My routine at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool and the Red/White Sign Brigade still trying to hone a coherent message

I'm getting back to my pool routine after being away for a few days in Michigan. Unfortunately, a pool was not available there to use. I've been to the pool two days in a row since being back. One was with the water aerobics class and the other was a self-guided routine I developed that takes about an hour to complete. Already, there is an improvement in flexibility and a higher energy level.

Many of you who read my blog know that I ride my bike to the pool about 95% of the time. It's about 3 miles there and then 3 miles back. During the ride it's possible to work in some basic errands like going to the bank, post office or a quick stop at Publix. You can order subs and other items from Publix, on-line in advance of your shopping so there's no need to wait at the deli line.

My occupation offers some flexibility in how I schedule my day so the pool's morning-only hours on Monday, Thursday and Friday are not the obstacle it is for those with nine-to-five jobs. As I ride my bike through different neighborhoods along various routes getting to and from the beach I'm able to observe things. On the way back from the pool yesterday (9/11) discovered this new version of the red and white sign planted in a front lawn.

The 'new' sign from the Red/White Sign Brigade. They're still trying to hone the message about the BEACH!.

This NEW version just happened to be less than a block away from former commissioner JoAnn Golden's house. Wouldn't be surprised to find out her deep pockets are involved in procuring these signs; but we'll never know since there is no PAC established and there is nothing on the ballot related to the issue and there is no disclaimer on the sign saying who paid for it. This sign, with slightly different wording, is in addition to the signs that have been in some people's lawns since mid-April:

The first sign from the hysterical Red/White Sign Brigade. The BEACH! is not the issue and that message is getting through. 

The reason for the new batch of signs with different wording is a mystery to all but those within the closest rings of our local cabal. Perhaps some people have so much money that they have nothing better to do than add more coroplast to the waste stream. There is a question as to whether the signs are permitted at all since there is no election related to the issue.

Here is the text from the land development regulations about these sorts of signs:

Exemption from section regulations. The following signs shall be considered allowable signs when such signs meet the specific regulations set forth below (signs listed without specific regulations are also allowable signs under this section), and such signs shall be exempt from all other regulations of this section except the maintenance provisions of subsection e), above.
1. All directional signs listed in the "Uniform Manual of Traffic-Control Devices."
2. All signs directing traffic flow on private property. Such signs shall neither exceed four (4) square feet in background area nor extend to a greater height than four (4) feet above the ground. Only one (1) such sign shall be allowed at each point of ingress or egress, provided such signs do not create a traffic or pedestrian hazard.
3. Temporary political signs pertaining to specific elections. Which include: any message urging the election or defeat of any candidate seeking any political office or urging the passage or defeat of any ballot measure.
[and. . .](G) Signs shall be removed within forty-eight (48) hours following the day of the election to which they apply.
(H) Illegally placed temporary signs: The owner of the parcel of private property on which a political sign is located shall be deemed responsible for compliance with the provisions of this subsection. Any sign or signs in violation shall be removed by the city after notice to the property owner. The notice shall be posted on or near the non-complying sign, shall advise as to the requirements for correction and shall allow forty-eight (48) hours to take corrective action.

In my reading the code it is clear these signs are illegal: there is no election until March of 2016 and there is no item on the ballot related to the issue in question. Somewhere within City Hall the OK has been given for these signs to exist based on non-action by code enforcement. Therefore a precedent has been set for anyone who opposes the 'red sign brigade' to come up with their own version for front yards. Ideas anyone?

I digress, back to the pool. . .another part of my routine is "checking in" at the pool on Facebook. By showing that I am at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool, along with a picture taken that particular day, broadcasts to my 1,200+ Facebook followers that the pool exists and they can come join me or check it out on their own. Here is the picture that I took yesterday:

It's the City's municipal pool with not-so-many using it. The truth hurts. Stop complaining and go swimming.  

There is no scheduled aerobics class on Fridays. I exercised for about an hour, from 10:30 to 11:30. During my time there, there were only two or three other people using the pool. I take pictures either before or after and they create a record of how many people are using the pool. These pictures document how many are using the pool—but many times I am accused of purposefully taking pictures of an empty pool in order to make a point. That is false.

I am one of the few that regularly remind people through social media that the City does indeed have a pool at the BEACH! and that there is a scarcity of swimmers for certain hours of the day. I believe my pictures of the pool with very few swimmers is building the case that the pool is underutilized and shouldn't be subsidized to the extent it is from the BEACH! fund, but that really isn't the intent. Possibly the hours need to be changed to be more convenient to people's work day. But burying your head in the sand doesn't help. The fact is this: if the pool is empty there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Denying this fact is not helping anyone and it remains a drain on the City's fiscal health.

So, get up and go to the pool yourself and "check in" instead of complaining about the pictures I take. Be part of the solution instead of the problem. Contact your City leaders about topics such as better pool hours or staggered schedules. Maybe the pool wouldn't be so empty if you spent more time swimming and less time complaining.