Thursday, July 30, 2015

Charlie Keegan: Some bicyclists using cameras to record rides and just in case something happens

Charlie Keegan at NBC5/WPTV has this news segment about bike riders using cameras. Here is an excerpt from the text of the story:
     Streets across the United States are filling up. Studies from the League of American Bicyclists show more of us than ever are riding bikes.
     And in 2013, 743 bicyclists died in crashes. The largest number since 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
     Now, some cyclists are strapping cameras to their bikes, just in case something happens.
     Jeff Vivo can't go long without riding his bike. "It's just a beautiful sport," he says.
     But it has an ugly side. Vivo says he's been hit by a car twice while riding. And his parents have both been hit once.
     "On a daily basis, cyclists experience close calls," Vivo explains.

CBS12/WPEC, Lauren Hills, Greg Angel and more reasons for changing name of City of Lake Worth

Once again changing the name of Lake Worth is being talked about. You can read about that here.

Last night a 'Lake Worth' accident appeared on Twitter near the Lake Worth Drive In which is located in Palm Springs. Lauren Hills did the news segment and the police are looking for witnesses in 'Lake Worth' according to her. If her report accurately stated Palm Springs that would narrow down the target audience and get more people talking in that city, possibly. Below are a few Tweets from myself and Greg Angel who Tweeted out the news:

At one point I suggested that CBS12 just make it official policy that anything on or near Lake Worth Rd just be reported as 'Lake Worth'. That would make it easier and save the 30 seconds or so needed to verify the actual location.

Below, once again, is a map of the City of Lake Worth. Let's make it easy for the folks at CBS12: if you're west of Lake Osborne you're most definitely not in Lake Worth. How's that?
The City of Lake Worth.

Letter to the Editor from Lake Worth's Donald Cavanaugh

Donald Cavanaugh had a Letter to the Editor published in the Post titled, "Remove protection for religion, instead":
      Re: “Don’t demonize gay marriage’s opponents,” by Gregory T. Angelo, executive director of the Log Cabin (gay) Republicans (July 12). The opponents of marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have managed to demonize themselves without our help.
     There is no “new culture war.” It’s the same old collection of shibboleths and interpretations of ancient texts that the faith communities have used against gays (and one another) for eons.
     I think it would be interesting to amend the U.S. Constitution to remove protection for religion and see how that works. Why should the religious be protected at all — let alone selectively — when they wish to invoke so-called “deeply held beliefs” to deny services to gay people?
     People aren’t born religious; they are persuaded into beliefs by families and communities.
     Perhaps a mile in my shoes would generate compassion from the majority. Perhaps not. But it’s interesting to contemplate. 
DONALD CAVANAUGH, LAKE WORTH
A certain 'pastor' that's set up shop in the little City of Lake Worth should give Mr. Cavanaugh's words some thought.

The Reason for the City of Lake Worth Commission Meeting today at 6:00 vis-à-vis the Casino complex

Were it not for the terrible decisions by the former and one current elected official in Lake Worth there would be no need for the meeting. As a community we're dealing with the aftermath of poor decision-making and a remarkable lack of oversight. The taxpayers in Lake Worth have been left 'holding the bag' ever since.

Below you'll read a list of defects and design flaws that all need to be fixed. This is just the Casino building; the municipal pool has all its own set of problems that also need to be fixed. Who is responsible for this mess? The main characters are in the photograph below:
Note that the Lake Worth Casino building is not "failing". As we learned from the recent Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process, the Casino business plan is a CONFIRMED FAILURE.

The false assumptions, bad decisions, design flaws, and defects at the 'new' Lake Worth Casino complex (a partial list):
  • The whole project was premised on "saving the building." The building was 94% demolished
  • Virtually all "Green Environmental" amenities were eliminated, including pilings to protect the building against storm surge (and sea level rise which is a concern for many), against an untested seawall
  • The original Request for Proposal (RFP) was a "remodel" of a 2nd floor ballroom covering one-half (50%) of the ground floor (shops and John G's restaurant [now in Manalapan])
  • There was no commission approval to expand the RFP scope to include a 2nd floor covering 100% of the ground floor (shops and restaurant)
  • Adding 33% to the project size within the $6 million budget was unrealistic and created major deficiencies: quality and functionality
  • The original rainwater collection system was eliminated; and designs changes were not done to allow for that function in the future. Remember the continual mention of a "cistern system"?
  • Acoustic treatments, event office space, and additional storage were eliminated from the final plans
  • The Ballroom built-in wiring for video and sound access/convenience were eliminated. (In fact, the ballroom, kitchen and bathrooms on the second floor are all on one circuit. People are advised not to bring blenders to events since using them has been known to blackout the entire second floor during an event)
  • The exterior balconies have poor/reversed drainage causing water to flow towards the second floor rooms resulting in flooding during heavy rain events (like a hurricane, tropical storm or thunderstorm)
  • Inferior doors and windows allow water intrusion along with rusting and corroding hardware
  • Rainwater from the roof and balconies drains directly onto the sidewalk over any pedestrians that happen to be nearby (such as when waiting for a pickup or making a delivery [for which there is no designated space])
  • Rainwater draining off the roof and balconies damages the awnings, produces mold (particularly on the decorative cast stone), and creates more building maintenance issues
  • Removal of a water booster pump to get pressure to 2nd floor fire sprinklers was eliminated. The City then had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to increase the main water line loop around entire beach site. Then larger water meters were installed incurring additional monthly charges. Cost was passed onto site work budget. Water comes from the Palm Beach water system which is West Palm Beach water
  • Air conditioning of exterior covered walkways, elevators, and stairs was eliminated. This would have protected the interior of the structure from corrosive salt water (and protected visitors from hot temperatures and inclement weather)
  • The eliminated amenities, or "value engineering" if you like, reduced the cost but resulted in lower lease rates, event rates, and contributed greatly to un-leased second floor space

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

From the Historic Florida VII! page on Facebook

The caption on the back of this unposted handcolored postcard is at the top of the message box: "The Patio / BRAZILIAN COURT HOTEL / Palm Beach / Florida." The card was published by the Albertype Co. Brooklyn. The center line on the back of the card consists of these words: "The Finest American Made View Post Cards--The Albertype Co., Brooklyn, N. Y." This postcard was probably produced in the early 1930s. According to Jacqueline Mitchell of The Palm Beach Daily News (August 27, 1978), the Brazilian Court opened as an apartment house in 1926 and then was converted into a hotel in 1931.

City of Boca Raton keeping residents informed by social media

Here we have a follow-up to the pre-Council meeting announcement regarding the appeal of the Chabad project. The Council acted to uphold the Planning and Zoning Board's site plan approval. A continuous stream of quality information coming from local governments is one way to battle rumors and untruths being circulated within a community. Just this week, there was an article by Kevin D. Thompson from The Palm Beach Post on how Lake Worth is considering hiring a Public Information Officer. To this we sing:

From AFNS: California Officials Assure Residents There Still Plenty Of Other Natural Resources To Waste

From America's Finest News Source is a comforting story from California. Despite their lamentable shortage of water there are still plentiful natural resources left to waste in the state, which is encouraging. From the story:
With residents struggling to adjust to newly imposed restrictions on water usage amid the state’s continuing drought, California officials assured citizens Monday there are still plenty of other resources available for them to waste. “Although we as a state must take serious and difficult steps to conserve water, we want to make it clear that residents are still welcome to keep squandering every other resource as usual by leaving TVs on in empty rooms or throwing out perfectly good food,” said Department of Water Resources spokesman Mark Aronow, adding that, while it is crucial that Californians observe constraints on decorative water features and other nonessential uses of water, individual residents and businesses should feel free to continue their regular practices of putting recyclable containers into the trash, paving over soil to expand parking areas, and leaving storefront doors open with the building’s air conditioning turned up.

[UPDATE] Suzanne Mulvehill and her about face: She's now pro-development!

[UPDATE] Wayne Washington at The Palm Beach Post has an article on development in the Ag Reserve today and he has this about former Lake Worth Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill:
     She [Mulvehill] has said the Ag Reserve is more myth than reality, adding that it should be open to all types of development.
     “They should be looking at all the sites that are remaining — whether they had commercial zoning now or not – rather than just granting more commercial zoning to those that have some,” Suzanne Mulvehill said. 
Lake Worth Commissioner McVoy (left) and Suzanne Mulvehill at campaign event (circa 2010).
[Original post from 7/25 follows:] Trust me when I tell you I was fortunate to be sitting down when I got to the editorial page in The Palm Beach Post today. Already reported on this earlier but seeing Suzanne Mulvehill's picture and reading her Point of View about developing the Ag Reserve was eerily disturbing. How many times did we in Lake Worth hear her cohorts and supporters call for low-rise buildings and community gardens, of saving the Casino building from destruction in the name of historic preservation, etc. And we all know the Casino building was demolished.

But such standards are different when it comes to her family's property. Here is an excerpt from Mulvehill's piece:
     Whether you are for or against development, the Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve doesn’t exist anymore. Long gone are most vegetable crops, farmland and all the flower farms. In the 1950s, Delray Beach was the “Gladiolus Capital of the World” and a major center for growing vegetables and flowers.
     Do you realize that, today, no gladiolus or flowers are grown here, and only 1 percent of the vegetables grown in Palm Beach County are grown in the Agricultural Reserve? [emphasis added]
While campaigning for and as an elected city commissioner in the little City of Lake Worth Suzanne Mulvehill's schtick was all about being GREEN, sustainable, resilient, and saving the Mother Ship Earth; she even went to a conference in Bonn, Germany to study more on the subject. How much things have changed. Below is a photoshop by Tom McGow of Mulvehill in May, 2010:
Also note that Mulvehill was instrumental in the now-failed Lake Worth Casino complex.

"El Bodegon" now open in the Town and Country Plaza in Lake Worth

This past Monday was the "soft" open for the new El Bogedon grocery store in the former space where the Lake Worth Road Publix, and then the Publix--operated "Sabor" store, operated for years. I was impressed with the cleanliness of the store and how they were able to use the space. The aisles seemed wider and the whole space seemed brighter too. This may relieve some of the pressure from the downtown Publix, as people who used to shop at this location had little choice but to go to the downtown location. A formal grand opening is planned down the line, but look for one soon.

Here are some pictures they allowed me to take inside the store. There is also a cafe within.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

[FINAL UPDATE] EarthFirst! and PBCEC: Failed petition drive against Kolter Group/Scripps in Palm Beach Gardens (Alton Tract)

[FINAL UPDATE: Effort stalled at 443 signatures.]

 [Update 3, March 22: EarthFirst! is a tenacious bunch. Now they've set their eyes on 500 SIGNATURES. Stay tuned, the sky's the limit.]

 [Update 2: EarthFirst! is 30 signatures short of 200! Remember, you can live anywhere on the planet Earth and sign this petition. Been through the list and don't see any current or former Lake Worth elected officials. Why?]

 [Update 1: EarthFirst! has reached 100 signatures and NOW THEY'RE GOING FOR 200! They have signatures from Austin, TX and Portland OR. You don't have to live in Palm Beach Gardens to get involved. No signature from Lake Worth Commissioner Chris McVoy yet but it's early.]

 [UPDATE: How is this even possible? EarthFirst! is STILL short of 100 signatures on their petition as of 7:30 a.m. today (5/9). My prediction was they'd reach their goal by "dinner bell" last night. Surely the lack of enthusiasm must be disturbing to some.]

[ORIGINAL POST PRIOR TO FIRST UPDATE:] Here is a petition on Change.org that's trying to stop the building of houses at the Briger Tract (now Alton Tract) in Palm Beach Gardens. The petition organizer is the Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition (PBCEC) which is the legitimate news outlet for EarthFirst!, in case you didn't know.

They're seeking 100 signatures for their petition and they should have those by the dinner bell tonight; they have almost 70 now. My question is why set the bar so low? Wouldn't 1,000 or 10,000 signatures be more impressive?

They're petitioning the Mayor of Palm Beach Gardens Eric Jablin [correction: Bert Premuroso misidentified as Mayor in previous post], Councilman Bert Premuroso, Councilman Joseph Russo, and Palm Beach County Commissioner Hal Valeche. I don't think any one of them will be impressed with a 100-signature petition. All of them have a kid or know a kid that can have 100 hundred signatures banning broccoli by noon tomorrow.
"Say No to 331 unnecessary Homes", they write. Meanwhile how many homes are proposed for Minto and Avenir? How many are proposed in the Ag Reserve? West of the Turnpike?

"Wes, you're beating a dead horse!" I know. So is EarthFirst!.

Isn't the Internet wonderful! Look what I found

For more information visit this website. To sign up for updates and get new information as it becomes available use this link.

Water Utility Director, Larry Johnson, responds to Lake Worth College Park resident vis-à-vis flushing of hydrants:

I spoke with Ms. XXX at XXX this morning and explained the reasons for the high levels of hydrant flushing required recently. The extra flushing is needed during the summer, due to high temperatures and the corroded 2 inch steel water pipe in the College Park area. These conditions cause the chlorine in the pipe to be reduced quickly and flushing water is needed to assure adequate chlorine levels are maintained. Unfortunately, this requires large amounts of water to be discharged from the hydrants. We cannot direct this water to plants, etc. because the volume of water would damage landscaping, and it would require much more labor.

The department is taking both short term and long term actions to reduce the amount of water flushing:  
  • The department will perform another chlorine flush from August 14th to September 6th. This will reduce the amount of flushing after September 6th. 
  • The department is planning capital projects to replace the 2 inch steel water piping in the longer term. A pilot project will start this fall, and the piping in College Park is planned for replacement by the end of 2017.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Thanks,
Larry Johnson

Video from the April 28, 2015 Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) Selection Committee Meeting


[Note the icon 'PLAYLIST' at the top left corner. There are a total of five videos and you can see the list and choose which video to watch or skip to another video.]

I thought it would be a good idea to re-post the video from the ITN selection committee regarding recommendations on the proposals for the Lake Worth Casino complex.

There is a meeting this coming Thursday night (6 p.m., City Commission Chambers) when the Commission and the public will hear two presentations for the first time. One will be for Hudson Holdings and the other from Anderson & Car. You can see the agenda and back-up for the meeting by clicking here. The agenda appears below:

The big issue of the day: Why babies in medieval paintings look like ugly old men

Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency Launches NEW & Improved CRA Website!

Lake Worth, FL, July 28, 2015 - The Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has launched a re-vamped version of their CRA website (www.lakeworthcra.org). The new site includes faster navigation, easier accessibility, smarter interface and sharp new features. Features include:

  Comprehensive listings of galleries, restaurants, shops and services
 Interactive Map
 CRA News Blog
 Event and LULA information
 Social media integration

 This cutting edge site will provide a significant change to the CRA’s internet presence and will serve as a platform to deliver more information to residents and visitors through electronic communications. By registering your details on the Contact Us page, you will be added to our database and receive regular updates on CRA programs and events.

 Please visit us at: www.lakeworthcra.org
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