Taking on the slumlords and their allies in this City of Lake Worth.

If there was ever a time to get involved now is that time. Send a very brief message to your elected officials. Just say “I support you” and ask the question, “What can I do to help?” Learn how to contact your elected officials at the end of this blog post.

And to all those people in neighborhoods west of Dixie Hwy., “[W]ho suffer daily from the unacceptable conditions and thuggery” please know this:

The message to slumlords in the Code Enforcement (CDBG) Target Area: this City is coming after you.

“[S]tep up and spend money to comply with basic community-wide standards, sell to someone who will, or I will authorize liens and foreclosures till their eyes bleed.”

—Lake Worth City Manager Michael Bornstein as quoted in The Lake Worth Herald, article headlined “The Day Has Come For Slumlords in Lake Worth” published on October 11th, 2018.



See the full story in the Herald below. Also below is more backup information about this developing story and a video (at end of blog post) from the City Commission meeting that will put all of this in context.

And expect the “G” word to come back, that oft-used tactic to try and put this City on the defensive. That is explained in more detail below.

The news reported in the Herald about the CDBG Target Area should have been front page news in the Post too. But it wasn’t. This is important information about Code Enforcement in the City of Lake Worth, federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding made available, and taking the battle directly to the slumlords in this City: a serious public health and safety issue that even predates the “sober home epidemic”. Another serious problem the Post was slow to address.

This story about taking on the slumlords began to unfold last year, on September 13th at the City Commission as noted on this blog when an item on the Consent Agenda was moved by Commissioner Omari Hardy to New Business:


Resolution No. 57-2018 - Community Development Block Grant Agreement with Palm Beach County: “[A]uthorizes the Mayor to execute the Interlocal Agreement between Palm Beach County and the City that sets forth the terms and conditions for the use of $294,477 . . . for increased code enforcement activities within the CDBG Target Area.”


The “Target Area” is explained later in this blog post. Also in September 2018 at the Commission was this item in New Business:


Ordinance No. 2018-16 - First Reading - Amending Chapter 2 “Administration”, Article VII “Abatement of Nuisance”, Section 2-75.11 “Foreclosed, Vacant and Unimproved Property Registration Program” and to require additional requirements for vacant and unimproved property and scheduling the Second Reading and Public Hearing [Oct. 16th].


Yes. Ordinance No. 2018-16 was on the City Commission agenda for Second Reading. And it did pass.

And expect those slumlords to fight back. And hard.

Expect that ‘G’ word to come back with a frenzy. Those slumlords have their allies and affinity groups to protect them. Who are those allies? They are the ones also making tons of money off disgraceful, unsafe and dilapidated properties. The ‘G’ word of course is “gentrification”. If you wish, after reading this blog post scroll back up and read about “the politics of fear” an oft-used tactic in this City.


Without further ado, to the news published in The Lake Worth Herald headlined, “The Day Has Come For Slumlords in Lake Worth”:


On October 3, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Street Team partnered with Lake Worth Code Enforcement and Building and Zoning to conduct a sweep on various locations between 7th South and 14th South on G, H and J Streets. The sweep resulted in 115 inspections/violations, 10 vehicles towed, 70 Red Tags issued and 8 horticultural cases were referred.

While in the area, deputies observed a known gang member with a felony warrant. After a foot chase, the suspect was captured. The suspect was found to be armed with a loaded firearm when he was captured and his vehicle was located nearby. A search warrant was authorized for the vehicle and 2 additional firearms along with approximately 3.5 pounds marijuana with a street value of $10,000. Two of the three firearms recovered were stolen and one was recently taken during an armed robbery. PBSO’s Violent Crimes Division Robbery and the Gang Unit were notified.

When informed of the success of the operation, City Manager Michael Bornstein said, “Awesome job to all!”

Bornstein continued his response with “the coordination and teamwork of this effort will be remembered as the starting point in turning around what is arguably the worst area in Lake Worth. This type of operation coupled with the City’s significant investments in infrastructure, an improved market/economy, and the use of technology (the camera project) will facilitate significant improvement.”

Bornstein wrote, “Understand that this operation is part of changing the business model for the existing owners of the housing stock and land. The profit margin they have been pulling out of this area has not included spending money back on their properties to properly repair and maintain them. Most likely when something is done, it is without permits and inspections.

“Additionally, they are obviously not managing their units to the level as occurs in other parts of the City. Your actions make this cash rich business model an impossibility. It also forces them to make a choice as to either: step up and spend money to comply with basic community wide standards, sell to someone who will, or I will authorize liens and foreclosures till their eyes bleed.

“No longer are the current conditions acceptable. Your time and efforts will yield results, but it must be consistent and it must be regular. I thank you and I know that the law-abiding citizens who suffer daily from the unacceptable conditions and thuggery in this neighborhood also thank you.”

And in conclusion, Bornstein wrote. . .

“I look forward to more reports like this in the future.”


Code Enforcement in this City is one in particular that was quite often in the Post’s spotlight, or a target if you will, of many stories published in the past. One particularly “egregious” and “incompetent” story comes to mind, one in which City Manager Michael Bornstein was forced to respond in a quite forceful manner and many of you reading this remember that incident.

What exactly is going on in this City of Lake Worth?

Basically, what is happening is Code Enforcement will be going after the worst of the worst and then going after the less worst in the CDBG Target Area. And they are going to keep on going. This information came from the discussion as Commissioner Hardy wanted more information about what would be happening when ordinance 2018-16 passed at the City Commission.

The City of Lake Worth has received CDBG funding, this is Federal money administered by Palm Beach County. Due to this CDBG funding more fully-trained and experienced code enforcement officials will be hitting the streets going after “the worst first” in the Target Area.

The CDBG Target Area is roughly 7th Ave. North to the Town of Lantana border, west of Dixie Hwy. and east of I-95.

Here are some takeaways from the meeting at the City Commission last September:

• City Manager Michael Bornstein emphasized the major goal is compliance with City codes and getting more structures on the tax roll.
• City Attorney Glen Torcivia talked about the high rate of success by the City before the magistrate but expressed some frustration as well not mentioning any cases in particular.
• William Waters from the Community Sustainability Dept. said that magistrates, “Need to treat the bad guy like a bad guy”.
• Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso talked about how important the Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council will be in getting the word out to neighborhoods.
• The practice of abating fines by 90% will be getting much more scrutiny and expect heavier fines (the limit is $250/day which is State law).
• Commissioner Herman Robinson said, “The public needs to understand there is a new sheriff in town”.
• And “Insert salty language here”, quipped Bornstein at one point in the discussion.

Now to the video.

The YouTube video below is an 8½ minute segment of the discussion about Resolution No. 57-2018 and Ordinance No. 2018-16, a portion of the discussion which sums things up quite well:




Hope you found this information helpful and informative. And as always, Thank You for visiting today.

And finally, to contact your elected officials click on this link.

And don’t forget to ask. . .

“What can I do to help?”