Why doesn't Palm Beach County have a "VISIT FLORIDA Certified Travel Information Center"?

Somebody needs to get to work in Palm Beach County. Found this tourism information from Sunshine Matters and here is an excerpt:

The Official Florida Transportation Map, produced in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation, is the No. 1 requested publication in our Welcome Centers. An addition to the Florida Map this year is a listing of our new VISIT FLORIDA Certified Travel Information Centers. The Certified Travel Information Centers received both an information icon at their location, as well as a legend on the map providing contact information. CTIC certification brings VISIT FLORIDA recognition to Visitor Services facilities around the state, providing these facilities and their staff with benefits that enable successful promotion of travel to and throughout Florida. [emphasis added]

I hear there's room available at the Lake Worth Welcome Center and they're having a celebration this Friday!

My thoughts on our Florida governor and please understand Governor Scott: The "Raging Grannies" don't speak for me

On second thought, I'll continue to bite my tongue about the governor. And it's pretty damn sore 'bout now. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't want to start off the day with a rant against the governor. But I don't because of two simple facts in Lake Worth: We need Gov. Scott more than he needs us and Scott has nothing to fear from Liberal Progressive Democrats like me.

That's right. I am and have always been a Progressive Liberal Democrat (PLD) with a capital "D". I was one of those people who was bewildered when groups like the 'Raging Grannies' abandoned Nan Rich in her campaign against Crist. I campaigned for Nan Rich and her Lake Worth headquarters was my living room. I believed then and still believe Nan Rich could have defeated Crist but watched as Progressive after Progressive abandon any principle and go for the "guy that could win". Nan Rich could have defeated Scott but she never got the limelight thanks to press who rallied around the "guy that could win".

Governor Scott is the governor of Florida because the PLD's in Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County, and Broward County dropped the ball. Every progressive in the state of Florida needs to get mad about that. Not at Gov. Scott but at people like the 'Raging Grannies'. They talk the talk but can't walk the walk. And that's why Scott is the governor of Florida.

Now I'm in the position of keeping quiet about what happens in Tallahassee because people like Jeff Clemens have to eat crow, be nice, and play nice to get the help Lake Worth needs. Clemens made the PLD's real happy once when he made fun of Gov. Scott on the national stage and he got a lot of press out of it. Then the governor got his revenge and Lake Worth lost the money it needed for a major infrastructure project. So there 'Raging Grannies'. See how it works now?

The 'Raging Grannies' were in Lake Worth yesterday. They made a lot of noise but not one word made any difference for a neighborhood that needs a fire hydrant or a family that's stuck inside their home all night because of no street lighting. Gov. Scott and the Republicans in Tallahassee couldn't give a rat's ass what the 'Raging Grannies' think and that situation isn't going to change any time soon. Making noise and getting the attention of George Bennett is all for show. After the show was over none or our City's infrastructure was improved and if the show gets the attention of the wrong people the prospects of anything getting done can diminish in a flash.

In conclusion, a message to our governor and the Republicans in Tallahassee from a Progressive Liberal Democrat in the little City of Lake Worth: The 'Raging Grannies' don't speak for me. Lake Worth has a lot of problems to address and curing the ills of the state and nation are way beyond our capabilities. I'm a 'raging' PLD that's still upset over the funding request that the governor vetoed last year. If the 'Raging Grannies' become your 'voice' in Lake Worth you can bet Lake Worth will never get another dime from the state if they can avoid it.

That's why I continue to bite my tongue.

I called out the "saber rattlers" and they've gone completely silent

On January 9th I penned this post in response to The Obtuse Bloggers (TOB's) threat to tie up Lake Worth in lawsuits once again. Here is an excerpt:

     They are willing to risk the continued deterioration of the Gulf Stream hotel, place our local economy in a continued handicapped state due to the lack of appropriate lodging for guests, to preserve the principles of 'democracy'. They are willing to use the resources of a Golden goose and others to monkeywrench the City's future. To tie this issue up in the courts and waste our tax dollars to defend it is a foolish and cowardly act.
     We need a first class hotel in Lake Worth. The Gulf Stream hotel sits shuttered for ten or more years on our most prominent property in the City, on our waterfront, our main street and at the foot of one of the City's finest parks and its golf course. There are tall buildings all around this area of the City and a building of similar height would be in harmony with the surrounding built environment.
     That means nothing to the people who would file a lawsuit to halt progress on saving our National Register historic hotel and having a decent place to house visiting family, friends and tourists. They would rather bleed the City's legal defense fund for the sake of their own vanity and chutzpah in preventing progress. They will also delight in making this a divisive election issue.

This would be a good question at the next candidate forum, wouldn't it?

No comments? Why not? Maybe a long hard look at the odds got you thinking twice?

The little City of Lake Worth is not alone dealing with false news reports in Palm Beach County

Loxahatchee Groves is a town in Florida of approximately 12 square miles. The good folks at Palms West Press have also taken on the lazy media for their inaccurate reporting:

#CBS12 The name of the town is Loxahatchee Groves. "Loxahatchee" is a zip code for Loxahatchee Groves and much larger Acreage, not a place.

— PalmsWestPress (@PalmsWestPress) January 2, 2016

This is very heartening to see and more people need to get involved. The City of Lake Worth has been treated terribly, especially by the TV news, when it comes to municipal borders. If you didn't know "Lake Worth" has 9 Zip Codes but only two are the City of Lake Worth: 33460 and a part of 33461.

By far, ABC25/WPBF is the worst offender when it comes reporting actual locations in their news reports followed closely behind by CBS12/WPEC. The news station NBC5/WPTV has made great strides taking the time and effort to get it right; also, in many instances they've corrected their news reports when they were given the correct information.

If more people get involved this can be fixed and the reporters/assignment editors will learn to do their jobs. Or, as has been suggested, all the major news outlets will join together and create an ombudsman to police themselves—or. . .the county will step in and do that work for them.

Wonkblog explains: "Why taxi drivers are suddenly getting nicer"

Personally, I wouldn't know if taxi drivers are getting nicer or not. These days whenever I need a rideshare I call Uber and so should you. Emily Badger at Wonkblog has this very interesting take on why "taxi drivers are suddenly getting nicer" and here is an excerpt:

     Taxi drivers are hamstrung in their ability to compete with Uber. They don't control the major lever of competition, the ability to lower their fares. They aren't allowed to surge price either, which can boost the supply of cars when and where passengers need them. In many markets, they can't let riders pay by smartphone or order a car that way.
     But taxi drivers do control many aspects of the quality of a ride. And in one fascinating consequence of the rise of Uber, it looks — in passenger complaint data — as if taxi drivers under new competition may be trying harder to give you a pleasant ride.

What happened in Palm Beach County last year vis-à-vis Uber vs. the taxi companies can generally be summed up this way: the public went into revolt. The public got fed up with the terrible service and demanded change and they got it. Now Uber is here to stay and the county is a better place for it. Undoubtedly, the taxi companies tried cleaning up their act when Uber gained a foothold here but by then it was too late—they didn't understand or care there was a shift in public opinion.

The tipping point may have been when a well-known West Palm Beach resident (I won't give his name but some of you will know who I am talking about) went ballistic one day after another terrible cab ride and he let everyone know about it. He'd had enough. It seemed after that the flood gates opened and there was no going back. Plus a large number of prominent Millennials started chiming in fed up with the status quo.

Two other things: With all the money and work organizations like Discover the Palm Beaches do to attract tourists is one of the first things a tourist sees on arrival at the airport a dirty taxi good for tourism? Of course not. And lastly, I hear it's still difficult to order an Uber ride from Palm Beach County's airport but some have found a clever way around that. What they do is take a short cab ride from the airport to a location nearby and then order an Uber ride from there to their final destination.

For people who live out in Wellington, for instance, that can be a significant amount of money.

Fundraising event for Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo TODAY (Monday, 1/11) from 5:30–8:00 at The Beach Club

To sign up for future updates from Mayor Pam Triolo use this link.

"Please join me for my fundraiser event!"
Monday, January 11, 2016
5:30–8 P.M.

Hosted By:
The Beach Club
Lake Worth Golf Course
1 7th Avenue N.
Lake Worth, FL 33460

RSVP: Ellie at 561-585-8668

The mayor says, "I would be honored to see you there!"

Political Advertisement paid for and approved by Pam Triolo, Mayor

A message from Joan Oliva on the "Discovering Our New World" exhibit at Lake Worth's City Hall

Here is the information from Joan Oliva, the executive director of the Lake Worth CRA:

     Thanks to the Armory Art Annex of Lake Worth, the City of Lake Worth, the Palm Beach Photographic Center, the Guatemalan Mayan Center and the CRA/ LULA, the Exhibit “Discovering Our New World” will be displayed at Lake Worth City Hall until the end of January. This unique exhibit includes photographs taken by Lake Worth youth. These young residents, originally from Central America, took photos here in our beautiful City and each tells a story about their new home, their family and/or their new environment.
     If you did not get a chance to see this Exhibit while it was on display at the Armory Annex (LW Arts Center), please take a few moments sometime over the next month to see this meaningful and thoughtful exhibit.
     Thank you to the City Manager, Mike Bornstein, for the offer to display and to all our partners who made this possible.
     Staff at the CRA wish you and yours a Happy Holiday season. Thank you for your continued support.
     We look forward to working even harder this next year to bring you more exciting projects and programs!

You can read more about this exhibit when it was at the Armory Art Annex.

This would be a great opportunity for some in the news media to experience and report on, don't you think? The arts are such an important part of our City and is a tool to bring us all together as a community.

More about the movie "Hogzilla" and that candidate for mayor in the City of Lake Worth

This story falls into the category, "You Can't Make This Stuff Up". Below is an excerpt from the biography that Dianne Jacques (candidate for mayor) supplied for the NAPC/Lake Worth Municipal Election Candidate Forum held on January 6th at the Lake Worth Playhouse:

Diane Jacques is a veteran film and television producer. Through projects like Sudden Terror for ABC Network and Splitsville for Bravo Network, she’s created millions of dollars in jobs and economic stimuli for numerous Florida communities. She’s struck deals with such luminaries as Ben Stiller, Oliver Stone and Johnny Depp, and is currently developing a cooking show for Inlet Grove High School where she works as a teacher.

The term "name dropper" comes to mind. To see all of Jacques' work in the movie business use this link for IMDb (Internet Movie Database):

• 1996 Sudden Terror: The Hijacking of School Bus #17 (TV Movie) (producer) 
• 1999 Chapter Zero (producer)
• 2008 Rock and a Hard Place: Another Night at the Agora (Documentary) (producer)
• 2014 Hogzilla (Video) (producer)

The 'movie' Sudden Terror was a made-for-TV movie almost twenty years ago. Jacques was a producer for the movie along with ten other people:

• Executive producers: 4
• Associate producers: 3
• Producers: 4

The show Splitsville that Jacques takes credit for doesn't look like it ever made it on TV. Maybe it was eventually produced but under a different name. My query to the Bravo Network hasn't been answered yet.

As far as Oliver Stone is concerned, it appears Jacques traveled to California to meet with Oliver Stone but a deal was never made and she returned to Florida empty-handed. You can read about this is an article written back in December of 2000:

     Novice filmmakers [Diane] Jacques and [Laurie] Hannan-Anton took the story, retitled "Mr. Perkins," to Hollywood and knocked on doors until they came to the attention of associates of [Mel] Gibson and [Oliver] Stone. [emphasis added]
     However, Jacques said, Gibson never could line up the director he wanted to make the movie and it went into limbo. Meanwhile, Jacques and Hannan-Anton returned to Florida to make "Sudden Terror."

At the next debate maybe this will all get cleared up. And possibly the issue of the objectification of women will be brought up? Have you seen Jacques' latest work, Hogzilla?
I told you, "You Can't Make This Stuff Up". Note that in the movie no hogs are seen but there are a lot of women shown running around the Everglades in bikini tops and bras. The best part is the screen shot with the lines, "The Other White Meat Bites Back". Clever writing.

[Pinned Post: Please scroll down for new content.*] A message of hope from a young woman who is excited about Lake Worth's "potential"

Likely every reason possible has been proffered objecting to the Gulf Stream hotel project moving forward including this one:

This is an actual quote made during public comment at the Lake Worth City Commission in opposition to the Gulf Stream hotel rezoning request.

We can conclude now that every possible reason(s) why our historic Gulf Stream hotel project shouldn't proceed have been exhausted.

However, there are a lot of very hopeful and excited people in Lake Worth who are looking forward to seeing our historic hotel open for business once again. In the video below from the City Commission's second reading of the rezoning request last Tuesday, 1/5/16 (which passed on a 3-2 vote) is a young woman who looks forward to "finally showing off our town's incredible downtown and one of the best assets Lake Worth has to offer."

Enjoy this hopeful video and please share it with your friends and neighbors:
*And, as always, Thank You for visiting my blog. An important thing to note: Whereas other bloggers, reporters, and editors tell you what THEY THINK happened in Lake Worth, I post the videos on this blog and Facebook so you can see for yourself. Use this link to see all the videos on my YouTube channel.

Staci Sturrock on special "Spacey" Sacred Heart School mural in Lake Worth

Staci Sturrock sent out this very nice Tweet yesterday:

Spacey Sacred Heart School mural. #lakeworth #art #mural #astronaut https://t.co/vgVGFil8V8 pic.twitter.com/jHUlCPns1N

— Staci Sturrock (@StaciSturrock) January 9, 2016

The Sacred Heart School and Catholic church is one of the almost thirty Christian churches/faith-based organizations in Lake Worth that quietly go about their mission to make our City a better place to live for many residents. It's rare to see news about most of these churches—instead of chasing for headlines and self-promotion they concentrate on their mission:

We, the Roman Catholic family of Sacred Heart Church in Lake Worth, empowered by the Word and the Sacraments, are a welcoming, Christ-centered, culturally diverse community. Together, we answer our Christian calling to worship God, grow in holiness and share our faith in Christ by loving and serving our brothers and sisters.

Last year a rare article was penned about a major renovation their church had completed. If you would like to stop by and see the church's renovations and the new mural here is the contact information:

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
425 North M Street in Lake Worth
Phone: 561-582-4736
Parish hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–4:00 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday.

And they're also on Twitter!

Pitch Perfect performing at the Donor/Volunteer Appreciation Brunch pic.twitter.com/nhLkLebEnX

— Sacred Heart School (@sacred_heart410) December 11, 2015

Wow, how did I forget to make mention of this on my blog?

There likely is no better example of redemption than the story of Mark Foley. Joe Capozzi has the latest on Mr. Foley. My wish is one of these days an article or news segment will not make mention of the "scandal". It's old news that's been rehashed a million times and think most people are sick and tired of hearing about it.

Anyhow, a couple years ago I met Mark at the Bluefront BBQ after not seeing him around for a long time. Our paths didn't happen to cross for whatever reason. When I saw him I was amazed and surprised. He looked like one of happiest and go-lucky men you can imagine. We talked for a while and had a good time catching up on things. I asked about 'that rumor' of political ambitions and that query was treated with some good-hearted laughter.

Even to this day the mention of Mark's name brings out the slings and arrows from the usual suspects and all that jealousy and negativity have had a cumulative impact nearing zero. Mark's back doing what he does best—doing his part to make Palm Beach County a better place to live.

The next time you hear the song, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in south Florida remember it was the hard work by people such as Mark Foley that made it happen. 

So. . .Carry on Mark! And never forget you have a lot of friends in Lake Worth that appreciate all the work you've done over the years.

A solution on the horizon for one of the big real estate problems in Palm Beach County: Office space

Business reporter Alexandra Clough recently penned an article on the good and bad about real estate and the business climate here in Palm Beach County. Some of the bad news is rising housing costs and the looming November elections that will create some turmoil in the market. Another area of concern is the dearth of quality, modern office space.

On that issue Brian Bandell at the South Florida Business Journal has this latest news from West Palm Beach:

     West Palm Beach’s growth spurt has ramped up as another tower has been proposed downtown.
      The city received an application in December for Cosmopolitan West Palm Beach, a 19-story building with 201 hotel rooms, 125,191 square feet of office space and 364 parking spaces. It would be located on the 1.13-acre site at 419 to 435 Gardenia Street and 415 to 417 S. Dixie Highway.

[and. . .]

     The Cosmopolitan would total 269,825 square feet, with the developer proposing to purchase 134,785 square feet of transfer of development rights to achieve that density. The project would include a 4,883-square-foot bank space. One of the office spaces would be a separate one-story building.

If you're interested in the latest business news "Follow" Alexandra Clough and Brian Bandell on Twitter:

2016: More growth for county but housing costs raise anxiety https://t.co/culICBkaEI

— alexandra clough (@acloughpbp) January 4, 2016

FIRST LOOK: Hotel/office tower proposed in downtown West Palm Beach https://t.co/jcPHJZ8U27 @WalkableWPB pic.twitter.com/oDPRK8zRFf

— Brian Bandell (@SFBJRealEstate) January 7, 2016

1/10 Today in Florida History from the Florida Historical Society!

1926 – The 241’ steel-hulled schooner “Prinz Valdemar” capsized inside the Miami ship channel on this date, blocking larger vessels from entering and exiting the port for over a month. The ship proved difficult to right due to her large masts. City officials began digging another channel to allow much needed building supplies into the harbor. Dredging operations were halted however, when two of the dredges hit reefs. The masts were then cut off of the vessel and shipping continued around the capsized hull. A devastating hurricane which struck Miami later that year and the sinking of the “Prinz Valdemar” helped spell an early end to Miami’s 1920s land boom. The “Prinz Valdemar” was eventually re-floated and moved near Biscayne Boulevard. The ship was then dry-docked and used as an aquarium, restaurant and a bar until finally being scrapped in the 1950s.

Drew Martin got a letter published AGAIN! in The Palm Beach Post

Lake Worth's own Drew Martin is one of the favorite and most prolific letter writers/opinion-havers that get published by the editors at The Palm Beach Post. And did you know that he's running for the District 3 seat on the Palm Beach County Commission?

On a serious note, here is how the Post describes Drew Martin below his published letter on Saturday, January 9th:

DREW MARTIN, LAKE WORTH
Editor’s note: Drew Martin is the conservation chairman of the Loxahatchee Group of the Sierra Club.

Note that the Post doesn't disclose he is running for the PBC commission seat. The last I heard State Rep. Dave Kerner and Lake Clarke Shores Council member Greg Freebold are also campaigning for the seat that Shelley Vana is term-limited from running for again.

Question: Should Dave Kerner and Greg Freebold get equal time or should the Post publish a correction/clarification?

Palm Beach County's new Climate Change Coordinator and the polarizing of debate about climate change

If Palm Beach County was expecting to quiet the debate on climate change and rising (maybe) sea levels by hiring a Climate Change Coordinator they got a very different result. If anything that decision has further polarized the issue and made people dig in their heels on whichever side they fall on.

If you're a reader of this blog you know my position is that I don't have the answers. Maybe the climate is changing and maybe it isn't. Maybe the seas are rising and maybe they aren't. However, what I do know is this: The debate about rising seas and the climate isn't doing anything to fix our streets in Lake Worth and also not doing anything to make our neighborhoods any safer. Two commissioners in the City, Ryan  Maier and Chris McVoy, are fixated on the issue and are losing focus on the local, pressing issues at hand.

The residents of Lake Worth deserve better.

Echoing the frustration many have about this issue is Randy Lundi of Jupiter. He penned a "Point Of View" that was published in The Palm Beach Post. Here are two excerpts:

     Here is rationale, according to an email that Natalie Schneider [the Palm Beach County Climate Coordinator], who holds the new position, sent to County Administrator Verdenia Baker and other county government executives: “the purpose of this (internal county sustainability action) team is to drive county climate resilience and sustainability initiatives, capturing countywide and site-specific activities that support that initiative.”
     What? It will take a year to figure out what that means. [emphasis added] Or is it deliberately open-ended so that it can mean anything, at any time, for bureaucrats? Meanwhile, time, energy, money and resources will be spent to further the narrative of supposed climate change due to man and sea levels rising.
     First it was global cooling; then it was global warming; and when neither phenomenon proved sustainable in the environment, the narrative changed to “climate change.” This is an environmentalist retreat to a safe zone, where the “climate change” definition can satisfy either global cooling or warming — whatever trend is happening at the moment — to promote an agenda and political narrative.

[and. . .]

     America has cleaned up her act. Don’t depend on other nations to do the same.

Lake Worth Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell has these thoughts on the issue and hopefully this will carry the day in the little, 6 square mile City of Lake Worth with so many issues to address: