Dishonoring the Charter Amendment

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The difference in our elected officials making an Ordinance allowing Hudson Holdings to get what they want at their Gulfstream property and making a Charter change is significant. And the bully commission that wants its way on heights in our downtown knows it.

An Ordinance is a majority vote of the commission that can be easily changed at any time.  A Charter change, however, requires a petition signed by 10 percent of the registered electors that needs to be certified and then placed on the ballot so that all the registered voters have a chance to weigh in--not just three people.  Both an Ordinance and a Charter change are political but a Charter change is supreme.

But for some reason, the vote of the people was spit upon in Lake Worth by Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso. They believe that they know better than the voters and they believe they have squashed our vote.

Laurence McNamara stated in a comment card that Florida Statutes 166.031 authorized citizens of any municipality to amend their charter in the exact way citizens did so to limit development in the downtown area encompassing the Gulfstream property to 45 feet. Citizens were disenfranchised by a questionable opinion offered to the sitting Commission by the Assistant City Attorney based on post facto legislation, which was used to ignore the citizens charter amendment and refused to place the amendment into the Charter.

Post facto legislation was illegal in criminal cases and was becoming indefensible in civil cases with great regularity. To avoid exposing citizens to another lawsuit, it would be prudent for [the Commission] to reject this rezoning application and require the purported developer to work within the existing zoning regulations and the 45 foot limits of the charter amendment.

A City Charter is the Constitution of a municipality and its highest law. Ignoring it would put the developer and the City at risk of any construction in violation of its limits.

Spring Training Hardball

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With merely a mention of what we all went through with this incumbent commission advocating for a Spring Training Baseball stadium 100 yards from our neighborhood, The Palm Beach Post only said this:  "Other sites popped into contention, including one pushed  by Lake Worth officials but the old landfill [45th Street and Haverhill Road in West Palm Beach] had the momentum."

Spring Training Hardball

If you recall, City Manager Michael Bornstein and commissioners, Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso were playing hardball behind the scenes, trying every trick in the book to bring a Spring Training Stadium to John Prince Park. They even got Shelley Vana, county commissioner who is now term-limited (thank God), to push for it in John Prince Park. The mayor of West Palm Beach, Muoio, even suggested that the County look again at John Prince Park.

Maxwell and friends were pushing it very hard. Much of the "push" was behind the scenes. They had no problem with bulldozing a county park for private enterprise. They actually believed that the money from all those attending the games would trickle to our downtown--people would go to our downtown, have dinner and fall in love with our town that they would even buy a property. They had their friends wear baseball caps to city hall and sing "take me to the ballgame." They, to this day, still get the maximum campaign contributions from one couple who sang their hearts out.

And to this day, the trio still plays hardball with other issues.

The Real Truth - Ronald Reagan

Former Minister jailed for speaking against Islam

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Fifty-seven years ago, former pastor, 79 year old James McConnell, founded his church in Belfast, Ireland. Ireland is predominantly a Christian country with over 80%.

Last year, he spoke at his church and said, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Timothy 2:5.  He went on to say “Islam’s ideas about God, about humanity, about salvation are vastly different from the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Islam is heathen. Islam is satanic. Islam is a doctrine spawned in hell.”

What did officials do? They jailed him. And this entire "politically correct" anti-Christian attitude is spreading throughout the world.  We need to just agree to disagree, recognize free speech and understand that Christian character, morals, values and integrity are what keeps the peace.

Read about it...

Cop Hating Councilman

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If you ever commit a crime in Mississippi and find yourself pursued by law enforcement, you may want to head to the section of the city of Jackson represented by this cop-bashing councilman. What he has planned for the cops in your rear-view mirror should give you plenty of time to escape, so says WND.

Read about this racist cop hating councilman at The Clarion Ledger by clicking here...

Tonight's Sky 1-2-16

It's getting cold (72.4^) and windy out there and feels like rain.

Obama's own Jihad

(Conservative Tribune) – Two weeks ago, 69 House Democrats signed H.R. 569, which cleverly conflated violence against followers of Islam with “bigotry” and “hateful rhetoric.”

The bill listed about a-thousand-and-one grievances about alleged anti-Muslim hate crimes, hate speech and bigotry. It then concluded by stating that the House condemns all these alleged actions and that authorities should “work to prevent hate crimes” and “prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those perpetrators of hate crimes.”

Some commentators believe that this bill is a prelude to the government going after anyone who dares criticize Islam.

“This Resolution is using the specter of violence against Muslims to try to quash legitimate research into the motives and goals of those who have vowed to destroy us, which will have the effect of allowing the jihad to advance unimpeded and unopposed,” FrontPage Magazine contributor and Jihad Watch founder Robert Spencer argued in a column published Tuesday.

Given what Attorney General Loretta Lynch said earlier this month when she told a group of Muslims that her department was willing to take “aggressive action” against those whose anti-Muslim rhetoric “edges toward violence,” it sounds like Spencer may have a point.

Already on campuses across the nation students and teachers alike are being maligned and sometimes even kicked out for simply voicing differing, politically incorrect opinions.

Now imagine this happening on a much grander scale, thanks in part to a government and Congress that care more about the feelings of Muslims than they do about freedom, let alone the Constitution.

If you think this cannot really happen, just remember what President Barack Hussein Obama himself said during a speech given in 2012: “The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.”

Translation: Be quiet or risk going to jail.

Conservative Tribune
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Bernie the BS'r

This is part of an e-mail I just received from the socialist, Bernie Sanders.  What a bunch of crap!

"Friend, This is what a political revolution looks like: working Americans coming together to say they have had ENOUGH of the influence of a billionaire class buying elections to enrich themselves while everyone else gets poorer."

Get it together in the New Year Bernie. No one can stand the bull any longer. However, it is a fact that the bulk of his donations are from Unions.

Top contributors to Hillary and Bernie.

Bernie says he will not accept any contribution from a billionaire. Bernie does have two non-affiliated Super Pacs tied to his campaign: Collective Actions PAC and BillionairesForBernie.

"It's a Mess" says Scott Maxwell

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Nothing drives me more crazy than to read an article such as the Palm Beach Post article in today's paper regarding the Gulfstream Hotel and its owner, Hudson Holdings.

Hudson Holdings says it has a $60 million dollar project on their Gulfstream Hotel property and all they need is for the commission to upzone the parcels so that they can proceed. What the paper should have said is that by approving this upzoning it will allow Hudson Holdings to "move forward with its ALLEGED $60 million plan to restore..."  They need to sell that "dream" to a big hotel chain.

What the newspaper also should have said is that there is a Charter amendment that disallows what they want to do.

Hudson Holdings bought this property. They never said at the time that there was any proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations on their buying it. The never said that they needed an upzoning. This is private property and the city does not involve itself with that, or does it?  They didn't buy this with the insistence that the city upzone these parcels in order for them to make big bucks on their investment. They were going to renovate it and get it opened. At least this is what we know.  We do not know what was promised by those in power or if Hudson or any of its representatives ever approached the city government.  We do know that former commission, John Szerdi, an employee of Hudson Holdings, brought them to town.

"The situation is a mess."

~ Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell

And I agree. It's a mess and the direct cause of the mess is wholly attributed to Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso.

Trans-Pacific Partnership on our Consent Agenda

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Commissioner McVoy has put Resolution No. 01-2016 on the agenda opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which has to do with global trade and supported by Obama. Critics say it will mean that more U.S. jobs get shipped overseas. Advocates say it'll expand U.S. exports and create more well-paying jobs here at home. Commissioner McVoy believes it will hurt our businesses by the out-sourcing of jobs, etc. and points out that our trade imbalance is out of whack...from 70 billion in 1993, the year before NAFTA went into effect, to more than $508 billion in 2014.

This is a subject that is far too important to slide through on the Consent Agenda. On top of that, it is totally out of our realm.  I don't know whether it is good, bad or indifferent (NAFTA sure was a disaster and I would probably say the TPP could/would be equally as bad) but the Consent Agenda should be for items that are routine, procedural decisions, and decisions that are overwhelmingly supported by the population and noncontroversial. This reminds me of when a former commission consisting of liberal commissioners placed a resolution on the Agenda opposing Arizona 1070 as they didn't think it "fair" to stop people for immigration status checks.

TITLE:
Resolution No. 01-2016 - oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership

SUMMARY:
The Resolution calls upon the elected officials in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and any similar trade agreements. Commissioner McVoy requested this be placed on the agenda.

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION:
The TPP may have adverse impacts on job retention and creation s in the United States. Lake Worth currently has over a 12% unemployment rate.

Trans Pacific Partnership

The Obama side of the argument--

TPP puts American workers first by establishing the highest labor standards of any trade agreement in history, requiring all countries to meet core, enforceable labor standards as stated in the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

The fully-enforceable labor standards we have won in TPP include the freedom to form unions and bargain collectively; prohibitions against child labor and forced labor; requirements for acceptable conditions of work such as minimum wage, hours of work, and safe workplace conditions; and protections against employment discrimination. These enforceable requirements will help our workers compete fairly and reverse a status quo that disadvantages our workers through a race to the bottom on international labor standards.

In fact, TPP will result in the largest expansion of fully-enforceable labor rights in history, including renegotiating NAFTA and bringing hundreds of millions of additional people under ILO standards – leveling the playing field for American workers so that they can win in the global economy. Fact sheet from Obama

Murders in Lake Worth

I like the word "murder."  It's right in your face.

Over the last six years, Lake Worth has had 39 murders.  Last year the murder rate was up once again.  In 2009 and in 2012 there were 8 homicides with 9 in 2015. 51.3% of the victims were shot and 20.5 were stabbed to death.

Click here to see the stats.

These are the nitty-gritties that our city likes to keep in the closet.

He doesn't care about $$$

For Trump fans everywhere--

A Jerry Holbert cartoon from Sunshine State News

And if you want to have some fun and find out how your wealth compares to Donald Trump's, use this interactive calculator

Sunset 1-1-16

Skywriting against Trump at Rose Parade

Gulfstream Hotel - Most Memorable Controversy of 2015

The Most Memorable controversy in 2015 and over the previous two years:

The Heights Charter Amendment vote of March 12, 2013.

**The  election results won by the people.

This measure amended the Lake Worth City Charter to limit buildings to 45 feet in height between Golfview Road and F Street and 35 feet between F street and A Street in a designated area of downtown, with exception to existing buildings and currently approved building permits.

It stands per Florida Statutes Section 166.031(2) and was effective on the date the results were certified, March 19, 2013. According to the former Inspector General, Sheryl Steckler, 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.**

On Tuesday night, there will be the second reading of ordinance 2016-04 to upzone the MF-30 parcels to DT, a commercial zoning that will allow Hudson Holdings to build to 65 feet. And as everyone knows, zoning changes are always political. And don't let them kid you--the casino complex is still on the city's back-burner to give Hudson Holdings a long-term lease on our property with development rights. This is dependent upon the outcome of the March election. They want to make their Gulfstream Hotel property package more valuable to them as well as to a possible buyer.

On September 15, 2015, Hudson Holdings withdrew from the ITN process.  The Palm Beach Post mentions the Gulfstream in today's article saying that this commission rejected the Hudson Holdings proposal in October.  The Post, once again, does not give the public all of the facts and NEVER writes about our Charter Amendment.

Quote of the Day - Rick Scott - Florida Unemployment Rate reduced

Another Rick Scott achievement:

He has created jobs and continues to attract businesses to Florida. Consequently the unemployment rate continues to drop. Beginning today, the amount has been reduced by more than 50 percent that businesses must pay in unemployment taxes.

“As more Floridians are finding the job opportunities they need to succeed and provide for their families, the cost of doing business in Florida keeps dropping. This dramatic reduction in taxes will be especially helpful for Florida’s small businesses and is one more reason that companies are choosing Florida as the best place to grow.”

~ Gov Rick Scott

The minimum tax rate is now $16.80 per employee and is cut to $7 per employee. Since 2012, the insurance rate has dropped 94 percent, from a high of $120.80 per employee.

Gary L. Antieau, Candidate for Lake Worth Mayor

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Gary L. Antieau

Candidate for Mayor of Lake Worth

Born in Wayne Michigan, Gary moved to Key West in 1969 and for five years worked as line chef at A & B Lobster House, moonlighting each day at Logan’s Lobster House. He then moved to Fort Lauderdale and for 10 years designed and installed pool decks. In 1979, after moving to Lake Worth, Gary met his wife Lee and married in 1982. That year, he opened Gary and Lee’s Lawn Service business and still has some of his original customers and cares for many lawns of local residents.

He has been involved in other interests over the years and even opened Gary and Lee’s Crafters Junction in 1997 in WPB which he owned for three years.

Gary has been working full-time from the age of 18 when he graduated from Brighton High School. With a special love for the elderly and children, he is always there for friends and neighbors, and has been a judge of 4-H children’s contests in cooking, crafts and public speaking.

Gary says, “I enjoy helping people all year long not just certain seasons. I am running for Mayor to give the city back to the people, not developers or special interest groups. Also, I want to address the many potholes throughout the city as well as improve the response time when a resident calls a city department. As mayor, I will personally return all calls asap.”

Vote for Gary L. Antieau

For Mayor of Lake Worth

March 15, 2016

Paid by Gary L. Antieau for Lake Worth Mayor

Anti-Fracking Resolution on Agenda

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TITLE:
Resolution No. 02-2016 - support a statewide prohibition on fracking to explore and produce oil and natural gas in Florida

SUMMARY:
The Resolution supports a statewide prohibition against the use of hydraulic fracturing, acid fracturing, and similar high pressure well stimulation practices, commonly called fracking, to extract underground oil and natural gas resources. Commissioner Maier requested this item be placed on the agenda.

At least the city is telling us who put what on the agenda.  I believe that this should not be on the Consent Agenda and deserves discussion. Support of this Resolution says the entire City of Lake Worth agrees.  It does not.

Hydraulic fracturing is a technology used to enhance the flow of energy from a well and is a 70 year old technology. It is not a “drilling technique;” fracturing can begin only when the drilling is done and the rig and derrick are removed. Fracking is thus a well “completion” technique. Once fracking is complete, a well can produce hydrocarbons for years, even decades, says Energy Indepth Florida.

Historic Perspective of hydraulic fracturing. They say that the process has been used on over 1 million producing wells. As the technology continues to develop and improve, operators now fracture as many as 35,000 wells of all types (vertical and horizontal, oil and natural gas) each year.

This is a misunderstood technology that has become political.  Democrats hate it.  Republicans understand the value and necessity of it.

Quotes of the Day - Louis Farrakhan and Allen West

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"Be careful, America. You're headed into the abyss of hell, and if you make a mistake in choosing your leaders, maybe you'll go there faster."

~ Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan is the catalyst for the growth and development of Islam in America talking about Donald Trump.

Lt. Col. Allen West sounded off on Farrakhan's statement:

    "Actually, Farrakhan has a point here. Indeed, as the past seven years of President Barack Obama have reminded us in the most painful way, making a mistake in our choice of leaders is taking us down into the abyss faster than we ever imagined. No one has done more 'exacerbating the race situation in America' than President Obama himself. He and his administration have torn away the skin of 'black civility' indeed, fomenting the likes of Black Lives Matter, who have declared open season on cops and even whites in general. And anyone who dares to question this — or suspicious and/or hateful actions by any 'minority' group — fears repercussions ranging from being labeled a racist to persecution by our own attorney general to a fate even worse.

    "People have had enough of this division and political correctness gone so far as to trump Americans’ God-given liberties, and Donald Trump is striking a chord. And it’s not just a white thing, as Farrakhan suggests."

Click here... for the story.

New Year's Day Early Morn

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