Sunday, September 21, 2014

Senate pledges $10 million for the arrest of those responsible for American beheadings


"...the United States will work tirelessly to ensure that the deaths of these beloved journalists do not go unpunished," said Marco Rubio.

Read more... at Al Arabiya News.

Charter Amendments - State vs. Lake Worth

FLORIDA STATUTES 166.031
Charter amendments. The governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, or the electors of a municipality may, by petition signed by 10 percent (10%) of the registered electors as of the last preceding municipal general election, submit to the electors of said municipality a proposed amendment to its charter, which amendment may be to any part or to all of said charter except that part describing the boundaries of such municipality. The governing body of the municipality shall place the proposed amendment contained in the ordinance or petition to a vote of the electors at the next general election held within the municipality or at a special election called for such purpose.

CITY OF LAKE WORTH
Charter amendments
Section 9 c) Petitions.
(1) Number of signatures. Initiative and referendum petitions must be signed by qualified voters of the city equal in number to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of qualified voters registered to vote at the last general city election.

As our city continuously cites State Statutes when its convenient in order to try and put doubt or over-turn an election, what about getting our Charter up-to-date? Our rules need to reflect State Statutes. Has anyone visited Lake Worth Muni-code lately? 

Oh, and just as a reminder--
The  election results won by the people on 45 feet in our downtown east of Dixie and 35 feet west, stand per Florida Statutes Section 166.031(2) and was effective on the date it was certified, March 19, 2013. According to the Inspector General's office, the date that the revised charter was filed or not filed with the Department of State, has no legal effect on whether or when the charter amendment is effective.
 

Doing the Right thing - Protecting single family neighborhoods

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I knew it would happen sooner or later...in today's Palm Beach Post, the editorial addresses all the concerns that we have regarding protecting our single family neighborhoods. It is hard enough when you have to deal with local politics and fight some of them all the way just to keep your neighborhood single family. Every neighborhood association in Lake Worth should 100% support this concept.

More sober houses and vacation rentals are popping up. Investors are buying entire blocks or even entire condo communities and converting them to housing for recovering addicts.  Vacation rentals are changing our neighborhoods into overnight hotels and competing against licensed places of lodging. These investors are motivated by greed and pay no attention to our zoning rules and could care less about our laws.

Read about it... and the Palm Beach Post's opinion that government must protect and preserve the local neighborhoods.

U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton singing Days of Elijah

Allen West says, "Oh boy, this here video is surely going to send the head chucklehead of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, Mikey Weinstein, into a apoplectic state of frothing hysteria. And you can imagine that the leadership of the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation is running about gnashing their teeth and tearing at their clothes. This video taken at Camp Pendleton shows U.S. Marines at a Christian worship service singing the upbeat Christian song, “Days of Elijah.” And as you will see, they are very enthusiastic about the song.


Snubbing Jesus?

The New York Times keeps sending me e-mails...for only 99 cents for 12 weeks, I can "stay connected to the world's events" they tell me. They forgot one wee important part-- "stay connected through the eyes of liberals." They failed to mention this administration and all the political correctness that we have to deal with that sometimes gets oh so sickening--all the militant atheists, enforcers and liberal courts that want to suppress Christians.

"New York Times snubs 'Jesus'. Maybe it was because the topic was Jesus ... approached from a Christian perspective ... by a well-known conservative ... with a family name that drives liberals nuts."

Read about it... at WND.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Pineapple Beach Neighborhood Association

Pineapple Beach Neighborhood meeting Monday, Sept. 22 from 7-8pm
South Grade Elementary School (716 South K Street).

They start networking at 6:30. Jeff Perlman and Steven Michael, the new owners of the historical Gulfstream Hotel, will be the guest speakers. Pam Bergsma, president of Pineapple Beach say, "We would like to fill the room for this interesting and informative presentation. They will discuss the renovation plans and the future of the Gulfstream which I know is important to all who live in Lake Worth"

Clay Glass to have Fundraiser

Clay Glass Metal Stone Cooperative Gallery
Presents
A Cat-O-Strophic Affair
Opening, Saturday, October 4, 6-10 PM
A Fundraiser for Animal Shelters throughout Palm Beach County

Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery features some of Palm Beach County's finest animal and wild-life artists in an exhibit about CATS. The Cat-O-Strophic Affair opens on Saturday, October 4th and continues through Wednesday, October 15. Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery is located at 15 South J Street in Downtown Lake Worth. The exhibit is free to the public.

The Cat-O-Strophic Affair is designed to match animal lovers and art collectors with the exceptional art being created locally by artists. If patrons bring a card from their favorite animal shelter, 10% of that sale will be donated to the venue. Because the gallery is a non-profit cooperative, the works of art are accessibly priced for any pocket book.

Featured are paintings, pottery, sculpture and jewelry, all depicting cats; wild, home-bound, and anthropomorphic. The humor shown by the artists is rampant throughout the exhibition. Front and center is Mer-puss, the model for a huge MerPuss painting by Vandy. Strutting around the gallery are mouse toting cats. Conservationists will treasure the wild tigers and lions. Grab a cat-mug for a little cat-nip. Bracelets, pins and earrings have crept in on little cats' feet. Fuzzy felted cat-mobiles hang from the ceilings. Their felted cat relatives run rife. Wellington's contribution, a Cat-toon will be found on a wall.

Opening night features a huge mural on the outside wall of the gallery. This work, by artist Sharon Koskoff, can be installed on an interior wall, by Sharon, and embellished by the artist to look as if it were painted onto the wall.

Of the many artists featured in this Cat-O-Strophic event, many have gained national and inter-national fame for their depictions of whimsical, phantasmagoric as well as realistic renditions of cat-life in the world. Collectors will be faced with the widest variety of cat art and have access to artists for commissions of pet portraiture.

Clay Glass Metal Stone Cooperative Gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Studio, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide affordable studio and gallery space for three-dimensional artists. The gallery is located at 15 South J Street in downtown Lake Worth. Hours are Sunday thru Tuesday, 10AM-5PM. Wednesday thru Saturday, 10AM-10PM. Gallery openings are the first and third Friday of each month from 6-9 PM with many special events in-between. For information call Joyce Brown-215-205-9441 or Joyce@flamingoclaystudio.org Gallery phone: 561-588-8344.

Quote of the Day - French Foreign Minister

"We are facing throat cutters.  They rape, crucify and decapitate. They use cruelty as a means of propaganda. Their aim is to erase borders and to eradicate the rule of law and civil society."

~ Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister

Speaking to the acts by the terrorists known as ISIS.

Great Egret eating a Snake in the Grass

You've heard of a snake in the grass? We have a group of treacherous people in this city who enjoy the sport of  attacking, twisting points and calling people names such as "terrorist" or "sociopath" just for expressing a view. Some of these people are in leadership roles. It is no wonder Lake Worth is in the shape it is in. They prefer to do that and steam roll over anyone with a different view than just debate/explain issues or in the case of this commission, be honest with the people they serve. That would be way too exhausting. Overall, they may have the support of their fellow "snakes in the grass" but it's all a matter of time when they are eventually left at the bottom of the rung.

But this is a literal "snake in the grass" and this Egret enjoyed his prize.

On Islamic Jihadists

"...we can do a head count of Muslims who live with honesty, integrity and morality. And through polling we can also approximate how many Muslims around the world are driven to lie, deceive and even murder infidels (in other words, us)...It is time for our leaders to wake up to the fact that there is a large segment of Islam that is a threat to our national security and therefore it is time to stop pandering to this so-called “religion of peace.”

I am an Islamophobe because I am a realist...

Marco Rubio on Combating ISIL

Read speech...

“And so despite my concerns about the underlying bill and the budgeting that it entails, I will support this resolution. Because I think it’s in the best interest of our national security.”

They had better know, without a shadow of any doubt, that these rebels are not al Qaeda, Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS, etc., but is there any way of really knowing that?

Read another perspective where author Roger Zakheim of the National Review says Rubio gave a 'fearless' speech, shedding all politics, regarding peace through strength.

Friday, September 19, 2014

PBC has doubts about WPB national baseball stadium

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And who wouldn't have doubts about investing all those millions?   The complex is estimated to cost $140,000 million with the county contributing $90 million from bed tax.  The teams want an escalator clause that will generate $65 million more off the backs of taxpayers.

The economic benefits of having national league baseball are usually exaggerated and one-sided in favor of the teams. Palm Beach County's Administrator, Bob Wiseman, is not taking any curve balls when it comes to this bad deal.

Read about it...

Lake Worth's Budget and Millage

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By law, we have to publish our proposed budget and our millage rate which is 5.4945.  Both appeared in yesterday's Palm Beach Post. What wasn't mentioned was the MSTU Fire--that is a separate tax of 3.4581 mills for a total of 8.9526 that Lake worth will pay.

Although the millage is the same as last year, taxes will be going up by $582,800 or 9.7% due to the rise in property values.  The final decision on the proposed tax increase and the budget will be made at a public meeting on September 23rd.

The County and the City's projections are below relative to Public Safety--

$667,348,198--COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES
$555,199,475--COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS

$6,315,694--LAKE WORTH PROPERTY TAXES
$20,138,441--LAKE WORTH PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS
Look at the difference and calculate the percentage on what we pay for Public Safety compared to what we bring in from ad-valorem.   

Does that seem just a wee bit disproportionate to you? This is one of the main reasons why we have no money to operate our city. Luckily we have our own utility company and from that as well as enterprise funds, we will have an additional $9,138,387. We get selected as one of the top crime cities in the state and rank 42nd in the country--crime is rising right along with costs.

There is a new biosolids improvement project in effect that will affect much of the present plant located near the turnpike in West Palm Beach. The presentation was dated July 14, 2014 but Lake Worth gave its presentation to the public on September 19, well after the election. Lake Worth is a member along with West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Palm Beach County. Tipping fees for waste has gone up to $56 per wet ton. The entire project is estimated at a cost of $112,794,000, so far, as designs are not totally complete and costs continue to change. This will be paid off through a five year bond.

We are one of the poorest cities in Palm Beach County and taxes are going up by 9.7% along with water (5%) and sewer (8%) for five years, an overall 40% increase, to pay for the biosolids improvement plant.  In June it was said that the Regional Sewer Fund was adjusted based on the settlement agreement reached with our contracted sub-regional customers in FY 2013. A true-up calculation was completed based on audited FY 13 financial reports.  At that time it was stated that they will only be charged a 1% increase by us. On 9-23, the commission will be voting on the final charge--it is on Consent Agenda.

 And just think, Lake Worth still wanted to grab $63.5 million more.

PM David Cameron Speech Scotland Rejects Independence Scotland votes 'no' to Scottish independence

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With a vote of 55 to 45, Scotland remains part of the UK.

Travel and Lodging and Seminar fees for Lake Worth City Commission

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During this past year, the Travel Budget totaled $24,500 that included registrations, travel and lodging. 

REGISTRATIONS
$1,500--Annual National League of Cities (3 attendees)
$   700--National League of Cities Leadership Training Institute (1 attendee)
$   600--U.S. Conference of Mayors in D.C. (1 attendee)
$1,170--National League of Cities Congressional Conference  (2 attendees)
$   100--Sea Level Rise Conference (1 attendee--you know the one that they condemn McVoy for)
$   530--Florida League of Mayor's Conference (1 attendee)

TRAVEL AND LODGING
$3,800--Annual Florida League of Cities (3 attendees)
$5,400--Annual National League of Cities (3 attendees)
$1,750--U.S. Conference of Mayors in D.C. (1 attendee)
$4,400--National League of Cities Congressional Conference  (2 attendees)
$    50--Sea Level Rise Conference (1 attendee--you know the one that they condemn McVoy for)
$   550--Florida League of Mayors Business Summit (1 attendee)
$   550--Florida League of Mayors Millenial Summit (1 attendee)
$3,000--PB County League of Cities October Meeting

The budget was $15,000 but now has been upped to $25,000 as it appears they over spent their budget in 2014.  Of course, the city manager approves of this and signs off on it. Right under $20,000 was for the vice mayor who was the President of the Palm Beach County League of Cities and a few other commissioners, to attend League of Cities business. We have had one formal report from one commissioner on his travel expense--Commissioner McVoy whose trip cost a whopping $150.00 on Sea Level Rise.  The mayor gave a brief minute from the dais to report on her trip to Washington, D.C and rubbing elbows with Lois Frankel. The rest of the meeting reports to the public by commissioners?  Forget about it.

The city commission doesn't mind spending and believe that this is for the greater good. Scott Maxwell is the past president of the Palm Beach County League of Cities and his travel costs for their events are picked up by you. We don't know the benefit to the City of Lake Worth for all of this "education." As said in previous blogs, the League of Cities teaches elected officials how to screw their constituents and the people they are supposed to serve.

Still on the 2014 horizon for the Leagues of Cities are the following:

NOVEMBER

13-14 Florida League of Cities Legislative Conference – Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport Hotel

18-22 National League of Cities Annual Congress of Cities and Exposition - Austin, TX

$25,000 is a lot of potholes.

Sunrise today

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Palm Beach County

Read about how Palm Beach County is lagging behind in income and jobs.

City of Lake Worth Campaign Spending

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Final accounting of the LW 2020 general obligation election campaign and educational outreach effort  that was paid through a Commission approved $50k budget. Lake Worth continually told the public that they were not campaigning, only "educating" the public.  Then why buy a voter's list?

Click graphic to enlarge

What's it going to take to protect America?



Judicial Watch had reported that they believed that Islamic terrorists would cross our border prior to September 11. Their concerns were dissed by Homeland Security.  Last night on the Megyn Kelly show, it was exposed by Rep Jason Chaffetz, who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, that four men with ties to known terrorist organizations crossed into Texas on September 10 at two different areas.  Read about it...

There are so many people walking across our border that we can't sufficiently even protect our own country. What about the next crazy bunch of enemies who want to destroy us? Will we be able to intercept them? According to Chaffetz:
  • 466,000 people have been captured crossing the border over the last 351 days.
  • Those captured represented people from 143 different countries, including Syria, Iraq and Iran.
  • 157,000 got away per Homeland Security.
  • What about the hundreds of thousand who were NOT captured?
 How many terrorists are on our homeland ready to strike, bring us down, bomb our buildings, behead our citizens? What's it going to take, Mr. President, to protect our country?

Message from Carl Domino

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No man or woman left behind ...

That was our creed in the United States Navy where, for over 20 years, I served as a decorated naval commander of men and women in uniform. In Vietnam, I learned first hand that "no man or woman left behind" is more than just a military slogan. It's a matter of principle.

Lieutenant Colonel Allen West also understands this code.

After a slim loss to Pelosi's "favorite" politician in 2012, West has now moved on to other battlefields.
West held the line against Nancy Pelosi during some of the darkest days of Obama's reign of destruction when he served in Congress. But the Democratic machine lined up its entire liberal resources and propped up Patrick Murphy to defeat West. Allen West was left behind, and now I am ready to defeat Murphy in the same seat he took from West and return it into its rightful Republican hands. Can I count on your immediate support?

In 2012, I personally hosted a fundraiser at my home for Allen West - it was the final fundraiser of his campaign - and he asked me to host it because I so passionately supported a conservative direction for our country.
Now as the official Republican nominee to reclaim and restore this Congressional seat, my marching orders are clear: put Washington back to work for the people by cutting the perks and hold the Obama-Pelosi team accountable.

Patrick Murphy had his chance to do this and he failed miserably. In voting 84% of the time with Pelosi, he has disgraced this seat. Now it's time for Pelosi's puppet to exit stage left. He will vote to restore Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and I will fight her on any liberal program she promotes. This seat does not belong to the Obama-Pelosi team-- it belongs to the Republican-Conservative team. It's a call to arms for America to stand up for freedom and the American dream.

If you agree, please follow this link to contribute $10 or more and help me restore Allen West's seat into the hands of another conservative champion.It's time for electoral payback!

Sincerely,

Carl Domino
Conservative for Congress


P.S. Election Day is less than 50 days away, Murphy has raised almost $4 million dollars from his and Pelosi's liberal pals -- and I am currently outgunned. Please DONATE and bring that fight to the November elections.