Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Honoring Lake Worth PBSO District 14 Cpt. Rolando Silva for his service to the Lake Worth community

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Lake Worth Commissioner Ryan Maier and the Urban Chicken: A Blast From the Past. . .

[Appropriate considering what happened at the end of the City Commission meeting tonight (8/4); stay tuned as they say. The Urban Chicken rearing its head in the urban city of Lake Worth? AGAIN!]

This appeared in the news in early April. With all the issues that need addressing in our City of Lake Worth, Commissioner Ryan Maier needs to state definitively that this will not be added to any City agenda going forward. Maier is the founder of the Lake Worth Chickens Facebook page, by the way. And the additional city employees needed to monitor those "Urban Chickens"! Do you remember a previous city commissioner (Cara Jennings) and her big issue of the day?

"Chicken Tacos or Omelets will be served depending on the outcome of the match" --Tom McGow
Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell fought valiantly against the Urban Chicken and won.
The image above is from the talented and gifted Tom McGow. Mr. McGow published this on his blog in July, 2011. You would think Lake Worth has gotten past this silliness—but have we? 
Maier (pictured above) founded the Lake Worth Chickens Facebook page.
Commissioner Maier should state once and for all for the record: Backyard chickens will not be on the agenda, EVER, in the City of Lake Worth. 

With infrastructure and roads such an important topic for our City do we want to spend one second debating whether to allow chicken coops in the City? Of course not. We don't need the distractions, or the health hazards, in our City.

Marc Tancer at Brogues in downtown Lake Worth tonight

Marc Tancer will be at Brogues tonight at 7:00. 
From Facebook: Marc Tancer was recently elected to the Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. As a local elected official he allocates funding to different departments and is here to answer your questions about the Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. Marc graduated from Lafayette College with a Bachelors in Mathematics & Economics and is the former Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County. Bring a friend!

About the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of the Palm Beaches

You can read about the MCC here. Here is a letter from MCC to the community explaining their mission:

     Welcome to the website for MCC of the Palm Beaches (MCCPB). 
    MCCPB is an exciting place where we believe that “the glory of God is a human being fully alive.” (St. Iraneaus.) 
     We are happy you have discovered MCCPB! 
     We are committed to being a welcoming and caring spiritual community. While we primarily serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and their friends and families, everyone is welcome. 
     At MCCPB you will find a progressive, Christ-centered ministry, where our primary focus is on giving away God’s love as much as we can, in all the ways that we can. We take great joy in celebration through worship, in service to others, in study and spiritual growth, and in our relationships with one another and our community. 
     We seek to be a place where everyone is supported in being fully alive and reaching their greatest potential. We are co-creators with God in making the world a place where all may live with dignity and respect. 
     All of us who are a part of this amazing congregation welcome you. We invite you to worship, pray, serve and grow with us in the joy of God’s unconditional love. If you are looking for a spiritual home, we hope you will seriously consider MCCPB. 

Many blessings, 

Rev. Dr. Lea Brown 
Senior Pastor

The location and contact info for MCC: 4857 Northlake Blvd. Palm Beach Gardens, FL (one mile west of I-95, from exit 77); 561-775-5900; email.

Here is a video from one of their services:

Found on Twitter from Stephanie Berzinski at ABC25/WPBF: the #lakeworth page (hashtag Lake Worth)

Note that the shooting by a PBSO deputy on July 30th did not occur in Lake Worth as reported by Stephanie Berzinski. Chris Stewart at Fox29/WFLX and NBC5/WPTV correctly reported the incident as "suburban Lake Worth". Note the Tweets below with the incorrect location:
There are other Tweets using the #LakeWorth hashtag that serve only to confuse the public should they happen on this page. My question is this: why isn't the City of Lake Worth correcting this misinformation? Why aren't they sending out press releases or calling news directors to get this kind of misreporting corrected?

Here are two resources (here and here) for the media on what is the City of Lake Worth and what that vast area out west is called suburban Lake Worth.

Interactive Neighborhood Association map of Lake Worth


Clicking on the designated neighborhoods will show their names, along with additional information.

[RE-POST, BY REQUEST] Ryan Maier, before he was a commissioner, on the crowded conditions in our neighborhoods

The video below is from the August 6, 2013 Lake Worth City Commission meeting. In light of the recent proposal by the Lake Worth Artist & Cottage Entrepreneurs (ACE) to change zoning to allow 'home occupations' in the City gives these comments by then-citizen Ryan Maier much more significance. Maier supporting an idea that will contribute to parking problems, increase traffic and require more demand for City services is at best hypocritical.

It was at this meeting when people approached the Commission with their concerns about the City not recognizing the referendum on height that was held in March of that year. In 2013, a state law was passed and called any such referenda "null and void", retroactive to June 2011. Therefore, the city charter wasn't amended and the height possible east of Federal, along Lake and Lucerne Avenues remains at 65 ft. in the land development regulations.

Here is Maier as a supporter of the height restriction talking about the conditions in his neighborhood related to property access and on-street parking. These are some of the same concerns people have about proposed changes to the home occupation ordinance that could allow the employment of others and customers visiting businesses within homes.

Below Annabeth Karson points out how her quality of life would be affected 15 blocks away from the downtown area where this additional two stories is allowed by our land development regulations.

I am seeing a disturbing disconnect between being against an incremental possibility of height in the downtown versus ignoring impacts from the intensification, increased traffic, infrastructure demands, etc. in single family neighborhoods if employees and customers were allowed as part of a home occupation code re-write.

Can someone please help me out with the logic here?

Monday, August 3, 2015

'Journalist/editor' Margaret Menge's "New York attitude" and unethical, unprofessional reporting of woman's death in Lake Worth, FL

[Below is another example in a long line of Margaret Menge's unprofessional and unethical 'news' stories; next up, her terrible treatment of Mr. Erilas' untimely death.]

From a story by Brian Montopoli at CBS News on November 30, 2005 titled, "The Community Meets The Cosmopolitan";
A story Monday [Link no longer works] in the Boston Phoenix by Mark Jurkowitz shined some light on the issue. It's the tale of a reporter named Margaret Menge, who had contributed to U.S. News & World Report, the New York Press, and the New York Observer, and who took a job a few months ago at the Union Leader, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Eight weeks later, she was asked to resign. She told Jurkowitz that the managing editor for news told her that she came to the paper "with a New York attitude. We do community journalism here."
[later in the article. . .]
     Spending some time at a small town media outlet might, if nothing else, temper in an ambitious reporter some of the condescension that Rosen [New York University Associate Professor of Journalism Jay Rosen] says infects the cosmopolitan media. "Elite journalists want to believe that their counterparts in Des Moines or Oxford, Ohio are under pressure to print good news," he says. But Rosen says it's more complicated than that. He dismisses such an attitude as the "sentimental, self-flattering view of the elite."
     "In somewhere like Birmingham or whatever it's hard to think of yourself as not a part of the community," he says. "When you are in that situation the journalism you do and can do and want to do is just different. And to describe that as good news versus bad news or boosterism versus truthtelling is just a load of crap."
Consider this synopsis of Margaret Menge's career in "community journalism":
  • 2005: asked to resign from community newspaper in New Hampshire
  • 2007: forced out of job at community newspaper in New York State
  • 2010: details unclear but she left community newspaper in Key West, FL, on not the best of terms
  • 2012: starts short-lived "community blog" in Lake Worth, FL
  • 2015: starts her own "community newspaper" in Lake Worth, FL
This is how Community Journalism is defined in Wikipedia:

At the Emerging Mind of Community Journalism conference, participants created a list characterizing community journalism: community journalism is intimate, caring, and personal; it reflects the community and tells its stories; and it embraces a leadership role.
     “If you want more of a definition, I’m afraid it’s like when someone asked Louie Armstrong for a definition of jazz. The great Satchmo is reputed to have replied something like this: ‘Man, if you have to ask, it won’t do me any good to try to explain.’ You know community journalism when you see it; it is the heartbeat of American journalism, journalism in its natural state.” –Jock Lauterer
Now come to the line I don't want to cross but will, reluctantly. There's no better way to prove Margaret Menge is NOT a 'community journalist', nor a caring journalist and nor a caring resident in our City of Lake Worth: I'm referring to the terribly sad incident that happened to a young lady on Tuesday, March 10th.

There were many things happening that day in the City (it was Election Day) including a rumor that something terrible had happened at the Lucerne building early that morning. I received several calls and the details began to emerge: a young lady had fallen from the building and passed away. It was truly shocking to many people, myself included.

What no one expected was a story to appear in Margaret Menge's 'community newspaper' above-the-fold, on the front page, which included a picture of the family's condo highlighted with a white circle. It takes a truly thoughtless, uncaring mind to do such a thing to a grieving family. My heart truly grieves for their loss and for the terrible treatment they received from Ms. Menge. She published this story on Friday, March 13 in Vol. 1, Issue 9 of her newspaper.

I did research on the subject of journalism and how suicide (or if it's believed a suicide occurred) should be reported by a professional journalist: There is no ambiguity: when an incident such as this occurs and the person is not a public figure then the grieving family trumps the public's right to know. Period.
Menge published this picture of the deceased woman holding her child on the front page of here tabloid. I obscured the names and faces.
In other words, what Ms. Menge did was absolutely wrong by any standard of professional journalism. And it's absolutely not subject matter that should appear in any responsible Community Newspaper.

And it gets worse.

One week later, on March 20th, in Ms. Menge's Vol. 1, Issue 10, she continues this maltreatment of the grieving family in her editorial page. She published this correspondence with Teri Barbera, PBSO media relations:
     "I [Margaret Menge] need something that says what happened, to whom, where, when. . . This cannot be withheld under Chapter 119 F.S. Not in any other state, either."
While the family was still grieving their loss, Ms. Menge was trolling for a story. Is this what you call "community journalism" or a fascination with the macabre?

Here are FIVE HEADLINES in a true community newspaper here in Lake Worth, The Lake Worth Herald (its One Hundred & third Year, Issue 12):
  • LW Lifeguards...LW Heroes
  • Hudson Holding’s Principal Steven Michael Addresses Bryant Park Neighborhood Assn.
  • Pride Fest Celebration This Weekend In LW
  • FDOT To Begin Stormwater Improvement Project In LW
  • Part 3 Birthday Cake Castle - Red Cross Designers’ Show House 
In conclusion I offer this quote:
         "SPJ’s Code of Ethics tells journalists that they have an obligation to report the truth. They also have an obligation in minimizing the harm that’s done in the pursuit of that truth. When it comes to suicides, a careful and deliberate moral reasoning needs to take place aside from the First Amendment right to report.
         Families don’t care about your rights when they are grieving. That’s why compassionate and responsible journalism is necessary and why cautious deliberation is needed."
    —Kevin Z. Smith, Deputy Director, The Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism

    From the Real Time blog: "New coalition forms to support All Aboard Florida"

    [UPDATE: Link below is now active and you can sign up to show your support.]
    At 5 p.m. today a group is launching a new website in support of All Aboard Florida. Here is an excerpt from Jennifer Sorentrue's article:
        The group said its membership includes residents from across South Florida, including several business owners and community leaders from Palm Beach County.
         Palm Beach County members include: Glenn Gromann, business owner and real estate professional in Boca Raton; Sandie Foland, owner of Barron Sign & Manufacturing located in Riviera Beach; Brock Rosayn; President of Metro Taxi of Palm Beach County in Delray Beach; and Bruce Alger Bastian, father of two and activist for Walkable Communities Delray Beach.
         “A majority of residents have long supported this project, and this coalition is an opportunity to publicly demonstrate to elected leaders that we want All Aboard Florida,” Rosayn said. “I’m looking forward to All Aboard Florida as it will bring in more tourists to our area, which will benefit my business.”

    Critical Mass bike ride in Lake Worth THIS FRIDAY (8/7): always first Friday of month

    Join us this Friday and let's BREAK 100 bike riders!
    Meet in front of the City of Lake Worth Gulfstream Hotel at Bryant Park. Socialize from 6:00 to 7:00. Ride leaves at 7:00 SHARP. Important: this event is at your own risk. Check back to this blog later in the week for more details.

    Two articles in print today demonstrate challenges in construction, renovation process (Gulfstream Hotel is also an example)

    Two articles appear today on the difficulties in renovating two problem properties in two different Palm Beach County municipalities. One is by Kevin D. Thompson about a problem property that happens to be in a Lake Worth historic district. The other is by Darrell Hofheinz of the Shiny Sheet about long-delayed renovations to the Palm House (formerly the Heart of Palm Beach hotel) on Royal Palm Way. Both illustrate the sometimes complicated situations involved in construction and building issues, and the time that they can consume.

    The subject of the Lake Worth-related article is a property in the Southeast Lucerne Local Historic District. During my last stint on the Historic Resource Preservation Board, I believe this property came before the board at least twice under a previous owner. It is a complicated situation in that a previous board approved the raising of the structure which precipitated a cascade of other building and code issues. The wisdom of that original decision can be questioned but the fact remains that it was made and caused the property owner and city some insurmountable problems. The good news here is that there is a new owner, someone who is an architect and who, along with others, have bought properties along J Street. She has the expertise to address this issue, but as she says in the article, it takes time. And she has to take care of other people's mistakes in order to turn this property around.

    I am optimistic about this one right now. It does take time and that is not unique to Lake Worth. Fortunately, problem properties are being addressed and one by one they are either being renovated or, if they are too far gone with no other solution, they may be demolished. If it goes as far as a demolition that opens up the chance for someone to build a structure that is compatible with our revised land development regulations and also be subject to review by the historic board as new construction.

    Then there is the Palm Beach-related article about the Palm House property that is on the south side of Royal Palm Way, between South County Road and South Ocean Boulevard. You don't need to be in a historic district to have problems renovating an existing building. Here are just some of the issues related to this project, as called out in the article:
         Palm Beach County Judge Donald W. Hafele appointed Glickstein as part of an agreement among several parties to resolve an internal ownership dispute that had raged since last fall. The appointment slammed the brakes on multiple legal actions filed at the county courthouse involving key Palm House players.
         Glickstein will work to “secure, improve, repair, manage and oversee completion of construction” and improvements at the property, which has been under renovation for nearly a decade, according to Hafele’s order.
         In addition to generating lawsuits and construction liens, the Palm House project at 160 Royal Palm Way is the target of a foreclosure action brought by its primary mortgage lender. The Palm House also has racked up more than $1.7 million in fines issued by the town for construction delays and non-approved projects at the site.
    The stalling of this project pleased no one in Palm Beach and it has taken action by the courts to resolve it. At least now there is a way forward, but this is still going to be a challenging project to sort out and complete to everyone's satisfaction.

    At the Commission work session last week on the ITN for the failing Casino complex, Commissioner Maier in his concluding remarks said that he doesn't care that the Gulfstream Hotel was closed for 10 years before the current property owner took control. He cares only that they have "sat on it" for the period of a little over a year since they have taken ownership of the structure.

    I hope that Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo and all the commissioners have toured the Gulfstream Hotel recently. If not, they really need to so they can have an appreciation for its current condition. I was in the building two years ago and, speaking as one with some experience, it is not a case where one can just turn on the power and start running a hotel once again. Those ten years were not kind to the inside of the hotel. Electric, plumbing, A/C and the elevator all need major work or replacement. The new owners also quickly got a permit to demolish the pool on the south side of the property, behind the hotel building, which was left to be an attractive nuisance by previous city commissions and administrations. Problem solved.

    There are other functionally obsolete aspects of the hotel that must be addressed. These include a modern kitchen sized for the operation, the size of guest rooms and the provision of a larger space for meetings/conferences. Owners of the Gulfstream represented on Thursday night that they are underway with an architect, who was introduced at a recent City Commission meeting that is putting plans together for the west side of the hotel property. That side of the property will contain the parking to support the existing hotel along with additional hotel rooms. A decision on the demolition or relocation of the apartment building on the west side of the property needs to be made; that decision cannot be made until plans are in place and can be approved for what is to replace it. The uncertainty and the length of the ITN process must have been a distraction as well.

    So, it is true that someone who 'sat idle' with problem hair for many years can walk into a hair salon, a salon professional can make an assessment of which process and cut would be best, and have a solution for the client within the same day or even in an hour's time. It is much different for someone who owns a large, historic property, especially one that has been idle for a decade in our subtropical climate.

    TR and the Man in the Arena

    Pictures of now-demolished pool at the Gulfstream Hotel from 2012

    This dangerous condition is now removed and was accomplished by the present owners of the Gulfstream Hotel. It was a condition that existed for years since the hotel closed in 2005 or so. It went ignored by previous city administrations despite repeated complaints about the unsafe area, both the pool and surrounding area.

    What the PBSO haters in Lake Worth don't want you to know

    Here is a previous post looking back at Lake Worth prior to PBSO taking over. Marc Freeman at the Sun Sentinel has this recent article about one particular crime that outraged the community and the City residents demanded change:
         A Palm Beach County jury Friday convicted in part the man prosecutors accused of masterminding a massacre as part of a Lake Worth gang war more than eight years ago.
         After more than 21 hours of deliberations the jurors decided that Jarvis Jackson, 28, is guilty of three counts of second-degree murder and not guilty on four counts of attempted murder — crimes he confessed to in 2008.
         "Mr. Jackson was responsible for a horribly violent reign of terror throughout the city of Lake Worth for many, many years," [emphasis added] Assistant State Attorney Jill Richstone said. "The most important thing is that he's been found guilty of very serious crimes which will ensure he will stay in prison for the rest of his life."
         He is scheduled for sentencing Monday, and faces life in prison. His attorney said he plans to appeal.
    Proceed to the 8:00 minute mark in the video below for a look back at charming Lake Worth in 2008:

    What the city of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho can teach the little City of Lake Worth (and FDOT too)

    Coeur d'Alene is larger than the City of Lake Worth. It's almost 3 times the size in land area and a population of 46,000. They have a very active 'complete streets' community trying to make the city more walkable and bikeable. They also have a similar problem Lake Worth has, namely a major street that separates the town and makes it very hard for people to cross. As I've noted before, Dixie Hwy functions more as a wall than a road for many in the City.

    Motorists in the country have become accustomed to wide lanes, typically the 12' standard, which is fine for highways and turnpikes but completely unnecessary in (or through) a city downtown. The dilemma in Coeur d'Alene was how to add a bike lane to Sherman Ave, their main thoroughfare.

    Chris Danley, of Vitruvian Planning of Boise, showed how with some simple chalk:
         Danley explained how the standard width of traffic lanes in usually 9 to 12 feet wide, but he illustrated that no more than 10 feet is needed per lane. He measured out 10 feet in a lane that was about 13 to 14 feet wide.
         A delivery truck approached the intersection right after that and fit comfortably within Danley's chalk lines.
         "People are already using just 10 feet of the lane," he said. "The wider you build them the faster they will go and use it all up."
    He did that to illustrate there is enough room on Sherman Avenue to add bicycle lanes.     [emphasis added]
         Kelly, who is also a Coeur d'Alene Police officer, said that is important to the city of Coeur d'Alene because it has adopted a complete streets policy that requires all new road construction to take all users into account, such as bikes, pedestrians and mass transit, as well as automobiles.
    You can read the entire article about Coeur d'Alene and their complete streets effort here.
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