Westward Ho!, striking a chord, and Timothy Hullihan's "Avenir 3.0"

Timothy Hullihan doesn't pull any punches; but more on that a little later. Last Thursday (4/30) this map appeared in The Palm Beach Post (in the Real Estate section):

There are 9 new communities west of the Turnpike and 25 total west of I-95. Looking east of I-95 south of Northlake Blvd all the way to Boca Raton there are only two—and that got me to thinking.

Prior to the recent municipal elections (March 10th) in the City of Lake Worth one of the candidates, Commissioner John Szerdi, received a candidate questionnaire from Drew Martin of the Loxahatchee Sierra Club. At some point in the future will publish the entire questionnaire, all the questions and answers, but one stands out, Number 9:

Above is Drew Martin's question on the candidate questionnaire.

Above is John Szerdi's answer.

I have no idea how the other candidates, Commissioner Chris McVoy and Ryan Maier, answered this question but we can safely conclude the answer was "Yes" or something very close. What exactly would a "moratorium on further development" in the City of Lake Worth achieve other than forcing more housing to be built west? John Szerdi's answer absolutely nails it.

While areas along I-95 and east towards the ocean are showing some signs of development it's still comparatively scarce in light of the amount of new housing needed in south Florida, so the need gets filled by Minto and Avenir to name just two. As much as you may dislike these new western developments and western sprawl they're filling a need. Look no further than the new census numbers. 

Now to Tim Hullihan. He is not happy at all about what is happening in Palm Beach Gardens vis-à-vis "Avenir 3.0". You can read his entire blog post here and encourage everyone to read it. To me though these three paragraphs stand out:

     Palm Beach County is still in the honeymoon period with growth. Cheap land and steady tourism have perpetuated this romance too long. Hopefully the relationship will mature soon enough to save us from becoming Dade and Broward look-alikes, but Minto West, and other recent windfalls for developers, make it seem as if the puppy-love will last forever.
     Mature urban areas, like the New York City example, enjoy the benefits of an adult relationship between community and growth. Within this deeper, less ephemeral commitment to community, mature cities get to discuss how they can improve from within rather than how too accommodate a growing burden of external distractions. New York City has some of the world’s finest hotels, restaurants, museums, and venues for the preforming arts, because it matured a long time ago and has continual improved the quality of its heart rather than the size of its being.
     Palm Beach Gardens is just north of 50,000 residents, and I have no idea how big they want to get, but I feel certain they would be better served by a mature and sustainable approach to growth and future development. Refreshing its eastern neighborhoods; exploring options for creating walkable communities; and adding density and quality-of-life amenities to the existing urban core are among some of the trends that are energizing cities around that country that have far less heart than Palm Beach Gardens. [emphasis added]

Does anyone disagree with Timothy Hullihan?

Barbara Marshall on the "cult of Momism" and why she hates Mother's Day

Barbara Marshall has this in The Palm Beach Post today, in the digital edition. Find out at the end of the article this "originally ran on May 6, 2010." Apparently her view of Mother's Day hasn't changed much; she republished the piece again this year:

     I love my kids — they are my heart, my life — but I hate Mother’s Day.
     There, I’ve said it and it feels… good. Cathartic.
     And a bit traitorous.
     In the American cult of Momism, we’re all supposed to feign delight at being hoisted on a pedestal for a day this Sunday and showered with corporate-sponsored symbols of our sacrificial Motherhood.
     No, thanks. Besides, none of my family or friends would ever mistake me for Saint Mom of the Immaculate Family Room.
    But the worst part of Mother’s Day is the mawkish, overheated sentimentality it revs up. All those obligatory treacly cards and cheesy “mom gifts.” For me, they’re always a bad fit, like mom jeans.
     OK, maybe mom jeans aren’t such a bad fit these days.
     But I still object to a holiday cooked up by advertisers to sell my kids a needlepoint pillow that reads “Home is where the Mom is.”

So, Barbara Marshall, why don't you tell us what you really think?

"Shop Local" video produced by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority

You can also enter a drawing in honor of small business week and win a package worth $200. Click here to register.

[A Blast From the Past] Mr. Jack Scarola, the GMC, and making Lake Worth a Great City

[Re-Post: this is getting a lot of attention; originally published on 12/29/2014]

In yesterday's (12/28/2014) Palm Beach Post was a highly interesting article by Jane Musgrave about the brain cancer "cluster" in the Acreage. In a stunning turn of events the attorneys, Jack Scarola and Mara Hatfield, have conceded that Palm Beach Aggregates is "blameless". Wow. Remember this is an effort that Scarola and Hatfield have pursued for many years now, not a small expense for a private law firm. 

For those of you in Lake Worth you might think, hmmm, that name "Jack Scarola" sounds familiar.

You would be correct. Recently Mr. Scarola made the news as the "volunteer legal counsel to the Guatemalan Maya Center [GMC] of Lake Worth" and wrote a letter to United States Attorney General Eric Holder on the GMC's behalf. On October 22nd the GMC staged a protest against the alleged abuses of our PBSO. If you recall, that is the protest where the "PBSO Deputies Are Worthless" sign was a significant part of the protest. 

Mr. Scarola, of course, is performing his civic duty as a volunteer for the GMC. We all thank him for fostering an atmosphere of community between the PBSO, the City of Lake Worth, the GMC, and the fine citizens of our City of Lake Worth. 

In the letter referenced above by Mr. Scarola to former Attorney General Eric Holder, he references the Peelian Principles. From Mr. Scarola:

Local law enforcement has lost sight of the Peelian Principles—if they ever had those essential principles in sight to begin with. They do not know how they are supposed to do their job because they have no clear understanding of what their job is. Instead of working to "secure the willing cooperation of the public", the occupying troops dress for war and their leader publicly defends their compliance with the "rules of engagement".

Is Mr. Scarola alluding to the PBSO and the fine deputies who protect us every day in our City of Lake Worth? When you see a deputy do you see him/her as an 'occupying troop dressed for war'? Do you think our PBSO Captain Silva is complicit is this 'war' and defending his 'troops'? 

The most interesting thing about Mr. Scarola's letter to the U.S. Attorney General is not what it includes but what it leaves out. There are 9 Peelian Principles. Mr. Scarola references Peelian Principles 2 through 9. The one principle Mr. Scarola didn't reference was Peelian Principle #1:

To prevent crime and disorder, as an alternative to their repression by military force and severity of legal punishment.

Perhaps Mr. Scarola would be interested in volunteering for the Lake Worth Neighborhood Association Presidents' Council? Perhaps Mr. Scarola can research the human rights abuses suffered by the Guatemalan/Maya community prior to PBSO taking over for the Lake Worth Police Department? Or the horrific gang problem Lake Worth had just six years ago and continues to address? That would be enlightening.

City of Greenacres explores openness: "Yes, you can talk now" & how "talking" is conducted in Lake Worth

Kevin D. Thompson at the Post has this update on an interesting development in Greenacres (a continuing story from that city):

     An 18-year-old, chain of command policy that has been under attack in recent months and one that outlined how City Council members are supposed to communicate with city workers was scrapped at Monday’s meeting by a 3-2 vote.
     Council members Judy Dugo, Jonathan Pearce and Lisa Rivera voted to kill policy No. 14, while members Peter Noble and Paula Bousquet were in opposition.
     “This policy is demoralizing and not constructive,” Dugo said. “I want a policy that allows for open communication.”
     Drafted in 1997 when the city was having issues with the city manager position, the policy states that any council member who wants to discuss city business with a staff employee must get the OK from the city manager. It also says city employees can’t talk to a council member regarding city business without prior consent of the city manager.

In Lake Worth, the City Commission directs the City Manager, City Attorney and the Internal Auditor, hiring and firing personnel in those three positions. In a weak Mayor, City Manager form of government, direction to staff comes from the City Manager and the Mayor and Commissioners communicate their desires and directions to the City Manager. I don't think there is a hard and fast policy here where Commission members can't talk with department heads and other city staff, it's just that they shouldn't be telling them what to do. I am sure that there are many meetings between one member of the Commission, the City Manager and a department head.

Interestingly, there are two presentations on the Sunshine Law and the Open Records law to be made by the City Attorney at tonight's (5/5) City Commission meeting. The presentation is in the back-up material and is worth reviewing on your own. I will have video of the presentations up tomorrow morning.

Villas on Antique Row townhomes sell out on schedule

Redevelopment seems to take place on Dixie Hwy. in West Palm Beach with little effort. Click title for link to a story on how the townhouses sold out on Antique Row, between Southern and Belvedere. From the article:

     Then, in May 2013, Fort Lauderdale-based Label & Co. Developments broke ground on the Villas on Antique Row. The community’s 35 townhomes and 11 carriage houses sold out completely in December, less than two years after shovel met dirt.
     “We’re really happy with how it went,” said Harry Posin, president of Label & Co. Developments.
     Homes in the community, which is nestled between West Palm Beach’s distinguished antiques shopping district and historic communities east of Olive Avenue, sold at prices between $319,000 and upwards of $500,000.

There is new commercial development in the area as well. This new retail establishment is being built north of the townhouse project:

The Autozone store on South Dixie is also expanding. That is where a Subway restaurant used to be, but burned down a few years ago.

EarthFirst! and meeting TOMORROW in Palm Beach Gardens: Save The Briger (errr, Alton) Tract

Maybe Pat Beall at The Palm Beach Post will fill us in on the details. Or maybe Tony Doris will. Anyhow this is another fight to end all fights to stop development along the I-95 corridor that's forcing development further west, Avenir, Minto, the Ag Reserve, need I go on? But I digress...the EarthFirst! meeting tomorrow:

For some reason I keep receiving these FlockNotes from the good people at EarthFirst!. You would think after the "Battery in the Lake" fiasco I'd be the last person they would send any information to. 

I can only surmise they want me to help promote their event coming up, so here it is. 

There is a mistake in the press release above: the meeting tomorrow is with the Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition or the PBCEC, here is their website. Pat Beall at The Palm Beach Post made the same mistake the other day in her story about the GEO Group when she referred to the Palm Beach Environmental Coalition. No such group exists. 

The PBCEC is the media arm of EarthFirst!, of course. So the meeting on Wednesday is actually EarthFirst! going up to Palm Beach Gardens to have a meeting with EarthFirst! But you're welcome to join in. 

Anyhow, good luck and hope you have a nice turnout!

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw interviewed by Tim Byrd last month

Here is the link to the video by Tim Byrd at Palm Beach Live Work Play. Sheriff Bradshaw talks about how hard it is to keep the deputies motivated despite all the negativity they face all day long. This interview occurred BEFORE Lawrence Mower (Palm Beach Post) and Katie LaGrone's (NBC5/WPTV) "LINE OF FIRE" PROBE of the Sheriff so you can just imagine how hard that job is now. 

Lake Worth Tribune Commemorative Plates, Limited Firing of 100, Accepting Pre-Orders Soon

A satirical tribute to a sad legacy in the City of Lake Worth:

Each Plate is Authenticated & Comes With 14 Actual Newspapers (warehouse overstocked with issues!).

Suggested retail: $42.95

Buy 12, get one FREE

Expertly Crafted in Dry Tortugas.

Limit 7 Orders per Household.

FOR DISPLAY ONLY, DO NOT USE FOR FOOD.

Sorry: CASH ONLY

Three orders or more and receive personal note from Dennis suitable for framing.

'Fireball From Space' If Supreme Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage Bans

You can read the entire story about the 'Fireball From Space' here. This is a short excerpt:

“I’m [Rick Wiles] telling you there will be swift, sudden and devastating consequences for the United States of America [SCOTUS striking down gay marriage bans]. America will be brought to its knees, there will be pain and suffering at a level we’ve never seen in this country. The word that I hear in my spirit is ‘fire.’ I do not know if it refers to riots or looting or war on American soil or a fireball from space. I simply know that a sweeping, consuming fire will come across the United States of America and this country will be charred and burned.”

Editorial, Lake Worth Herald, 4/30/2015, titled "What have we learned"

     The City of Pahokee recently lost a proposal from the Guy Harvey Group to lease and improve their City Marina. The investor, proposing to invest over a hundred million dollars and provide hundreds of jobs walked away from the deal because of the greed of the commission. 
     The plan would have created a couple hundred jobs in an area that desperately needs them. Part of the reason for the departure was demands by councilmembers for the investor to provide every child under ten years of age with free fishing equipment and tackle. Another reported demand was for every student graduating from Pahokee High School to receive a scholarship from the investor. The deal fell through, mainly because of unreasonable demands placed on a private corporation in an effort to provide something for nothing to the community. Now, Pahokee has no free fishing gear for the children, no jobs for the adults, and no investor who might have made a profit. [emphasis added]
     Here in Lake Worth, we see the same mentality. It is and has been costly to the local economy. The residents of Lake Worth are fortunate to have a Publix nearby for grocery shopping, other grocery stores have left the area. Yet, we came real close to losing the Publix deal because a then sitting commissioner tried to dictate what products the store had to stock and sell. 
     It is not the job of the city to dictate how a private concerns run their business as long as they operate within the boundaries of pertinent codes. If Publix had walked away from the table then, how many jobs would not be in Lake Worth now. Yes, with an unemployment rate higher than the national, state, and county average, Lake Worth continues to listen to those who will do everything they can to keep unemployment high. 
     They, include at least one one percenter, were responsible for blowing through millions of dollars of city reserves with nothing to show for it when they had control of the purse strings. Ask yourself, do we need any more of that type of leadership? Ask the question, Why do they want to keep unemployment high?      Blocking business at the beach will eventually lead to a closed property, or an assessment on the tax bill to keep the beach open. It is a proven failure of a business plan this administration was handed by a previous group of elected officials who were voted out of office and now want back in to derail the train the city is on to improvement and prosperity. 
     Lake Worth needs to work with those who are capable of improving the city. We hear how Lake Worth is much more business friendly to contractors and this is encouraging, but we have a ways to go. 
     Lake Worth needs to cease being intimidated by those who stand on the sidelines and scream foul to every idea that “might” create improvement in the community. 

[For other community news, community events, ads promoting local business, go to The Lake Worth Herald website here.]

Rich Pollack: "Snowbirds flocked to beaches/coastal hotels in record numbers this season"

The latest issue of The Coastal Star is out. Rich Pollack has this article on the incredibly successful Winter season here in Palm Beach County; hotel occupancy rates are at all-time highs. Here's an excerpt:

     You can credit bad weather up North, the recovering national economy or the growing reputation of Palm Beach County as a popular winter tourism destination. [emphasis added]
     Whatever the reason, Palm Beach County continued to be a mecca for winter visitors this year, with occupancy rates reaching records in some areas and with local hotels being close to sold out for many days during the winter season.
     “This season has been unprecedented in terms of tourism for Delray Beach,” said Stephanie Immelman, executive director of the Delray Beach Marketing Cooperative, which promotes the area as a tourism destination. “Occupancy levels are up year over year even with a new hotel — the Fairfield Inn & Suites — opening.”
     Countywide, total occupancy rates remained strong, reaching almost 82 percent in January, close to 90 percent in February and a little more than 86 percent in March, according to statistics compiled by the county’s tourism agency, Discover the Palm Beaches. 

Tony Doris at the West Palm Beat: "To hell with us? West Palm tops U.S. ‘never-churched’ ranking"

Check out Tony Doris' story at the West Palm Beat. He has a survey up where you can vote. Here, from the article:

     West Palm Beach ranks No. 1 among U.S. metro areas in the percentage of residents who’ve never regularly attended church [emphasis added], according to a new survey by Barna Research Group of California.
     San Francisco holds the top ranking for churchless residents, those who haven’t attended in at least six months other than for holidays.
Seattle-Tacoma tops the “de-churched” category — people who used to attend regularly but haven’t in the past six months.
     According to the survey, though, 17 percent of West Palm Beach residents have never regularly attended church.

An idea worth considering by PBSO. The Jupiter Police Department is taking a Citizen Survey:

The Jupiter Police Department’s Citizen Survey is part of our continuing effort to provide professional and efficient police services to residents of the Town of Jupiter.

Dear Citizen,

The Jupiter Police Department’s Citizen Survey is part of our continuing effort to provide professional and efficient police services to residents of the Town of Jupiter.

Your responses will be used to evaluate the service you have received and to recognize positive performance and identify opportunities for improvement. Your feedback will also provide valuable insight into how we might improve community relations and better serve the community.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Kitzerow
Chief of Police 
Jupiter Police Department

[If done here in Lake Worth, it would be best to do an online and an analog survey to get to residents who do not have access to the Internet, lack computer skills or who do not speak English.]

Annotated notes from first video—last Tuesday's (4/28) ITN Selection Committee meeting

There was much information dispensed throughout this meeting. Many attended. In fact, the conference room was opened up for additional seating. So, given the public interest in the meeting and the topics being covered, I thought it would be helpful to annotate the video segments. This will save time, instead of readers having to watch two and a half hours of video, and you should be able to identify the topics and issues better. You can also check on the veracity of what is shared as I will use minute marks on the video for reference.

Christy Goddeau, of the Torcivia Law Firm, chaired the meeting. She introduces the reason for the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) which is consistent with what City Manager Bornstein told us at a previous City Commission meeting. It was an organized way to analyze requests to help utilize the facilities at the Casino building/pool better and entertain ways to make additional revenue to cover costs.

At the 4:15 mark, William Waters reviews the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development regulations related to the Beach and Casino designations. He talks about how the Comp Plan was approved in 2009 and amended in 2012, resulting in land development regulations being adopted in 2013. The beach property has a 0.1 floor-to-area ratio which limits the amount of square footage that can be built on the property. At the 7:08 mark he reminds us that the Casino site plan was approved by the Planning and Zoning Board in early 2011. Any changes based on these proposals would have to go before the Planning and Zoning Board.

After that, the proposal from Anderson and Carr is reviewed related to use of the second floor space, including the vacant space on the north side of the Casino building. This ended up going forward as a recommendation to the City Commission with the awareness that some policy issues have to be discussed related to the operation of the restaurant space and that the ultimate leasing rates and the numbers need to be examined.

At the 18:50 mark, Commissioner Amoroso says that by being liaison to the ITN from the City Commission, he learned a lot about the Casino building and pool. These included things that can and can't be done and things that were done and shouldn't have been done. He talks about the need for public meetings to talk about the pros and cons of anything the city is doing at the Casino complex. It's important to get a sense of what can actually happen there.

Discussion centers on the Hudson Holdings (HH) proposal at the 19:45 mark. Ms. Goddeau acknowledges that the committee received revised drawings last week and they were delivered with written responses to the committee's questions. In response to the Committee's request, HH agreed to pay for a traffic study related to their proposals. We find out the idea is to replace the current pool with a smaller junior Olympic pool. The size of what that means exactly was questioned and discussion followed. Its construction would be phased so that the current pool would still be operational during the construction of the new pool (north of the current pool's location).

At the 22:03 mark, Commissioner Amoroso asks about the current expense for the pool. We find out from Recreation Director Juan Ruiz that the pool's annual expenses are around $300,000, running a total of 29 hours per week. Revenue has been growing from the pool and may be $10,000 higher than the previous budget year. (Doing a little math that represents a total of 2,500 additional resident visits paying $4 per visit. This number represents an average of 48 more a week, or about 10 additional people per day of the pool's five day operational hours.) Mr. Ruiz says that the cost recovery is below 20% now and should be around 45 to 50%.

The HH proposal talks about a $20/square foot lease of 5,400 square feet (the second floor?) and it doesn't include the patio space. It would replace the parking lost from the project with a two level parking garage. (This would be one level of covered parking at grade level and a parking deck that would tie into the elevation of the dune to the east.) It would yield an additional 108 parking spaces. A total of 25,000 square feet of building space is proposed, but the leaseable area could be 26,500. This part was a little unclear.

End of video #1.