What appears on the "other" blog...

The End of Last Night's Presentation at the Playhouse - Commissioner McVoy asks to speak...

Pothole Street Painting

Commissioner McVoy Responds to the "Break" video taken at the 8/19/14 Commission Meeting:

Greetings! Regarding video clip from the break during Tue Aug 19 Comm. meeting: Sorry to disappoint, but what I was actually doing is highly boring compared to the interesting theories above. 
The break occurred between sections 9 and 10, in particular before 10-B: "amend LDRs." As this was a detailed item, I wanted to review the back-up again. No luck getting to it online, but recalled that other Commissioners often have a hard copy back-up binder.
So, I went to Comm Amoroso's hard copy with agenda in my L hand to remind myself of the section and letter number. 
As I recollect, what I found was either too short or too detailed, so I recall giving up fairly quickly. 
The texting may not have been as boring, but it was to a friend, with content and friend both totally unrelated to Lake Worth. 

My response:

Thank you for commenting here. You must admit it looks odd. I sit on many boards and find myself in the same situation that you describe sometimes, but I never fail to ask permission or ask if someone has a copy that I could use first, rather than just rifle through someone else's things.

Oh, and where did you get that sandwich? It looked yummy! 

Excerpts from editorial published in the Lake Worth Herald, August 21, 2014 titled: "VOTE":

 "If the bond passes, the city's infrastructure will be greatly improved. If it doesn't pass, the roads will continue to crumble at an accelerated rate. It is up to the voters to determine which path the city takes.
     New business, the kind that brings jobs to the community, is more likely to choose Lake Worth if there is sound infrastructure upon which to build. Not fixing the infrastructure will make it more difficult to attract business, and those that do choose Lake Worth will be demanding tax incentives and utility discounts, leaving the rest of the taxpayers to foot the bill."

[later...]

     "Sea level rise, salt water intrusion, and all of the trendy buzz words municipalities and scientists have been bandying around have been considered in this plan. The city is already drilling new wells farther from the coast to protect the water system. The design of the new infrastructure has taken into consideration all of these factors."

[and...]

     "The Lake Worth Herald recommends passage of the bond issue for the future of our fine city."

Visit the Lake Worth Herald at LWHerald.com for more on the City of Lake Worth. 

Lake Worth 2020 event to show how bond would raise property taxes - PB Post Article

Chris Persaud's article, click title for link, is the lead up to today's presentation at the First Congregational Church in the 1400 block of North K Street and North J Terrace put on by the College Park Neighborhood Association. It should be much the same format and information presented at last night's presentation at the Lake Worth Playhouse. I plan to attend with my video camera for this one as well.

Please make sure that you use the TAXABLE VALUE of your property, which is your assessed value from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's office less any exemptions, to multiply the projected millage associated with the bond. After the three borrowings, that would be 3.14 per $1,000 of TAXABLE VALUE or .00314 multiplied by your property's TAXABLE VALUE.

Although Mr. Persaud references that $162,695 amount as the average taxable value of a home in College Park earlier in the article, he later throws in this sentence, which could be misleading.

For a $162,695 home, that’s an extra $510 a year.

That "$162,694 home" is not the market value of your average home in College Park. I guess we have to trust his word that it indeed is the average taxable value. However, no one property has what that average is. Don't go around thinking that means that you will be paying that much per year. In my case, I will be paying just a little over $300 per year. Make sure that you know what the taxable value of your property is before you vote. Use the city's calculator on their website and let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

Here are some snips from last night's presentation which may help explain what goes in to taxable value:

Notice that there are also "caps" on non-homesteaded residential properties and commercial properties

Lake Worth 2020 Plan Presentation at the Lake Worth Playhouse - 8/22/14

There were over 100 people that attended the presentation last night. Many questions were answered. Please watch the entire series of three videos - the total time is about 1 hour and 13 minutes.

Today's High Noon in Lake Worth show with Mayor Pam Triolo and City Manager Michael Bornstein - LW2020 Plan

New Politics Internet Radio with High Noon in Lake Worth on BlogTalkRadio

Mayor Pam Triolo and City Manager Michael Bornstein on the Lake Worth 2020 Plan 08/22 by High Noon in Lake Worth | Politics Podcasts

Click title for link to live show between 12 and 1 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, August 22nd) to hear more about the Lake Worth 2020 plan and get your questions answered. The election is next Tuesday, August 26th. Leave questions as comments below. You can also hear the archived version of the show after it airs by clicking the same link.

Thanks and be sure to tune in for another episode of High Noon in Lake Worth!

Are you "in the pink?"

Foul! Desperate measures to misrepresent the truth - CAUghT again...

This is the front and back of the latest mailing from Citizens Against Unfair Taxation. You know, this is the political committee that illegally filed in the County to oppose a city issue, misrepresented their stated purpose as "education" instead of "persuasion," and never appointed a registered agent. So, whatever comes from them, you have to consider the source.

If case the above confuses you, the quotes from the Palm Beach Post come from the editorial article in which the editorial board voiced their support for the bonds that will appear on the August 26th Lake Worth ballot. You can read the entire article here which is titled Editorial: Approve much-needed road repair bond in Lake Worth.

The quotes from the article are cherry-picked to make it seem like the Post is against the bond issue. Granted, we can all agree that this is complicated and serious issue, one that requires examination from all angles. But to blatantly misrepresent the entire premise and message of the article, print a postcard with the misleading quotes and send it out to the entire world is reckless at best, despicable at the worst. But, hey, that's what we have come to expect.

People who play by the rules would ask permission to reprint the editorial like I did back in 2009. Here is the letter I received from the Palm Beach Post when I asked for that permission:

Notice item #2: "A strict condition of the reprint permission is that the article may not be edited or altered in any way. You must reprint the entire article - including the writer's byline - and use the headline that appeared with the article." So much for following rules.

Speaking of rules, there are rules against putting political signs on public property. Here we have one of the CAUghT PAC's signs adhered to the public fence at our public golf course and the east of of 13th Avenue North, a public right-of-way.

Like I said, so much for playing by the rules.

The Sun Sentinel Thursday, August 21, 2014 The Sun Sentinel editorial page

Lake Worth bond issue: Vote YES
     The city that bills itself as the county's geographic and artistic center needs street improvements and upgrades to its water and sewer pipes. Over the years, Lake Worth officials have put off making needed repairs to the point where something has to give.
     The estimated cost: $63.5 million. The city wants to issue general obligation bonds to be repaid with property tax revenue. Unfortunately, relying on general revenue won't fix long-deferred repairs and meet day-to-day operations. If Lake Worth wants to shine as an arts and cultural destination, it had better get its drains, pipes and roads in order.
     Give city officials credit, they've come up with a conservative, workable plan that makes sense and addresses imminent needs. Voters should endorse the plan. 

Just to be clear

The Lake Worth Herald, the Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post all say vote FOR BONDS in Lake Worth on August 26th. April is voting yes too, btw.

Today from Mayor Pam Triolo on Facebook

Yet another opportunity to hear and learn about the Lake Worth 2020 plan - This Sunday at Noon!

Can't make the Lake Worth 2020 presentation at the Lake Worth Playhouse on Friday night? No worries, another one has been scheduled! Join your friends & neighbors for a fun family event & learn more about Lake Worth 2020.

Sunday, August 24 at Noon. Wimbley Gym - 1515 Wingfield Street.