The Lake Worth Tree Festival on February 13th (and how not to create a flyer to promote the event)

The Lake Worth Tree Festival is one of those special City festivals and there is so much to learn and do—especially for all the kids. You can win a free tree like I did a few years ago. There will be music, lectures, handouts, and demonstrations; more information to be had in one place than you can find anywhere else. SmartyPlants has a big display of trees and shrubs and an expert who can tell you how to plant something and most importantly, where to have it planted on the property. County and city employees will also be on hand to answer any questions you have.

Here is the festival Facebook page and an excerpt:

     A fun and family friendly event held at the Lake Worth Cultural Plaza. For the 11th Annual Festival of Trees we have talks on Butterfly Gardening, Proper Pruning, and the Lake Worth Lagoon. Musical guests include Lindsey Mills, Chaucer, and John Ralston. There will be Yoga at 9, Music & Story time for kids starting at 10, a performance by Downtown Dance and much much more. We hope our whole community will take a moment to celebrate the love we have for our trees: from Sea Grapes to Mangroves, to Banyans, Gumbo Limbos and more, we are so lucky to live 'Where the Tropics Begin."
      This is a free event.

There's a problem though with the flyers that they produced; can you spot what it is?

They don't say where the festival is located and there is no contact information on the front of the flyer. When you turn the flyer over it's blank. Just a square white piece of paper. Plus, nowhere does it say it's a free event—important information to share.

Spread the word to everyone you think is interested and make plans to attend the Tree Festival on Saturday, February 13th. The following week is the City's annual Street Painting Festival—it's an exciting time of year in Lake Worth, FL!

Ryan Hartman's recent, very confusing, and twisted trail of self-discovery: 'Who Am I and Why Am I Here'

I am very confused and a lot of other people are as well. I attended a community meeting last night (1/20) organized for those interested to learn more about the candidates (Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell and Ryan Hartman) in District One and discovered that Ryan Hartman is now an "Anarcho-Realist". Many Anarcho-Realists will be unhappy to find out that Mr. Hartman was a member at a protest that disabled a van by removing the battery and throwing into a lake. Many 'realists' will find that news unreal but it's true. He recently went to trial over that stunt.

Before becoming a candidate the Anarchist took on a more Hipster look and changed his appearance considerably. Definitely not the wardrobe the average Anarchist would use. Most Anarchists get their clothes at World Thrift and I do as well. It's a great store with a wide selection of items at reasonable prices.

As you can see in this video from last night he's taken on quite the mainstream Millennial SalesRep-style that will not offend anyone. Mr. Hartman is trying to distance himself as far as he can from his Anarchist friends.

I asked a question of Mr. Hartman about conflict resolution and I'll write about that later on in the week. I forgot the one I had thought of previously that is very important: "What is your position on the upcoming trouble-making the Anarchists have planned for this February?" And one more: "Would he encourage the use of buckets instead of modern and healthy toilet facilities?" 

Look closely at the written instructions on how and when to empty the bucket containing human waste. And do you think it would be a good idea for Mr. Hartman to take a ride-along with a PBSO deputy in February to spot any public disruption(s)?

One of the ways Palm Beach County is losing our history: "I have a better idea."

If you're a regular reader of this blog you know my thoughts on historic preservation. And many of you know my efforts over the years. I can say with confidence that my record contains more than words. Let's say I've walked the walk and I've talked the talk.

Five more historic buildings were lost yesterday (1/20) and many more will fall in the future and once they're gone they're gone forever. I don't know much about those buildings or the people involved in saving them but my heart goes out to them. It was a huge loss.

Many other buildings are heading towards destruction in Palm Beach County and it's only a matter of time. It could be demolition by neglect, by fire, or in most cases it's because, "I have a better idea." You can see this form of structure demolition right here in Lake Worth vis-à-vis the Gulf Stream hotel. Now a few are coming out of the woodwork with "a better idea."

Note that all these ideas are coming out now, many years after the debate began. At the point where the people in Lake Worth can envision a finalized historic building some people want more analysis which is really "paralysis by analysis". My fear is these 'better ideas' will end up with the Gulf Stream hotel being a big pile of debris in the end.

Below is the news story by Brian Entin at NBC5/WPTV from yesterday (1/20) and hope this is a reality check for all those people who say they care about saving our history. An excerpt from the text of the news segment:

     Historians and local architects showed up to the site Wednesday afternoon upset.
     They say the homes were built in the early 1900s and are historic.
     "It is a setback. But it is still important land. Important ground. The goal was to bring that back. Restore it. Bring back the memory and create a place where the residents of this area could reconnect with their history," architect Timothy Hullihan said. It's unclear how the preservation project will move forward.

An olive branch from The Palm Beach Post to the City of Lake Worth and the City's CRA

The Palm Beach Post really didn't have much of a choice in this matter—instead of offering an outright apology the paper did a positive and uplifting article about the City's CRA following the absurd and silly piece about the mural at the CRA's La Joya Villages. Hardly a week goes by when there isn't more good news from the CRA and for the Post to attempt and sully them in such a manner outraged many in Lake Worth. The reaction from the public was swift and in many cases quite hilariously on point condemning the paper.

For the mural non-story the Post reporter searched out for "a woman" who has hardly lifted a finger to improve the City of Lake Worth while another "a woman", Joan Oliva (the CRA's Executive Director), has devoted many years of her life to improve the City while taking the daily slings and arrows with that ubiquitous smile.

Anyhow, the Post reached out to the CRA and published this article titled, "Four Lake Worth intersections could get artsy makeover" and Joan Oliva is quoted several times. Here are two short excerpts:

     “Instead of art and culture being segregated from the public by being in galleries and art shows, we really want to bring art and culture to the public at large,” said [Joan] Oliva, executive director of the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency. “At the same time we wanted to highlight some of the areas that are primed for redevelopment.”
     That vision helped the city become one of 158 finalists in the Knight Cities Challenge, a program open to 26 communities nationwide to receive up to $5 million in grant money for projects that will improve cities, provide economic opportunities and spur civic engagement while attracting — and retaining — young talent.

[and. . .]

     Oliva said initial projections are the project would cost between $250,000 to $300,000 and take about a year to complete.
     “We want to make sure this is something the entire community can get behind,” Oliva said. “What we’re trying to do here fits nicely with what the Knights Cities Challenge is all about — community engagement and economic opportunity.” [emphasis added]

Also stay tuned for more on the "Art Junction" coming up at the Urban Arts Lofts on January 23rd:

Art Junction Urban Arts Lofts 1/23/16 #lakeworth #art pic.twitter.com/q5R4Lze3V7

— LULA Lake Worth Arts (@LakeWorthArts) January 7, 2016

More from the Lake Worth file titled, "You Can't Make This Stuff Up": Candidate for mayor, Diane Jacques and the movie 'Hogzilla'

 [By Request: This was originally published on this blog on December 12th last year.]

Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo has two challenging her for the mayor seat on the Lake Worth City Commission and one of them is Diane Jacques. As part of her biography supplied to the NAPC prior to the debate at the Lake Worth Playhouse on January 6th she made mention of her movie career but failed to mention her latest epic, Hogzilla:

Is the woman on the left in fear or is she laughing? And why aren't there any hogs in the movie trailer for Hogzilla?

Anyhow, it now gets curiouser and curiouser. Now we find out she couldn't or wouldn't pay the filing fee required to run for office and claimed a "hardship". This is not a joke. Even the Anarchist running against Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell was able to pay his $169.

To run for a City commissioner seat requires $144 to the state and $25 to the City. To run for mayor $154 is paid to the state and also $25 to the City. Candidate Jacques couldn't come up with the $179 to run for mayor?

Stay tuned as they say.

[REDUX] 'Journalist' defends names on bullets and Mayor Pam Triolo's image in effigy in our small, little 6 square mile City of Lake Worth

[A blogger claimed she was disrespected at a City Commission meeting and got up to speak at the podium on 1/19. What short memories some have.] 

On September 9th, 2014, at a Lake Worth City Commission meeting Mr. Bob Lepa and Ms. Peggy Fisher, as members of the general public, exercised their right to Free Speech. You can see that video here. 

The blogger referred to in their remarks, of course, has her right to free speech as does Mr. Lepa and Ms. Fisher. Here is one example of Ms. Anderson's (aka The Other Blogger [TOB]) exercise of free speech:

Here we have another example of that blogger's exercise of  'free speech': 

When posted, this was actually an animated gif image that appeared to be moving flames.

Many people in Lake Worth were outraged by the image above posted by that blogger. At the city commission meeting on 9/9/14 many people showed up to show their displeasure with such a depiction. Two spoke publicly, Mr. Lepa and Ms. Fisher. Note: The blogger's name was never mentioned and she was not confronted directly. She was in the audience however and can be clearly seen during the commentary from the podium. She clearly could have defended herself at the time, but she chose to remain silent. And so did her colleagues and supporters in the chambers. That was her/their choice. 

On 9/23/14, after two weeks of rhetoric from the blogger on her website, along with her small band of followers about how badly she was disrespected on 9/9/14, ONE PERSON spoke publicly in defense of Ms. Anderson's abuse of Free Speech: Margaret Menge. Here is the video from the City's website. Ms. Menge begins speaking during the public comment period at 1:02:02. 

Here is Ms. Menge's defense of that blogger and her other comments made at the 9/23/14 City Commission meeting:

Ms. Menge claims to have watched the video, but if you listen to her, she appears to be accusing those on the dais of letting this "heinous spectacle" happen in the first place. What she is referring to as a "heinous spectacle" is the exercise of freedom of the speech by members of the public. The justified smackdown of the other blogger was not done by our elected representatives. It was an organic reaction to what people thought was clearly out-of-bounds and in poor taste. Ms. Menge who claims to be a journalist of some degree praised the other blogger as "covering [the news] better than everyone else in this town." She hated to see this "journalist intimidated." Journalist?

Read the excerpt below from this article and you decide. Along with free speech doesn't there need to be a certain amount of responsibility? This article refers to Ms. Menge's stint at another local newspaper in New York state. Would you like this person to stand up to defend your journalistic integrity? Ms. Menge, in her first and lengthy "Letter from the Editor" mentions her time at this newspaper. Here is what Mr. Hazirjian had to say about the 'journalist', Ms. Menge:

Hazirjian [Deke Hazirjian, a local businessman in the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York State] said he came to the board to find a forum for his views on the newspaper because the paper refused to print a letter he had written criticizing what he called the “biased reporting” of the current editor, Margaret Menge. Hazirjian said in his open letter that Menge "writes every important story on the front page, plus re-writes other reporter's work, giving it her own slant...and has made our paper into her own personal forum."

Hazirjian also stated that in her crusade for open government the editor has “intimidated, hounded and impugned the integrity of nearly every board and board member." Hazirjian described himself and other local board members as people who “serve to enhance our community, to give back.”

Is this what you should expect from a 'journalist' in our little City of Lake Worth?

Because of Maier and McVoy your inadequate street lighting and other safety issues weren't discussed at our Lake Worth City Commission meeting

It's anyone's guess what the spin will be in The Palm Beach Post tomorrow about the Lake Worth City Commission meeting last night (1/19). Another wedge issue to divide the City, one of many that come up every election season: it's homelessness this time. We can all hope the editorial board at the Post has some sense to keep things in perspective, but don't count on it.

The City has many issues to deal with and to have another meeting hijacked by a single issue should disturb everyone. The streets need to be fixed, there are still neighborhoods with an inadequate number of fire hydrants, the lighting needs to be addressed but. . .none of those issues was talked about. THE top issue was the homeless. My heart goes out to all those people that have been hoping for relief in communities that need help so desperately. They've been pushed to the back of the line. Again. It was a sickening display and an embarrassment.

Two Lake Worth commissioners, Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy, got their marching orders and they played it out. A whole bunch of people from Sarasota were brought to the meeting I'm told. All of them for one issue: the homeless. On their way to the City Commission chambers and time spent in the City was that all they saw? Just homeless people? Did they not see the potholes and the dark street corners? To them none of that matters from now until election day on March 15th. Now it's all about the homeless people and no one else, nothing else matters.

Cumulatively, this is will damage the City's image and hurt many businesses in town, especially the ones downtown. None of that matters because it's the slash and burn strategy to win one or more seats on the City Commission so Maier and McVoy will have a friendly face on their new majority to chip away at everything the previous majority did that they don't like. And you wonder why the streets are in such bad shape.

Commissioner Maier slipped and said something he shouldn't have: The truth. Below is a video from the City's website. It's grainy and a little out-of-focus but you'll be able to hear clearly what he says at the City Commission meeting that was almost all about the homeless. If you are a resident or a business owner you'll be comforted knowing that Maier doesn't think somebody peeing on your property or business front door is "that big a deal". Commissioner Amoroso objected but, other than on this blog, you'll likely never hear a mention of that. And you'll never see Maier's quote anywhere else either, where he says peeing in public is not "that big a deal".
JoAnn Golden et al appear to have assembled a small army to knock on doors and if she succeeds the City will once again go into a tailspin. And then another election next year and another wedge issue to divide us will pop up a few months prior.

Here is the link to send Maier's quote to everyone you know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hjbpr6ceZA&feature=youtu.be

Will it wake anyone up? Maybe or maybe not. But it's worth a try.

[PINNED POST] The only reason you need to NOT VOTE for Frank McAlonan: a vote for him is another nail in the coffin for the historic Gulf Stream hotel in Lake Worth

[STILL unchallenged. The blog post below was first published on Sunday, 1/17. Last night (1/19) at the Lake Worth City Commission meeting would have been the perfect time to discuss 'better' ways to save the Gulf Stream hotel, or at least raise the question, but Frank McAlonan was absent on this major issue. In fact, I don't think the hotel was mentioned once at the commission meeting last night. It's very late in the game, the fourth quarter with the seconds clicking away, and Frank McAlonan has 'better' ideas to save our historic hotel? Fine. Let's put aside all the missed opportunities to present these ideas in the past. Can the public have at least a few more details please on 'better' ways to proceed forward? Continue reading the blog post originally published on 1/17:]

Lake Worth Commissioner Andy Amoroso's position on the rezoning of the Gulf Stream hotel is unambiguous: He supports the efforts necessary to move the project forward despite the anger and ire from a very small group that disagree. Here is how the Lake Worth City Commission voted:

Remember: The "overwhelming" support to limit the building height surrounding the Gulf Stream hotel property IS A MYTH.

Frank McAlonan's position is more 'nuanced'. He claims to support saving the hotel but doesn't support taking the steps to save the historic structure. So he's for saving the hotel and against it at the same time. The citizens of Lake Worth deserve better politics than this. If you vote for McAlonan you are giving the Gulf Stream hotel a date with the wrecking ball like all those other structures that have been lost over the years and here's why: he's claiming that because a two-story structure (a beach house/tiki bar/'hotel') in Delray Beach is successful so therefore the Gulf Stream hotel, in its current state, can be successful too. Nonsense.

McAlonan was interviewed by a hack claiming to be a journalist. In the rambling PR piece he said that Crane's Beach House Boutique and Luxury Villas in Delray was an example of how the Gulf Stream hotel could be successful. I'm sure Crane's Beach House is a wonderful place and no doubt they are a success in Delray Beach. But comparing a two-story beach house of about 15,000 square feet built circa 1950 to the historic Gulf Stream hotel in Lake Worth is absolute hogwash.

More times than I can remember I've laid out the reasoning and the logic for supporting the Gulf Stream hotel project being rezoned (not "upzoned"!) to 65' in a very small area in downtown Lake Worth:

The white arrow is pointing at a tiny white dot. That white dot is the historic/iconic Gulf Stream hotel property in downtown Lake Worth.

I've also explained the historical context and why the hotel, in it's current configuration, cannot survive in modern-day America. It has to be modernized to be competitive or has to be torn down. It's as simple as that. The Coastal Observer also ran articles on the history of the hotel and the headwinds it faces to compete for tourists and business travelers. Even The Palm Beach Post editorial board, no friend of development, saw the need for the Gulf Stream project to move forward.

But Frank McAlonan disagrees. Does he support demolishing the Gulf Stream hotel and building a two-story beach house/tiki bar in its place? There is a debate coming up on January 25th. If you support saving our City's Gulf Stream hotel then I strongly suggest you show up at the debate.

All this angst over the renovation of the Gulf Steam hotel IS OVER 20 FEET OF BUILDING HEIGHT. That's all. Just 20 feet. Twenty feet is about 6 adult steps by a human being. Twenty feet is about the width of the goal post in football. And just twenty feet is the difference between a big leap forward for our Gulf Stream hotel or a not-yet-set date but still certain fate of the wrecking ball.

If this issue is important to you, please cast your vote wisely. The future of the City depends on it.

Strong Towns Advocates for No New Roads in Online Campaign

From January 25-29, 2016, Strong Towns will publish a week of multimedia content focused on its campaign entitled #NoNewRoads. This radical concept advocates against the creation of new highways and the expansion of existing roads in towns, cities and suburbs across America. The campaign will take place on the Strong Towns website at strongtowns.org/nonewroads and on social media with the hashtag #NoNewRoads. 

America has built more auto-infrastructure than it is willing to pay to maintain, and most of these investments have no positive financial return. Before we spend more on transportation, Strong Towns argues that we must modernize our transportation finance system to get better returns on our investments.

“For nearly seven decades, our national transportation obsession has been about maximizing the amount that you can drive,” writes Charles Marohn, president of Strong Towns. “We now need to focus on minimizing the amount you are forced to drive.”

In addition to a broad conversation about road funding and the federal transportation bill, the week of content on the Strong Towns media site will focus on three critical states—Texas, Minnesota and Washington—where significant changes are underway in transportation spending decisions. #NoNewRoads week will include articles and podcasts by urban planners, nonprofit professionals, professors and other leaders in the field, as well as a new report from Frontier Group.

About Strong Towns:
Strong Towns is a national media organization whose mission is to advocate for a model of development that allows America's cities, towns and neighborhoods to grow financially strong and resilient. Strong Towns reaches an audience of more than 30,000 readers and listeners per month, and has over 1,000 members.

[Just a reminder. . .] The Lake Worth Casino Complex at the BEACH! is still losing money

A previous city commission dropped the ball and left our City with this terrible mess to fix:

Here is a partial list of the problems at the Casino building. And this doesn't include the issues with the municipal pool which were never addressed. One final point, THE BIG LIE: The Palm Beach Post editorial board continued the big lie as recently as last August 27th this way, the "casino building, a nearly century-old landmark that was saved from the wrecking ball and restored in 2013 to a Mediterranean magnificence." The structure was 94% demolished:

Looks like a fine 'restoration' doesn't it?

What doesn't get said enough in Lake Worth: "Thank You for showing up."

Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo, Commissioner Andy Amoroso (center), and Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell on a cold night at the Cultural Plaza with children who attended this year's City MLK March.

Yesterday's Martin Luther King Day March was another special day in Lake Worth and a big Thank You! to everyone that showed up. I was unable to attend this year but was at last year's march. I'm told it was just as well-attended, or more so, than last year. I received a lot of pictures/accounts of all the festivities and events and the organizers did a spectacular job.

It's easy to forget when you attend an event all the work that goes into making it happen and the work doesn't stop there. Things have to put away for next year, the clean up, and the final checklist to make sure everything was taken care of. Everyone who showed up to march and others who helped organize this event all deserve a lot of credit and appreciation.

The Lake Worth City Commission meeting is TONIGHT (1/19) at 6:00 and have you heard about CIA tactics used to monkeywrench govenment meetings?

To view the agenda use this link and scroll down for the "Agenda & Staff Report" and the "Full Version" of the agenda. Following the Roll Call is the Invocation OR Moment of Silence. It is Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell's turn to choose and he has Reverend Elie Louissant from the Salem Haitian Evangelical Lutheran Church giving an invocation. The church is located at 1020 S. Dixie Hwy and here is their Facebook page to learn more.

There are some interesting items on the agenda including addressing nuisance properties and at least one item on the Consent Agenda that either Commissioner Maier or McVoy will want to discuss. Expect a long meeting that, in retrospect, didn't need to be. But it is election season in Lake Worth.

I may or may not be there with my camera to upload videos for all of you but it really doesn't matter if I'm there or not. You can watch the City's meetings live or the archived version later. To watch 'Live' use this link and look on the right side of the page and click on "Video/Audio of Public Meetings".

When you watch the meeting, or any meeting for that matter, watch for tactics that can be found in an old CIA manual used by infiltrators who were placed there to halt progress and generally monkeywrench the functions of an enemy government, like "Never permit short-cuts", make many and long "speeches", refer as many matters as possible "to committee", haggle over trivial matters like minutes, and urge "caution" and be "reasonable". Remind you of anyone?

Don't get specific, you see, just "raise the question" and talk about matters already decided: That's how what should be a 2-hour meeting becomes a 4-hour meeting.

Save the Date: The "Art Junction" at the Urban Arts Lofts in Lake Worth this Saturday (1/23)

Art Junction Presented by Urban Arts Lofts | Sat, Jan 23 | Studios Open at Noon | Special Reception 6 - 9pm pic.twitter.com/tSfmAYpjqD

— Lake Worth (@LakeWorthPBC) January 18, 2016

For more information visit LULA (the Lake Worth CRA) and Palm Beach County's Art Synergy.

On your way stop by the latest mural by the CRA located at the new La Joya Villages on 6th Ave. South:

The La Joya Villages offer many exciting amenities for the residents including free art classes for the young children.

Press Release from the Lake Worth NAPC: County Commissioners and other officials are coming to visit our little City!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — The Lake Worth Neighborhood Association Presidents Council (NAPC [also on Facebook]) is thrilled to announce that the Palm Beach County Office of Community Revitalization (OCR) has organized a Trolley Tour for County Commissioners and other County officials to visit Lake Worth and see up close and personal, all the amazing projects the NAPC Neighborhoods have completed with the Resident Education to Action Program (REAP) grants that we have been awarded over the past few years.
      The tour will take place on Friday, February 12th from 9:00 AM til 2:00 PM. They will visit a couple projects completed outside the City of Lake Worth before embarking on their journey through all the Lake Worth Neighborhoods to see the Neighborhood Street Banners, the Neighborhood Crime Watch projects, the Little Free Libraries, the Lake Worth Visitor Center and will end the tour with a lunch provided by the NAPC on the Front Porch in the Cultural Plaza – all projects funded wholly or in large part by REAP grants! Along the way, we will point out some of our lovely cottages in Lake Worth as the Cottages of Lake Worth, Inc. non-profit organization has also been awarded a REAP grant.

[The closer to the date will have more information on this blog. And, as always, Thank You for visiting my blog and Thank You! to all the hard-working people at the NAPC and all the many neighborhoods, Wes.]

From Emily Badger at Wonkblog: Does the availability of parking cause more driving?

If planning and things like Complete Streets is an interest of yours then Wonkblog needs to be on your list of blogs to check out at least once a week. The issue is parking in this article and how much does the availability of parking influence driving behavior and, not mentioned specifically but understood, should policies like minimum parking requirements be reexamined? Here are two excerpts:

     It is a firm principle in my household that we will not, under almost any circumstance, get in the car after sundown on Friday or Saturday night. We won't pick you up at the airport, or drive to dinner at your house. We won't just run out to the grocery store, or partake of social events unreachable by foot or bike, or a short Uber.
     We live off H Street in Washington with its bars and restaurants and performing arts, and if we drive away in the evening, when we get back there will simply be nowhere to park. We would behave, no doubt, a lot differently if parking were not an issue. We would probably take more trips.

[and. . .] 

     Past studies have found that parking availability at home is strongly associated with car ownership and use. And more parking at the office is correlated with more employees driving to work alone. Commuters who work in Manhattan, for instance, are also more likely to drive in when they have parking to return to at night.
     It's a provocative argument, though, that parking causes driving, and if this were true, a lot of city policies would look sort of backwards.

On any issue dealing with parking the work of Donald Shoup is rarely left out on this blog. He's been cited many times and also by our good friends at Walkable West Palm. The interesting thing about Donald Shoup is he researched what cars were doing 95% of the time, parked, while everyone else was researching what cars were doing the other 5% of the time: driving on the roads. Here is a link to his now-famous book, The High Cost of Free Parking.