Saturday, October 17, 2015

A Review: Our charming Casino complex at the City of Lake Worth BEACH!—Share with your friends and neighbors

A review of our charming new Casino complex the Lake Worth taxpayers received for their money. Share this with your friends and neighbors!
  • The whole project was premised on "saving the building." The building was 94% demolished
  • Virtually all "Green Environmental" amenities were eliminated, including pilings to protect the building against storm surge (and sea level rise which is a concern for many), against an untested seawall
  • The original Request for Proposal (RFP) was a "remodel" of a 2nd floor ballroom covering one-half (50%) of the ground floor (shops and John G's restaurant [now in Manalapan])
  • There was no commission approval to expand the RFP scope to include a 2nd floor covering 100% of the ground floor (shops and restaurant)
  • Adding 33% to the project size within the $6 million budget was unrealistic and created major deficiencies: quality and functionality
  • The original rainwater collection system was eliminated; and designs changes were not done to allow for that function in the future. Remember the continual mention of a "cistern system"?
  • Acoustic treatments, event office space, and additional storage were eliminated from the final plans
  • The Ballroom built-in wiring for video and sound access/convenience were eliminated. (In fact, the ballroom, kitchen and bathrooms on the second floor are all on one circuit. People are advised not to bring blenders to events since using them has been known to blackout the entire second floor during an event)
  • The exterior balconies have poor/reversed drainage causing water to flow towards the second floor rooms resulting in flooding during heavy rain events (like a hurricane, tropical storm or thunderstorm)
  • Inferior doors and windows allow water intrusion along with rusting and corroding hardware
  • Rainwater from the roof and balconies drains directly onto the sidewalk over any pedestrians that happen to be nearby (such as when waiting for a pickup or making a delivery [for which there is no designated space])
  • Rainwater draining off the roof and balconies damages the awnings, produces mold (particularly on the decorative cast stone), and creates more building maintenance issues
  • Removal of a water booster pump to get pressure to 2nd floor fire sprinklers was eliminated. The City then had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to increase the main water line loop around entire beach site. Then larger water meters were installed incurring additional monthly charges. Cost was passed onto site work budget. Water comes from the Palm Beach water system which is West Palm Beach water
  • Air conditioning of exterior covered walkways, elevators, and stairs was eliminated. This would have protected the interior of the structure from corrosive salt water (and protected visitors from hot temperatures and inclement weather)
  • The eliminated amenities, or "value engineering" if you like, reduced the cost but resulted in lower lease rates, event rates, and contributed greatly to un-leased second floor space
Who was responsible for this? See image below:
Note that the Lake Worth Casino building is not "failing". As we learned from the recently closed Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process, the Casino business plan is a CONFIRMED FAILURE.

Mark your calendars and tell all your friends and family up North—they'll need the Winter break

From last year's best Street Painting Festival ever:

VisitFlorida visits the Loggerhead Marine Life Center

If the weather reports are accurate the turtle nests are going to take a pounding this weekend with high winds, big waves, and beach erosion. Turtles that need help are taken there and it also happens to be one of the top visitor destinations for tourists and visitors to Palm Beach County. They treat about 50 turtles a year for various injuries.

VisitFlorida is main marketing organization for promoting tourism in Florida and the website is top notch. Locally we have Discover the Palm Beaches. If you have friends and family up North you should direct them to these websites and encourage them to visit this Winter. The City of Lake Worth also has their own page on VisitFlorida.

Here is why, if you live up North, you might want to start planning your Florida vacation sooner rather than later:

Looking for apartment or office space in south Florida? Lake Worth is the Place To Be*

One of The Palm Beach Post's expert sources for information about the little City of Lake Worth is the website NeighborhoodScout. Here is what that site has about one neighborhood in the City: N Lakeside Drive/Lucerne Avenue. I didn't know there was even such a neighborhood by that name but if they say there is then it must be true. You'll be surprised to learn this about that neighborhood:
     The average rental price in N Lakeside Dr / Lucerne Ave is currently $1,087, based on NeighborhoodScout's exclusive analysis. Rents here are currently lower in price than 61.3% of Florida neighborhoods. [emphasis added]
     N Lakeside Dr / Lucerne Ave is a suburban neighborhood (based on population density) located in Lake Worth, Florida. This is a coastal neighborhood (i.e., is on the ocean, a bay, or inlet).
     N Lakeside Dr / Lucerne Ave real estate is primarily made up of small (studio to two bedroom) to medium sized (three or four bedroom) single-family homes and apartment complexes/high-rise apartments. Most of the residential real estate is occupied by a mixture of owners and renters. Many of the residences in the N Lakeside Dr / Lucerne Ave neighborhood are older, well-established, built between 1940 and 1969. A number of residences were also built between 1970 and 1999.
     Vacant apartments or homes are a major fact of life in N Lakeside Dr / Lucerne Ave. The current real estate vacancy rate here is 28.3%. This is higher than the rate of vacancies in 93.2% of all U.S. neighborhoods. In addition, most vacant housing here is vacant year round. This can sometimes be the case in neighborhoods dominated by new construction that is not yet occupied. But often neighborhoods with vacancy rates this high are places that can be plagued by a protracted vacancy problem. If you live here, you may find that a number of buildings in your neighborhood are actually empty.
If you live in Florida or plan to relocate here after hearing the news another terrible Winter is coming, then contact a realtor in Lake Worth and make inquiries. You can learn more about Lake Worth here and here. Good luck!
*Cannot vouch for the accuracy of the source; but if it's a trusted source for The Palm Beach Post then that's good enough for me.

WARNING: Lake Worth and Delray Beach mentioned in the same sentence

The East Coast Aquatic Club in Delray Beach and Lake Worth use the Lake Worth Municipal pool at the BEACH! as one of their venues.
Here is the website for the East Coast Aquatic Club. There is a link for the class schedule at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool and this is their email address.

Lake Worth has a large pool that is highly underutilized by the City's residents. Seems the City's residents have turned their backs on this once popular amenity. Why? People speculate but one thing is clear: our pool needs people.

What is the Lake Lytal Family Aquatic Center doing that makes it so popular?
Anyone want to take a wild guess?

Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi! What you need to know

This video from Vox explains what happened in Benghazi and why you'll keep hearing about it ad infinitum, or ad nauseum, whichever you deem more appropriate.

The Compass Business Expo is TODAY (Saturday, October 17th)

This FREE EVENT is from 12:00 to 3:00. Compass would like you to register which you can do here. About the event:

Come out for Palm Beach County's only LGBT Business Expo! Whether you are looking to do business with LGBT-friendly companies or you want to grow your business and market to this dynamic community, you won't want to miss the 3rd annual Business Expo at Compass.
  • Visit the Vendor Tradeshow area
  • Attend Breakout Sessions on Social Media Marketing, Saving Money with Credit Unions, Myths about Radio Advertising, Fair Housing and more
  • Free give-aways and raffles! 
This event is free to the public. Please register today for your free raffle ticket.

Here is a special video from my archives, when then-Mayor (now State Senator) Jeff Clemens attended the opening of Compass in March 2009:

Friday, October 16, 2015

Lake Worth resident makes pitch to save business plan at Casino complex

This latest pitch can be found on the Post's editorial page. It's not a new pitch by any means. If you've been following this issue of the Casino complex at the BEACH! then you've heard this sentiment many times. Here is an excerpt from the pitch in the Post:
Casino pitch [emphasis added] not in city’s interest 
     In response to the article, “Developer returns with new casino pitch,” one concern I have that was not mentioned is that Hudson Holdings’ revised proposal calls for the city to finance a parking garage with a revenue bond in the amount of $3.5 million — $6.5 million, with interest.
     Hudson Holdings has always promoted its project as one that will give city residents everything they want and will cost them nothing. It seems that has changed, and this should concern all city residents. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
     The other issue noted by The Post and that has always been part of Hudson Holdings’ pitch to promote their project: They claim that the existing casino project is losing money. My understanding is that the beach complex is in fact operating in the black now, and that revenues are expected to increase.
Here's the definition of 'pitch'. It's an interesting choice of words, is it not? The writer of the letter focuses on the still-unleased 2nd floor space. If you've been following the debate, that's only one of many problems with the facility. And then there's that pool. . .

News about the Bamboo Room in the little City of Lake Worth

Bill Meredith has news about a show tonight by the Steel Brothers at the Bamboo Room TONIGHT.

Follow the Bamboo Room on Twitter; they're treating the music lovers of Palm Beach County to all kinds of different music. It's not just for Blues lovers—spread the word!

The Washington Post: "Episcopal Church’s first black leader — and its ‘tortuous’ path toward integration"

Interestingly, just recently posted an article about the Episcopal Church on the fallout following the promotion of a gay man to Bishop in the church. After years of research it was discovered that the church retained 90% of its membership despite the upheaval that move created. The members who stayed with the church worked out their differences and moved on. The current Presiding Bishop is a woman, Katharine Jefferts Schori, who will be stepping down soon. The new Presiding Bishop taking over for her is a Black man, Bishop Michael Curry. Here is an excerpt from the article in The Washington Post:
     Bishop Michael Curry vividly remembers growing up in segregated Buffalo in the 1950s and ’60s, where on one bright morning in 1963, he crossed Main Street from East Buffalo to West Buffalo to attend an integrated school.
     As an Episcopal priest and civil rights activist, his late father, Kenneth Curry, helped lead the boycott of the city’s segregated public schools. And yet, like the larger culture at the time, worship in the Episcopal Church he so loved was largely segregated. As leader of a black congregation in Buffalo, he never would have been called to the pulpit of a white Episcopal church.
     Five decades later, Kenneth Curry probably would never have imagined that his son would be chosen to lead the entire denomination.
Soon-to-be Presiding Bishop Curry is on Twitter. You can Follow him by clicking on the "Follow" icon in the Tweet below:

All Hail the Lake Worth CRA and La Joya Villages


The Lake Worth CRA presents, La Joya Villages Apartments, in Lake Worth, Florida. 

 As an affordable rental apartment community, La Joya Villages has increased activity and stability to the surrounding community.* 

 Developed by Realtex Southeast and the Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, the development is comprised of 55 two and three bedroom units targeting families earning 80% and below of the area median income. 

 La Joya Villages was designed to provide quality residential units and community amenities to an existing community and strengthen redevelopment in the area. Site amenities include a clubhouse, splash park, History Labyrinth made of pervious pavers, native plants, and historical markers, community gardens for both La Joya residents and the surrounding community to utilize. 

 [*Here is a blog entry from earlier in the year I posted showing the neglect and unfortunate conditions in that area of the City. It's exciting things are turning around for those residents.]

West Palm Beach in the Wall Street Journal: "Two Condo Sales Smash Record"

And get this, the building hasn't even been constructed yet which will be called the "Bristol". This is the old Chapel by the Lake site that was razed on Flagler Drive. Candace Taylor at The Wall Street Journal has renderings in this article on the project. Here is an excerpt:
     Also on the Bristol’s 25th floor, a five-bedroom unit sold for about $14.7 million, or $2,395 a square foot. The median price a square foot for a condo in West Palm Beach is just $84 [emphasis added], according to the real-estate website Trulia. Construction of the building won’t begin until next year, Mr. Adelson said. Construction is expected to be completed in 2018.
     Mr. Adelson and his partners on the project, Golub & Co. and Elion Partners, bought the building site for about $23 million. The approval process took more than three years, with residents voicing concerns that the new building could impact their views and lead to more traffic, Mr. Adelson said.

Joe Minicozzi and Jeff Speck in Fort Myers talking about Walkable Communities

Here is an excerpt from the article by June Fletcher at the Naples Daily News:
     [M]any cities are behind the curve in their planning process, said city planner Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, and one of the city planners who worked on the downtown plans of both Naples and Fort Myers.
     “If you haven’t had code redesign in past 10 years, you probably don’t have a very good code, because they don’t allow you to be urban,” [emphasis added] said Speck, adding that since the 1960s, most codes were set up to promote suburban sprawl.
     But when a downtown is redesigned for walkability as Naples was in 1993 by the Miami-based architecture firm Duany Plater-Zyberk, it attracts people who are trying to escape the “miasma of sprawl,” he said.
     Speck said when he first saw Fifth Avenue in Naples, “you could fry an egg on the pavement and not be hit by a car.”
     Its current popularity with tourists and residents alike had much to do with reorganizing scattered parking, turning bland one-story buildings into two-story ones, and most importantly, bringing housing back into what had been a mix of retail and offices.
There is video from the conference in the link above featuring Joe Minicozzi (who many of you planners in West Palm Beach will remember).

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Calling All Party Animals—Party in Lake Worth, FL, get SAVED! in a bar and then start partying all over again—God is Great!

Party your ass off in the little City of Lake Worth, Florida starting Friday night, then all day and night on Saturday. Wake up as early as you can on Sunday and go to the Southern Baptist church service at the 'Common Ground' (no 's') church by pastor Mike Olive and get SAVED! at the bar. AT A BAR! How cool is that? Only in Lake Worth, Florida. You can find pastor Olive early Sunday morning at 12 S. 'J' Street. Tell them Wes said, "Hi". God is Great!:
Tip your server and stay behind the curtain.
If you're able to wake up early enough you'll get a special bonus: Free coffee with breakfast! Have a kid in tow? There's free child care too. 

Evening on the Avenue TODAY in Lake Worth IS CANCELLED

UPDATE: Evening on the Avenue in Lake Worth tomorrow IS CANCELLED.

The plane crash in suburban Lake Worth and the bungled reporting by local media vis-à-vis the crash location

Within minutes of learning the news of the tragic plane crash last Tuesday I knew exactly where the location of the crash occurred; and it's not magic. When it was confirmed it was the Mar Mak trailer park as the location I googled it and found the address then proceeded to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser and there it was: "00". The numbers '00' indicate it's a property in unincorporated, or suburban PBC. It's that simple. You can teach any teenager to do the same thing in a few minutes.

I suspect (but don't know for sure) that Charlie Keegan at NBC5/WPTV found the same information in a similar manner. WPTV remained consistent throughout the day that the location of the crash was in suburban Lake Worth. Kudos to WPTV. And also kudos to Fox29/WFLX; here is a report from Andrew Ruiz:
Fox29 WFLX TV, West Palm Beach, FL-news 

But what did ABC25/WPBF report?
Note the video has "Palm Springs" and the dateline has "Lake Worth".
And my good friends at CBS12/WPEC took it to a whole new level of confusion:
WPTV seems to be trying to cover all the bases: "Palm Springs", "Lake Worth", and "near Lake Worth".
Here is an image from PBC's municipal map with labeling I added showing the location of the plane crash:
Yesterday had an entertaining back and forth with Gary Widom at WPEC on Twitter. Here is one of those Tweets:
Widom asserts that because Lake Worth is the largest municipality in the area reporting that the crash occurred "near Lake Worth" is acceptable. You can debate that all day and night but I'll show in a little bit why "suburban Lake Worth" is the proper way to report the location and minimize public confusion.

First, by the numbers (per the U.S. Census): Palm Springs has 21,728 residents. Not what one would call an insignificant city by population. Lake Worth has 37,097 residents and Greenacres has more people at 39,157. By land area Lake Worth is larger than Greenacres by a whopping .08 square miles. Anyone could make a legitimate case saying the crash occurred near Palm Springs, near Lake Worth, or near Greenacres.

If you're going to use near as the yardstick, with city size being the baseline, then why not say, "near West Palm Beach"? No one would do that because it's inaccurate. But logically it makes all the sense in the world.

Here is why suburban Lake Worth is the most accurate description of the crash location:
  • The crash didn't occur in any municipality (incorporated area)
  • The crash did occur in an area that is in suburban PBC (unincorporated)
  • The crash was in the Lake Worth Corridor
  • Hence the accurate location of "suburban Lake Worth" 
Even CBS4 in Miami got the location correct:
Understanding what is suburban, or unincorporated PBC, takes a little research. Two, maybe three minutes tops, when you get the basics down. There simply isn't any excuse for not getting the location correct for A PLANE CRASH.

And for those of you interested, here is the definitive explanation of what is and what is not the City of Lake Worth.
If you're west of John Prince Park you can safely say you are not in the City of Lake Worth.

"Be Alert"—Notification from College Park Neighborhood Association in Lake Worth

Dear Neighbors,

 It has come to my attention that there has been at least one reported incident recently of a prowler in our neighborhood during the evening hours. This is a reminder to all and particularly to those who live alone or who are otherwise more vulnerable, to be particularly vigilant and aware of your surroundings and property at all times.

 I also ask that each of us be appropriately on guard over our neighborhood at all times, and do not hesitate to call the Sheriff's office (either 911 or the non-emergency phone number 688-3400, whichever you feel more appropriate) if you see anything or anyone out of the ordinary or suspicious. Simply put, if you see something, "Make the Call Y'all".

 As a neighborhood and a community, we need to watch each other's backs (and property) at all times. The suspicious person or situation you come across may be occurring on someone else's property, but remember that could easily be you or your property. The Sheriff cannot be omnipresent in our neighborhood, so we must all share the burden of safeguarding our community.

 My best to you all,
John Pickett, College Park President (the NAPC Facebook page)

From Jesse Bailey at the Walkable West Palm Beach blog

If new urbanism, Complete Streets, the work of Donald Shoup and Jeff Speck are of interest to you here in central Palm Beach County then Jesse Bailey's blog is a must read. Getting traffic engineers and FDOT to change their ways is a monumental task and he's one of those in the lead. He recently scored a major victory and maybe you read about it?

Here is the latest, an excerpt from the Walkable West Palm Beach blog:
The vibrant public life in Copenhagen is featured in this video [below] from StreetFilms. It’s difficult to describe the livability and life in public that makes this city special without going there, but this film does it justice. Great urbanism, at its core, is really about a quality of life in public spaces. [emphasis added] Fostering that life in public requires a shift in values, from one prioritizing the needs of cars, to one prioritizing the needs and wants of people living life in public. Taming the automobile so that is a guest in a public realm dominated by people is key to any successful public space, whether a square in Copenhagen, Clematis Street, or the Flagler Waterfront.
Here is the video referred to in the excerpt above:

Integral with traffic engineering/policy in cities is how and where to park cars. This is a blog post on the Walkable WPB blog titled, "Parking policy with Donald Shoup". A must read that will get you thinking.

Art Deco & MiMo Tour Guide Academy (Fall 2015)—Miami Design Preservation League, Miami Beach, FL

Art Deco + MiMo Appreciation Course + Tour Guide Academy 

Art Deco and MiMo Appreciation one-day course 
Sunday, October 25th, 10 am–4 pm

Art Deco and MiMo Tour Guide Academy three-day course and certification
Sunday, October 25th, 10 am–4 pm
Sunday, November 1st, 10 am–4 pm
Sunday, November 8th,  10 am–4 pm
Miami Design Preservation League offers the Art Deco + MiMo Tour Guide Academy, a course designed for individuals who would like to know more about Art Deco and Miami Modern architecture, also known as “MiMo”. The Art Deco + MiMo Tour Guide Academy also serves as a training program for individuals who would like to become volunteer guides for MDPL, leading walking tours of the Art Deco District and the newly recognized MiMo districts of North Beach. Individuals not interested in becoming MDPL tour guides will register for the one-day appreciation course. Individuals interested in becoming certified MDPL tour guide will participate in the full three-day course.

 Please submit application by October 23, 2015. Click here to register.

Uber/Lyft party in Broward County tonight

Congratulations Broward County! For those of you who've never taken a ride-share by Uber or Lyft read about my recent ride to the airport (PBIA). You can't imagine how easy and convenient it is. 

The little City of Lake Worth's VisitFlorida website: send this to your friends and family up North

 It's mid-October and around now many folks up North start thinking seriously about a Winter vacation—making some broad plans such as where to go and for how long. The earlier you choose is when you lock in the best price for lodging and airfare.

Send this blog post to your friends and family up North. What Lake Worth lacks in hotel rooms we make up in other ways like many vacation homes for rent and plenty of Bed & Breakfasts. West Palm Beach has plenty of hotel rooms available and it's only a short bike ride or car ride from West Palm to Lake Worth.
This is an aerial view of the Lake Worth BEACH! on the Atlantic Ocean. This incredible photograph is by Skyline Aerials and here is their Facebook page.
Plus Palm Beach (33480) and Delray Beach are only minutes away too.

VisitFlorida is the most visited website for visitors and tourists considering or planning a stay here in Florida. The little City of Lake Worth has their very own site on VisitFlorida. Here is part of what people see when they check out Lake Worth:
Notice the description of Lake Worth. Whoever wrote this did a very good job.
Here is a picture yours truly sent to VisitFlorida last year.
Others who have uploaded pictures to the Lake Worth VisitFlorida page are:
Thank you everyone and look forward to all the tourists and visitors to our little City of Lake Worth!

A look at the future of high speed rail in the U.S.? Visionary Henry Flagler (1830–1913) would approve

Below is a tribute to the visionary Henry Flagler by All Aboard Florida (AAF):
It will be a long time before we have trains going 220 mph but AAF's service starting in 2017 is a big leap forward. Learn more about Henry Flagler and the museum in his honor located in Palm Beach, Florida (33480):
Image from Wikipedia.

On Religion in America: Teens fleeing religion like never before

As I've written about on this blog many times the Millennials are having a major impact on society, economically and socially. Probably no single event demonstrated this more than the recent gay marriage ruling by SCOTUS. However, some around the country, including a tiny 'church' right here in the City of Lake Worth, are not getting the message:
Image from the Facebook page of the 'Common Ground' church led by pastor Mike Olive.
Joan Shipps has this article in Raw Story about a "massive new study" on religion in America and it's not good news for churches and the future of religious involvement. This should ignite a clarion call for action. Here are the first few paragraphs and note what is said about the Millennials:
     Religion is rapidly losing the youngest generation of Americans, according to new research.
     America’s rising generation of adults are the least religiously observant of any generation in six decades [emphasis added], determined an expansive study led by Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State.
     “Unlike previous studies, ours is able to show that millennials’ lower religious involvement is due to cultural change, not to millennials being young and unsettled,” Twenge says in a San Diego State University news release.
     In one of the largest studies ever conducted on Americans’ religious involvement, researchers from Case Western Reserve University and the University of Georgia collaborated with Twenge and her colleagues in California to analyze data from four national surveys of U.S. adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18. The surveys were taken between 1966 and 2014, and include responses from some 11.2 million people.
     The researchers’ findings were published this month in PLOS One.
According to Twenge and her cohorts, today’s adolescents view religion as less important, report less “approval” of religious organizations, and spend less time on prayer than did their similarly-aged predecessors. Compared to their peers in the late 1970s, 75 percent more American 12th graders, the paper finds, believe that religion is “not important at all” in their lives.
The City of Lake Worth has a particularly low affiliation with religion which is surprising given the number of churches and faith-based organizations. In almost every category church affiliation is lower than the national average. One religion, Jewish, is well above the national average in Lake Worth (2.81% versus 0.73%).
Image from Sperling's Best Places.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Our charming Casino complex at the City of Lake Worth "BEACH!": Share with your friends and neigbors!

A review of our charming new Casino complex the Lake Worth taxpayers received for their money. Share this with your friends and neighbors!
  • The whole project was premised on "saving the building." The building was 94% demolished
  • Virtually all "Green Environmental" amenities were eliminated, including pilings to protect the building against storm surge (and sea level rise which is a concern for many), against an untested seawall
  • The original Request for Proposal (RFP) was a "remodel" of a 2nd floor ballroom covering one-half (50%) of the ground floor (shops and John G's restaurant [now in Manalapan])
  • There was no commission approval to expand the RFP scope to include a 2nd floor covering 100% of the ground floor (shops and restaurant)
  • Adding 33% to the project size within the $6 million budget was unrealistic and created major deficiencies: quality and functionality
  • The original rainwater collection system was eliminated; and designs changes were not done to allow for that function in the future. Remember the continual mention of a "cistern system"?
  • Acoustic treatments, event office space, and additional storage were eliminated from the final plans
  • The Ballroom built-in wiring for video and sound access/convenience were eliminated. (In fact, the ballroom, kitchen and bathrooms on the second floor are all on one circuit. People are advised not to bring blenders to events since using them has been known to blackout the entire second floor during an event)
  • The exterior balconies have poor/reversed drainage causing water to flow towards the second floor rooms resulting in flooding during heavy rain events (like a hurricane, tropical storm or thunderstorm)
  • Inferior doors and windows allow water intrusion along with rusting and corroding hardware
  • Rainwater from the roof and balconies drains directly onto the sidewalk over any pedestrians that happen to be nearby (such as when waiting for a pickup or making a delivery [for which there is no designated space])
  • Rainwater draining off the roof and balconies damages the awnings, produces mold (particularly on the decorative cast stone), and creates more building maintenance issues
  • Removal of a water booster pump to get pressure to 2nd floor fire sprinklers was eliminated. The City then had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to increase the main water line loop around entire beach site. Then larger water meters were installed incurring additional monthly charges. Cost was passed onto site work budget. Water comes from the Palm Beach water system which is West Palm Beach water
  • Air conditioning of exterior covered walkways, elevators, and stairs was eliminated. This would have protected the interior of the structure from corrosive salt water (and protected visitors from hot temperatures and inclement weather)
  • The eliminated amenities, or "value engineering" if you like, reduced the cost but resulted in lower lease rates, event rates, and contributed greatly to un-leased second floor space
Who was responsible for this? See image below:
Note that the Lake Worth Casino building is not "failing". As we learned from the recently closed Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process, the Casino business plan is a CONFIRMED FAILURE.

Ever wanted to be a Life Guard? Training at the Lake Worth Casino Pool starting on Oct. 24th

The Candidates Swim Test is on Friday, Oct. 24 at 3:00 pm.

 American Red Cross Life Guarding, CPR pro, and First Aid will be taught; passing candidates will be certified upon completion of course and testing. Class will meet Sat. 10/25–10/27 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

 Cost is $350.00: Includes course, all certifications, testing, and certificate. For info call 561-641-2855.

So where did that plane crash yesterday? In Lake Worth?

First off, our prayers and thoughts go to the victims and all those affected by this tragedy.

Where did this plane crash occur?
  • Was it Lake Worth?
  • Was it suburban Lake Worth?
  • Was it Palm Springs?
The only news outlet to get it correct from the outset was NBC5/WPTV. Staff reporter Charlie Keegan called it "suburban Lake Worth" right off and was consistent throughout. My guess is he took the 30 seconds or so to check the county property appraisers web site. The AP and other national networks reported is as Palm Springs. The Post got it sort-of right but not quite:
The Post notes the location as suburban Lake Worth buried in the caption.
Later on will check CBS12/WPEC and ABC25/WPBF. 
I'm not optimistic but who knows may be surprised. It's a sad commentary on our local media here when CBS4/Miami gets the location correct and most of the local media can't.

Here is the video from NBC5:

Northwood Village in West Palm Beach: Realizing its potential

Nina Cusmano, a reporter at Florida Weekly, wrote this article about Northwood Village subtitled, "West Palm Beach’s Northwood Village finally may be set to fulfill its promise". Here is an excerpt from the article:
     For more than two decades, Northwood Village has been on the cusp of success.
     Now, officials with the city of West Palm Beach say success is within its reach.
     “If you drive down there you see all of the construction and buildings being beautified. There’s an energy about it,” said Jasmine Etienne, marketing and special events manager for the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency. “Everyone’s interested in Northwood. It was always built for success.”
     From 2005 to 2015, the agency devoted $18 million to the revitalization of the village. [emphasis added] Stores have opened and closed during that time.
     “If you looked at Northwood 10 years ago and you looked at it now, you’d see two totally different things,” said Susan Kores, project manager for the CRA. “About 10 years ago this agency focused on Northwood and recognized the value that was there.”

Community Engagement Town Hall Meeting TODAY (October 14th): Sober Homes

To learn more about where we are with regulating sober homes here are two posts (this one and this one) that will bring you up-to-date.

Uber returns to Broward County TOMORROW (10/15) and the taxi drivers are mad as hell

Here is the story (which includes video) from Local10. In the video you'll see some very angry taxi drivers. Here is an excerpt from the text of the news segment:
     Broward County commissioners finalized a new ordinance Tuesday for ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. The ordinance passed in a 6-2 vote.
     The ordinance includes "requirements for background checks, vehicle inspections and liability insurance, but shift the procedural responsibility for enforcement to the transportation network companies with strict county oversight," according to a news release.
     The amended ordinance comes after Uber suspended its service in Broward County on July 31 after the county passed new requirements for ride-sharing drivers, including county background checks and a mandatory chauffeur's license.
If this story is of interest to you read the thoughts of Sun Sentinel editor Gary Stein. He voiced the general level of dissatisfaction with taxi service in Broward County a few months back. Congratulations Broward County.

Be Prepared For The Opportunistic Clowns. . .The Holiday Season is Looming in the little City of Lake Worth

It's Official from the City! The holiday season is on its way. This is the signal for all the attention-seeking clowns in and near the little City of Lake Worth: Get ready to get stupid!
Below is the Head Clown, aka The Obtuse Blogger (TOB) in her clown-face:
She's all excited about another clown (the Preston Smith "I'm an Atheist!" pre-Christmas Show) who wants to do his act again in our city commission chambers (see end of blog for an all-new entry into the Lake Worth clown act):
This time the surprise is gone and it's a tired act—a "one hit wonder" if you will. 
DON'T LET THESE CLOWNS INFLUENCE YOUR CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY SPIRIT! CONSIDER THEM 'FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES' ONLY.

Preston "I'm an Atheist!" Smith did get the attention of our good friends at CBS12/WPEC. Who can forget these charming holiday images?
And a new entry for this year's Holiday Season! Now we have a 'church' in a bar. Every Sunday at 10:00 which includes a free breakfast along with getting SAVED. It's a special package deal.
Remember to tip your server and stay behind the curtain.

[RE-POST] Downtown Lake Worth nominated as one of Florida's Great Places: Vote below

VOTE HERE for the little City of Lake Worth (voting ends October 19th).

 [Here is a link to the Post's Kevin Thompson article on this crucial vote. Below is the reporters contact information if you have more good news you would like to share with the community.]

 Lake Worth, FL, October 5, 2015 – Last month, the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) nominated historic downtown Lake Worth as a great place in Florida through the American Planning Association–Florida Chapter's (APA-FL) Great Places in Florida Award Program. This is the second year that APA-FL has offered this award to communities throughout the state of Florida.

 We are excited to report that Downtown Lake Worth was selected as one of four final nominations for the public to vote on! All nominations were reviewed by an independent selection committee of professionals from the fields of urban planning, conservation, sustainability, and aging. Downtown Lake Worth was nominated due its charming eccentricities in art deco architecture, culture and people dedicated to the arts. The City is currently in the midst of a rebirth of its downtown area thanks to the many locally-owned boutiques, art galleries, vintage shops specialty and jewelry stores.

 For more information about this award program please call the Lake Worth CRA office at (561) 493-2550, visit the website, or send an email.

If you have more positive, community news in the City of Lake Worth, suburban Lake Worth (including Palm Beach State College) and Greenacres here is how you contact the Post reporter:
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

If your interest is Complete Streets and walkability this may interest you

The Fort Myers CRA is hosting a "Mayor's Symposium on Walkable Urban Communities". Here is the event information. It's an all-day symposium TOMORROW (Thursday, October 15th).
Some of you 'walkability' folks here in south Florida will recognize two of the speakers: Joe Minicozzi and Jeff Speck. Fort Myers is a 2½ hour drive from Palm Beach County; a good opportunity to car-pool for those interested in attending.

Lake Worth Has Talent: Help the Children's Miracle Network

The Children's Miracle Network (CMN) of hospitals raises funds for over 170 children's hospitals across North America. When a donation is given it stays in the community, helping local children. Funds create miracles by providing medical care, equipment, research and education that help save and improve the lives of 17 million children each year.

 Our goal this year is to give CMN $10,000. Please visit www.lakeworthplayhouse.org to purchase tickets for Lake Worth Has Talent.

 Donations will also be greatly appreciated. Please make check payable to RE/MAX Prestige with CMN in the memo. Please mail them to RE/MAX Prestige at 604 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33460, Attn: Connor Faroni.

 THANK YOU!!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Explained: Why I correct the news media on crime in "Lake Worth" that isn't in Lake Worth

I received this comment from a reader of my blog today which needs to be addressed:
Anna [Maria] is telling everybody that the Oktoberfest of the Palm Beaches is in Lake Worth on her blog and on Facebook, only 4 miles from downtown Lake Worth. Please inform her that she is spreading false information. How can she volunteer at our Welcome Center if she says these things? I can understand a news reporter not being knowledgeable, but her?
The commenter is referring to this blog post about Ari Hait at WPBF. True. The Oktoberfest is in suburban Lake Worth.

The key word here is "crime". Yes, the news media (and others) often wrongly identifies Lake Worth as the location of an event and I don't make a big deal of it. One of the latest was by Mary Thurwachter and this event at John Prince Park in "Lake Worth". John Prince Park is in suburban Lake Worth, not "Lake Worth". It happens all the time and it's mostly innocent and doesn't damage our City image. However, this report by Ari Hait about an incident in John Prince Park did.

The crucial issue is this: For many years there has been a concerted effort in the City of Lake Worth to misrepresent the crime situation, most notably by The Obtuse Blogger (TOB), who has since given up on her efforts mostly because of this blog. The fact of the matter is the crime rate has fallen dramatically since PBSO took over and there are some who don't want you to know that. Here is what was attempted by TOB and her allies:
  • Perpetuate the myth that crime is out of control in Lake Worth
  • Damage the City's image and the morale of the citizens here in the City
  • Make PBSO look ineffective, like they're unable to control "all the crime"
  • Offer the solution: remove PBSO and bring back the LWPD
What made TOB's effort easier was the press, mostly the TV press in Palm Beach County. For many years, either wittingly or unwittingly, they attributed crimes all over suburban Lake Worth as happening in the City and this further damaged the reputation of the City. In the last two years or so this has changed quite a bit, most notably with NBC5/WPTV and Fox29/WFLX taking care to correctly identify the location of incidents (but they make mistakes now and then). CBS12/WPTV has moments of clarity and ABC25/WPBF will likely never understand the difference. They are and probably will always remain clueless. 

My primary concern is the City's image. As much as I've decried TOB's efforts to damage our City, the City itself is just as complicit by not standing up for themselves and correcting the news media and their misreporting. Frankly, it's something I've never understood.

But to the issue the commenter raises: To compare an error by AnnaMaria on the location of Oktoberfest to a news report about a shooting in "Lake Worth" is ludicrous and it's no wonder you kept your identity 'anonymous'. Oh, and carry on AnnaMaria! One of the greats in Lake Worth who've done so much to improve the image of our wonderful little City of Lake Worth BEACH!.

What is the Treasure Coast REGIONAL Planning Council? Required reading for Lake Worth Commissioner Ryan Maier

Regional planning councils were created by Florida State Statute 186.502. Here are some of the roles and the purpose of a regional planning council:
There is a need for regional planning agencies to assist local governments to resolve their common problems, engage in areawide comprehensive and functional planning, administer certain federal and state grants-in-aid, and provide a regional focus in regard to multiple programs undertaken on an areawide basis.
And. . .
The financial and technical assistance of the state should be provided to regional planning agencies to maximize the effective use of regional programs undertaken with the authorization of local, state, or federal governments serving the citizens of this state.
And. . .
It is the declared purpose of this act to establish a common system of regional planning councils for areawide coordination and related cooperative activities of federal, state, and local governments; ensure a broad-based regional organization that can provide a truly regional perspective; and enhance the ability and opportunity of local governments to resolve issues and problems transcending their individual boundaries.
In case you didn't notice, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) has a regional responsibility which we all hope Lake Worth Commissioner Maier learns prior to his next TCRPC meeting this Friday. Here is information about the TCRPC:
A not-for-profit organization created by and for local governments to provide planning and technical assistance services and assist in carrying out Florida's growth management programs. It was established in 1976 through an interlocal agreement between Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties. Membership includes all four counties and 50 municipalities.
And the TCRPC Mission Statement:
     To encourage and enable local units of government and citizenry to assemble and cooperate with one another and with representatives of major economic interests, to promote health, safety, and general welfare of the citizenry, and to plan for future development of the Region that will keep it competitive and afford a high quality of life.
     Regional planning councils are recognized as Florida's only multipurpose regional entity in a position to plan for and coordinate intergovernmental solutions to growth-related problems on greater-than-local issues, provide technical assistance to local governments, and meet other needs of its communities.
I hope this helps.
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