After years of decling population, downtowns are being redeveloped and attracting new residents.

Click title for link to brief article.  Here, downtowns are defined as being within a two mile radius of City Hall.  More evidence of Lake Worth's attractiveness to future residents given various factors identified in the article.  Anecdotally, many have told me that many people from the Wellington area associated with the equine community are buying homes here - many times second homes.  They like being close to the beach and being able to bike and walk around easily.  As long as they ignore our politics, they should enjoy their lifestyle here.

Lake Worth joins ‘green’ financing program for commercial...

This is a good program.  The first "High Noon in Lake Worth" show featured Erin Deady who is promoting the PACE program.  From the article:

Commissioner Christopher McVoy said energy-saving upgrades should pay for themselves faster in Lake Worth than in neighboring cities because the city’s commercial power rates are higher than those charged by Florida Power & Light Co.
Lake Worth Utilities charges commercial customers $361 more for 6,000 kilowatt-hours of power than FPL charges in neighboring cities, according to the Florida Municipal Electric Association.

When dealt lemons, attempt to make lemonade...click title for link.

My first trip (to eat) at Mulligan's

 Bill and I rode our bikes to the beach tonight to try out Mulligan's for the first time.  There is an air of improvisation there with the portable lights set up around the traffic circle north of the building.  There were what seemed to be two golf carts ferrying people back and forth from the dark parking lot to the south.  We were able to park and lock our bikes across the street, in front of the casino building.  There were two "racks" made of non-corrosive material - good choice here.

 The restaurant is cool to see at night since the lighted bar top makes quite an impression.  It reminds you that you are on the ocean, even if it is hard to tell that at night.

 Mulligan's seemed about 2/3 to 3/4 full when we were there around 6:45 or so.  More people were coming in as we ate and while we were leaving.  I must tell you, it did not seem like the typical Lake Worth clientele - definitely a little more upscale than what you find on Lake Avenue.  It is on Palm Beach island, after all.

 It was a bit breezy and the plastic curtains were down so that food and napkins didn't blow around if you chose to be in the outdoor seating area.

 There was a banner hanging by the entrance that said they will be open Thanksgiving Day - no word on a special menu - but it may be a nice place to hang out before or after your dinner.

 The furniture and fixtures were first rate.  I liked the floor treatment and the interior walls look like they were done with hardy board siding which gave it a beachy feel.

 I had the Baja Fish Tacos for $12.95.  They were good and the portion size adequate.  I opted for the cole slaw instead of the rice.  You could have any side you want.

 Bill had the Black and Blue Burger which was around $11.  They have an extensive drink menu and an assortment of beer and wine - which we did not have due to our mode of transportation.  Just water with lemon thank you very much.  Also helped keep the cost down.

The total bill was $30 including tax and tip.  Not quite the egalitarian eatery some of our leaders envisioned, but you had the sense that you were getting what you paid for.  The food was good and so was the atmosphere.  I'll have to go back during the day and enjoy the nice view of the ocean.

Handy word to know in addition to cabal: Granfalloon

In preparation for the special election on height limits in the downtown this coming March, it's good to get to know the meaning of the word Granfalloon.

From Wikipedia:

Granfalloon Technique

The granfalloon technique is a method of persuasion in which individuals are encouraged to identify with a particular granfalloon or social group. The pressure to identify with a group is meant as a method of securing the individual's loyalty and commitment through adoption of the group's symbols, rituals, and beliefs. In social psychology the concept stems from research by the British social psychologist Henri Tajfel, whose findings have come to be known as the minimal group paradigm. In his research Tajfel found that strangers would form groups on the basis of completely inconsequential criteria. In one study Tajfel subjects were asked to watch a coin toss. They were then designated to a particular group based on whether the coin landed on heads or tails. The subjects placed in groups based on such meaningless associations between them have consistently been found to "act as if those sharing the meaningless labels were kin or close friends."

Researchers since Tajfel have made strides into unraveling the mystery behind this phenomenon. Today it is broken down into two basic psychological processes, one cognitive and one motivational. First, knowing that one is a part of this group is used to make sense of the world. When one associates with a particular group, those in the group focus on the similarities between the members. This is different from people not in the group. For "outsiders" differences are focused upon and often exaggerated. A problem with the granfalloon is that it often leads to in-group, out-group bias. Second, social groups provide a source of self-esteem and pride, a form of reverse Groucho Marxism as in his famous remark "I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member."

Follow link for footnoted version.

Manassas News & Messenger and InsideNoVA.com, top Prince William news sources, closing down - The State of NoVa - The Washington Post

Click title for link for the latest obituary of traditional print - and now on-line - media sources which cover local government.  From the article:

Prince William County Board Chairman Corey Stewart (R-At Large) said that he noticed that as the News & Messenger and Washington Post newsrooms have shrunk over the years, fewer people approached him to ask about county issues. He said residents are less informed about local issues than they once were.
“People will always be interested in local news,” Stewart said. “But where do you go for local news? Right now there just aren’t a lot of resources for that other than the local papers. As those are withering away, I’m not sure what’s going to replace them.”

On November 9 of this year, I moderated a panel as part of the Palm Beach County Planning Congress' Sixth Annual "Ethics" Seminar.  Our session was called "Ethics and Public Corruption: "Old" and "New" Media Perspectives."  The other panelists included Dan Christensen, editor and founder of The Broward Bulldog and former investigative reporter for The Miami Herald and The Daily Business Review based in Ft. Lauderdale and Roger Williams, reporter and columnist for Florida Weekly.  Both had extensive career backgrounds in traditional print media outlets, but now were primarily engaged in the digital media domain.

During the discussion, we shared the lament that the role of the "fourth estate" and the local paper of record has indeed gone the way of the dinosaur.  We can no longer count on the local media, in our case The Palm Beach Post, to adequately cover the intricacies of local government.  This absence creates a fertile ground that provides the perfect cover for misdeeds to flourish.  Remember the Post's claim that the Casino building "is being gutted, but not torn down" despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary.  Attorney Joslyn even mentioned the newspaper's role in propelling myths related to the Greater Bay project being spread by opponents of the project - with no questioning of whether or not these wild stories had any ounce of truth to them.  The Post's editorial board seemed enamored with this rag-tag group of grassroots activists and were swept away by their zealousness.  It seems at times they enjoyed vicariously being part of "their cause" and only wished that they could be more like them, but, alas, they had succumbed to the comfort of their regular bi-weekly checks and cozy paneled offices.  The facts, they thought, didn't really matter anyway - they were perpetuating part of an ideology.

The panel discussion concluded that to find out what is really going on in local government, we will more and more rely on the work displayed in blogs like this one and others.  People will have the freedom to decide which are objective and which are not and choose which source they consider more reliable.  The day of a monolithic editorial, and public, opinion is over - if it ever really existed.

Prosperity & Achievement: Ennui and Entropy

Click title for link to an excellent summary of the latest Lake Worth beach fiasco, penned by Mary Lindsey.

ARTICLE XVIII A. - BEACH AND CASINO (BAC) ZONING DISTRICT

Sec. 23.18A.01.00. - Intent.

The Beach and Casino district (BAC) is a zoning category for the Lake Worth public beach and casino area. It is intended for public use of the beach area and other beach related uses and private commercial and public uses in the casino area.(Ord. No. 2007-19, § 1, 3-6-07)

Sec. 23.18A.02.00. - Principal uses permitted by right in the BAC district.

In the beach area (east of the east edge of the existing seawall):

A.Public beach and pier and accessory uses such as umbrella, beach chair, beach and water related rentals and cafes on the pier only, and special events as per section 21-18

In the casino area (west of the east edge of the existing seawall):
A. Pool, pool building and accessory uses.
B. Picnic facilities, play-grounds, recreational uses and restrooms.
C. Parking and parking structure.
D. Ballroom, banquet and meeting rooms.
E. Retail establishments. The sum of all retail establishments may not exceed seven thousand two hundred (7,200) square feet.
F. Restaurants (no drive thru), sandwich shops and snack bars, outdoor cafes and push carts.
G. Special events as per section 21-18
H. Art shows, exhibits and other events not requiring a special event permit pursuant to section 21-18
I. Environmental/nature centers.
(Ord. No. 2007-19, § 1, 3-6-07)

Sec. 23.18A.02.01. - Development regulations.

A. Building height: Total height shall not exceed sixty (60) feet. Two (2) habitable stories totaling not more than fifty (50) feet in height. Architectural features not to exceed an additional ten (10) feet in height. Building height shall be measured as defined in section 23.02.03.00, general definitions.
Parking structure shall not exceed two (2) levels or thirty-two (32) feet. The height of the highest parking surface shall not exceed the crown of the loop road closest to the seawall.

B. Setbacks: East: Seventy-five (75) feet from the east edge of the existing seawall excluding public seating, outdoor patio and dining areas (which shall be at least forty-five (45) feet from the east edge of the existing seawall), public shelters, signage and push carts.

West: Seventy-five (75) feet from the property line.
North: Two hundred (200) feet from the property line excluding public seating, public shelters, signage, and picnic pavilions, (which shall be at least thirty-five (35) feet from the property line and which shall be subject to special land use approval by the planning and zoning board).
South: Thirty-five (35) feet from the property line.

C. Building coverage: Fifteen (15) percent.
D. Maximum impermeable surface: Seventy-five (75) percent.
(Ord. No. 2007-19, § 1, 3-6-07)

Sec. 23.18A.03.00. - Prohibited uses.
A. All uses not specifically permitted.
(Ord. No. 2007-19, § 1, 3-6-07)

This is the actual wording of the Beach and Casino Zoning District that was the subject of the petition drive to repeal it - as led by current Commissioner McVoy.  This, according to McVoy, allows for the over-commercialization of the beach.  It was never repealed and the city actually needed this language in order legally to allow businesses there.  It corrected a long standing non-conformity since businesses existed at the beach in the Casino building for a very long time as the Public Recreation and Open Space (PROS) zoning only permitted "Parks and other outdoor open space areas intended for active use."

The Beach and Casino Zoning District does not mention Greater Bay's project and was not tied to it, other than it being a requirement that the city provide the appropriate zoning and land use so that would allow commercial activity at the beach.  Also, look at the limitation of the square feet on retail space.  Is the city following that restriction now?  Also notice that it specifically does not mention "hotels" and that use is therefore prohibited.  Finally, look at the date that the Ordinance 2007-19 was approved - it was back in 2007 and hasn't been changed since.  The petition signature gatherers cared little about what was actually written on paper - whatever terrible thing that anyone and everyone would not like at our beach was said to be allowed by this zoning district - and they are the ones that tied it to the Greater Bay project.  In fact, in one account, Christopher McVoy's wife approached a friend's door for his signature on the petition and instead of talking about the beach, talked about how the library was being torn down since there are no windows on the east side of the Lucerne building - that another tall building was going up in the downtown.

Back to the beach, contrary to the trivial blogger's take, these businesses were not "grandfathered in" and retail businesses and restaurants are not"customarily incidental to a principal use permitted by right" - that being open air recreation.  If you defined it that way, all parks in the city carry this PROS zoning designation and would allow commercial businesses.

The Beach and Casino Zoning district was created to prevent a misinterpretation of the PROS district.  The wording of that zoning district appears below:

 ARTICLE XVIII. - PROS PUBLIC RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT


23.18.01.00. - Intent.

The public recreation and open space district designates locations for parks and other outdoor open space areas intended for active and passive use. The district implements the public recreation and open space land use category in the Lake Worth Comprehensive Plan.

23.18.02.00. - Use restrictions in the PROS public recreation and open space district.

23.18.02.01. Principal uses permitted by right in PROS district.

A. Parks and other outdoor open space areas intended for active use.
B. Essential services.

23.18.02.02. Principal uses permitted as special land uses in PROS district. No uses are permitted as special land uses in the PROS public recreation and open space district.

23.18.02.03. Accessory uses permitted by right in PROS district. Any use accessory to and customarily incidental to a principal use permitted by right.

23.18.03.00. - Development regulations for the PROS public recreation and open space district.

A. Height: thirty-five (35) feet.
B. Setback: twenty (20) feet from all lot lines.

Commissioner McVoy's version of the democratic process doesn't pass the smell test...

Pay special attention to the 2:10, 3:20, 3:55, 4:20 and especially 4:50 marks of this video.  Attorney Joslyn is explaining to Commissioner McVoy why the city's case is weak and not worth the risk of a jury trial.

Click here for on-line video link to Special City Commission Meeting from 11 14 12 re Greater Bay Settlement

One of the contradictions identified by Attorney Joslyn in depositions of Jennings and Mulvehill.  When asked whether Jennings supported Mulvehill in her campaign in 2008, she said that she hadn't campaigned for her.  When Mulvehill was asked the same question, she said that yes, Cara had campaigned for her.  Here are some pictures from 2008.  You can draw your own conclusion.

An Infographic Breakdown Of The World's Greenest Cities | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

Click title for link to information on some of the world's large cities and how they rank in terms of environmental impact and efficient use of resources.  Notice that all of these cities have a large degree of density - persons per square mile.

Lynn's Lionization of Mulvehill and McVoy

Lynn Anderson still misses the Best Commission Ever.  Also note that she treats compromise as a dirty word and encourages Commissioner McVoy to do the same.  This is from last Tuesday night's regular City Commission meeting.

Commissioner Mulvehill's Good Riddance Speech...

Who was in charge of the timing of the settlement agreement?  Why was it decided within 8 days of the last election?  Why wasn't one of the key protagonists in the drama, Commissioner Mulvehill, present on the dais so that she could face the public and answer for her less than honest behavior?  The line "false statements" from two former Lake Worth public officials is not the kind of thing that any resident wants to see about their former leaders in the Palm Beach Post.

It wouldn't be right not to include this from Commissioner Mulvehill's last regular City Commission meeting.  This is a farewell to her by her Myth-Maker-in-Chief, Annabeth Karson.

This has a hollow ring to it now, after last night's revelations...

Christopher McVoy's "We Love Lake Worth" PAC was one of the reasons cited by City's Attorney Joslyn as some of the damning evidence against the city that would have led to a larger award, had the case gone to trial.

Commissioner McVoy:  The Beach and Casino (BAC) zoning and land use designation were never repealed and currently allow for the same level of commercial development on the beach property as was in effect when you started your petition drive for their repeal.  In fact, the city had to use the zoning - that you hated so much - to allow for Mulligans and everything else commercial about the beach that you are so proud of now.

Also, don't look for any conciliatory language here in his speech - there isn't any.  And the election was not a referendum on whether or not the city should sell its electric utility.  It seems that the McVoy/Mulvehill/Jennings/Golden faction is trying to frame it as such.

Cassandra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"While Cassandra foresaw the destruction of Troy (she warned the Trojans about the Trojan Horse, the death of Agamemnon, and her own demise), she was unable to do anything to forestall these tragedies since no one believed her."

There you have it.  Click title for link.

Lake Worth agrees to $1.6 million settlement with Greater Bay...

From the article, click title for link:

"Commissioner Christopher McVoy, who opposed the Greater Bay deal before he was elected, cast the only vote against settling the lawsuit and the related budget amendment.

“We’ve been taken to the cleaners because we didn’t do our due diligence up front,” McVoy said, referring to the city’s lack of knowledge about the Greater Bay Group before the casino ground lease and development agreement were signed in 2006.

Joslyn said false statements made about the Greater Bay project by former city commissioners Cara Jennings and Suzanne Mulvehill, who opposed it, hurt the city’s chances of winning the case."