Strong-arming local businesses...

I heard a lot of things along the campaign trail. One of the more troubling was the habit by the city administration and members of the City Commission of beating up on local businesses - especially if they do not adhere to the "party line" as expressed by those on the dais. While Commissioner Jennings' attempt to throttle Nature's Way was one of the more blatant attempts (getting the press it deserves), it isn't the only story. There is an establishment that is currently being hounded by the Sheriff and being told that they aren't liked since they don't live in Lake Worth. There is another family member of a business owner who, while in West Palm Beach, received a tap on the shoulder at a late night hot spot. Turns out it was a sister of a prominent Lake Worth City Commissioner. They were told, finger pointing into their chest, that "we don't like you", while the prominent City Commissioner looked on with her hands folded across her chest.

And now, at the 11th and a half hour, we are telling Publix that they have to build a LEED certified building or we won't let them build anything. There is nothing in the code that requires this and nothing has been discussed up to this point. If we are going to require this as a condition of development approval, then codify it - don't be arbitrary and capricious. Someone should perform a study about the number of vehicle trips that would be reduced or eliminated by having a quality destination grocery store in the downtown. I bet the environmental benefit of a location in downtown Lake Worth would be equal to or more than the environmental benefit derived from a LEED certified building.