divide that by 12. Ain't America wonderful?
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Sunset 8-7-13 - A Sunset, the inspirational power of God
Comment Up
Well, we've had about enough of "the will of the people" not being legal and all that jazz, at least for the moment--so what about a beautiful Lake Worth sunset? This should put even the most angry in a better mood. I still don't know why NO people are so angry--they have "won" for the moment even if they didn't win the vote.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
~Abraham Lincoln
“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!”
~ C. JoyBell C.
Well, we've had about enough of "the will of the people" not being legal and all that jazz, at least for the moment--so what about a beautiful Lake Worth sunset? This should put even the most angry in a better mood. I still don't know why NO people are so angry--they have "won" for the moment even if they didn't win the vote.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
~Abraham Lincoln
“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!”
~ C. JoyBell C.
McNamara Comment from last night's meeting
Comment Up
Good evening Mayor and Commissioners:
I reside at 422 North Lakeside Drive, 2 and ½ blocks north of the area affected by Charter Amendment 2012-30, Amending Charter Building Height Limits in Designated Downtown Area, With Exceptions. Although England’s Parliament can pass any law they see fit, in America we threw off Britain’s yoke centuries ago, and our United States Constitution, in Article 1, Section 9 states:
Good evening Mayor and Commissioners:
I reside at 422 North Lakeside Drive, 2 and ½ blocks north of the area affected by Charter Amendment 2012-30, Amending Charter Building Height Limits in Designated Downtown Area, With Exceptions. Although England’s Parliament can pass any law they see fit, in America we threw off Britain’s yoke centuries ago, and our United States Constitution, in Article 1, Section 9 states:
“No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be
passed.”
Attorney Torcivia advised you that our Charter Amendment, passed on March 12th, 2013, can be ignored because of recent retroactive legislation passed by the State of Florida, HB 537, prohibiting referenda on land development orders, comprehensive plan changes or comprehensive plan map changes. This legislation is legally unsupportable because of its retroactive clause, and is in this case irrelevant since it does not refer to Charter Amendments.
By failing to place the Charter change in our Charter, a change enacted by an affirmative vote of the people, in an election you called, and which cost us taxpayers a $25,000.00 unnecessary expense because of your decision to delay and hold a special election, you are exceeding your authority and derelict in your duty as elected officials to uphold the law.
I ask you on behalf of the law abiding public to codify the Charter amendment in the Lake Worth Charter, and forward it to the State of Florida immediately.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Laurence McNamara
8/6/2013
Attorney Torcivia advised you that our Charter Amendment, passed on March 12th, 2013, can be ignored because of recent retroactive legislation passed by the State of Florida, HB 537, prohibiting referenda on land development orders, comprehensive plan changes or comprehensive plan map changes. This legislation is legally unsupportable because of its retroactive clause, and is in this case irrelevant since it does not refer to Charter Amendments.
By failing to place the Charter change in our Charter, a change enacted by an affirmative vote of the people, in an election you called, and which cost us taxpayers a $25,000.00 unnecessary expense because of your decision to delay and hold a special election, you are exceeding your authority and derelict in your duty as elected officials to uphold the law.
I ask you on behalf of the law abiding public to codify the Charter amendment in the Lake Worth Charter, and forward it to the State of Florida immediately.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Laurence McNamara
8/6/2013
Pam Triolo Quotes of the Day
Comment Up
There were many quotes of the day from last night's meeting. Here are two that I especially found interesting from Mayor Pam Triolo.
"I think this was political motivation that got this going the way it went."
Yes indeed it was exactly that mayor. It started when you kicked the Planning and Zoning as well as the Historical Preservation Board members OUT and re-appointed your own development oriented members who wanted 65 feet in our downtown, not the 45 feet already agreed upon. The referendum launched when you voted on 65 feet in our downtown. That IS POLITICAL.
"Be respectful of everyone here, not disrespectful...that's what we're here to do."
This was said after she abused every resident who spoke and tried to mitigate their free speech. She called a Point of Order when commissioner McVoy was speaking who stated that this entire matter began when this commission kicked out the members of the P&Z and HRPB.
There were many quotes of the day from last night's meeting. Here are two that I especially found interesting from Mayor Pam Triolo.
"I think this was political motivation that got this going the way it went."
Yes indeed it was exactly that mayor. It started when you kicked the Planning and Zoning as well as the Historical Preservation Board members OUT and re-appointed your own development oriented members who wanted 65 feet in our downtown, not the 45 feet already agreed upon. The referendum launched when you voted on 65 feet in our downtown. That IS POLITICAL.
"Be respectful of everyone here, not disrespectful...that's what we're here to do."
This was said after she abused every resident who spoke and tried to mitigate their free speech. She called a Point of Order when commissioner McVoy was speaking who stated that this entire matter began when this commission kicked out the members of the P&Z and HRPB.
Our system is not too big to fail
Comment Up
The chart below shows how much PUBLIC debt has increased in America over the past 30 years....and how things have really gotten out of control in the past ten. Capital has become PUBLIC DEBT...a debt everyone owes. Wall Street Bankers portray that accumulating PUBLIC DEBT doesn't matter as they get rich bankrupting everything and everyone. It is no different than when bankers induced citizens to over leverage homes or buy dot.coms....but in the end, we learned they lied. By capitalizing PRIVATE wealth with PUBLIC debt, the bankers have financially reconstructed the moral equivalent of slavery or serfdom until things collapse. The wealthy are now rich due to a debt that they owe, PUBLIC DEBT, but can't pay back. So the bankers are creating the illusion of wealth by rolling over the debt on the next generation that bankers know can't be paid back.
Read more... on the system is failing--a perspective.
The chart below shows how much PUBLIC debt has increased in America over the past 30 years....and how things have really gotten out of control in the past ten. Capital has become PUBLIC DEBT...a debt everyone owes. Wall Street Bankers portray that accumulating PUBLIC DEBT doesn't matter as they get rich bankrupting everything and everyone. It is no different than when bankers induced citizens to over leverage homes or buy dot.coms....but in the end, we learned they lied. By capitalizing PRIVATE wealth with PUBLIC debt, the bankers have financially reconstructed the moral equivalent of slavery or serfdom until things collapse. The wealthy are now rich due to a debt that they owe, PUBLIC DEBT, but can't pay back. So the bankers are creating the illusion of wealth by rolling over the debt on the next generation that bankers know can't be paid back.
Read more... on the system is failing--a perspective.
A Lake Worth Commission out of Control - The meeting from Hell
Comment Up
The audio/video was inoperable last night. It was said that it broke down the day before. Did they just "forget" to turn the damn thing on? Why did they not get it repaired? After last night's mayoral and city attorney performance, I can see why the city did not have the video or audio on. The less people witnessing this outrageous display of abuse, the better. They got away with "murder" in their actions and deeds feeling comfortable with the belittlement of citizens because of the legal opinions (note I said OPINION) from their city attorney. They all smugly sat up there and quietly rejoiced.
This is sort of like the Tri-Board meeting in January 2012 where the Comp Plan, LDRS and zoning was discussed--there was total consensus at that meeting to keep the downtown at 45 feet. No audio was on and Minutes were inadequate and a lot of politicos there got dementia later on once a new development oriented commission came into power. Now they can't remember a damn thing that they discussed and agreed.
The most important thing that was on the agenda last night was the Second Public Hearing on the revision of the Land Development Regulations. This commission could have done the right thing by the voters and kept those areas that were described in the Referendum to 45 and 35 feet. That never entered one brain cell and why would it? They all wanted 6 story buildings in our downtown other than Commissioner McVoy who does believe in the will of the people and the election results. This was all corrupt politics. As John Szerdi said to me during the break, the amount of win was not that big. I then reminded him that he won by ZERO votes.
What was evident and appalling was the total lack of respect that the mayor has for all those who differ from her 65 feet hotel district for which she has always campaigned. Reprimanding us like 5 year olds, she picked apart every citizen's comments directly after they spoke having the city attorney interject an "opinion," an opinion we feel is in total error, on each public speakers commentary tearing it apart with this, that or the next reason even mentioning guns at one point. No one knows what that was about. They were trying a case where citizens had no rebuttal, treating them like dumb schmucks. We were even told that State law trumps "will of the voters." The behavior by the mayor and the legal tactic taken by the city against the citizens during their right of free speech was just flat wrong, obnoxious and purposely done to prove their case on how wrong we are and how intellectually superior they are. In spite of the worst behavior ever witnessed at a public meeting by elected officials, the citizens all had resolve. And we all sat there in utter amazement.
I met a man in the hallway and asked him why he was here. He said, "the entertainment." That's what it was last night...rude, contemptuous and right in your face slap down of free speech and an attitude of "voters be damned" --and just like bad "reality" television, this was "reality city hall" at its worst. Even the Kardashian reality show has some redeeming value. The commission that should be representing the people and treating them respectfully, followed a legal opinion of the city attorney, an opinion that we believe to be far reaching and flat wrong. That is why there are courts of law.
Decisions made by elected officials should be reflected by the wants of the people who reside here, not the wants of developers, business and special interest groups.
The blue light is on--perhaps they
"forgot" to turn on the green light!
The audio/video was inoperable last night. It was said that it broke down the day before. Did they just "forget" to turn the damn thing on? Why did they not get it repaired? After last night's mayoral and city attorney performance, I can see why the city did not have the video or audio on. The less people witnessing this outrageous display of abuse, the better. They got away with "murder" in their actions and deeds feeling comfortable with the belittlement of citizens because of the legal opinions (note I said OPINION) from their city attorney. They all smugly sat up there and quietly rejoiced.
This is sort of like the Tri-Board meeting in January 2012 where the Comp Plan, LDRS and zoning was discussed--there was total consensus at that meeting to keep the downtown at 45 feet. No audio was on and Minutes were inadequate and a lot of politicos there got dementia later on once a new development oriented commission came into power. Now they can't remember a damn thing that they discussed and agreed.
The most important thing that was on the agenda last night was the Second Public Hearing on the revision of the Land Development Regulations. This commission could have done the right thing by the voters and kept those areas that were described in the Referendum to 45 and 35 feet. That never entered one brain cell and why would it? They all wanted 6 story buildings in our downtown other than Commissioner McVoy who does believe in the will of the people and the election results. This was all corrupt politics. As John Szerdi said to me during the break, the amount of win was not that big. I then reminded him that he won by ZERO votes.
What was evident and appalling was the total lack of respect that the mayor has for all those who differ from her 65 feet hotel district for which she has always campaigned. Reprimanding us like 5 year olds, she picked apart every citizen's comments directly after they spoke having the city attorney interject an "opinion," an opinion we feel is in total error, on each public speakers commentary tearing it apart with this, that or the next reason even mentioning guns at one point. No one knows what that was about. They were trying a case where citizens had no rebuttal, treating them like dumb schmucks. We were even told that State law trumps "will of the voters." The behavior by the mayor and the legal tactic taken by the city against the citizens during their right of free speech was just flat wrong, obnoxious and purposely done to prove their case on how wrong we are and how intellectually superior they are. In spite of the worst behavior ever witnessed at a public meeting by elected officials, the citizens all had resolve. And we all sat there in utter amazement.
I met a man in the hallway and asked him why he was here. He said, "the entertainment." That's what it was last night...rude, contemptuous and right in your face slap down of free speech and an attitude of "voters be damned" --and just like bad "reality" television, this was "reality city hall" at its worst. Even the Kardashian reality show has some redeeming value. The commission that should be representing the people and treating them respectfully, followed a legal opinion of the city attorney, an opinion that we believe to be far reaching and flat wrong. That is why there are courts of law.
Decisions made by elected officials should be reflected by the wants of the people who reside here, not the wants of developers, business and special interest groups.
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