Who is Christina Lambert—Really

Above Image: Lobbyist Lawyer for Related Companies Harvey Oyer (middle), Christina Lambert (bottom) Rick Asnani (left) political consultant for Christina Lambert and Related Companies community outreach. Gopal Rajegowda, (bottom right) Vice President of The Related Companies. Unidentified women top. Could they possibly be celebrating her election to the city commission? Shouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch.

A little refresher course:
Commissioner’s Materio, Neering and Moffett voted against Zoning and Land Use Changes that would have allowed the Related project “One Flagler” to move forward.  Related sought  approval for their 25-story office building namely “One Flagler” to be located on the waterfront, where residents twice voted for a 5 story height limit. The 3 named commissioners above recognized this presentation as “spot” zoning. Commissioners James and Ryan voted for the project. Related wanted this project to go forward, and if you listen to the talk around City Hall, it was reported Related would find candidates to challenge the 2 commissioners up for re-election namely Materio and Moffett.

Commissioner Moffett decided not to seek re-election, enter Kelly Shoaf, and Martina Tate Walker both running for her seat. Ms. Walker qualified before Moffett decided to withdraw. Materio, never a quitter, is facing Christina Lambert.
In my opinion if either Ms. Shoaf and Ms. Lambert are elected I can guarantee “One Flagler” will once again be brought to the commission for a new vote. What are the chances of Related’s project going forward knowing Commissioners James and Ryan are on board?

I attended a forum on 3/7/18, hosted by Baywinds, who is located “out west” and do not want State Road 7 extended. All candidates were present, and it was respectful until the end when Ms. Lambert claimed Commissioner Materio voted to fund the State Road 7 project, and was proud to announce that Commissioner James just endorsed her. Commissioner Materio  was allowed a rebuttal and stated the transportation plan had no new money for State Rd 7, and she voted to fund  North Lake Blvd, Southern Blvd,  Belvedere Rd. and infrastructures project for depressed area’s of the city.

Let’s talk $$ and endorsements: The Chamber of Commerce who is solidly behind Related donated $1,000 each to Lambert and Shoaf. I received new flyers today from both ladies who claim “Those We Trust, Trust Kelly Shoaf” and guess who she names? Mayor Muoio and Commissioners James and Ryan. The 3 people who pushed for acceptance of  “One Flagler.” Ms. Lambert states “Our West Palm Beach Leaders Trust Christina Lambert.” and she names Mayor Muoio and Commissioner James. In my opinion if either lady is elected they will be the 3rd. vote to move Related’s project forward. So ask yourself if you want a 25 story building on Flagler.

The debates and forums I attended Ms. Lambert placed schools and children on top of her list for what needs fixing, and she’s the one to fix it. I believe Ms. Lambert will do well to run for the school board instead of a City Commissioner.

Ms. Lambert’s work Experience

Productive Power
Digital Productivity Strategist
August 2017 – Present (8 months)West Palm Beach, Florida Area

Executive Director
Leadership Palm Beach County
December 2011 – February 2015 (3 years 3 months)

Gordon & Doner, P.A.
Community Relations Director
March 2009 – December 2011 (2 years 10 months)

American Cancer Society
Unit Executive Director
August 2007 – September 2010 (3 years 2 months)

American Cancer Society
Florida Division Gala Manager
August 2006 – August 2007 (1 year 1 month)

American Cancer Society
Community Representative
August 2004 – August 2006 (2 years 1 month)

Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard County, Inc.
Provider Liaison and Event Manager
July 2002 – August 2004 (2 years 2 months)

Gainesville Sun
Freelance writer
March 2001 – April 2002 (1 year 2 months)

Commissioner Materio considers her most important job is participating in the governing of  the City of West Palm Beach and the concerns of it’s residents.

 

Who is Martina Tate Walker?

The story below was first published 3/7/2018 and I am once again attempting to introduce Ms. Walker to residents and voters who are concerned about the direction our city is moving in with overdevelopment, traffic congestion and Commissioner Shoaf voting with developers every time ignoring residents concerns.

Ms. Walker lost the election to Commissioner Shoaf in 2018 and I must ask myself is WPB better off today. My opinion, no it is not, with developers contributing dollars to the Shoaf campaign to again insure her re-election so she can continue to support their projects.

I first heard Ms. Walker speak at the first City Commission debate where she is running for City Commissioner District 1.

The audience seemed to like not only her, but her message as well. After listening to her views and hopes for the city I wanted to meet and speak with her, and am happy I made the effort. Here’s what I learned.

Ms. Walker doesn’t have sponsors throwing big money at her. In fact Ms. Walker has no money. You wont see yard signs, t-shirts or fliers in your mailbox. She has no campaign manager guiding her. You will not see the Chamber of Commerce or Related funding her election with expectations of a payback with her vote if she’s elected.

So who is this woman, and why does she want to be a City Commissioner?
Ms. Walker is an ordained minister, and told me her strongest assets are her God, and family.

When I asked her what she wanted people to know about her she mentioned integrity first, her transparency(what you see, is what you get) She feels it is important to listen to people, but places more importance on hearing them. Re-read that last line and think about it. She understands problems, but places more importance on finding the solutions.

Martina retired after 25 years from the PBC Health Dept; working in Human Resources and 6 years with USPS.
Important topics for her are children and the elderly.
For the kid’s she wants the city’s to engage in finding ways to entertain children, and supply a way to move them from point A to point B. She asked me what good a soccer field would do kids if they don’t have a way to get there. I didn’t have a answer.
She would like to see more affordable housing for the elderly, and support groups for them.

I asked her how she spent her day’s, and I thought my pen would run out of ink before she finished.
She councils married folks, singles, elderly and most important to her, children.
She “partners” with FPL requesting they not shut off a customers electricity and finds a way to bring the account up to date and find acceptable payment plans.
Partners with DCF to assist folks acquire food stamps.
Partners with Toy’s for Tot’s.
Partners with food banks and delivers food to needy families.
Works with programs for Youth Bullying.
Rides 12 hours a month with the C.O.P. (Citizens on Patrol) program.
Visits Nursing Homes and Hospital’s.
My next question was how she found the time and energy to do it all. Her answer: “God gives me the time and energy and all the guidance I need”.

What you have read is not known to many people only herself and the people she helps. Ms. Walker has an almost innocent childlike way about herself, but I wouldn’t want to try and pull anything over on her.

I like this lady very much, I believe what she say’s, and have no problem supporting her in her bid for a commission seat.

Keep your hands off our cars–Fix Flagler

Dear Neighbor,

After months of constant feedback from hundreds of concerned citizens, it appeared Flagler Shore would be dead for good March 1st.

That is until Mayor Jeri Muoio published a Point Of View article in the Palm Beach Post on Saturday, March 3rd. This article makes it clear that any signals we might have gotten that Flagler Shore might go away were wrong. The mayor has doubled down on Flagler Shore and called all of you a “special interest group.” The text of her article can be found at the end of this email.
We are developing a comprehensive plan to respond to the mayor’s article. We will be convening a meeting of the Fix Flagler! steering committee the week of March 11.

In the interim, please keep up the drumbeat of opposition to the outrageous act of escalation by our city’s elected leader and be grateful for term limits. Please urge your friends to join our movement and contribute to our cause. We are a grassroots movement of concerned citizens, and we won’t give up until Flagler Shore is no more!
You can sign our petition and email the mayor, city commissioners, and candidates all from our website, www.fixflagler.org.

Sincerely,
Robert Garvy and Carol Garvy
Founders
Fix Flagler!

Point of View: Flagler Shore a good step in improving space for all
The future of West Palm Beach rests in our ability to try new things and embrace new ways of thinking. That is exactly what we have done with Flagler Shore, a pilot project that temporarily closes two lanes of Flagler Drive to reclaim 63,000 square feet of road for the public benefit, providing more space for walking and biking, and events. Our goal? To take a small step forward, with minimal investment, in creating a quality open space along West Palm Beach’s most loved but underutilized destination.

Quality open spaces do more than improve health and well-being. They also contribute to increased property values. As more individuals move back into cities, there is increased demand — which West Palm Beach can’t afford to ignore — for better quality public spaces, including urban green spaces, where friends can meet up for coffee and good conversation, where our children and grandchildren can play, where families can make memories, where the public can gather together.

Contrary to what critics orchestrating a heavily funded, opposition campaign may want you to believe, Flagler Shore has been a success — even with some “bumps in the road” — and I firmly stand by it.

Flagler Shore has been successful in yielding valuable data about Flagler Drive, its safety, and how it’s used by pedestrians and motorists alike. We now know with absolute certainty that this road was overbuilt and that, today, there still is not enough vehicular traffic to justify four lanes of Flagler Drive.

Flagler Shore has been successful in starting the dialogue about our city’s public spaces, what they should look like, how they should be used, and whose voice — if any — should matter most in the creation of temporary or permanent public spaces.

The city received many favorable responses to Flagler Shore and — mixed with the good and the bad — constructive ideas about how we can be better, all of which we have taken into account and from which we have learned. We are appreciative of everyone who took the time to share with us your thoughts by writing, calling or attending any of the Flagler Shore neighborhood meetings, focus groups or think tanks. We wanted as much input from as many people as possible, and now we know that West Palm Beach demands a high-quality public space.

We must remember that Flagler Drive is public property, and so it must remain a space for all West Palm Beach residents and visitors. The city’s public policy will not be determined by any special interest group, as the views of those who are loudest do not always reflect the views of everyone.

As we have promised from the very beginning, Flagler Drive will reopen on March 1st, and, soon, city staff will present a final report detailing findings and recommendations. Once complete, we look forward to presenting the results to residents and, also, to our city commission.

We look forward to an ongoing dialogue on how to design quality public spaces for people.

JERI MUOIO, WEST PALM BEACH