Sunday, January 27, 2019

On CDBG funding in the City of Lake Worth: Does it actually matter to you? The answer is “Yes!”


And further down in this blog post is information about a very important public meeting coming up at Lake Worth City Hall this coming Wednesday at 6:00.

If there is an infrastructure issue or an urgent public need in your neighborhood then you need to show up next Wednesday and make your voice heard. Don’t let YOUR VOICE be drowned out. For an example of an urgent public need. . .


“You know, Mabel. This city really needs a pool or pools west of Dixie Hwy. for children to learn how to swim.

“I know, George! How irresponsible. All these families with children have no way to get to Lake Worth Beach. And $3 every hour for parking. It’s just absurd.”



Are you someone that thinks children learning to swim is a matter of urgent public safety? That going to a public pool would cost $3 to park every hour? Are you uncomfortable with the rich and well-to-do in the Town of Palm Beach having better access to a pool at the Lake Worth Beach than most of the residents in the City of Lake Worth do?

Is there a way to address this problem? Yes. Attend a public meeting on Wednesday, January 30th, 6:00, at Lake Worth City Hall (more details below).

And as to the question, does CDBG matter? And what exactly is CDBG? Continue reading to find the answers to those questions.

Do you remember how 2nd Ave. South in the Downtown used to look?

How embarrassing it was every year having visitors and fans of the annual Street Painting Festival see that mess on 2nd Ave. South? The potholes, broken sidewalks and unsafe conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles as well.

Well, guess what? Because of CDBG funding 2nd Ave. South got fixed. And the organizers of this year’s 25th annual Street Painting Festival are ecstatic! For 2½ decades this road 2nd Ave. South presented problems. Complaints from the public were nearly constant. But no more. Read all about that by clicking on this link.

Yes. CDBG funding does matter.

What is exactly is CDBG? Simply, this is funding from the Federal Government that Palm Beach County then distributes on a proportional basis. Find out more about CDBG at a public meeting coming up soon. Here is a public notice published in this week’s Lake Worth Herald:


Please join the City of Lake Worth for a Public Meeting to discuss the upcoming Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Fiscal Year 2019–2020.

During this meeting City staff will describe eligible uses of CDBG funds and solicit public input on how these funds should be used.

Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2019.
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Conference Room, 7 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, FL.


The actual allocation of CDBG funding for Fiscal Year 2019–2020 has not yet been announced. It is estimated that it will comparable to the CDBG allocation of $294,477 that the City received for Fiscal Year 2018–2019.


Eligible uses of these funds includes the following activities:
  • Acquisition of real property for a public purpose.
  • Demolition/clearance.
  • Infrastructure installation and improvements.
  • Public facilities and improvements.
  • Historic preservation.
  • Code enforcement.

All eligible activities must meet one of the following National Objectives of the CDBG Program by:
  • Benefiting low and moderate income persons;
  • Preventing or eliminating slums or blight; or
  • Meeting an urgent community development need.


At this public meeting on Jan. 30th on CDBG funding bring your ideas and/or concerns.

Are you happy with how the red-tagging of inoperable vehicles on public and private property has been progressing, cleaning up that long-standing problem with slum and blight? Are you happy that slumlords are finally being forced to improve the living conditions for residents living in substandard housing?

Then show up at City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 30th.

Is it about time for the City of Lake Worth to construct a new public pool or pools for children to learn how to swim? Not another ‘white elephant’ at the Beach but actually pool(s) accessible to the public? Should the City construct another Palm Tran bus stop at the Beach?

Are there properties you would like the City to take over? Turn slum into a public purpose?

Would you like another fishing pier constructed at Spillway Park?

What would you like to see done
with CDBG funding?


Make plans to be at City Hall on Jan. 30th at 6:00. In the meantime look around for things you believe are “[A]n urgent community development need” and “Public facilities and improvements” that could improve the lives of residents in this six sq. mi. City of Lake Worth.