Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Did I mention that Commissioner Cara Jennings voted "no" on the lease to Compass?

In honor of Ms. Stanton's City Manager Appoinment by the Lake Worth City Commission

Lake Worth City Commission Selects Susan Stanton as City Manager

Click title for link to Wikipedia article on Ms. Stanton. Commissioner Lowe voted against the appointment. The action occurred at the 5 p.m. Special Meeting of the City Commission prior to the regular meeting.

I think she is a great choice and am very optimistic about the selection.

Residential Real Estate Sales - Last 30 Days - 33460 Zip Code

Click title for link. A 2/1 with in-wall A/C in College Park (my street) just sold for $65,000.

Monday, April 6, 2009

A word or two about the LW Mayoral race...

Thanks to everyone that has talked, called or e-mailed me after the articles appeared in the Palm Beach Post last week and again today. You expressions of support mean a lot to me and I'll be calling on you soon to help make our vision of Lake Worth a reality after November '09.

The PB Post made it seem like I announced, when in fact that's not what happened. I told George Bennett that I am planning on running for Mayor. Slightly different than announcing, but it's more about timing. I haven't opened a campaign account. I am still actively serving on the CRA and do not have to resign until qualifying period ends in August - assuming I follow through on my plans to run.

Keep checking back here for further announcements. For now, if you're curious about who I am and what I stand for, this blog gives you over 1,500 opportunities to find out more about me. If you like what you see here, tell your friends and neighbors about me - ask them to check out the blog. You can leave a message via the "Grand Central" button on the right-hand side of the blog or e-mail me at wesblackman@gmail.com. That's a way to arrange a face-to-face meeting. If you are part of a group of people, I'd love to arrange an opportunity to chat with you all in the near future.

Let's all get involved so that Lake Worth is known for being responsive to its residents' needs and is first when it comes to communicating with its residents. We have a long way to go.

City Manager Candidates

I heard the interviews this morning - the stream seemed to kick on at 8:45 a.m. for some reason - not sure what was going on before that. From what I heard, we have a strong group of candidates. Thomas Hoover hails from the mid-west and he spoke the language of someone who understood the dynamics of a community in need of reinvestment - but restrained so not to lose the city's character. Susan Stanton was strong - especially the way she explained how to deal with sometimes conflicting priorities - didn't hear all of the interview. Same with Stanley Hawthorne - although I did hear him say that in evaluating delivery of services in challenging economic times, sometimes less is more. I'd like to hear more about that concept and flush out some examples. Pam Brangaccio - she has a lot of county and city experience in Florida. We even worked for the city of West Palm Beach at the same time way back when. I got the sense that she would be a keen negotiator - something we clearly need.

Tomorrow they plan to make the decision - at 5 p.m. prior to the regular Commission meeting. I'll check the city's website later today and see if they have the meeting audio available so you can listen to it yourself if you have time.

Again, an 8:30 a.m. meeting on such a big decision is not advisable, as far as I am concerned and the Commission is not leaving a lot of time to think things over before they act. Another rushed decision?

I am really impressed with the strength of the candidates. Fingers crossed!

More mention of potential Lake Worth candidates in George Bennett's column

Click title for link to article.

Here is the excerpt regarding Lake Worth:

With Lake Worth Mayor Jeff Clemens not seeking reelection in November so he can pursue a 2010 state House bid, voters could see a broad spectrum of potential replacements.

Chamber of Commerce prez and former Mayor Tom Ramiccio, blogging urban planner Wes Blackman and longtime activist Javier Del Sol say they're in. Maybes include TV personality Greg Rice and veterinarian/Democratic activist Rene Varela.

Question: What makes an "activist" in the eyes of the media?

Click Here for Live Link to City Manager Interviews

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Click here for direct link to back-up information on City Manager candidates.

And then again, right before the regular City Commission meeting on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

This is when they plan to make the actual selection of the new City Manager - not a lot of time to mull things over...

City Commission Meeting 4/6 at 8:30 a.m. - City Manager Candidate Interviews

This should be streaming over the Internet. I'll make a point to listen tomorrow.

San Francisco Mayor Newsom speaks at Compass yesterday morning...



About 30 or so people attended a talk given by the visiting Mayor of San Francisco. The remarks in the video surround issues related to gay marriage and the importance of the courts in propelling the movement. After this, he took some questions and one was about the various "green" initiatives led by San Fransisco, increasingly followed by other communities. One of them is making possible urban wind generation such as this installation:

Check out this link to San Francisco's Department of the Environment for more detail on the many city -sponsored programs designed to address environmental and, many times, social justice issues.

Representing Lake Worth were Mayor Clemens, Vice-Mayor Golden and Commissioner Mulvehill. Commissioner Muio from West Palm Beach also attended the talk. Afterward, Lake Worth resident Drew Martin mentioned to me that he wants to see Lake Worth pass a ban on plastic grocery bags. I told him to work through the three commissioners that he supports and wished him luck.

Please join the City Commission to meet and greet the City Manager candidates.

Sunday April 5th

4pm - 6pm

LW Golf Course Clubhouse (take 7th Avenue North all the way east, dead ends at the golf course)

The City Manager is a very important position in our city as they carry out many responsibilities: ensuring that all city departments run smoothly, over-seeing all major city projects, balancing the budget and hiring/firing department heads. Most importantly, the City Manager is responsible to carry out the policy and directions given by the City Commission.

The City Commission will be interviewing the City Manager candidates next week. Your input on the best person for the job is vital! Please attend the meet and greet. Copies of the candidate resumes are available at City Hall, or online.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Gavin Newsom comes to SoFla

Click title for link to South Florida Blade article regarding Mayor Newsom's nationwide tour. Mayor Newsom is planning a bid for the California Governor's seat in 2010.

Today at Compass Community Center in lovely downtown Lake Worth...

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom stopped by Compass Community Center today and talked before a group of locals. Pictured above are Mayor Newsom (third from left) and a collection of elected officials and Compass' board of directors, with their CEO Tony Plakas. I am loading Mayor Newsom's talk onto YouTube. That will be up later today. Check back and you'll hear his refreshing stance on gay marriage and a range of LGBTQ issues.

Thank you Mayor Newsom for making Lake Worth a stop during your national travels!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Click here for Time magazine's pictorial essay on the fall of Detroit

Click here for video on the importance of Michigan State being in the Final Four to the state and the city of Detroit.

News for the "Movers" and Shakers in Lake Worth

From Article V of the City Charter:

Sec. 2. Candidacy.

(a) Any person who has been domiciled within the city for a period of not less than six (6) months immediately preceding the first day of the qualifying period shall be eligible to qualify for the office of mayor. Any person who has been domiciled within an election district for a period of not less than six (6) months immediately preceding the first day of the qualifying period shall be eligible to qualify for office of city commissioner from said district. For purposes of this subsection, a person shall be considered to be domiciled where he or she has established a fixed habitation or primary abode and intends to remain indefinitely.

(b) Candidates for the office of mayor or city commissioner shall qualify for such office by the filing of a written notice of candidacy with the city clerk at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

Qualifying period begins in August.

Reef Rescue Video - re Outfall

Delray Beach Ocean Outfall Closed - Message from Palm Beach County Reef Rescue

We have not had time to update our website, but I wanted to share this new underwater video of the Delray Beach ocean outfall going offline with you. Captain Craig donated his time and dive boat Starfish to take us and reporters out in 8 foot seas to witness first hand the shutting down of the infamous sewer pipe.

We just posted the video on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trPKIvrz8XA

On April 1, the Delray Beach ocean outfall stopped pumping inadequately treated sewage into the ocean from a pipe that has spewed millions of gallons a day of pollutants into the ocean for more than 40 years. Closing the valves on the plant that treats wastewater for Delray Beach and Boynton Beach ends years of wrangling among environmentalists, politicians and regulators over damage to nearby reefs.

The Delray Beach outfall is one of six in South Florida that pump more than 300 million gallons of minimally treated sewage offshore every day. The campaign to shut down the outfalls began in 2003, when Reef Rescue divers witnessed algae killing the reefs around the outfall.

Palm Beach Post Article:

Delray Beach to stop dumping wastewater in ocean

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/03/31/0331_delrayoutfall.html

CBS news

http://www.cbs12.com/video/index.php?bcpid=1137883291&bclid=1143359274&bctid=18179931001

Join us this Saturday, April 4 at the Sandoway House Environmental Center to celebrate.

Click here for information and directions.

http://www.sandowayhouse.com

Palm Beach County Reef Rescue

www.reef-rescue.org

PO Box 207 * Boynton Beach, FL 33425

Lake Worth mayor Clemens will run for Brandenburg's state House seat

Click title for link to PB Post article. You'll find this paragraph interesting:

Former Mayor Tom Ramiccio, now the head of the Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce, said today that he plans to run for mayor in November. Wes Blackman, an urban planner who has been active in city affairs, is also planning to run.

Greg Rice, the 3-foot-tall television personality featured in Hulett Environmental Services ads, is another possible candidate.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Up-date on Tree Trimming item from Miss Hannah...

Commissioner – Joe has been looking into this with an intent to do in May and November – before and following hurricane season. This is another project that has been on the back-burner due to other priorities assigned staff – we’re juggling them the best we can! His (Joe’s) intent is to have amnesty days for not only vegetation, but tires, etc… Not there yet, but close!

Laura J. Hannah

Acting City Manager

City of Lake Worth

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

On tree trimming...

Channel 5 announced today that the City of West Palm Beach began their trimming "amnesty" program - first day of April. The city is encouraging people to do their heavy tree trimming prior to hurricane season (June 1.) They are waiving special pick up fees in order to encourage the practice. This is a commendable act on the part of a local government!

About this time last year, I had some major trimming done at my house. A crew came through and took care of what needed to be trimmed for about $600. The resulting debris/trimmings were piled up alongside Pennsylvania - the entire length of my property. This was done on a Monday - so I called for a special pick-up and the city came the next day. All the cuttings were removed. Nothing was discussed regarding a charge for the service or the amount. I did expect some sort of charge and knew that it would appear on a future utility bill.

Lo and behold, when that bill came, guess what the figure was for that "special pick-up?"

$850.00 Which, if you don't pay, they will shut off your electricity and water. I ended up talking with Joe Kroll and he ended up adjusting the figure, but it didn't seem to be based on anything other than the initial fee was too high. Again - no notice, no conversation about what the fee would be, etc.

That was more than what it cost to have the crew do the trimming! We should be encouraging private property owners to prepare for hurricane season and this is punishing them if they do. This could prevent greater injury and damage citywide if there is a major storm event later in the year. Especially in these economic times, Lake Worth needs to follow West Palm's lead and do the same for the benefit and safety of its residents.

Note: Commissioner Mulvehill responded this afternoon to the e-mail I sent to the Commission and said that she has asked that this item be put on a future agenda.