Now for one of my favorite videos on my YouTube channel: Then-Lake Worth Mayor (now State Senator) Jeff Clemens at the dedication of Compass on March 20th, 2009. That's right. Seven years ago. Compass has been serving in the City for a long time. You'll enjoy Clemens' joke right at the beginning:
Commissioners Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy are oft-repeated advocates for the homeless in the City. If this City had more money there would possibly be more funding available for issues such as this, correct? Then why do Maier and McVoy attempt to stymie and obstruct nearly all economic development in Lake Worth? On nearly every vote it's 3-2, with Maier and McVoy dissenting, on whether to move a project forward or not—like the Gulfstream hotel for example:
On nearly every vote at the City Commission it's 3-2 on the issue of more economic opportunity. Three vote "Yes" and two vote "No".
Let's look at this logically. Please follow along: IfA = Homeless people are without a home/opportunity, andB = Investment, money, and opportunity, then A + a decrease in B (less investment, money, and opportunity), would necessarily not be advantageous for A (the homeless). Right?
Above is true, then ifA + an increase in B (more investment, money, and opportunity) would create the environment for less A (more opportunity for the homeless). Correct?
Now here is C: There are two projects in Lake Worth that have the potential to bring millions of dollars into the City for many years to come. They are the Gulfstream hotel redevelopment and the Park of Commerce. These are huge opportunities for both the City and its residents.
So, if you support the Gulfstream hotel (C), for example, and you also concerned about the homeless (A) then B (investment, money) would be a solution. Correct?
But why would the Gulfstream hotel and the City's Park of Commerce (C) be objected to by both commissioners Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy? These two projects, all by themselves, have the potential to fill the coffers of the City so it can have money left over to help those such as the homeless. So why would Maier and McVoy object so strongly?
Do they have another plan they think will better help the homeless other than money and investment? If they have a theory better than B they should share it with all of us, don't you think?
Since we're on the issue of the homeless, below is a former Lake Worth commissioner. At the 40 second mark in the video she praises the City of West Palm Beach for all their incredible work to help the homeless there. Unfortunately, at the 1:15 mark she goes off the rails with a terribly unfair characterization of the caring and giving people of Lake Worth:
JoAnn Golden said of Lake Worth residents reacting to the homeless, "I'd be ashamed to say we'd probably take out guns and get rid of 'em".
This is a DVR alert for all you planning folks, the PBS segment airing at 8:00:
"10 Towns that Changed America focuses on ten 'experimental' towns that did not evolve organically over time, but instead were designed (or redesigned) from the ground up by visionary architects, corporations, and citizens, who sought to change the lives of residents using architecture, design, and urban planning. Some of these visionaries were driven by an ideology, others were trying to serve their own financial interests, but all had one thing in common: they believed in the power of our built environment to change the way we live."
The continuing story about the Boynton Beach historic high school, well, continues. Here is the latest from Alexandra Seltzer and an excerpt:
"The commissioners are expected to discuss the site at Tuesday’s meeting and have a choice to make: Begin negotiations with Rick Gonzalez’ for his plan of turning the 1927 building into a community cultural center; throw out Gonzalez’s plan; or table it. Commissioners might go with the latter because of an ongoing three-year lawsuit many thought would be over by now. The suit accuses the city of breach of contract after commissioners voted down Juan Contin’s plan to use private money to develop the school into an events and destination center. If they do table a vote, it would likely come back in August, said City Manager Lori LaVerriere."
If you would like to see the agenda for this meeting tonight use this link and click on "View Agenda".
To be a volunteer for PBSO or be a Citizen on Patrol (COP), that information is below in this blog post. Here is the latest news from PBSO:
"A 3 day joint operation was conducted by District 1, District 14 [the City of Lake Worth], and District 16 Community Policing and Street Crimes Units between 4/13–4/15 to address prostitution issues within these districts. Day 1 involved undercover deputies posing as “johns” soliciting prostitutes, days 2 and 3 utilized undercover female deputies posing as prostitutes. The operation resulted in the following:
4 felony prostitution arrests
14 misdemeanor prostitution arrests
4 felony warrant arrests
5 misdemeanor warrant arrests
27 arrests for solicitation of prostitution
6 drug paraphernalia arrests
1 stolen gun recovered (PBSO case)
Crack cocaine, heroin, MDMA, Xanax, and Flakka seizures
½ lb. of marijuana seized
1 vehicle forfeiture
$1,460 seized
The operation produced a total of 48 arrests. Great teamwork by all involved!"
To learn more about "Make the Call Y'All" visit the NAPC website.
For more information contact Sergeant Richard Raasch, Community Policing & Street Crimes Unit Supervisor, District 14
Cell: 561-662-2392
Email: RaaschR@pbso.org
If you would like to be a volunteer for PBSO call 561-433-2003. And don't forget about the Citizens on Patrol (COP) program here in Lake Worth. You can read about that in a recent news story that featured Mary Lindsey by NBC5/WPTV's Alex Hagan.
Here is the video from WPTV; The Mary is interviewed starting at the 1:20 mark:
The Palm Beach Post's Jennifer Sorentrue has two recent articles about our culinary treasure: Lori Durante. Here is the article that was in last Saturday's (4/16) print edition and an excerpt:
"[Lori] Durante is one of three local tour operators seizing on a growing trend in the tourism industry — food-themed travel. As many as 40 percent of U.S. travelers plan their vacations around food, according to the World Food Travel Association. In Palm Beach County, 28 percent of all tourists cite culinary motivations as the reason for their visit, tourism officials said. 'Agriculture is a huge industry in our county, and we’re fortunate that our culinary scene benefits from very easy access to an incredible array of farm-fresh products,' said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO for Discover The Palm Beaches, the county’s official tourism marketing corporation. 'We’re home to many celebrated and award-winning chefs who continue to elevate their craft while utilizing the vast variety of locally-sourced, sustainable products.' "
Use this link to read the article that also appears in today's (Monday, 4/18) print edition. Here are two excerpts:
". . .Lori Durante launched Taste History Culinary Tours in 2011, combining the idea of a narrated bus tour with the growing popularity of food tastings. She
started the venture in Delray Beach, and then added tours in Boynton
Beach, Lantana, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach’s Northwood Village
neighborhood and Arts and Entertainment District.
[More information about Lori Durante and her culinary tours. . .]
"About your company: Taste History Culinary Tours of Historic Palm Beach County is operated by the nonprofit Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. We host cultural culinary tours to West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Lantana, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. [emphasis added] How your business has changed: Technology has caused the biggest change in the nonprofit museum and cultural tourism industry."
If you don't follow Taste History on Twitter, you should. Her Tweets are informative as well as being enthusiastic:
This is a reminder, be polite tomorrow! If you've already read this post please scroll down for new content. And Thank You for visiting.
Below is the first part of the agenda at the Lake Worth City Commission. Pay special attention to item 5A. To see the entire agenda use this link and scroll down. Note there are two meetings; the first one is a closed-door session at 5:00 and the second is the regularly scheduled Commission meeting (first and third Tuesday of the month):
Agenda
Lake Worth City Commission Meeting
Commission Chambers [7 North Dixie Highway]
Tuesday, April 19th at 6:00 PM
1. Roll Call
2. Invocation: Offered by Pastor Jason Fairbanks of the First Congregational United Church of Christ on behalf of Commissioner McVoy
3. Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Commissioner Ryan Maier
4. Agenda: Additions/Deletions/Reordering
5. Presentations (there is no public comment on Presentation items)
A. Senator Jeff Clemens, Representative Lori Berman and Representative Dave Kerner: 2016 Legislative update
Commissioner Maier was not feeling well and did not attend the last City Commission meeting. Remember McVoy's vague reference to his "burden of safety" at the last meeting? Maybe all that will be cleared up on Tuesday. And later in the agenda:
10. Public Hearings:
A. Ordinance No. 2016-13 - Second Reading and Second Public Hearing - amend various sectionsand tables of the City's Land Development Regulations
11. Unfinished business
12. New business
13. City attorney's report
14. City manager's report
15. Adjournment
Note: One of more members of any board, authority or commission may attend and speak at any meeting of another city board, authority or commission.
Note: Everyone is invited to attend from any and all neighborhoods in Lake Worth. Read more about this meeting below.
To learn more about the Parrot Cove neighborhood in Lake Worth use this link.
"We will be having our April Parrot Cove neighborhood meeting on Monday, April 18, 7:00, at our usual place, The Beach Club at the Lake Worth Golf Course (One 7th Ave. North). Our speaker this month will be Paul Bates of Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. Paul will be talking about the TNVR or Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return program for the Community Cats in Lake Worth. Free roaming and feral cats are an ongoing issue in many communities and we all know Lake Worth has a high population of unowned cats. Paul will discuss this new program that is currently free due to grants for zip code 33460, how it is different from the old approach, how it works, and what we as neighbors can do to help with control these cat populations. We will also be announcing the Swim Through Parrot Cove Progressive Pool and Garden Tour, which is a members only event coming up in June. As usual, Mitch at The Beach Club will be extending his Happy Hour pricing to our group and it is $.50 wing night. This meeting is open to all our Lake Worth neighbors."
(a) Vacancies. The office of the mayor or of a commissioner shall become vacant upon the death, resignation, removal from office in any manner authorized by law, or forfeiture of such office by a member; such vacancy to be declared by the remaining members of the commission. (b) Forfeiture of office or candidacy. The mayor or a commissioner shall forfeit such office or candidacy if lacking at any time during a term of office or candidacy any qualification for the office prescribed by this charter or by law. (c) Filling of vacancies. A vacancy of the city commission shall be filled in one of the following ways:
If there are less than six (6) months remaining in the unexpired term or if there are less than six (6) months before the next regular city election, the city commission by a majority vote of the remaining members shall choose and appoint a successor to serve until a newly elected commissioner or mayor is qualified.
If there are more than six (6) months remaining in the unexpired term and no general city election is scheduled within six (6) months, the city commission shall fill the vacancy by a special election to be held no more than sixty (60) days following the occurrence of the vacancy. If a run-off election is necessary, it shall be scheduled two (2) weeks after the special election.
The other special cities are Jupiter, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and West Palm Beach:
In the Post's new "In Your Community" section the same cities will be featured over and over again, each and every week. How long before all the other cities rise up and demand equal time?
The Palm Beach Post has started an "In Your Community" segment that appears on page B3, Local section, Monday–Saturday. The first one appeared on Tuesday, March 29th with the town of Jupiter. In the batting lineup Lake Worth will be in this Monday's (tomorrow) edition, again. If you've followed the Post's coverage of Lake Worth you can see how there would be a certain level of trepidation. Do you remember the protest about trash pickup at that trailer park?
Fortunately our other paper of record, The Lake Worth Herald,came to the rescue on that one. Read about that using this link.
Here are the two articles that will likely be in the Post tomorrow: About Governor Scott's veto of money for the Park of Commerce, here is an excerpt:
"As a cash poor city, Bornstein said Lake Worth needs help. From 2002 to 2012, the city lost 1,617 jobs, one of the highest in the county. Despite two setbacks the city intends to apply for the money again. 'We want to understand what was deficient, if anything, or if there was a misunderstanding,' [City Manager Michael] Bornstein said. 'We’re not going to give up and walk away. I’ll just get a bigger fist to bang on the door.' " The other one is a rehashed article with updates on union negotiations. No mention of "secret meetings" or baked ziti either. Since we have the undivided attention of the Post every Monday, here's one of my personal favorites that has never made it into the paper (or any other news organization, for that matter):
To read about the "Gas Line to Nowhere" use this link. Former commissioners, especially JoAnn Golden and Cara Jennings, may not be too keen on providing any quotes though.
This is satire, but it is a summary of the issues talked about in that city. You can see how we sometimes get so wrapped up in issues near to us, that we can't see the good that is all around and the reasons that brought us to where we are in the first place. And, you will be able to understand that there are inherent differences between the two cities that are often compared.
"What a morning I had yesterday! Sheesh! First, I was subjected to seeing a homeless person after my rather expensive breakfast I just had. It's bad enough to have to see a homeless person, but then 2 rehabbers walked by me with baggy shorts and cigarettes. I had to move my wife out of the way to avoid them and I contemplated calling the police. I knew they were rehabbers because they were 22 years old. We then tried to go have coffee at Starbucks patio but it was closed!! Probably some conspiracy involving the Feds, but that's good. I was in fear of my life when I walked by that place! I guess it is for the greater good of our town, so I'll have rondo to the Starbucks 230 feet away now I suppose. So after walking a while we walked by folks arguing about a movie theater being built that will surely ruin their lives. They didn't elaborate further, but yes, this theater would be the worst thing in this town since... Since ever. Anyway, is there a way we can stop trains from passing by our town? I didn't realize I bought my $500,000 home 47 feet from the train tracks, and the noise is ruining my sleep. [emphasis added]
By this time we went to go eat lunch on the ave, but argued about which was worse for our lives. Being near smelly dogs or loud kids interrupting our $58 macaroni. Soon after, rehabbers, puppy millers, snow birds, movie theater haters and homeless people began chasing us, I tried to snap a pic of my plate for Delray raw before we started running!!! The rehabbers and the people who eat with their dogs in baby strollers next to them were catching up to us! We finally made it west of Swinton, which nobody ever really talks about thank goodness. I suppose that isn't the real Delray. Anyway, I will try again today in the hopes that no one ruins my breakfast. You see, I sold my parents home on Long Island and made $990k so I am a big deal now."
[UPDATE: Following the good news published yesterday, the Post follows up with a glowing editorial about Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg. That editorial is in the print edition today (Sunday, 4/17) and is not yet available for their online readership. What follows is the news from Saturday:]
You can see this for yourself using this link and the positive article titled, "PBSO volunteers praised for their ‘fire and desire' " also appears in the print edition, front page of the local section, below the fold.
Here is an excerpt:
"[Dennis] Alsgaard was singled out Friday for putting in 2,002 volunteer hours in 2015 — the equivalent of 50 work weeks. Sheriff
Ric Bradshaw said Friday that volunteers contributed 350,000-plus hours
in 2015, resulting in $8 million of value-added services."
Don't you think this article would have been a great one for the Sunday edition?
If you would like to be a volunteer for PBSO call 561-433-2003. And don't forget about the Citizens on Patrol (COP) program here in Lake Worth. You can read about that in a recent news story that featured Mary Lindsey (aka, The Mary) by NBC5/WPTV's Alex Hagan.
Here is the video from WPTV; The Mary is interviewed starting at the 1:20 mark:
Mayor Pam Triolo wearing her Atlanta Braves cap. The mayor and rest of the City Commission voted overwhelmingly in support to "Bring Back the Braves"!
Below is the resolution the City passed with overwhelming and enthusiastic support:
"WHEREAS, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners is considering an effort to work with the Atlanta Braves ('Braves') to return to Palm Beach County; and, WHEREAS,the Braves were located in West Palm Beach for 34 years building a strong local following of fans and supporters; and, WHEREAS, the Braves are one of the oldest baseball franchises winning World Series and was the team of local resident Hank Aaron #44 who broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record in 1974; and, WHEREAS, a Braves Spring Training site in South Central Palm Beach County would provide an opportunity for residents, families and children, and visitors alike to attend professional baseball games; and, WHEREASa Braves Spring Training site in John Prince Park would provide a tremendous economic impact and provide additional tourist bed tax revenue; and, WHEREAS a Spring Training facility would provide an important venue for other sporting and cultural activities to the City of Lake Worth and surrounding communities; and, WHEREAS, significant County and State economic development investments have been made in other parts of Palm Beach County including, Scripps, Roger Dean Stadium, and the recent Astros/Nationals facility; and, WHEREAS,the Mayor and Commissioners and City staff are involved in long term planning activities in our City to promote tourism, economic development, and improved quality of life; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA, that: Section 1: The City Commission of the City of Lake Worth strongly encourages and supports Palm Beach County in its effort to Bring Home the Braves to a Spring Training facility in John Prince Park. Section 2: The City Commission directs that a copy of this Resolution shall be provided to Palm Beach County and the Atlanta Braves and all other parties as deemed appropriate by the City Manager. Section 3: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage.
Remember: "It ain't over till it's over." —Yogi Berra
Just in case you missed this. . . the most viewed blog post of the week, from Friday:
Below is an interesting letter written to the editor of the Herald in this week's (4/14) issue. If you didn't know, the Herald is Lake Worth's oldest business, starting in 1912. If you would like to see more of what's in this week's issue, use this link.
If you would like to pick up the print edition go to the City's news
stand at 600 Lake Ave across the street from Starbuck's. A nice man
named Andy will assist you. Without further ado, here is the letter titled, "Tiny Houses Saved FOR Destruction"*:
"While I applaud community efforts, such as Jill Karlin’s saving of the tiny houses, it should be noted that there are better ways for 'sustainability' than saving plywood structures that are outright dangerous. I had a contract on the property where these houses were originally located and had my licensed General Contractor inspect them as part of our due-diligence. These houses are simply unsafe for South Florida and retrofitting them to make them compliant with not Lake Worth building code but South Florida building code was cost prohibitive. The Lake Worth law prohibiting them from being inhabited had nothing to do with them being tiny or dangerous but that they were illegally built in a single family residential zoning. Just to be clear to the readers. Tiny houses is one thing, the charm and feasibility for someone to live there all nice and neat but these two structures were plain and simple unsafe for anybody and certainly not a safe alternative for dealing with our homeless population. Martin Wiescholek Lake Worth"
*Note that Your's Truly knows very little about this issue of the "tiny houses" mentioned in the letter above; if you have thoughts comment below or send me an email: WesBlackman@gmail.com
![Dr. W. H. Cotton’s ode: “Oh, My Lake Worth, Florida!” [circa 1920].](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL75cv6zJQFjX15ojOIIz9AjnbqH4asHJTYSDhnGnYr7rJZRha1NcNTirj2xPcId158vkz5Hw-wXgOfrlztj8Zr8jLFFCfuEN6PyV44ZlpMRmJ68xbtFL9vzxNiG7xDs_HJvm/s1600/LakeWorthPioneers.JPG)
