Thursday, April 22, 2010
From my beach visit this morning...
Not sure where the sound went on the video - it was just background noise generated from the bar at the west end of the pier. Oh, back on.
UPDATE: House passes ‘Corruption County’ priority ethics bill, Senate committee OKs tougher approach
Hmmmm, there is hope after all. Click title for article. From the report:
One of the harsher measures would make it a crime for any public official to knowingly withhold information about a financial interest in something on they vote or cause to take place. It would would also require disclosure of financial interests that could benefit a family member.
One of the harsher measures would make it a crime for any public official to knowingly withhold information about a financial interest in something on they vote or cause to take place. It would would also require disclosure of financial interests that could benefit a family member.
Ethics panel faults Lake Worth commissioner for financial disclosure lapses
Click title for link to the Jennings' Ministry of Information (aka Palm Beach Post) article. In a form true to their propagandist role, no name is used in the headline - so it could be any Lake Worth commissioner if one did not read the entire article. I find it disheartening that the fourth estate in Palm Beach County produces this quality of news.
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Some observations about the Commission on Ethics finding "probable cause" that Commissioner Cara Jennings violated financial disclosure requirements.
Regardless of where you stand in your support of Commissioner Cara Jennings, it is never appropriate to celebrate an apparent ethical violation by a public official. Like it or not, Commissioner Jennings represents all of the residents in Lake Worth and is identified as a Commissioner in Lake Worth on the press release issued by the Commission on Ethics. Many who read this press release will not have the benefit of knowing the extenuating circumstances uttered by Commissioner Jennings in her statement at last night's City Commission meeting. One wonders when the Ministry of Information, aka the Palm Beach Post, will pick up on the finding of probable cause. Do not look for it in a banner headline above the fold.
Let's take a step back and look at some of the underlying circumstances here. I think we all can agree that one of biggest investments we will have in our lives are our houses and the land on which they are built. As such, most people have to borrow money over a long period of time in order to keep their property, pay taxes and afford their living expenses. It is probably the largest loan, or loans, that anyone will have in a lifetime. So, where the public trust is involved, it is important that an elected official disclose the basic information about from where that money comes. In this case, it was a loan that came through the Lake Worth Community Development Corporation. One of Commissioner Jennings' mates on the the Commission is project manager for that organization. There is nothing "untoward" about that fact, but it is a material fact that needs to be disclosed.
The original amount of that loan was $15,000. By way of comparison, the maximum campaign contribution allowed per individual or per entity in the state of Florida is $500. By order of magnitude, the original loan amount is 30 times as large as the maximum allowed campaign contribution. Commissioner Jennings likes to point out political campaign contributions and encourages their disclosure during voting if someone who contributed to any sitting City Commissioners' or Mayor's campaign will benefit from the action. A former Commissioner was reported to the Florida Elections Commission, not the Commission on Ethics, for not including the proper address for one or more, not sure, $500 contributions. She was levied a fine and the matter was resolved. Certain supporters of Commissioner Jennings at last night's City Commission meeting were some of the first to proclaim the violation by this former Commissioner in accepting this campaign contribution as one of the more severe signs of corruption in our City. They were eager to excuse this latest news as an unintentional, non-material gaff.
Yes, the form is complicated and vague. It is trying to protect the public by showing who is owed what by whom and how much, identify business relationships, etc., while still providing for some degree of privacy for the public official who fills out the form. That's a tough balancing act and it leads to some gray areas on the form. There are instructions and they are in plain English. If you read them, you will be able to get a basic understanding on how and what information is needed on the form.
This is where I have a hard time believing that Commissioner Jennings, who is known for and prides herself on reading everything that comes across the Commission's dais thoroughly, had trouble understanding what was required to disclose. She is also known for what seem to be, at times, never-ending questions - some qualifying as very insightful. So claiming a "mistake on a form?" - that part just doesn't make sense to me.
To her benefit, her openness, once this came to light and her actions to correct the reporting after the fact, is commendable. But, at the end of the day, it was still a violation - thus we have the decision of the Ethics Commission.
Let's take a step back and look at some of the underlying circumstances here. I think we all can agree that one of biggest investments we will have in our lives are our houses and the land on which they are built. As such, most people have to borrow money over a long period of time in order to keep their property, pay taxes and afford their living expenses. It is probably the largest loan, or loans, that anyone will have in a lifetime. So, where the public trust is involved, it is important that an elected official disclose the basic information about from where that money comes. In this case, it was a loan that came through the Lake Worth Community Development Corporation. One of Commissioner Jennings' mates on the the Commission is project manager for that organization. There is nothing "untoward" about that fact, but it is a material fact that needs to be disclosed.
The original amount of that loan was $15,000. By way of comparison, the maximum campaign contribution allowed per individual or per entity in the state of Florida is $500. By order of magnitude, the original loan amount is 30 times as large as the maximum allowed campaign contribution. Commissioner Jennings likes to point out political campaign contributions and encourages their disclosure during voting if someone who contributed to any sitting City Commissioners' or Mayor's campaign will benefit from the action. A former Commissioner was reported to the Florida Elections Commission, not the Commission on Ethics, for not including the proper address for one or more, not sure, $500 contributions. She was levied a fine and the matter was resolved. Certain supporters of Commissioner Jennings at last night's City Commission meeting were some of the first to proclaim the violation by this former Commissioner in accepting this campaign contribution as one of the more severe signs of corruption in our City. They were eager to excuse this latest news as an unintentional, non-material gaff.
Yes, the form is complicated and vague. It is trying to protect the public by showing who is owed what by whom and how much, identify business relationships, etc., while still providing for some degree of privacy for the public official who fills out the form. That's a tough balancing act and it leads to some gray areas on the form. There are instructions and they are in plain English. If you read them, you will be able to get a basic understanding on how and what information is needed on the form.
This is where I have a hard time believing that Commissioner Jennings, who is known for and prides herself on reading everything that comes across the Commission's dais thoroughly, had trouble understanding what was required to disclose. She is also known for what seem to be, at times, never-ending questions - some qualifying as very insightful. So claiming a "mistake on a form?" - that part just doesn't make sense to me.
To her benefit, her openness, once this came to light and her actions to correct the reporting after the fact, is commendable. But, at the end of the day, it was still a violation - thus we have the decision of the Ethics Commission.
Next American City » Columns » Can the Densities of Some Neighborhoods Be too Low for Transit to Work?
Interesting article on how the role of residential density relates to the practicality and viability of mass transit. Click title for link. While Lake Worth is not a "streetcar" suburb, most of the single family areas of the city are relatively low density and similar to those communities discussed in the article.
Transient Public Lodging - What was that all about?
The first item under Public Hearings last night concerned the addition of a definition in the zoning code for "transient public lodging." In so doing, the definitions of "Hotel" and "Motel" were removed from the zoning code and included under the new definition. Since it is a change to the definition section, it is not specific to any one area of the city. It would be used in whatever zoning district allows "transient public lodging" - which would happen to include the area along North and South Federal Highway, but not exclusively.
The reason for the change is to establish some sort of city regulation of hotel guests. Right now, someone could stay in one of the city's hotels or motels indefinitely and essentially use it like a rental apartment. There is no maximum length of stay. In addition to establishing a 60 day maximum stay and the need to have another permanent address somewhere else, there are now requirements written into the new definition that mandate record keeping, payment of the bed tax and inspections. This documentation needs to be kept on site. In essence, if the city can keep up with the inspection of two dozen, according to Mr. Bergman, of these sorts of facilities, we will have a better chance at preventing these hotels/motels to be used as longer term rental housing.
Commissioner Mulvehill was concerned about the use of the word "transient" and thought that a better word could be found that didn't have as negative a connotation. Commissioner Golden made a big deal about the types of people that use these facilities and if this won't just allow the same people to continue to use them. She didn't seem to understand that this actually puts in a framework to regulate these sorts of uses where none exist now. She complained about the small size of these units and thought that the addition of kitchen units made the situation worse. (Whether or not kitchens are part of this use will be depend on other building code requirements and was not part of the new definition)
So, in answer to the One High Vice Mayor Commissioner Golden, let's find ways to build living units of ample size, for owner occupants or renters, that have decent, larger kitchen facilities and contribute to the city's tax base. Units such as these would not attract the same people as small hotel/motel rooms with cooking facilities. Funny, wouldn't townhouses or other multi-family buildings provide that solution?
Remember this slide show showing the overall VACANT condition of property along South Federal Hwy?
Many of the former hotel properties are fallow, minimal tax producing land. Let's ask the question what we would like to see there and find ways to make the city an attractive place to invest and do business. Then we may not have the "same people" that are using the area now as flophouses. Let me know how that works out.
The reason for the change is to establish some sort of city regulation of hotel guests. Right now, someone could stay in one of the city's hotels or motels indefinitely and essentially use it like a rental apartment. There is no maximum length of stay. In addition to establishing a 60 day maximum stay and the need to have another permanent address somewhere else, there are now requirements written into the new definition that mandate record keeping, payment of the bed tax and inspections. This documentation needs to be kept on site. In essence, if the city can keep up with the inspection of two dozen, according to Mr. Bergman, of these sorts of facilities, we will have a better chance at preventing these hotels/motels to be used as longer term rental housing.
Commissioner Mulvehill was concerned about the use of the word "transient" and thought that a better word could be found that didn't have as negative a connotation. Commissioner Golden made a big deal about the types of people that use these facilities and if this won't just allow the same people to continue to use them. She didn't seem to understand that this actually puts in a framework to regulate these sorts of uses where none exist now. She complained about the small size of these units and thought that the addition of kitchen units made the situation worse. (Whether or not kitchens are part of this use will be depend on other building code requirements and was not part of the new definition)
So, in answer to the One High Vice Mayor Commissioner Golden, let's find ways to build living units of ample size, for owner occupants or renters, that have decent, larger kitchen facilities and contribute to the city's tax base. Units such as these would not attract the same people as small hotel/motel rooms with cooking facilities. Funny, wouldn't townhouses or other multi-family buildings provide that solution?
Remember this slide show showing the overall VACANT condition of property along South Federal Hwy?
Many of the former hotel properties are fallow, minimal tax producing land. Let's ask the question what we would like to see there and find ways to make the city an attractive place to invest and do business. Then we may not have the "same people" that are using the area now as flophouses. Let me know how that works out.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Commissioner Jennings read statement that the Ethics Commission found "Probable Cause" for, as she put it, a technical error on a form.
More will be released tomorrow regarding the findings of the Ethics Commission. She made a distinction between a "technical" violation and an ethics violation.
Solar-powered home gives Lake Worth pair a sunny outlook - and an $8.50-a-month electric bill
This PB Post article is from earlier in the week and only stumbled on to it just now. Click title for link.
Funny Coincidence
And, as we all know, there really are no coincidences. Last Saturday, I was looking for inspiration for a new topic for posting here. Those of you on Facebook know that I post "status" reports on a regular basis and one of them was a request for blog ideas. I received a lot of good suggestions and will work them in as time passes. So far, the post on communication or the lack thereof, sprung from the responses.
One of them came from a neighbor. He suggested that I read Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. This synopsis comes from Wikipedia:
What is the coincidence? Well, it just so happens that one of the more ponderous items on tonight's City Commission agenda is the 2010 Goals and Objectives of the City Commission. The bulk of the document was prepared by Connie Hoffman, the management consultant and recruiter during the last city manager search. If you look through the document, a consistent pattern emerges where many of the document's "y's" and "x's" are missing - usually no space left blank, just missing. There might be others too. If you look at the part of the quote above highlighted in red, you can see what I mean by "coincidence."
Who last checked the inscriptions on our city statues?
One of them came from a neighbor. He suggested that I read Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. This synopsis comes from Wikipedia:
Ella Minnow Pea is set on the fictitious island of Nollop, an isle off the coast of South Carolina, and home to Nevin Nollop, the supposed creator of the well-known pangram "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." This sentence is preserved on a memorial to its creator on the island, and is taken very seriously by the government of the island. Throughout the book, tiles containing the letters fall from the inscription beneath the statue, and as each one does, the island's government bans the contained letter's use from written or spoken communication. A penalty system is enforced for using the forbidden characters, with public censure for a first offense, lashing or stocks (violator's choice) upon a second offense and banishment from the island nation upon the third. By the end of the novel, most of the island's inhabitants have either been banished, or have left of their own accord.
The plot is conveyed through mail or notes sent between various characters, though with the banned letters missing, creating passages that become more and more phonetically or creatively spelled, and requiring more effort of the reader to interpret.
The island's high council becomes more and more nonsensical as time progresses and the alphabet diminishes, promoting Nollop to divine status. Uncompromising in their enforcement of Nollop's 'divine will' they offer only one hope to the frustrated islanders: to disprove Nollop's omniscience by finding a pangram of 32 letters (in contrast to Nollop's 35). With this goal in mind "Enterprise 32" is started, a project involving many of the novel's main characters. With but five characters left (LMNOP) the elusive phrase is eventually discovered by Ella in one of her father's earlier letters: "Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs." The council accepts this and restores the right to all 26 letters to the populace.I am really getting into it now and find it a fun, fictional account how certain "orthodoxies" can take over a community and become as accepted as an Emperor without clothes. It also deals with the dangers of totalitarian government control through the restriction of communication and language.
What is the coincidence? Well, it just so happens that one of the more ponderous items on tonight's City Commission agenda is the 2010 Goals and Objectives of the City Commission. The bulk of the document was prepared by Connie Hoffman, the management consultant and recruiter during the last city manager search. If you look through the document, a consistent pattern emerges where many of the document's "y's" and "x's" are missing - usually no space left blank, just missing. There might be others too. If you look at the part of the quote above highlighted in red, you can see what I mean by "coincidence."
Who last checked the inscriptions on our city statues?
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