Please note: The videos are now available from the candidate forum held last Monday, Feb. 13th, at Lake Worth’s Golf Course. To view those use this link for Wes’ Lake Worth YouTube Channel.
If you would like to see the most-viewed videos all-time, e.g., past Street Painting Festivals, the Taco Lady, or “Holiday Parade 2008, Horses!”, use this link.
About 25 people showed up for the candidate forum at El Pueblo Chapin Restaurant to hear the six candidates running in this years Lake Worth municipal elections. As you know, the District 2 and 4 seats are up this year. District 4 Commissioner Maier is not seeking re-election so that is an “open seat”.
I wasn’t able to attend but received reports from various sources that did. One of the notable happenings was the incumbent commissioner for District 2, Commissioner McVoy, arrived about a half-hour late. The format was more informal than previous forums and allowed for some spirited exchanges. One was between candidate Omari Hardy and McVoy. The question about the proliferation of sober homes in the City and code enforcement led to McVoy explaining what he did to address the problem. Well. . .
Omari Hardy reminded everyone that McVoy has been in office for three terms (first elected in 2010). Since 2012 Mayor Pam Triolo, Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell and Commissioner Andy Amoroso have led the charge to fix this problem with some significant successes and now McVoy is trying to take credit as well. The word “coattail” comes to mind.
McVoy also claimed the ballot question last November for the Neighborhood Road Bond, approved by 69% of the electorate, gave the City the ability to bond up to $40M for road improvements but will end up paying $30M in interest. Hogwash. The uniformed would conclude there will be only $10M left to fix the roads. Complete nonsense but am sure this is what McVoy and his supporters are saying “at the door”.
Another example of mixing up the numbers was District 4 candidate Ellie Whitey telling those in attendance the Beach project in 2011–2012 cost $6M. The real numbers are $6M for the Casino building (which is still operating on a “temporary” Certificate of Occupancy and still has a host of construction/design issues to be addressed). Whittey’s numbers also don’t include $5M for site improvements from the County’s cultural facilities bond, the additional $1.5M for utility infrastructure improvements, or the $1.6M settlement to Greater Bay for breaking a contract. Did I miss anything?
You may also recall it was Whittey who claimed at least twice that Morganti, the company that constructed the Casino, could pack up their business operations and go back to Athens because they’re “not an American-owned company”. Completely false. 100% untrue.
Various reports also indicated District 4 candidate Herman Robinson had a strong performance. After checking through my notes noticed no one brought up anything that Maryann Polizzi said at the debate. She is another candidate in the District 4 race—because there was nothing worth noting maybe?—draw your own conclusions.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Myself and Commissioner Maier on different sides of important issues: Broadening the zoning code for “home occupations”.
Although Commissioner Maier is not seeking re-election that doesn’t mean his issues go away as well. We’ll all welcome Maier’s continuing work to help the homeless, for example, although there continues to be a strong debate how to go about achieving that in the best, most effective way possible.
Early in March 2015 after Maier was elected, as I was leaving a Historic Resource Preservation Board meeting (I was Chair of the HRPB then, my resignation letter), I passed a group of people entering City Hall at the invitation of Maier. Being the curious one later found out this would become the group, Artist & Cottage Entrepreneurs (ACE).
Please note the video below of Maier is from an August 2013 City Commission meeting, much prior to him getting elected. In light of the proposed idea by ACE to change zoning (some call “upzoning”) to allow for ‘home occupations’ in the City gives these comments by then-citizen Maier much more significance. Maier supporting an idea that will contribute to parking problems, increase traffic and require more demand for City services is puzzling, as you’ll see below.
Remember, the ‘heights’ group composed of former Commissioner JoAnn Golden et al. with all their banging of drums about the City not recognizing the referendum in March of 2013, is a group Maier supported from the very beginning. A state law later 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′ in the land development regulations, but only when there is a hotel use or a mixed use project with more than 50 hotel units.
Maier was (and presumably still is) a supporter of the height restriction and in the video below talks about the conditions in his neighborhood related to property access and on-street parking:
These are the very same concerns people have about allowing home occupations that would increase traffic, use up more neighborhood parking, and put more demand on City services.
Even now, in early 2017, continue to see this very disturbing disconnect of some people being against the Gulfstream Hotel redevelopment and opposing a possible revived and expanded hotel downtown which includes a parking garage (!), while at the same time ignoring the city-wide impacts from the intensification, increased traffic, infrastructure demands, etc., in single family neighborhoods by supporting the ‘home occupation’ ordinance to be greatly broadened.
Can someone, anyone, please help me out with the logic here?
Early in March 2015 after Maier was elected, as I was leaving a Historic Resource Preservation Board meeting (I was Chair of the HRPB then, my resignation letter), I passed a group of people entering City Hall at the invitation of Maier. Being the curious one later found out this would become the group, Artist & Cottage Entrepreneurs (ACE).
Please note the video below of Maier is from an August 2013 City Commission meeting, much prior to him getting elected. In light of the proposed idea by ACE to change zoning (some call “upzoning”) to allow for ‘home occupations’ in the City gives these comments by then-citizen Maier much more significance. Maier supporting an idea that will contribute to parking problems, increase traffic and require more demand for City services is puzzling, as you’ll see below.
Remember, the ‘heights’ group composed of former Commissioner JoAnn Golden et al. with all their banging of drums about the City not recognizing the referendum in March of 2013, is a group Maier supported from the very beginning. A state law later 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′ in the land development regulations, but only when there is a hotel use or a mixed use project with more than 50 hotel units.
Maier was (and presumably still is) a supporter of the height restriction and in the video below talks about the conditions in his neighborhood related to property access and on-street parking:
These are the very same concerns people have about allowing home occupations that would increase traffic, use up more neighborhood parking, and put more demand on City services.
Even now, in early 2017, continue to see this very disturbing disconnect of some people being against the Gulfstream Hotel redevelopment and opposing a possible revived and expanded hotel downtown which includes a parking garage (!), while at the same time ignoring the city-wide impacts from the intensification, increased traffic, infrastructure demands, etc., in single family neighborhoods by supporting the ‘home occupation’ ordinance to be greatly broadened.
Can someone, anyone, please help me out with the logic here?
An upcoming zoning issue on North ‘A’ Street in Lake Worth: Remember the advice from Matt Morgan?
There was a situation with a sidewalk in Wellington and a lot of people decided letting a Post reporter know about this was the way to go. Wrong. Here is how reporter Matt Morgan responded:
“Make your own decision whether you want it, and tell your elected officials. They represent you and want to hear what you have to say. Think this will be a great way to build on a vacant property, raising the home values of the surrounding neighborhoods? Tell them that.”
[and. . .]
“If you show up a month after the project is approved and tell the council that you don’t want it, you waited too long.”
Below is an item in this week’s Lake Worth Herald online edition:
Legal Notice No. 31410
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning and Zoning Board City of Lake Worth, Florida, will hold a public hearing in the City Hall Commission Chambers at 7 N. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth Florida 33460, at 6:00 PM or as soon thereafter as possible, on March 1, 2017, to consider the following: PZB 17-00500002:
Request for a Conditional Land Use permit, pursuant to 23.2-29 and 23.4-13 of the Land Development Regulations, to establish a Child Day Care Center as an accessory use to a Place of Worship in a Single Family Residential (SFR) Zoning District. The subject property address is 1325 North “A” Street; PCN# 38-43-44-16-00-000-7060.
Written responses can be sent to the Lake Worth Planning & Zoning Board at 1900 2nd Avenue N, Lake Worth, FL 33461 and must arrive before the hearing date to be included in the formal record. You also have the opportunity to attend the meeting to provide oral testimony. For additional information on the above issues, please visit the City of Lake Worth Division of Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation located at 1900 Second Ave. North, Lake Worth, Florida 33461 or contact City Staff at 561-586-1687.
Remember: “If you show up a month after the project is approved and tell the council that you don’t want it, you waited too long.”
“Make your own decision whether you want it, and tell your elected officials. They represent you and want to hear what you have to say. Think this will be a great way to build on a vacant property, raising the home values of the surrounding neighborhoods? Tell them that.”
[and. . .]
“If you show up a month after the project is approved and tell the council that you don’t want it, you waited too long.”
Below is an item in this week’s Lake Worth Herald online edition:
Legal Notice No. 31410
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning and Zoning Board City of Lake Worth, Florida, will hold a public hearing in the City Hall Commission Chambers at 7 N. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth Florida 33460, at 6:00 PM or as soon thereafter as possible, on March 1, 2017, to consider the following: PZB 17-00500002:
Request for a Conditional Land Use permit, pursuant to 23.2-29 and 23.4-13 of the Land Development Regulations, to establish a Child Day Care Center as an accessory use to a Place of Worship in a Single Family Residential (SFR) Zoning District. The subject property address is 1325 North “A” Street; PCN# 38-43-44-16-00-000-7060.
Written responses can be sent to the Lake Worth Planning & Zoning Board at 1900 2nd Avenue N, Lake Worth, FL 33461 and must arrive before the hearing date to be included in the formal record. You also have the opportunity to attend the meeting to provide oral testimony. For additional information on the above issues, please visit the City of Lake Worth Division of Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation located at 1900 Second Ave. North, Lake Worth, Florida 33461 or contact City Staff at 561-586-1687.
Remember: “If you show up a month after the project is approved and tell the council that you don’t want it, you waited too long.”
TODAY: Downtown neighborhood meeting at C.W.S., 522 Lucerne Ave., begins at 7:00.
The Mango Groves Neighborhood Assoc. meeting is at C.W.S. Bar + Kitchen. Everyone is welcome.
There will be some neighborhood assoc. business to address and a PBSO update as well:
The goals of Mango Groves Neighborhood Association are to bring together the community both socially and civically, to address the needs and concerns of the neighborhood, and to effectively interact with the proper city officials in order to meet these needs and concerns. We are also always ready to get together to have a good time and enjoy our community.
Mango Groves’ motto is “Good Neighbors Make Great Neighborhoods.”
There will be some neighborhood assoc. business to address and a PBSO update as well:
The goals of Mango Groves Neighborhood Association are to bring together the community both socially and civically, to address the needs and concerns of the neighborhood, and to effectively interact with the proper city officials in order to meet these needs and concerns. We are also always ready to get together to have a good time and enjoy our community.
Mango Groves’ motto is “Good Neighbors Make Great Neighborhoods.”
The “environmental movement is stubbornly White” with racist history and biases, opines writer at TruthOut.
It’s been almost 2 years since the following blog post got some so riled up. How much has changed within the environmental movement since then? The following comes from an article by Olivia Aguilar at TruthOut titled, “Diversifying the Environmental Movement Isn’t Enough”:
“We have known for quite a while the environmental movement is stubbornly White. Most recently, Barbara Grady, of GreenBiz Group, noted that improvements are in the works, citing that the leaders of the EPA and NRDC were women of color. Unfortunately, this doesn’t address the elephant in the room.
Environmentalists don’t have a diversity problem, they have an identity problem. And it’s rooted in a racist history and unchecked biases.” [emphasis added]
It’s interesting that in the debate as to whether the state of Florida should spend over $1B+ to buy land south of Lake Okeechobee the discussion has mostly White people on one side of the argument and mostly White people on the other side. You don’t see many African-Americans or Hispanics, for example, on either side of the debate. In reality though, don’t they have as much at stake as anyone else?
When you go to websites of the Everglades Foundation, the Loxahatchee Sierra Club, or even more radical groups like EarthFirst!, they are mostly composed of White people although down on some staff levels you may see an African American or a person of color. Are you aware of any environmental groups that represent Florida demographically from the top down? The public wouldn’t tolerate an organization like PBSO, for example, having a leadership that’s overwhelmingly White. There would be outrage.
So this begs the question: what and whose interests do the environmentalists truly represent? It’s certainly not all of Florida and definitely not the demographic of our City of Lake Worth. Do I need to post the racial breakdown of South Florida?
Maybe soon we’ll see some major changes in the leadership at groups like the Loxahatchee Sierra Club, like an African American spokesperson for instance.
“We have known for quite a while the environmental movement is stubbornly White. Most recently, Barbara Grady, of GreenBiz Group, noted that improvements are in the works, citing that the leaders of the EPA and NRDC were women of color. Unfortunately, this doesn’t address the elephant in the room.
Environmentalists don’t have a diversity problem, they have an identity problem. And it’s rooted in a racist history and unchecked biases.” [emphasis added]
It’s interesting that in the debate as to whether the state of Florida should spend over $1B+ to buy land south of Lake Okeechobee the discussion has mostly White people on one side of the argument and mostly White people on the other side. You don’t see many African-Americans or Hispanics, for example, on either side of the debate. In reality though, don’t they have as much at stake as anyone else?
When you go to websites of the Everglades Foundation, the Loxahatchee Sierra Club, or even more radical groups like EarthFirst!, they are mostly composed of White people although down on some staff levels you may see an African American or a person of color. Are you aware of any environmental groups that represent Florida demographically from the top down? The public wouldn’t tolerate an organization like PBSO, for example, having a leadership that’s overwhelmingly White. There would be outrage.
So this begs the question: what and whose interests do the environmentalists truly represent? It’s certainly not all of Florida and definitely not the demographic of our City of Lake Worth. Do I need to post the racial breakdown of South Florida?
Maybe soon we’ll see some major changes in the leadership at groups like the Loxahatchee Sierra Club, like an African American spokesperson for instance.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
#1 in series: Excerpts from Lake Worth’s Worst Local Newspaper Ever*: “Domine, ut videam” [Lord, I want to see]?
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| “1 Year Subscription: Only $39!” But tabloid was FREE, delivered for FREE to select neighborhoods in the City and shut down 4 months later? |
From Friday, March 13th, 2015, Volume 1,† Issue 9, front page above the fold:
“I am your voice in City Hall,” he [newly-elected Commissioner Maier at election party with Commissioner McVoy] told them.
Maier hugged a number of those gathered, who included former commissioners JoAnn Golden and Cara Jennings, and at one point, wiped his eye.
“We all get along,” said Laurence McNamara, a former mayoral candidate who is friendly with both sides. “There was no animosity.”
“It’s a big deal for us,” said Laurel Decker, who filed suit against the city in 2013 . . . “We’d like to get the dais back, and get the city moving forward again.”
Have any of those old tabloids left over from the March 2015 election cycle?
Click on image to enlarge:
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| Or used them all to clean windows? Local stores were first puzzled by the drop in sales of Windex® in early 2015.§ To clean windows with vinegar use 2 cups of water, ¼ cup of vinegar, and ½ teaspoon of liquid detergent. |
Footnote section (please note, footnote order and content may change):
*This “Premiere Issue!” of the tabloid first appeared on January 16th, 2015, with the headline, “Gallery Owner Pitches ‘Art Ship’ for Lake Worth’s Waterfront”.
†There wasn’t another volume to follow. The tabloid failed from little advertising even though it was given away for free. Downtown littering became a big problem throughout the City following this tabloid’s release.
‡Several archival collections remain—separate from and not to be mixed with The Lake Worth Herald—the City’s oldest business, “Established in 1912”.
§“Vinegar is a liquid consisting of about 5–20% acetic acid (CH3COOH), water, and other trace chemicals, which may include flavorings.” For cleaning windows don’t use products containing sun-ripened grain, lemon pepper, or dried dill.
‖For later use.
¶Ibid.
**Ibid.
Huh? The City of Greenacres was left out again in the print edition of the Post?
In today’s print edition of The Palm Beach Post is this article with contribution from staff writers Sarah Peters, Lulu Ramadan, Wayne Washington, Kevin Thompson, Alexandra Seltzer, Matt Morgan, Tony Doris and Eliot Kleinberg.
The article cites in order: Glen Ridge, Palm Beach, Wellington, Riviera Beach, Pahokee, Westlake, Palm Beach Shores, Jupiter, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Gulf Stream. . .
But guess what city isn’t mentioned at all? A city that has, or it’s claimed has beat reporter Kevin Thompson covering their local politics: The City of Greenacres! (learn about Greenacres’ form of government using this link).
From the Post’s online edition, which has far less readers than the print edition, is this informative item titled, “Who’s running for municipal office in Palm Beach County” (emphasis and links added):
GREENACRES
Mayor
Joel Flores
Jonathan Pearce
City Council District 1
Lisa Rivera (i)*
City Council District 5
Paula Bousquet (i)
Michael Albert
William Kluth
Also from the cited article above: “Those marked with an asterisk (*) have no opposition and are automatically elected. Incumbents are indicated with an (i).”
Congratulations Councilwoman Lisa Rivera!
The article cites in order: Glen Ridge, Palm Beach, Wellington, Riviera Beach, Pahokee, Westlake, Palm Beach Shores, Jupiter, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Gulf Stream. . .
But guess what city isn’t mentioned at all? A city that has, or it’s claimed has beat reporter Kevin Thompson covering their local politics: The City of Greenacres! (learn about Greenacres’ form of government using this link).
From the Post’s online edition, which has far less readers than the print edition, is this informative item titled, “Who’s running for municipal office in Palm Beach County” (emphasis and links added):
GREENACRES
Mayor
Joel Flores
Jonathan Pearce
City Council District 1
Lisa Rivera (i)*
City Council District 5
Paula Bousquet (i)
Michael Albert
William Kluth
Also from the cited article above: “Those marked with an asterisk (*) have no opposition and are automatically elected. Incumbents are indicated with an (i).”
Congratulations Councilwoman Lisa Rivera!
Just in case you missed this: Herman’s latest endorsement for District 4 in the City of Lake Worth.
Click on image to enlarge. Learn more about State Senator Jeff Clemens in The New York Times:
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Herman Robinson for Lake Worth City Commission District 4.
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| For Herman Robinson’s priorities use this link. Can you volunteer for Herman? Knock on doors and wave signs on election day, March 14th? Call Herman at 561- 352-4252 or email him if you wish: hcrfla99@yahoo.com |
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| To contribute to Herman’s campaign send a check or drop one off. Make the check payable to: “Robinson Campaign Account”. Address: 114 Ocean Breeze, Lake Worth, FL 33460. |
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
City of Lake Worth press release: Municipal pool closure at the Beach [follow-up]
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| This complex, long-standing community issue will be addressed at the City Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 21st. |
For more information contact Ben Kerr, Lake Worth’s Communications Specialist:
- 561-586-1631
- Email BKerr@lakeworth.org
Lake Worth, Florida — In response to the dilapidation and recurring closures of the Lake Worth Municipal Pool, the City Commission requested a consultation be carried out detailing the options available to the City. An experienced aquatic consultant, Bob McCallister, was hired to undertake the assessment and his recommendations and resume are attached to this email. The full report and recommendations will be presented to the City Commission on February 21st. Below is the executive summary from the report:
“Based upon this completed study, it is the recommendation of the Aquatic Consultant that renovations and improvements to the existing Aquatic Facility at Lake Worth Beach would not be cost effective nor serve the Lake Worth community and visitors to the best interest of the City of Lake Worth.
It is the professional opinion of the Aquatic Consultant that this Aquatic Facility be closed until the bathhouse and filter room are totally rebuilt due to exposing the public and staff to the present hazardous conditions.
This report clearly identifies the need to demolish and rebuild the bathhouse and filter room. In addition, there are major repairs and modifications needed to the pool structure and filter system. These items alone will cost approximately $2.8 million and will not substantially increase the aquatic facility’s current use nor will the annual revenue increase.
Converting the 50-meter pool into a shallow water entry pool with interactive water features and amenities may increase the pool’s attendance at a cost of additional $1.2 million. With the addition of architect/engineering and pool designer fees, a contingency fund of 5% and FF&E budget of $100,000 the total project approaches $4.6 million.
Further, the Aquatic Consultant recognizes that during any renovation project there may be some unforeseen problems during the renovation and/or future problems with what remains regarding the old 50-meter pool.
It is the Aquatic Consultant’s professional opinion that it would be a better decision for the City to totally rebuild a new family water park with lap lanes on the same footprint location. Use the same footprint with all the water features in this report and possibly add more features, such as a lazy river. This could be done for $4.5–$5 million and would be a better use of the funding, than to try to save one end of the existing 50-meter pool. This new aquatic facility will have the potential to be self-supporting, as the revenue generated would cover the annual operational expenses.
Finally, it should be noted that a water park facility of this nature and at this location would require at least 300 additional parking spaces. This may require a new parking deck adjacent to the water park. This is an additional component to this report and would require additional funding above the $4.5 - $5.0 to the new water park concept for parking deck design and construction cost.”
Thank You for visiting today.
Please scroll down for two very important press releases from the City:
*If it’s not time-sensitive information you need from Mr. Kerr, please be patient and wait a few weeks. Knowing full-well how the troublemakers work, they’re probably flooding him with mundane requests for obscure details and unnecessary queries.
- Community meetings to discuss the Neighborhood Road Bond on Feb. 22nd and the 23rd.
- Latest news about the Solar Energy Project, the ribbon cutting on Feb. 28th.
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| For Mayor Pam Triolo’s “State of the City Address”—a video and text pdf—use this link. |
*If it’s not time-sensitive information you need from Mr. Kerr, please be patient and wait a few weeks. Knowing full-well how the troublemakers work, they’re probably flooding him with mundane requests for obscure details and unnecessary queries.
Spectacular video below: “History of the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival”
Share this information about Tri-Rail and the free shuttle to all your friends and family planning to visit our little City for the upcoming Street Painting Festival:
“Presented each February with the support of the City of Lake Worth, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, corporate sponsors, small businesses, artists, and volunteers, the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival has bragging rights as the largest free festival of its kind in the world.”
“No other event draws as many people and gives them a chance to experience our cool, artsy, unique downtown and City. The over 400 artists who participate literally put us on the Arts World Map and we thank the organizers for continuing to value being in Lake Worth. It is truly an expression of confidence in our City.”
—Quote by Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo at the State of the City Address on January 31st, 2017.
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| This is an exciting time of year to visit Lake Worth. The Tree Festival is next Saturday, Street Painting Festival on the 25th and 26th, and following that the Midnight Sun Festival in Bryant Park. |
“Presented each February with the support of the City of Lake Worth, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, corporate sponsors, small businesses, artists, and volunteers, the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival has bragging rights as the largest free festival of its kind in the world.”
“No other event draws as many people and gives them a chance to experience our cool, artsy, unique downtown and City. The over 400 artists who participate literally put us on the Arts World Map and we thank the organizers for continuing to value being in Lake Worth. It is truly an expression of confidence in our City.”
—Quote by Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo at the State of the City Address on January 31st, 2017.
PBSO: The very good & the not-so-good at the Lake Worth City Commission meeting on February 7th.
Do you read this blog post from yesterday? Thank You for visiting and please scroll down.
First for the “very good”. At this meeting during presentations was this item: “A. Proclamation for Deputy Zuchowski”. It was extraordinarily uplifting to learn about all of PBSO’s work to control gang activity in the City vis-à-vis the recruitment of at-risk children into gangs. The proclamation by Mayor Pam Triolo begins at the 1:00 mark in the video:
(Subscribers to my YouTube channel get an email when new videos have been uploaded. Play the video and then the red “Subscribe” icon.)
Now for the “not-so-good”. It was later at this Commission meeting, during public comment, a young lady in Lake Worth stated she emailed Cpt. Baer about recent graffiti activity and thanked him for taking care of that problem; and then she said this:
I wanted to remind everybody that we’re “Making the Call” [to PBSO] and the person that answers the call on the other end can make all the difference in the world. A lot of people have reported that they get the answer, “Yeah, we know about that.”, “We can’t do anything about that.” . . . At least listen. Take down the notes. Try to make a difference. Let people know that you appreciate their call. And that can give everybody a really good impression of PBSO. [applause follows from the crowd in attendance]
First for the “very good”. At this meeting during presentations was this item: “A. Proclamation for Deputy Zuchowski”. It was extraordinarily uplifting to learn about all of PBSO’s work to control gang activity in the City vis-à-vis the recruitment of at-risk children into gangs. The proclamation by Mayor Pam Triolo begins at the 1:00 mark in the video:
(Subscribers to my YouTube channel get an email when new videos have been uploaded. Play the video and then the red “Subscribe” icon.)
Click on image to enlarge:
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| “Make the Call Y’all”. |
Now for the “not-so-good”. It was later at this Commission meeting, during public comment, a young lady in Lake Worth stated she emailed Cpt. Baer about recent graffiti activity and thanked him for taking care of that problem; and then she said this:
I wanted to remind everybody that we’re “Making the Call” [to PBSO] and the person that answers the call on the other end can make all the difference in the world. A lot of people have reported that they get the answer, “Yeah, we know about that.”, “We can’t do anything about that.” . . . At least listen. Take down the notes. Try to make a difference. Let people know that you appreciate their call. And that can give everybody a really good impression of PBSO. [applause follows from the crowd in attendance]
Monday, February 13, 2017
The City of Lake Worth’s revolutionary future for energy generation: More than just a pipe dream to “nowhere”.
UPDATES: 1) For the latest news on “Lake Worth’s revolutionary future” use this link: This issue was addressed once again by Mayor Pam Triolo and Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell on Feb. 21st. The video below will explain more. 2) Inexplicably, this news remains unreported in The Palm Beach Post.
For some perspective, this important meeting yesterday is less than 2 weeks after The Palm Beach Post reported that Mayor Pam Triolo’s State of the City was “nowhere”. That couldn’t be further from the reality, even close to the truth about our City. But more on that later.
This is as real as it gets. The prospects and implications for Lake Worth and the future of energy could be revolutionary.
This was an “Ocean Energy Round Table Discussion” with Rep. Kathleen Peters—the event happened yesterday, Sunday, February 12th, 4:00, at the Lake Worth Casino Ballroom at our Beach. We were notified by a Press Release from Ben Kerr, the City’s Communications Specialist (561-586-1631; email: bkerr@lakeworth.org), on Friday (2/10) and had the following information:
“Lake Worth, FL. – Following the recent announcement of the Ocean Energy Collaborative between FAU's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC) and the City of Lake Worth, the leading domestic and international companies conducting research and design of large ocean turbines have been invited to attend and participate in a roundtable discussion for the purpose of establishing Lake Worth, FL. as ‘ground zero’ for all advanced ocean energy development in the United States.
The invitation-only event will include local economic development officials; SNMREC; industry representatives, and special guest, Representative Kathleen Peters, Chair of the Florida House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee.
Lake Worth’s proximity to the Gulf Stream, its ownership of a municipal electric generating plant and its commitment to becoming a community reliant upon renewable energy sources, have all played a significant role in SNMREC’s decision to invite the City to join together in the collaborative effort. To-date, a joint application has been submitted to Florida’s Office of Energy in the hopes of receiving a Renewable Energy and Efficient Technologies Grant in the amount of $350,000.00 dollars.”
City Manager Michael Bornstein expanded on the strategic advantages having Lake Worth’s proximity to the Gulf Stream, its own Electric Utility and the existence of a former outfall pipe that extends a ¾-mile into the Atlantic Ocean.
The grant mentioned in the press release above will provide funds for a study and design of a “junction box” that would be installed to link electrical generation structures in the Gulf Stream to an existing outfall pipe off Lake Worth’s Beach to become a conduit to the City’s electric grid. Next would be an examination of how best to lay copper through the pipe so the equipment placed in the Gulf Stream could be tested.
There will be much on this timely and important news to come later.
Some of the public officials attending were Florida State Representatives Kathleen Peters and Lori Berman, State Senator Jeff Clemens, Palm Beach County Commissioner Dave Kerner and Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo.
For some perspective, this important meeting yesterday is less than 2 weeks after The Palm Beach Post reported that Mayor Pam Triolo’s State of the City was “nowhere”. That couldn’t be further from the reality, even close to the truth about our City. But more on that later.
This is as real as it gets. The prospects and implications for Lake Worth and the future of energy could be revolutionary.
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| The attendees. Recognize anyone? Some of the attendees are cited below. |
This was an “Ocean Energy Round Table Discussion” with Rep. Kathleen Peters—the event happened yesterday, Sunday, February 12th, 4:00, at the Lake Worth Casino Ballroom at our Beach. We were notified by a Press Release from Ben Kerr, the City’s Communications Specialist (561-586-1631; email: bkerr@lakeworth.org), on Friday (2/10) and had the following information:
“Lake Worth, FL. – Following the recent announcement of the Ocean Energy Collaborative between FAU's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC) and the City of Lake Worth, the leading domestic and international companies conducting research and design of large ocean turbines have been invited to attend and participate in a roundtable discussion for the purpose of establishing Lake Worth, FL. as ‘ground zero’ for all advanced ocean energy development in the United States.
The invitation-only event will include local economic development officials; SNMREC; industry representatives, and special guest, Representative Kathleen Peters, Chair of the Florida House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee.
Lake Worth’s proximity to the Gulf Stream, its ownership of a municipal electric generating plant and its commitment to becoming a community reliant upon renewable energy sources, have all played a significant role in SNMREC’s decision to invite the City to join together in the collaborative effort. To-date, a joint application has been submitted to Florida’s Office of Energy in the hopes of receiving a Renewable Energy and Efficient Technologies Grant in the amount of $350,000.00 dollars.”
 |
| Lake Worth City Manager Michael Bornstein. |
City Manager Michael Bornstein expanded on the strategic advantages having Lake Worth’s proximity to the Gulf Stream, its own Electric Utility and the existence of a former outfall pipe that extends a ¾-mile into the Atlantic Ocean.
The grant mentioned in the press release above will provide funds for a study and design of a “junction box” that would be installed to link electrical generation structures in the Gulf Stream to an existing outfall pipe off Lake Worth’s Beach to become a conduit to the City’s electric grid. Next would be an examination of how best to lay copper through the pipe so the equipment placed in the Gulf Stream could be tested.
More than half a dozen companies representing this nascent renewable energy industry participated in this round-table discussion, some from Germany, Ireland, Massachusetts and California for example; this in addition to companies already here in Florida. All were given a chance to introduce their concepts to the FAU representatives and policymakers that were present.
At the session’s completion a profound realization seemed to come over this round-table group. They recognized this meeting was the first ever to bring so many companies together to share their concepts and prototypes for ways to address the worldwide demand for energy, especially in a renewable form, that is expected to increase 50% by the middle of the 21st century.
Lake Worth not only has a seat at this table. Lake Worth’s strategic location in relation to the Gulf Stream, having its own Electric Utility, the existing ocean outfall pipe along with so many existing urban places for companies to relocate in Palm Beach County (particularly the City’s Park of Commerce), means the City of Lake Worth will become the epicenter of the renewable energy industry and will play the key role in its testing, development, and production.
There will be much on this timely and important news to come later.
Some of the public officials attending were Florida State Representatives Kathleen Peters and Lori Berman, State Senator Jeff Clemens, Palm Beach County Commissioner Dave Kerner and Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo.
Remember, just recently on January 31st, Mayor Pam Triolo had these lines in her 2017 State of the City Address:
“On my recent trip to Washington I also met with the US Department of Energy about our partnership that began last year with Southeastern National Marine Renewable Energy Center, or SNMREC, at Florida Atlantic University. SNMREC is one of three entities created through the Department of Energy to promote private sector development of three types of power generation from the ocean. Wave, Tidal and Current driven energy has tremendous promise to provide clean and consistent power from the ocean.
While the Wave program in Hawaii and the Tidal program in Washington state have advanced, SNMREC has had the challenge of locating an offshore site where private companies in partnership could test designs and develop proof of concept. While they currently have a buoy off Broward County, an actual mooring connected by cable to the grid does not exist, until now. Working together with SNMREC, Lake Worth would be a significant part of propelling this effort to develop ocean current driven power as a viable source. It turns out that after studying and developing detailed computer modeling, the Gulfstream Current is at its closest and in a most consistent strength offshore of. . . you guessed it. . . Lake Worth.
As an ocean-front community our Electric Utility can receive the power generated offshore. However how do we get it from out there to in here? Well it turns out we also have an old abandoned sewer outfall that goes ¾ of a mile off shore and we have applied for a grant to study and engineer a way to pull a cable through it to connect to the test site. Here’s where we take a former environmental scar, like our landfill, and make lemonade out of lemons.”
[and. . .]
“We may become the place in the world that makes ocean current power a reality. We are also looking to change state law to be able to create an Efficient Energy Economic Zone in the City to encourage the companies to locate here and bring jobs. In many ways, this is about clean renewable energy and economic development.
Coupled with increasing the availability of feeding renewable energy into our grid for use in the City, we may be able to add power from the Gulfstream to our solar and one day have the highest level of renewable energy of any city in the state or even the country. This is a strategic approach the old Lake Worth would not have been able to imagine much less make happen.”
Anyone want to suggest that the City of Lake Worth is “nowhere” again?
“On my recent trip to Washington I also met with the US Department of Energy about our partnership that began last year with Southeastern National Marine Renewable Energy Center, or SNMREC, at Florida Atlantic University. SNMREC is one of three entities created through the Department of Energy to promote private sector development of three types of power generation from the ocean. Wave, Tidal and Current driven energy has tremendous promise to provide clean and consistent power from the ocean.
While the Wave program in Hawaii and the Tidal program in Washington state have advanced, SNMREC has had the challenge of locating an offshore site where private companies in partnership could test designs and develop proof of concept. While they currently have a buoy off Broward County, an actual mooring connected by cable to the grid does not exist, until now. Working together with SNMREC, Lake Worth would be a significant part of propelling this effort to develop ocean current driven power as a viable source. It turns out that after studying and developing detailed computer modeling, the Gulfstream Current is at its closest and in a most consistent strength offshore of. . . you guessed it. . . Lake Worth.
As an ocean-front community our Electric Utility can receive the power generated offshore. However how do we get it from out there to in here? Well it turns out we also have an old abandoned sewer outfall that goes ¾ of a mile off shore and we have applied for a grant to study and engineer a way to pull a cable through it to connect to the test site. Here’s where we take a former environmental scar, like our landfill, and make lemonade out of lemons.”
[and. . .]
“We may become the place in the world that makes ocean current power a reality. We are also looking to change state law to be able to create an Efficient Energy Economic Zone in the City to encourage the companies to locate here and bring jobs. In many ways, this is about clean renewable energy and economic development.
Coupled with increasing the availability of feeding renewable energy into our grid for use in the City, we may be able to add power from the Gulfstream to our solar and one day have the highest level of renewable energy of any city in the state or even the country. This is a strategic approach the old Lake Worth would not have been able to imagine much less make happen.”
Anyone want to suggest that the City of Lake Worth is “nowhere” again?
Give it up already. Once and for all. Lake Worth IS NOT & NEVER WAS a “sanctuary city”
Please Note: There’s an update below.
Even reporters who should know better are leaving the door open that Lake Worth is a “sanctuary city”. This nonsense was debunked in 2015 on this blog.
Question: In 5+ years of searching has one single piece of documentation ever been produced that Lake Worth IS a sanctuary city? No. Not one. Zero. So there.
And is it proper journalistic method to have elected leaders, City Manager Michael Bornstein, and City staff prove a negative?
But. . . If. . . And. . . !
BUT if you want to believe Lake Worth is a sanctuary city because we have the Guatemalan Maya Center here in Lake Worth. . . a lot of people think the Town of Jupiter is a sanctuary city too because the El Sol Resource Center is located in that city.
So, IF you want to misinform the public and immigrants as well, at least get the word out there are two options available for sanctuary. . . and Lake Worth is only one.
AND the El Sol Resource Center is really good at social media too AND apparently El Sol has much more modern facilities as well:
Even reporters who should know better are leaving the door open that Lake Worth is a “sanctuary city”. This nonsense was debunked in 2015 on this blog.
Question: In 5+ years of searching has one single piece of documentation ever been produced that Lake Worth IS a sanctuary city? No. Not one. Zero. So there.
And is it proper journalistic method to have elected leaders, City Manager Michael Bornstein, and City staff prove a negative?
But. . . If. . . And. . . !
BUT if you want to believe Lake Worth is a sanctuary city because we have the Guatemalan Maya Center here in Lake Worth. . . a lot of people think the Town of Jupiter is a sanctuary city too because the El Sol Resource Center is located in that city.
So, IF you want to misinform the public and immigrants as well, at least get the word out there are two options available for sanctuary. . . and Lake Worth is only one.
AND the El Sol Resource Center is really good at social media too AND apparently El Sol has much more modern facilities as well:
- To contact El Sol use this link.
- Address: 106 Military Trail, Jupiter, Florida 33458
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 6:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.; Sunday, 7:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
- Phone: 561-745-9860
- Email: contactus@friendsofelsol.org
- They’re also on Facebook.
- And on Twitter too!
Jupiter, the home of El Sol Neighborhood Resource Center, is not a sanctuary community, say local officials.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Candidate forum tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 13th): the details are below.
Per a trusted source all of the candidates in the District 2 & 4 races will be attending except for one. The candidate forum details:
- To be held at the City’s Golf Course, #1 7th Ave. North.
- Forum starts at 7:15.
- Sponsored by the South Palm Park Neighborhood Assoc.
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