The Big Myth: ‘Overwhelming support’ to keep a hotel building height to 45′ or less in our Downtown Hotel District.

The latest appeal was denied by the court and there is nothing left in the way any more to build a hotel to 65′ next to the Gulfstream Hotel. However, the City is up against people with money to burn, so anything is possible at this point. We’ll likely hear more about this from the City Attorney at the City Commission meeting tomorrow.

Before the ‘overwhelming support’ to keep building heights to 45′ is debunked, to learn the facts about building heights in Downtown Lake Worth use this link:

Within the 12 block hotel district east of Federal Hwy, the limit is 45′ with one exception: Only a hotel of 50 rooms or more can go to the 65′ allowed in the Charter.

For example, that would be the block where our historic Gulfstream Hotel is located:

Can you see that little white dot? That’s the block where the Gulfstream Hotel sits. Per the Charter, a hotel can be built up to 65′ there, now a vacant lot.

So. . . how much support did the proponents of a 45′ limit have in the community, for example, JoAnn Golden a former commissioner here in the City? Let’s take a look back to when she was still on the dais:

In 2011 JoAnn Golden got clobbered by then-citizen Andy Amoroso, who continues as a City Commissioner to the present day.

Now let’s go to forward to the ‘overwhelming’ heights vote in 2013. The votes “Yes” are to limit building heights:

Note the voter turnout. Dismal:

Doesn’t look so very overwhelming, does it? So much for “rallying the troops” to limit building height in our Downtown, huh?

Remember, it was the so-called heights vote in 2013 that the state legislature deemed to be “null and void” (City Attorney Glen Torcivia explains this quite well in a video, use this link).

Then in 2015 these red & white signs (illegal per City Code) started popping up around Lake Worth and believe it or not, some still do to this day:

This is one version of the SRS sign. Can you guess who still has one of these signs up? You guessed right. 

You see, the story goes “at the door” if a hotel gets built to 65′ that would set the stage for the “vultures” to steal our BEACH! Silly. Now do you see how all this nonsense comes together? And sadly, this nonsense has been going on for nearly 5 years now.

Remember this handed out “at the door”? They said they were ‘concerned citizens’ who just cared about the truth.

Just one piece of propaganda used to confuse voters into voting “Yes” to limit building heights.

The Cultural Council of Palm Beach Council receives two competitive grants, more recognition to continue their work.

For more information and media inquiries contact Judith Czelusniak, Public Relations: 561-471-1602; email: Judith@palmbeachculture.com

“Generous grants from the Willian R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust* and the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties† will bolster our ongoing efforts to ensure that Palm Beach County communities, schools and families are enriched by art and culture,” said Rena Blades, CEO of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. “We are extremely grateful for this support.”

The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is located in Downtown Lake Worth, 601 Lake Ave. Plenty of free parking nearby. Open Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–5:00.

Lake Worth, March 22 – The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is pleased to announce that it has been awarded two grants to help support its work in making art and culture accessible throughout the county.

“The Kenan Charitable Trust is happy to support the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County’s mission to nurture and promote the arts and art education across Palm Beach County. We are especially pleased at the partnerships that the Council has forged among the arts, the hospitality industry and locally-based businesses to enhance quality of life in the county,” said Douglas Zinn, executive director of The Kenan Charitable Trust.

“The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is focused on its goal to endow the future of its local nonprofits. A matching challenge like this one provides our partners like the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County with future stability and a foundation from which to grow – one not contingent on the success of current or future fundraising efforts,” said Brad Hurlburt, president and CEO at the Community Foundation.

The Cultural Council presents exhibitions featuring Palm Beach County artists and provides additional programming at its headquarters in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building, an iconic Streamline Moderne former movie theater in Downtown Lake Worth. Also at the Cultural Council headquarters are the Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store featuring products by Palm Beach County artists and the Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center, a VISIT FLORIDA designated Florida Certified Tourism Information Center.

*The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust is named for William R. Kenan Jr., a chemical engineer. As brother-in-law to Henry M. Flagler, Mr. Kenan established a strong interest in Florida and spent the majority of his later years in the state. Mr. Kenan also served for many years as president of the Florida East Coast Railway and the Florida East Coast Hotel Company. Following Mr. Kenan's death in 1965, a major portion of his estate was used to establish the Trust.
†The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is one of Florida’s largest community foundations, an organization created with gifts from generous people committed to local causes. The nonprofit organization has provided nearly $129 million in grants and scholarships over its 44-year history.

A 15-second message from the City of Boca Raton.

Only pointing this out because the little New City of Lake Worth, Florida, has a very nice Beach as well. . .

Beach Chair from BocaTV on Vimeo.

Sometimes the best way to get the word out is the old-fashioned way. . .

Click on image to enlarge:

“They suggest you use the Lake Ave. Bridge. . .”. And while you’re in our little New City of Lake Worth why don’t you hang out for a bit and stroll our Downtown?

“Thank You Friends”

Click on image to enlarge:

There are several ways to disburse campaign money left over after an election — Joe Russo let his supporters decide what to do — “Please support these great local nonprofits”.

Tomorrow: Lake Worth’s Finance Advisory Board meeting, agenda below.

To see this agenda for yourself and all other upcoming meetings and agendas use this link.

Finance Advisory Board
Monday, April 3rd, 6:00
City Hall conference room

• Roll Call.
• Agenda: Additions, deletions, reordering.
• Approve minutes.
• Unfinished business.
• New business: Neighborhood Roads Program update. Follow-up: Ken Oakes’ presentation to the City Commission on March 21st.
• Set next meeting date (May 1st).
• Public comments.
• Closing comments.
• Adjournment.

Note: One of more members of any board or commission may attend and speak at this meeting.

Just in case you missed this from yesterday.

Do you remember the celebration Día de Los Muertos, the “Day of the Dead”, last year in the City of Lake Worth?

This year the “Day of the Dead” begins on Tuesday, October 31st, Halloween Day.

The blog post below received a lot of attention yesterday. The title of the post was, “The City of Lake Worth and our good friends and neighbors in the immigrant community”.

If you’ve been thinking about volunteering for our immigrant neighbors in the City of Lake Worth below is the contact information for the Guatemalan/Maya Center. Without further ado:

There are two area centers that support the Guatemalan/Maya and immigrant communities: one is El Sol in Jupiter and the other is the Guatemalan/Maya Center (GMC; contact information below) here in the City of Lake Worth.

Although Lake Worth and the Town of Jupiter are not, and never were a “sanctuary city”, that doesn’t mean much hard work and outreach to the immigrant community has not been going on.

Here in the “Welcoming City” of Lake Worth there has been much outreach, e.g., the Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association and the GMC worked together to solve problems such as crime, code enforcement, bulk trash pickup, and keeping the streets clear and well lit at night.

Shortly prior, the Post’s Kevin Thompson had an article about the Guatemalan/Maya community you can read here. And who can forget the Lake Worth CRA when they invited everyone to celebrate Día de Los Muertos, the “Day of the Dead”, last November here in the City of Lake Worth?

Would you like to volunteer time? The caption below has that information.

If you would like to volunteer for The Guatemalan-Maya Center use this link.
 
Or call 561-547-0085 and say “Bienvenidos!”. The address is 430 North G St.

In partnership with the City of Lake Worth, the Armory Annex, the Palm Beach Photographic Center, the Guatemalan-Maya Center and LULA, the CRA announced the Discovering Our New World—Immigrant Children’s Look at Lake Worth. Read more about that event using this link. This exhibit was later moved and displayed at City Hall:

The Armory Annex in Lake Worth reopens its doors to host Discovering Our New World. For this photographic exhibit the Armory is privileged to collaborate with the renowned Palm Beach Photographic Centre of West Palm Beach. The show is part of the Photographic Center’s Picture My World program.

For those of you in the Central American immigrant community (or those helping their efforts) in the City of Lake Worth, suburban Lake Worth (including Palm Beach State College) and Greenacres here is how you contact the Post reporter to tell your story:

Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573

Monday: Meet newly-elected Lake Worth District 2 City Commissioner Omari Hardy.

Please note: This meeting is open to everyone, no matter the neighborhood where you reside in the City of Lake Worth.

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

The Tropical Ridge regular monthly meeting is this Monday, April 3rd, 7:00, at The Lake Worth Towers, 1500 Lucerne Ave.

Our newly-elected Commissioner Omari Jamal-Hatchett Hardy will be the guest speaker. Please stop by to welcome and congratulate him.

Meeting hosted by the Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Assoc.

When everyone else had little fight left in them, an ill and frail woman took up the fight.

First an update. Per City Commissioner Andy Amoroso: Court sides with City, appeal denied over lawsuit filed to stop the Gulfstream Hotel redevelopment (which includes a new hotel to 65′). Question for City: recoup legal fees?


The news above comes on the heels of a blog post from last Thursday titled, “Loretta Sharpe. November 4th, 1938–January 26th, 2016”.

This will take only a few moments. It’s a short story about a woman and a hotel too, the Gulfstream Hotel. A story that’s legendary in Lake Worth.

It was Loretta Sharpe, in very poor health even then, who first stood up 4 years ago to fight against THE BIG LIE about building heights in Lake Worth. Back in early 2012 THE LIARS got such a huge head start confusing the public that no one thought it was possible to get the truth out.

Downtown Lake Worth? A stealth propaganda campaign had gotten a huge head start back in 2012–2013, month’s in the making. But Loretta saw a way to fight the propaganda. How? It was spectacular! 

How did Loretta do it? It all started with rallying the troops, “The Hanging of the Banner” from the Gulfstream Hotel (see video below).

Here’s the short version of the story: I got a call from Loretta in January 2013 and she told me there was a meeting at her house, she lived on South Palmway at the time, and my attendance was mandatory. When Loretta told you to be somewhere you better be there. She had ideas to talk about: one of them was hanging a gigantic banner atop the Gulfstream Hotel to win the ‘heights vote’. Everyone thought she had lost her mind. Including myself. But Loretta’s idea was brilliant and everyone noticed. . .

Loretta got fined by the State of Florida for that banner. And she paid it, all $200 of it, with pride and great fanfare.

Thank You everyone at the Lantana Public Library last night.

Some time stop by and check out the Lantana Public Library, “A place for serious readers”. The library is located at 205 West Ocean Ave., 561-540-5740. Use this link for the hours, resources, and much more information.

Yours Truly last night. Click on image to enlarge:

 A nicely framed photo taken by “The Cottages” photographer, Taylor Jones.

The Lantana Library graciously invited me to give a “Cottages of Lake Worth” presentation and even provided hors d´oeuvres (a word with a long interesting history) and drinks for everyone who showed up. It was a very nice crowd and all the seats were taken, 30+ people showed up including Town Councilor Malcolm Balfour. A couple library users walked in and got a little more than they expected and stayed for the presentation as well.

Eleven or twelve more “Cottages of Lake Worth” hardcover books were sold. Time is running out to purchase one but the good news is more books will be coming in the future. When? Don’t as yet know the answer; it’s in the hands of the publisher right now.

The questions at the end were excellent and let’s just say a few interesting topics were brought up like what’s happening, or rather not happening, to the Gulfstream Hotel. The topic is of much interest outside the City of Lake Worth as well. I’ll leave it at that.

Everyone at the library including Sid, the head librarian, did an excellent job setting up the audio-visuals, screen, chairs, and all the other things that go along with an event such as this. If you’re looking for a place to do a presentation on a topic of interest to you, the Lantana Library is a very good option. The library did a very good job of promoting “The Cottages” presentation as well.

To watch one of these presentations, like the one recently with the BBC, use this link.

Thank You all for showing up last night. It was my pleasure and I’m very happy with the event and so is everyone else who has worked so hard all this time for “The Cottages of Lake Worth” organization. Especially so of Janice Snearer (the “Cottages” book coordinator, one title), who was thankfully present once again to make sure, politely with grace and charm, everything happened on time and the right way.

Lastly, for all you Facebook users, this is the link to “The Cottages” page.

Just in case you missed this from yesterday. . .

And there’s a bonus (see below), the “5 Tips” proven that work from the business editor at the Post, to give your restaurant or even Hipster food venue more attention.

Thankfully, Post business reporter Jeff Ostrowski is doing his part making a dent into the dearth of quality restaurant reviews here in the little City of Lake Worth. The City is still reeling after Nicole Danna was moved by her editor-in-chief at the New Times to cover the restaurant scene further south. She is missed.

Without further ado, to read the entire review by Ostrowski of Lilo’s Lake Worth in our Downtown use this link. Was the food review helpful? Let him know. A few excerpts:

ATMOSPHERE
Cool and casual. Lilo’s took the space long occupied by Rotelli’s, the pasta place. The dining room is dominated by a bar surrounded by tables, and there are more tables outside. This newly opened spot is an offshoot of a Lilo’s location on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach.

OUR FAVORITE FOOD/PRICE
The spicy tuna taco ($5.50) was excellent [AGREE!], and the sweet plantains ($3) and chips with guacamole ($12 for a large order) also were quite good.

REASON TO GO
A wide variety of reasonably priced plates, and a laid-back vibe that matches the eatery’s surroundings in downtown Lake Worth.

At the end of the review:

Lilo’s Lake Worth is located at 701 Lake Ave. (the former Rotelli’s)
561-518-7880
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.–2 a.m.

Without further ado, from the Business Editor at the Post, the “5 Tips”:

1. Know whom you want to reach out to, the editor writes, “. . . the trick is reaching to the right journalist.” For example, sending information to a beat reporter may not be the best option. Have you considered a business reporter? An entertainment reporter?
2. Who’s your audience? “So, tell us how many followers do you have on Twitter? How many friends/fans do you have on Facebook?”
3. Local, local, local, “. . . there must be a direct and definite Palm Beach County connection.”
4. Newsmakers, “Some of the best-read content we produce isn’t on the front page.” For example, per the Business Editor, the “weekly Newsmakers section”.
5. Video, “So if your business has ‘good visuals,’ drop in a link to some B-roll video that we can attach to the story.”

Think you’re ready to get your business noticed in the Post? Then get cracking folks!

More history of hotels in Palm Beach County.

Henry Flagler’s Whitehall mansion on Palm Beach once had a 300 room, 10 story hotel built to the west of the original structure. This comes from the collection of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. The hotel was removed in the early sixties and the property was bought by Jean Flagler Matthews, one of Flagler’s grand-daughters.

The blog post below has been re-posted several times in various ways. The last time in August, 2016.

The post was titled, “Consequence of Palm Beach Post’s ‘LINE OF FIRE’: More crime, fewer arrests, and an increase in the crime rate?”

Almost everyone has heard or seen something and formed their opinions on The Palm Beach Post’s “LINE OF FIRE: Bullets and badges, death on the street!” It was nearly impossible to ignore the constant drumbeat by a cadre of reporters at The Palm Beach Post and their editorial board.

One particular Sunday paper stood out. A cautionary warning or a subconscious wish?

The editors chose a headline which could have also read, Leaders Urging Calm, which is what the article was about.

People and communities can and did debate the “LINE OF FIRE!” any which way. But what if the result is ultimately deputies and police officers more concerned about appearing in a news story than on doing their jobs? Or would law enforcement, even without realizing it, avoid high crime areas and high-risk situations for fear a Post reporter is around the corner with a notepad in hand?

There are communities in the City of Lake Worth that have too much crime for many reasons and they deserve protection as much as any other neighborhood. The near constant anti-Sheriff/PBSO stories in a few news media outlets and blogs, purportedly done to give more protections to citizens, may end up having the opposite effect: putting many in our poorest and most at-risk communities in even more danger.

No one is suggesting the news media be cheerleaders for Sheriff Bradshaw and PBSO. But it’s also not healthy for our community to have the media treating PBSO like an adversary. An editorial in the Post dealt with law enforcement biases; maybe it’s time the editorial board and the Post examine their own. Consider this comment left under the Post editorial in the highlighted link above:

“Bias is a two way street. . . . The media itself could be a root problem. . . . For the record remember ‘everything matters’ regardless of what anyone says when it comes to understanding.”

In The Lake Worth Herald this week.

Use this link for the City’s website, “Mayor & Commissioners”.

PINNED POST. Tonight at 6:00. Discussion on “Immigration & Civil Liberties in a New Era”.

The blog post below is a “Pinned Post” meaning it will stay at, or near, the top of the blog to get the word out: 

The City of Lake Worth IS NOT and NEVER WAS a sanctuary city. 

Please scroll down for new blog content and, as always, Thank You for visiting.

There was a short blurb (see below) in the Post print edition last Tuesday on page B3, Local Section. Things to take note of:

• The City of Lake Worth never was, and is not now, a “sanctuary city”.
• The Town of Jupiter is not a sanctuary city either.
• Just because a city or town has a center to help immigrants adjust and find services, doth not make the municipality a “sanctuary”. However, if the State and Federal governments would like us to become an “official sanctuary city” they should send us millions of dollars to cover the costs.

And once again, as stated on this blog many times in the past, after many years of searching no document or proof of any kind has ever been found that the City is, or ever was, a ‘sanctuary city’. Please share this information at the meeting tonight.

If you wish to attend this meeting, here are the details:

Copy & paste for your calendar: Meet at Palm Beach Community College tonight at 6:00, 4200 S. Congress Ave., Public Safety Building, room 108.