Message to the Mayor and Commissioners from an attendee of last night's meeting:

Thank you to the mayor, the commission and city staff for allowing the parties who submitted proposals to present them to the public at last night's meeting. I have a much greater appreciation for your dedication and service. After sitting through hours of public comment I have to question why any business would want to come to Lake Worth.

I went into the meeting with much skepticism regarding the Hudson Holding's proposal but now believe it may be the only proposal that addresses several of the problem issues at the beach complex.

1. Higher revenue income is needed to cover the beach complex's growing expenses. Fudging the $500,000 of yearly debt service to improve the bottom line is wrong. 
2. Lack of sufficient parking. This is a huge problem. Simply increasing the parking rates may result in driving customers away
   —
   not something the present commercial tenants will appreciate.
3. The new casino building has ongoing construction and maintenance issues which need to be addressed. 
4. The pool area was not included in the beach complex's initial reconstruction plan and desperately needs to be upgraded. The facility is an eye sore. Stepping into the changing area is what I'd expect in the USSR or Cuba
   —
   totally run down and depressing. The pool is nice but it is under utilized and there isn't any kiddy pool or other related amenities. 

Hudson Holding's proposal addresses the beach complex problems. Anderson Carr's proposal will fill the empty commercial space but does not address the parking issue, which will only become worse if the new commercial tenant attracts more customers to the area. I think more than HH proposed 108 spaces should be considered.

The reconstruction of the pool structure is a win-win for Lake Worth and Hudson Holdings. The City will get a new building and a new pool complex with more ground floor commercial space—HH gets prime commercial space to let out for events etc. and be able to provide a beach amenity for the hotel patrons.

As stated by many citizens at last nights meeting, the community has already agreed to the present use of commercial space and parking facilities at the beach. Since the proposed project reduces the foot print of the present structure perhaps with more community input regarding the final design of the pool complex, the parking complex and addressing environmental concerns many citizens' concerns will be eased.

The proposal presented is just the beginning. . .as the saying goes "the devil is in the details", construction concessions, revenue sharing, code compliance, the leasing terms for the parking garage, pool structure and existing commercial space will be very critical in establishing the final product and actual revenue Lake Worth receives from this project.

I think Hudson Holdings proposed beach complex improvements and their interest in investing in our community are great! Let's not scare them away.

/s/ Judith Ann Just

Judith Ann Just, Attorney, P.A.

City Commission Work Session on ITN responses to fix failed business plan at the Casino complex

A full to overflowing crowd packed the Commission Chambers, the adjacent conference and the hallway last night to hear presentations by two respondents from the City's Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process last night. I got there just past 4:30 p.m. to secure a spot and other people were already there who had the same idea. It may be a good idea to check the lunar calendar when scheduling meetings like this one. Having it on the eve of a full moon may not have been the best idea. Emotions ran high throughout and there was little indication of the Commission's willingness to go forward with either of the options proposed.

Here's a note on the status of the video I took. I was able to capture most of the meeting until the battery ran out at around 9 p.m. When I get back from meetings where I take video am usually able to start uploading them right to YouTube and they're ready to publish in the morning. Things are working now but there were a few bugs that prevented most of the upload from happening last night, so those will come later in the day. Here is a short one that did upload:

You can see the short video I took above prior to the meeting and the crowd that was assembled. You can see bosom buddies JoAnn Golden and Dennis Dorsey cutting it up against the wall. Those two have such a good time when they get together. 

Things started out a little rocky with a discussion regarding how public comment was to be accommodated during the meeting. First of all, this was a work session and the City Commission usually doesn't allow public comment in that sort of format. So, it was a gift that public comment was going to be allowed at all. The Mayor suggested that comments from the public be limited to questions that would be answered in real time, right after asking the question, by the respondents.

Limiting comment in this way generated some "push back" from some commissioners, so the normal two minute limit would apply and people were able to pretty much say whatever they wanted about the proposals without being limited to questions only. However, most people did take the Mayor's suggestion and were able to ask questions and the respondents to the ITN were able to answer. There were some instances when the questions became rhetorical and some had a sarcastic tone, which is never really helpful.

More later as the videos are ready. There were some high points of the meeting along with some cringe-worthy ones. While it was a good thing to engage the residents in this way, the venue needed to be larger. Some day, I would like to see the current city hall building revert back to its original use as an auditorium that could provide seating for a larger crowd. Hopefully, we'll be able to see that in our lifetimes.

More from the Post's beat reporter Kevin D. Thompson about the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth

Here's the latest news about the Bamboo Room:

     The Bamboo Room’s coming out party continues on Friday [today] as the club will now be open on Fridays and Saturdays for live music.
     The line-up for Friday is the jazz/blues group Lena & The Blue Collective (7-9 p.m.) and High Tolerance Top 40(9:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.).
     On Saturday, Maurice Franks & The Palm Beach Quartet hit the stage for a two-hour set starting at 7 p.m., to be followed by Dawn Patrol from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Mr. Thompson is the beat reporter for Lake Worth and Greenacres. Noticeably absent of late is any news from Greenacres. True, on the entertainment scale Lake Worth ranks much higher than Greenacres but it's not fair for El Dub to take all the attention away from their fine community out west.

So, if you're a resident of Greenacres and you have good news for Mr. Thompson here is his contact information:
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

Retraction

A frequent reader pointed out two comments that referred to him under a post on this blog. At his request, I have removed them from the comments. They appear below as a screen grab he sent me. I do not want to further identify the person here since his first name and only the first initial of his last name are used in the actual comment. But it is clear if you read the comments associated with the post, they refer back to earlier comments where both his first and last name are mentioned.

These comments got by me and I do err on the side of posting most comments regardless of content, and sometimes I make mistakes. This was one of them and I apologize to the person referenced here and wish him the best going forward.

Another result of urban sprawl: increased traffic fatalities

Here are some statistics from the article in CityLab demonstrating the safety of compact cities versus sprawling ones:

• Tokyo, a city of more than 13 million, has 1.3 such deaths [traffic fatalities] per 100,000 residents. London, home to more than 8.6 million people, reports just 1.6 traffic deaths per 100,000. In Hong Kong, population 7.2 million, the figure is just 1.8 per 100,000.
• Sprawl does the opposite, with deadly effects. Consider Atlanta, a notoriously sprawling city. At 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people, its traffic-fatality rate is three times that of far denser New York City (3.2 per 100,000).

Here is a sobering paragraph from the article:

     Traffic deaths—especially in and around cities—are emerging as one of the critical public health problems of the 21st century. Already, 1.24 million people around the world die in motor vehicle crashes every year. Among people age 15 to 29, who should have many years of health and productivity ahead of them, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death. [emphasis added] For children age 5 to 14, crashes are the second-leading cause. Pedestrians and cyclists account for more than a quarter of those killed on roads. And as urban populations boom and motor vehicles proliferate, researchers project that by 2030, crashes will be the fifth-leading cause of death for the general population.

GMO mosquitoes coming to Florida soon? Welcome news for many

EnviroNews has this news which will be welcome for many in south Florida. The title of the article is "Meet The New GMO Mosquito — Millions Carrying the ‘Kill Switch Gene’ Already Released". Here is an excerpt:

     Mosquitos can be one helluva a nuisance — and with those pesky little critters comes myriad illnesses, but two in particular have been present in South Florida in recent years — Chikungunya and Dengue Fever.
     Both are vector-borne diseases, and both are transmitted by Aedes aegypti — the scientific name for a bothersome little bug, also known as the “yellow fever mosquito,” that 99.99% of the population despises.
     There was an outbreak of dengue in Florida in 2009, but since then it’s been pretty quite [sic]. So, does the problem really warrant releasing millions of man-altered, genetically modified mosquitos into the wild, with a cunning war-like plot of wiping the little bugger out (or at least beating the population back to sheer vestiges of what it is now)?
     That’s exactly what Oxitec, a British biotech company, and the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD), want to do with the OX513A Aedes aegypti mosquito — let the GMO genie out of the bottle.

2015 National Night Out Against Crime

The Palm Beach Police Department announces the 2015 National Night Out Against Crime event, sponsored by Palm Beach Crime Watch, Inc. The event takes place on Tuesday, August 4th, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at St. Edward’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. Stop by to meet your Public Safety Police Officers, Fire-Rescue and civilian teams.

Outside displays will include the police boat, police car, motorcycle, bicycle, and all-terrain vehicle, as well as a rescue truck from Palm Beach Fire Rescue. Inside the hall, popular features returning this year include digital fingerprinting, blood pressure screening, Special Operations Unit’s equipment and confiscated weapons. Police and Fire-Rescue staff will have demonstrations of specialized equipment, and there will be the opportunity to meet and speak with representatives from the Code & Parking Enforcement Unit, Juvenile Officers, members of the Crisis Intervention Team, and the 9-1-1 Communications staff. Chief Assistant State Attorney Brian L. Fernandes will be at the event and can answer questions you may have regarding identity theft and tax fraud scams in Palm Beach County.

Face painting artists and a fun Photo Booth will be on hand to entertain the children. We will have complimentary servings of PDQ chicken, Amici’s Pizza and Italian ice. Come on by and take a picture with McGruff the Crime Dog.

For more information, please call the Community Relations Unit at 561-838-5467, or visit us at www.palmbeachpolice.com. Sponsored by Palm Beach Crime Watch, Inc.

Let's get this straight: about the City Commission meeting tonight

There is a City Commission work session meeting tonight that was brought about by the recommendation of an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process. It starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall. It is the product of a process started almost a year ago now. It was designed to bring new ideas on how to handle an untenable situation at the Casino complex, or as some call THE BEACH!. The Casino property, parking, pool and buildings there are not paying for themselves, contrary to the forecasts and predictions of the previous administration and Commission that went forward with the improvements there.

An invitation went out to the entire world from the City on ways to make the beach property pay for itself which began in September of last year. Three entities responded to the request. Meetings were held between respondents to the ITN throughout the late part of 2014 and the early part of 2015. This, of course, happening during the last election cycle. There were claims of secret meetings (untrue) and deals being cut to give away the city's beach (which can't happen). Finally, at the end of April, the ITN selection committee made its recommendations.

You can view that meeting here:

We still have a vacant second floor 'restaurant' space. Thought too valuable with such a commanding view, certainly high-end restaurateurs would be lining up for this irreproducible space along the Florida's east coast. Or, at least that's how the hyperbole went at the time. Guess what folks! That space is still empty. Design and construction issues related to the building have prevented consideration of that space for a serious tenant. The "breathtaking" view is being used for staff space to run the ballroom functions and for the storage of tables/chairs for the ballroom. It seems that no one thought of that during the planning process.

The site is also plagued with functional problems due to the insistence by the City Commission at the time. The mantra was that the city must save the building. In the end, the city didn't save the building, it just rebuilt a 96% new building in its place. This didn't take into account the location of the new parking lots to serve the building. And, no one really thought how the pool was going to fit into the whole equation and even closed it beginning in 2010, only to be opened again by the new Commission which was elected in 2011. The pool is a "drain" (get it?) on the financial operation of the beach but it serves some in our community who take the time to use it. The City is also bound by an agreement with the County that it must provide the same number of spaces to the general public, not just Lake Worth residents, as it did before the project. This leaves just 50 spaces, now split between the north and south of the beach property, for the more that 1,700 city resident permit holders. General accessibility to the Casino building and the loading/unloading requirements are another flaw of the current design.

So, you would think that there would be universal agreement that there are problems at the beach that require addressing. But how to do it if the city has no money to do it?

Finally, after almost a year of buzz about what is going to happen residents and the City Commission as a whole, will get a chance to hear what some think are solutions to the city's problem. Now I am hearing that people are saying that this isn't the right time to do it, during the summer, since no one is here. Well, I am here and the people that are complaining are here and there are many people here that want to hear, finally, what some of the options are. These are just options: the City has made no commitment to anyone, other than letting them present in a public way what they are proposing.

I am getting reports that a flier has gone out, issued by one of the respondents, inviting people to the meeting tonight so they can hear what is being proposed. A friend took a picture of what she received:

Now, I am getting reports that these are being snapped up by people around town, trying to prevent word from getting out before the meeting. These were the same people screaming about lack of "transparency" in the process to begin with. Why are we to close our ears and shut our eyes to what is actually being proposed? What is it that we aren't supposed to hear? Could it be that the myths that went before could be shattered in the process? Could people be caught in the "big lie?"

Anyway, the meeting is tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Get there early to secure a seat.

There was no shooting by a PBSO deputy in Lake Worth

Angela Rozier at Channel 25/WPBF and Thomas Forrester at CBS12/WPEC both got it wrong. The shooting occurred outside the City in suburban Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach Post's Mike Denison reported the incident location correctly. 

Realistic expectations tonight in Lake Worth for presentations of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) respondents

First, no one will be putting their hands on THE BEACH! Second, no vote is being taken. And third, this is a meeting about IDEAS to fix the failed business model at the Casino complex. Why are some so frightened of ideas?

"Keep our Lake Worth BEACH PUBLIC!"

"They're stealing our Public BEACH!"

"Greedy Developers!"

Some have cleverly manipulated the public into believing something false. Like this SHOCKING! page in a now-defunct tabloid published days before the last election:

Here is an excerpt about the up-coming meeting from a Kevin Thompson article in The Palm Beach Post that doesn't do much to help the situation:

     Since the site was restored three years ago and had its Roaring Twenties opening in March 2013, the city has said it’s having a hard time paying back the $6 million it borrowed to fix the building, mainly because the site doesn’t have enough tenants.
     This past year, the city officially began soliciting inquiries from companies interested in developing the space, but many residents have said they’re concerned because the city is having discussions with developers before determining if the ideas being posed make sense.

The building wasn't restored or "fixed"; it was over 90% demolished. As a result of the lack of oversight on the city's part it really does need fixing now. Nowhere in the article is the second floor of the Casino mentioned (the biggest mistake in the original business plan), just that the building "doesn't have enough tenants". The city borrowed from its utility fund and is not paying the money back as promised due to a flawed business plan. 

The city issued an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) in order to evaluate "fixes" to that plan (by a previous city commission) which include renting what was planned to be a second floor up-scale restaurant tenant. The ITN was also an open-ended, frank 'invitation' to look at improving other facilities at the Casino complex such as the operation of the pool (in the red for $100,000+ last year).

It was at the urging of Annabeth Karson and Laurence McNamara, echoed by Commissioners McVoy and Mulvehill, that we need not go with a two story restaurant (Johnny Longboats wanted the space for a two-story restaurant) as the space was so "unique" and the views "fantastic." Nearly three years later that restaurant has yet to materialize and that 'wonderful' space remains empty. 

So, please, go into this meeting with an open mind with the expectation that new information may be provided that helps fix the financial and operational issues at the Casino complex. The past emotional appeals to pity and bandwagon mentality do nothing but contribute to the problem. Educate yourself.

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:

Fine, In Lake Worth then. It's still wrong. So much for factual journalism. Q: PBSO at scene or Palm Springs PD? https://t.co/HEB5FILvZz

— Wes Blackman (@WesBlackman) July 30, 2015

@WesBlackman @LaurenHillsTV See your point about location in Palm Springs, but is it not called "Lake Worth Drive In"?

— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) July 30, 2015

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

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.