Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Lake Worth beaches, parks to go tobacco free
Another puppy mill ordinance? Let's again re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. Here is a quote from the Mayor. Click title for link.
Governing through press release...what a concept...
Enforcement would not be strict and would likely come by raising awareness about the ordinance, Varela said.
"We all know realistically we're not going to have police out there enforcing this," Varela said. "A big push in public health is creating awareness."
Governing through press release...what a concept...
Parking meters may pop up in downtown Lake Worth lots
I guess the message is that our elected officials' judgement cannot be questioned.
Sheesh!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Is it in Lake Worth's DNA? - A comment on another post by a loyal reader...
The situation is really a continuation of the Freemasons in Lake Worth that dates back to the 1920's. Most ALL who thrived in business in those days were Lodge Members, and part of the Good Ol' Boy network. They filtered out who they could use, what they could get out of a situation, and those not willing to engage in illogical, deceitful or dishonest actions were ridiculed, discredited, and routed out of their business, job and finally out of town. Note; the women from that era also played a vital part, with their Masonic husbands or their memberships in the Eastern Star. If you want to look at current day modus operandi, look at those who gain from the confusion or the ridicule / sarcasm towards others who try to effect positive change in Lake Worth. This rancor has always been rampant, and those who bore the brunt became isolated at best, or counter-hostile at worse. Hence, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The real problems are ignored, and other trivial non-meaning problems are created as diversions. As we used to say in the 1960's and 1970's; "Typical Lake Worth!!!"
Alternative Stanton quotes regarding the Chamber Executive Director's departure...
Some "what ifs:"
"I am disappointed she is leaving, we were just starting to have a productive relationship with the Chamber."
"Beth brought a lot to the Chamber and the city. She was part of the branding committee we formed to market the city in a better way. We need to sustain that effort with her departure."
"It's rare that you get just the right person at the right time - with her departure, we will have to rely on the same kind of luck that brought her here."
"I am disappointed she is leaving, we were just starting to have a productive relationship with the Chamber."
or
"Beth brought a lot to the Chamber and the city. She was part of the branding committee we formed to market the city in a better way. We need to sustain that effort with her departure."
or
"It's rare that you get just the right person at the right time - with her departure, we will have to rely on the same kind of luck that brought her here."
There is some good news to report...
The former Kristine's, most recently Jetsetters, is about to re-open again as "Mara" - a place that will house the owner's catering operation and will serve as an event space for wedding receptions, office parties and the like. It is one of our great architectural gems, representing the best of 20th Century highway architecture and recalls Lake Worth's past as a highway town. The owners are busy fixing up the place since its been idle for so long. It will be good to welcome it back as an operating business on Dixie Hwy. Here is an early version of the building when its main job was to entice customers traveling along U.S. 1. This postcard is taken before the addition on the south side of the building.
Welcome and good luck!
Welcome and good luck!
Lake Worth Chamber director leaving for job in Boca Raton
This is a loss, Beth Johnston brought a lot to our community. Click title for link to PBP article. What stands out is this quote from Ms. Stanton:
Beth didn't leave because of a toxic atmosphere - she left to take advantage of a great opportunity. Is Stanton justifying the weakness identified in her evaluation? Isn't this just more barrier building - instead of an attempt to knock down some walls? Maybe she listens to the wrong group of people...hmmmm. And Susan, what are you doing to make it better?
City Manager Susan Stanton said she is not surprised Johnston is leaving because Lake Worth politics can be so emotionally charged.
"Lake Worth is an extremely difficult town to bond with and to manage," Stanton said. "It's so polarized it tends to be kind of toxic."
Beth didn't leave because of a toxic atmosphere - she left to take advantage of a great opportunity. Is Stanton justifying the weakness identified in her evaluation? Isn't this just more barrier building - instead of an attempt to knock down some walls? Maybe she listens to the wrong group of people...hmmmm. And Susan, what are you doing to make it better?
Monday, April 18, 2011
In my humble opinion...
The L-Dub vs. Lula vs. any other name for the CRA arts program is not our most pressing issue. I do not agree with the CRA decision to go with the L-Dub moniker and, had I been on the board, my vote would be different than that of the prevailing side. However, there is a pattern here that I think is worth looking at and perhaps there is a teachable moment here.
No doubt there is a street and gang reference associated with the slang Dub and L-Dub. One wonders if a board charged with the redevelopment of Lake Worth chooses this term as the name for its arts program, you have to ask the question - what exactly is that they want to redevelop and grow? Strangely, this issue seems to fall along "party" lines - eh hem. It seems that those that are happy with the Sheriff department and the level of service they provide the city and the gains we have experienced in crime control do not like the choice, generally speaking. And it seems that those who think we could do with less law enforcement like the term, generally speaking.
And what's happened to this Marketing Committee that Commissioner Mulvehill established by decree? Did they weigh in on the recommendation? Will they come up with a competing message? Are we just creating more static and less of a digestible message?
The program will have printed materials, media attention, signs - it is part of a promotional campaign to attract artists here. Has the CRA picked a name that is purposefully designed not to be successful? If you don't like the prospect of gentrification and fear that this program may promote that, you'd like to throw a wrench in the works. Let's keep the "L-Dub" down or hard-to the curb, like it is. We don't want change. We don't want new people. We don't want money. We don't want you - period, seems to be the message here.
Take for example the t-shirt, available at one of our beach tenant merchants and displayed on one of the other blogger's posts, which says "L-Dub" and the script below says "For locals only." This is the type of welcome this group has to anyone that is either not from Lake Worth - or even if they fit certain stereotypes of conformity, consumerism or conservatism - whether or not these people really have these traits, there are those in our community that judge people in this manner. If people outside this "inner circle" involve themselves in politics - watch out! You are in for an attack on every part of your being. So much for a welcoming and democratic attitude to civic involvement. If you've noticed, those in power seem to have issues with unregulated public discourse and like to control the debate - regardless of their bohemian appearance or associations.
So, beyond the drug connotation, I think the L-Dub moniker reinforces the idea that those in power really are more xenophobic than actually open to new people and new ideas. I could expand further on this - to the preference for local tenants, the closed GulfStream hotel, record decreases in property values compared with other municipalities, etc. I'd be interested to know if you follow my point here.
We do have more important issues to address, by the way.
No doubt there is a street and gang reference associated with the slang Dub and L-Dub. One wonders if a board charged with the redevelopment of Lake Worth chooses this term as the name for its arts program, you have to ask the question - what exactly is that they want to redevelop and grow? Strangely, this issue seems to fall along "party" lines - eh hem. It seems that those that are happy with the Sheriff department and the level of service they provide the city and the gains we have experienced in crime control do not like the choice, generally speaking. And it seems that those who think we could do with less law enforcement like the term, generally speaking.
And what's happened to this Marketing Committee that Commissioner Mulvehill established by decree? Did they weigh in on the recommendation? Will they come up with a competing message? Are we just creating more static and less of a digestible message?
The program will have printed materials, media attention, signs - it is part of a promotional campaign to attract artists here. Has the CRA picked a name that is purposefully designed not to be successful? If you don't like the prospect of gentrification and fear that this program may promote that, you'd like to throw a wrench in the works. Let's keep the "L-Dub" down or hard-to the curb, like it is. We don't want change. We don't want new people. We don't want money. We don't want you - period, seems to be the message here.
Take for example the t-shirt, available at one of our beach tenant merchants and displayed on one of the other blogger's posts, which says "L-Dub" and the script below says "For locals only." This is the type of welcome this group has to anyone that is either not from Lake Worth - or even if they fit certain stereotypes of conformity, consumerism or conservatism - whether or not these people really have these traits, there are those in our community that judge people in this manner. If people outside this "inner circle" involve themselves in politics - watch out! You are in for an attack on every part of your being. So much for a welcoming and democratic attitude to civic involvement. If you've noticed, those in power seem to have issues with unregulated public discourse and like to control the debate - regardless of their bohemian appearance or associations.
So, beyond the drug connotation, I think the L-Dub moniker reinforces the idea that those in power really are more xenophobic than actually open to new people and new ideas. I could expand further on this - to the preference for local tenants, the closed GulfStream hotel, record decreases in property values compared with other municipalities, etc. I'd be interested to know if you follow my point here.
We do have more important issues to address, by the way.
Thank You | Great American Cleanup
Hello from Ryan Anderson,
Thank you to all of the Tropical Ridge Neighborhood residents, friends and Palm Beach Sheriff's Office employees who attended our neighborhood cleanup on Saturday in observation of Lake Worth's official Great American Cleanup day. Our efforts at 403 North F Street and 907 North H Street were a huge success. The Association gives a special thank you to the five members of PBSO and the three female inmates that assisted us on Saturday. TRNA truly appreciates the work PBSO does to keep us safe and recognizes the special efforts made to make our community a better one. Below I have listed the names of all the folks who worked hard to cleanup these two lots over the weekend. Before and after pictures, as well as pictures of the wonderful people who participated, are available at http://photos.
Name Organization
Gail Shepherd TRNA Member
Gary Peruta TRNA Member
Unknown Inmate 1
Unknown Inmate 2
Unknown Inmate 3
Jack Simons TRNA Friend
Jessica Plotkin TRNA Member
Luciano Kovalski PBSO
Mark Lozano PBSO
Mike Donovan PBSO
Mike Mohoney PBSO
Unknown (H St) TRNA Resident
Johnny (9th Ave) TRNA Resident
Oscar Cardenas PBSO
Robert Waples TRNA Friend
Ryan Anderson TRNA Member
Scott Maxwell City Commissioner, District 1
Steffanie Mayo TRNA Member
Dalai Lama
It is important to reflect on the kindness of others. Every aspect of our present well-being is due to others' hard work. The buildings we live and work in, the roads we travel, the clothes we wear, and the food we eat, are all provided by others. None of them would exist but for the kindness of so many people unknown to us.
More commentary on naming the CRA arts program "L-Dub"...
Hola Joan,
Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Had I been at the meeting where this was discussed I would have offered public comment for information purposes to the Board. The term isn't just native to Florida, when it comes to describing an illegal narcotic. In the 1970's, while growing up in the Lower East Side (Alphabet CIty) of New York, I heard the expression being used as a pseudonym for $20.00 bags of powder cocaine before crack emerged on the scene. in the early 1980's was when I first heard the expression l-dub being used by the crack dealers and their customers that polluted many of the corners of my old neighborhood. I will be candid and tell you I cringed a bit when I heard a program as wonderful as this one was christened with the very unattractive and dubiously tainted slang phrase. I have, and still am, a strong supporter of the CRA and that is why I felt comfortable enough to send this email secure in the knowledge that it will not be misinterpreted as any sort of personal attack because that would NEVER be my intention. I will close by stating my hopes that the CRA would reconsider this decision.
Respectfully,
Mark A. Parrilla
Sunday, April 17, 2011
More on the meaning of "L-Dub"
From: Joan Oliva [mailto:joliva@LakeWorth.org]
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 10:02 AM
To: Silva, Rolando
Subject: quick questionThe CRA Board voted 4 to 3 to use the name “L-DUB” as our new artist district. Don’t ask me why.I have received information from one of my Board members that a DUB is a term for buying crack? I cannot believe I even need to ask this question but here it is!Any legitimacy to this?ThanksJJoan OlivaExecutive Director
Let me check with my “street slang” savvy guys and I will get back with you.
From: Silva, Rolando
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 10:18 AM
To: 'Joan Oliva'
Subject: RE: quick question
Can any of you guys advise? See yellow below.
From: Silva, Rolando
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 10:19 AM
To: Jozwick, Daniel K.; Deneen, Gerald W.; Johnson, Christopher L.; Donovan, Michael L.
Cc: Cardenas, Oscar D.; Moss, David
Subject: FW: quick question
City of Lake Worth
From: Johnson, Christopher L.
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 10:23 AM
To: Silva, Rolando
Subject: RE: quick questionYes “Dub” is street slang for $20 of Crack Cocaine. It should also be noted that a lot of our Gang members wear T-Shirts that say “L-Dub”.D/S Christopher L Johnson #9145Community PolicingPBSO- District 14
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