Another entry in the "Phrase that Pays" - Best Commissioner McVoy Quote/Lecture Contest

My entry in the "Pick the Phrase That Pays, Commissioner McVoy Lecture contest.

7.28.11 Archived Audio has my favorite McPhrase begins @ 48:17
http://lakeworth.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={92DDD349-58CC-4612-B5BA-3898CA0CC6AB}&DE={F25C414F-8C44-4183-B8A0-B3ADF45A1327}

"...People aren't listening right..."

7.28.11 Agenda Item 3A
http://webmail.lakeworth.org/agendas/2011/0728%20SM.pdf

7.28.11 Minutes Item 3 A
http://lakeworth.org/vertical/sites/%7B5E6FE119-0228-4C9B-B2DB-067168049C16%7D/uploads/min0728.pdf

Thanks,

Suzanne Squire

County's New Emergency App Available w/Hurricane Preparedness Info and More....

The county has recently introduced a new smartphone app, PBC DART (Palm Beach County Disaster Assessment and Resource Tool).  It’s a free download that provides lots of helpful info concerning emergencies (i.e. hurricanes). 

PBC DART allows residents to identify if they live in an evacuation zone, locate the nearest shelter, and permits residents to report damage to their home or business in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Damage reports will help emergency managers get an immediate Countywide “picture” within hours of a disaster event to help prioritize response efforts. The application is an additional outreach method to keep the public safe and informed before, during, and after disasters.

PBC DART is available for immediate download at no charge from Apple’s iTunes Store and the Android Google Market. For additional information on emergency management programs visit www.pbcgov.com/dem where you will find a section dedicated to hurricane preparedness. 

Hopefully you will never have to use this app but it’s just another tool in our ever-changing tech world that will provide additional assistance and information, which as many of us know is extremely important under emergency situations such as hurricanes. 

Best regards.

Commission Vice Chairman Steven L. Abrams

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

District 4

http://www.pbcgov.org/countycommissioners/district4/

Renovations close to wrapping up at Lake Worth Beach casino...

Another prize-winning, in-depth investigative journalism piece from Willie Howard (ha!), click title for link.  Everything is just ducky according to Willie, while the city whistles past the graveyard of a seawall with unknown integrity, assuming that it will protect a building without a pile foundation.  The article does mention the pool issue and how the west side has sunk.  Could not the building be subject to the same soil and other conditions present that caused the pool problem?

As long as a study is done on the integrity, or lack thereof, of the seawall and a program put into place to address any insufficiencies, the city could issue a conditional Certificate of Occupancy so that the opening of the building and the tenant's schedule remain intact.  The point is the city just has to come clean that 96% of this building is NEW CONSTRUCTION - what the Florida Building Code refers to as a "substantial improvement."  It's time for the city to uphold the code that it makes everyone else abide by.  And who is to say that there isn't some professional liability involved related to the licensed professionals associated with this project?

This is NOT a red herring Commissioner McVoy.

Battle of the Bands Competition, 2 - 6 p.m., September 8 & 9, Lake Worth Playhouse...

LULA Lake Worth Arts, in partnership with the Lake Worth Playhouse is proud to announce the Battle of the Bands competition to be held from 2-6pm Saturday and Sunday, September 8 & 9, 2012 at the Playhouse’s 300-seat, downtown Lake Worth location. Eight local bands will face-off, vying for the right to be called the area’s hottest band. With live gigs becoming increasingly hard to obtain, this high power musical event will definitely crank it up a notch, keeping the local music scene thriving and providing another example why downtown Lake Worth is becoming “the” Art & Cultural destination in Palm Beach County.

LULA Lake Worth Arts and the Lake Worth Playhouse form a perfect partnership to showcase the local musical talent, as the non-profit Playhouse celebrates its 60th season of providing entertainment, education and opportunities for artistic expression through volunteerism and community involvement and support.

The main stage will showcase these selected bands: Styrofoam, Scar of the Tropics, New & Used, Walk of Shame, We Humanz, The Republik, In Surrender and Cougars in Training (C.I.T.) to battle for first, second and third prize, after competing over the course of two days. Judges will vote to determine the winning bands based on sound, audience participation, and overall performance. The first place band will receive a $2,000.00 prize which consists of $500.00 cash and $1500.00 in local gigs. The second place band will receive $1,000.00 prize which consists of $200.00 in cash and $800.00 in local gigs and the third place band will receive $100.00 cash and $400.00 in local gigs. All eight bands will receive a professional photo shoot, a video of their performance and passes to attend the Battle of the Bands VIP Party at Brogues Down Under Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 8pm. Reserved tickets are $15 One Show/$25 Both Shows. Tickets are on sale now. Please join us for this spectacular event as we “Rock On” to support LULA Lake Worth Arts and The Lake Worth Playhouse.

Entry for the "Phrase that Pays" contest - Best Commissioner McVoy Quotes:

Hi, Mr. Blackman. I would like to present my entry in the "Pick the Phrase That Pays, Commissioner McVoy Lecture contest."

I found this short, I know, odd having a short lecture from the professor, but a short lecture nonetheless about the seawall. This is from the 8/21/12 commission meeting. Mayor Pam Triolo had just finished her time and asked Commissioner McVoy if he had any comments. I know, like he is going to pass on a lecture! Anyhow, a building is almost finished, right next to the Atlantic Ocean, protected by a seawall, and without further delay, the professor chimes in...

McVoy: "Hmmm, well, I, I'm not in a position to, you know, I'm not a technical person on building things, so I'm not in any position to make a determination whether it's safe, whether the seawall is appropriate, I'm dependent on people who do repeatable [sic] studies. Hmmm. I think everyone in the community is, is very happy with the building. I don't think anybody is looking to spend more money, but, ahhhh, if we need to, if, I mean, ahh, we need to get some sort of an answer to put this to rest and make sure this is not a red herring, that's, that's just, you know, at this point the building is practically done, it is, I think everyone agrees, it's going to be an asset to the community. And, ahhh, let's move forward with that. If something structurally needs to be done with the seawall then let's get somebody competent to tell us that. And, ahhh, [pause] we'll deal."

We'll deal? Well, just color me stupid. shouldn't this have been dealt with, hmmm, like before they put the building there? McVoy wants, now, after the building is almost complete, now he wants to make sure the seawall isn't a "red herring" issue? Gee wiz, Captain Obvious! Is this thinking process an indictment of higher education? "To the cave, Batman!"

I picked this for my entry since I've been following the possible hurricane heading in our direction. I encourage everyone to go to the beach and check out the seawall. Think is was built in the fifties and looks that way. Also take a look at the old tunnel in the seawall, that wooden door with the padlock, now if that's not sustainable, I don't know what is. 

The Little Dutch Girle Little Dutch Boy

Not the best news...

Contrasting Approaches to Climate Change and Hazards « Recovery News

You might want to take a few minutes and listen to a group of planning professionals discussing how various localities are addressing climate change, rising sea levels, along with pre- and post-disaster planning.  In a word, they are talking about resiliency of the built environment in the face of natural forces.  Click title for link to brief introduction.  The YouTube video appears below.

If you missed parts 1 through 6 of the Mulvehill Monologues or if you read or heard all of them, you will be pleased to know that the information dispensed here is in easy-to-understand English and the speakers are able to complete trains of thought.  It deals with many of the same issues that were apparently discussed at the ICLEI conference attended by Commissioner Mulvehill.

Lake Worth architect unopposed in election, wins commission seat | www.palmbeachpost.com

Willie reporting the news, this time.  Click link to access article.

From the City's website at 1:43 p.m. August 21:

Mood Music

It's 12 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21st - Do you know who your candidates are?

It appears that perhaps congratulations are in order for Mr. John Szerdi.  My highly placed sources say that no one else qualified for his District #4 race.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Jeff Clemens: No mandate for liberal ideology | BIZPAC Review

Well, this article (click title for link), is an interesting take on our former state Representative, now Senator Clemens', voting record from the point of view of people in the business world.  This may come as a surprise to some, but I did not vote for Jeff this time around - and I didn't vote for him in his run for Representative.  I didn't support him since I label his term as Mayor in Lake Worth as "do nothing."  Long festering problems festered with abandon while he was in office.  He was the driving force for having our "drive by" City Manager, Bob Baldwin.  He was also on the Commission at the time the city broke the development agreement with Greater Bay - the way in which this was done left the city in future legal and financial peril.  We have yet to see how bad the damage will be.  He was unable, or unmotivated, to stand up to those on the dais that, on paper at least, were his opposition.  

The following comment left at the end of the article, most likely done in jest, reads as if it were actually was signed by the people with the first names mentioned:

Cara Jennings says:

Jeff, don't let them define you in these terms, be true to those of us who knocked on doors, spread misinformation regarding polling locations and times and threw a few " votes" your way for good measure! As long as you continue to fight for social justice, redistribution of assets etc, we will be behind you all the way! Good luck, we are right behind you ! Cara, Anabeth, Laurie, Laurel, Gael, Jo-Ann, Peter, Suzanne And Chris.

Telling too was his picture appearing with Ms Jennings in a celebratory mood on election night on the cover of last week's Lake Worth Herald.  I hope the close outcome of the race serves as a wake-up call to Senator Clemens that humility still has a place in politics and that ego-gratification need not be the driving force when running for public office.

Lake Worth Library supply collections find home at local schools

With pleasure, I share this good news story about Lake Worth and generosity of our residents.  Click title for link.

Meet Jim Stafford, Commission Candidate, District #2

PRESS ADVISORY - from the City of Lake Worth

Snook Islands and Bryant Park Wetland Project:

Within the next week or so, Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental
Resources Management (ERM) will be preparing to ramp up construction on phase
two of the Snook Island project via their contractor selected to perform the work,
ATL Diversified Industries. Much like in the first phase located on the north side of
the Intracoastal bridge adjacent to the Lake Worth Golf Course, this phase will
involve the creation of islands and reefs suitable for seagrass and diverse marine
life. The northern portion of Bryant Park will be fenced off and utilized for staging
fill and equipment necessary for constructing the project. Trucking routes for
delivery of material shall consist of utilizing Federal Highway to access east bound
Lake Avenue. No trucking shall be allowing [sic] in downtown Lake Worth (Lake Avenue
and Lucerne Avenue between A Street and Federal Highway). A construction road
shall be built on the north end of Bryant Park entering directly off of Lake Avenue
where the storage house is currently located.

For more information or should you have any questions or concerns, please contact
the City's Public Services Administration office at 561-586-1720.