It's time for the editors at The Palm Beach Post to stop playing both sides of the fence in Lake Worth

Soon The Palm Beach Post will come out with their endorsements and if the last election cycle is any clue you can probably expect the same nonsense or something similar. They'll probably give back-handed endorsements to the mayor and vice mayor and then give Commissioner Andy Amoroso's challenger a big boost. A 'back-handed' endorsement isn't an endorsement at all but a way to air out a laundry list of grievances against elected officials and give their challengers a forum to complain.

Mayor Pam Triolo, Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell, and Commissioner Andy Amoroso all have records as elected officials. Not a single one of the challengers can claim that. Not one. As long ago as March, 2013, the Post saw the importance of the Gulfstream hotel and below is the editorial they published and you can read their words below.

But the editors at the Post want to have it both ways. They identify the problems in Lake Worth, such as the importance of the Gulfstream to the entire City, and then they endorse and/or boost candidates who, if elected, will work as hard as they can to make sure the hotel's doors never open again. And the same goes for the City's Park of Commerce. In the last election cycle who did the Post endorse? You guessed it: the two "No" votes against the Gulfstream hotel:

Mayor Triolo, Vice Mayor Maxwell, and Commissioner Amoroso have done the heavy lifting and they deserve credit.

Many of you will remember the political games the Post played last year and will not get into that right now. But suffice to say that 'the seriousness of the charge' they made against elected officials last March came to nothing. It was all for show. The proof? Visit the PBC Inspector General's website.

So here we are once again. Lake Worth is on the precipice of making great strides forward. And instead of the slings and arrows it's time for majority on the City Commission to get credit for that. So here, without further ado, the Post editorial from March, 2013, and take special note of what's written about the Gulfstream hotel:

"With all the signs telling people to “Keep Lake Worth Low Rise” popping up in town, Lake Worth residents could be forgiven for confusion about what they are being asked to vote on March 12. [emphasis added]
     The city’s charter already has a height limit on buildings that prevents outsized monstrosities from going up downtown. But a group of residents wants to impose a stricter and less flexible limit east of the downtown area. This shortsighted effort would constrain the city’s ability to grow and do nothing to preserve its character. Voters should reject it.
     Currently, buildings in Lake Worth’s downtown entertainment corridor, between Dixie Highway and Federal Highway, are limited to 45 feet, while buildings east of Federal along the same corridor can be built up to 65 feet, or about six stories. The height-limit referendum would end this distinction and limit all new downtown buildings to 45 feet. It would also limit buildings west of F Street along the same corridor to 35 feet.
     Height-limit supporters say this would help to “keep Lake Worth low-rise and livable,” but it would do little to accomplish either. New construction in the city’s entertainment district is already limited to 45 feet. East of Federal, three buildings, including the iconic Gulf Stream Hotel, are already 65 feet or taller. Allowing buildings of comparable height on the two or so empty lots in that neighborhood would hardly be out of character with the neighborhood’s existing feel.
     Opponents of the height limit make the further point that restricting building heights unnecessarily in that area could frustrate efforts to revive the hotel, which is in foreclosure and has sat empty for years. The ability to build a parking garage and additional rooms on an empty lot next to the hotel is seen as important to attracting an investor to reopen the Gulf Stream, and further height limits could dissuade interest. Preserving the city’s small-town feel is important, but existing height limits already accomplish that. We recommend a NO vote on Question 2."

You can read how that 'heights vote' turned out here. In the editorial above the Post refers to the "confusion" that voters had about that vote and here is a big reason why:

Read about the deceptive technique used to frighten the public to vote "Yes" and limit building heights in Lake Worth's downtown.

The public was shown images like this "at the door": Big white box 'buildings' where Lake Worth neighborhoods are located.

Remember, the last two endorsements the Post made were for commissioners Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy: the only two "No" votes to stop the Gulfstream hotel renovation from moving forward. If they get one more vote that will likely ensure the hotel's doors never open for business again and also likely see the City in another long, protracted legal mess.

It's important to remember that someone saying they want the hotel open again is a lot different than understanding the problems and the steps necessary to solve those issues. That clever 'nuance', or trick, is explained here.