TED Blog | Is democracy in crisis? A Q&A with TED ebook author Ivan Krastev

Click title for link to blog.  Do you agree with the following?

 “The most important and positive hero for the democratic society is somebody who is ready to change his views after a rational argument."/

Couple looking for a simpler life takes matter into their own hands and build perfect miniature-home | Mail Online

Living "large" may be a thing of the past.  Read about the "living small" trend by clicking title for link to article on how one couple is living in a 140 square foot home they created themselves.

Videos during Commissioner Reports and Public Comment...

...from last night's City Commission meeting (1/8/13) are on the way. There was talk about the Banyan tree removal, a domestic violence incident that left a woman dead after being shot by an officer of the law and a "study" discovered by Commissioner McVoy about how "low rise" cities are safer and adapt easier to change. There are other tidbits as well.

It was a lightly attended meeting - much of the agenda dealt with second readings of variance code enforcement amendments.  We learned that the city's property files are a "mess" and will take at least 7 years to fix so that they can be accessed by the public with some assurance that the information is correct.  We also learned that the city is addressing ADA (accessibility) issues along the downtown's sidewalks and it is one of the more burning priorities.  This issue came up during discussion of the bar stools and the street/sidewalk cafe breaches in the downtown.  It turns out that our street trees in the downtown (consisting of Live Oaks and Foxtail Palms) - installed around 1998 - are showing the effects of top watering.  Their root systems have thus pushed up the pavers around them, necessitating the removal of the grates that were once there.  This is the result of a cost-saving decision, way back when, not to install an underground watering system for the trees.  The solutions to this problem did not sound "pretty", especially in light of the loss of the large Banyan tree in the Cultural Plaza.  More to come...

Grant money for abandoned vessel removal, lifting of Stage III Water Restrictions...

These are just some of the items to be considered at this coming Tuesday's City Commission meeting (1/8).  This is called a "special meeting" since last Tuesday fell on New Year's Day.  Click here for link to agenda and back-up material.

There is also an add-on item that you can review here.

At new Miami train station, too-short platform to require costly fixes - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

Trouble in Miami due to a design oversight, and the result is the total reconfiguration of traffic in the area.  Click title for link to article.

Pothole of the Week Nominee

 Between Federal Hwy. and M Street on 15th Avenue North

Moving day at the Gulfstream?

 One of this blog's intrepid readers stumbled on this activity going on at the Gulfstream Hotel yesterday and snapped these pictures.  Curious, he noticed that the moving truck was filled with furniture pieces.  Apparently our downtown, waterfront, park-front, historic hotel is being used for storage - during the height of tourist season in the midst of the city's centennial year.

Paul Harding - Co-Owner of Amelia's Smarty Plants 01/04 by High Noon in Lake Worth | Blog Talk Radio

Click title for link to show information.  The link will lead you to the archived show after the live show airs at noon tomorrow (1/4) - tune in live if you can.  Leave questions for this Lake Worth small business owner as comments to this post - we'll try to answer them on the air.

John Steinbeck

"It has always seemed strange to me... the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second."

Stool samples in front of Igot's

 Many years ago, when Igot's asked for a proximity waiver from the Planning and Zoning Board, they also asked for permission to install bar stools along the Lake Avenue side of their business.  I remember the board reacting with a loud and clear "no" and I believe that the prohibition of bar stools made it in to the final motion.  I also recall the board having a concern about the establishment serving patrons directly through the open window(s).  We also were concerned about people walking, with drinks in hand, back and forth across K Street.

Is this the next place for these things?

 It is my understanding that staff is aware of this recent development and that concern has been expressed by others.  They are working on resolving the problem.

We seem to be veering towards a culture where it is easier to ask forgiveness than for permission.  What do you think?  Is this a big deal and the city should make them remove them or should we just let it happen?

Event coming up this Saturday 1/5...

Click here for more details.

Achievement! Pothole of the Week - Fixed...

Good-bye 2012 - Hello 2013

Florida's Long Lines On Election Day Discouraged 49,000 People From Voting: Report

Click title for link to Huffington Post article - we are now getting the details on the number of votes suppressed during the November 2012 election in the state of Florida.  Do you think the same phenomenon happened locally?

Will Florida see more of these domed hurricane-proof structures?

Click here for link to New York Times article.  These are popping up all over coastal areas of Texas as dual use community facilities and storm shelters - funded with a good share of FEMA money, with a required local contribution.  Maybe the Casino building should have been one of these?

Dual-Use Domes Are Shelter in a Storm

In Texas, a hurricane-readiness project partly financed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency involves building sturdy multipurpose buildings.