Don’t Fix What Isn’t Broken!

“Cops and Scholars’ Program” This program was started by Sargent William Nealy “We’re placing all our resource on the kids that were getting into trouble, but we’re not doing anything for the kids NOT getting into trouble. So this evening was all about Darshayla, Trenasia, and Ruben. The three kids got a free meal at Brother Jimmy’s courtesy of CityPlace, and a full meet and greet with the mayor and police chief.” The three kids above had dinner with Sargent Nealy and other officers. Heartwarming story that can be read below. https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/cops-and-scholars-program-attempts-to-bridge-the-gap-between-kids-and-police-in-west-palm-beach

West Palm Beach Police Department in Southern District of Florida to Receive Project Safe Neighborhoods Award won in 2018. “The West Palm Beach Police Department’s community engagement initiatives are extensive, and include not only national programs, but also local programs like “R.I.P.” program that interacts weekly with juvenile offenders arrested for gun and violent crimes, and “Cops and Scholars,” which champions kids in vulnerable communities. West Palm Beach Police Department also serves as a partner to many outside organizations and programs. All of these efforts are contributing to the success of PSN in local West Palm Beach communities.” The PB Post conveniently left this story out of their editorial. Read the story here. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/west-palm-beach-police-department-southern-district-florida-receive-project-safe

Coffee with a Cop program. Where kids and parents meet with officers at McDonalds while parents drink coffee and kids eat ice cream and discuss whatever is on their mind.

Conversation with a cop program. I attended this program in May and parents discuss problems in their neighborhood while cops take notes and explain what the police can and cannot do. One grandmother impressed me when she said all her grandchildren are involved in either sports or programs and are not allowed to run the streets.

Chief Mooney has a Master’s degree in social work, experience in community outreach, and years of experience as a hostage negotiator, police trainer, field operations supervisor, patrol division shift commander and internal affairs commander. What I find admirable is her common sense approach to problems in the Northend.

From all I read troubled teen’s are looking for acceptance and a place to belong and the gangs are more than willing to accept them as members of their families, and once they are in impossible to leave.

It appears to me that Chief Mooney concentrates on the younger generation in an attempt to keep them safe and free from these welcoming gangs with programs she approves and encourages her officers, like Sargent Nealy. to contribute possible ideas to aid the community.

One new program involves volunteer’s who are willing to travel to crime scenes after a death in an attempt to help family members remain calm and explain why they cannot approach their loved one. Police officers and Detectives are on the scene looking for the perpetrators and evidence that may have been left behind. Law enforcement depend on DNA, and when hysterical family member praying the police are wrong and it’s not their family member. If it’s a parent I can’t imagine the pain they endure and just want to hold their child which could very well contaminate the scene and evidence will be lost. No parent should ever bury their children.

There is a City Commission meeting Monday night (6/3/19) at 5:00 PM and Mayor James will ask the commissioners to approve Frank Adderley as WPB new Chief of Police.

If you support Chief Mooney please take the time to appear at the meeting and let your thoughts be known. If you decide to attend please be on time as it is the first item on the agenda and bring your parking stub with you to be validated.   Commissioners please don’t fix what isn’t broken.

Here you can find a story on Frank Adderley, the mayors choice to lead the WPB Police Dept. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/new-broward-sheriff-gregory-tony-fires-agency-leader-and-scott-israel-ally-frank-adderley-11047087

How Lucky Is Florida?

I am going to start this story with an admission. I want President Trump to build the wall.

Former Mayor Muoio declared WPB a Sanctuary City, until Trump said no Federal Money for Sanctuary Cities. What did she do? Changed the wording. WPB will be a “Welcoming” city. Wasn’t necessary because courts ruled Trump couldn’t withhold federal funds.

Listening to the news this morning President Trump is sending 500 immigrants a month to Palm Beach & Broward County. Read the story below.

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/border-migrants-expected-to-be-sent-to-palm-beach-broward-counties

“The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says there are between 11 million and 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.        Read the story below.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/analysis-illegal-immigrants-cost-taxpayers-billion-annually/article_b51222e8-8b7b-11e8-8546-37063af1f318.html

“WASHINGTON — The number of undocumented immigrants crossing the southern border last month was the highest total for February in 12 years, according to statistics released by Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday. In 28 days, and in the same month President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in order to build a border wall, 76,103 immigrants without the needed documentation to enter the U.S. either presented themselves at legal ports of entry or were apprehended by Border Patrol between ports of entry.”       Read the story below.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/highest-february-total-undocumented-immigrants-crossing-u-s-border-12-n979546

Below are the leaders of the Democratic Party who will not fund a border wall. President Trump needs to spread the wealth and send immigrants to California, Maryland and New York.

Leaders of the Democratic Party are listed below.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA)

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY)

Closer to home Former Mayor Geri Muoio has a 5 bedroom and 3 full & 1/2 bathroom. I figure she can “welcome” 1 large family (mom, dad and 3 children or 2 smaller families mom, dad with 2 children. If any reader does not want the wall please contact PBC Sheriff Rick Bradshaw and let him know how many you can welcome into your home.

I am all for legal immigration, but want to know who is entering my country and believe they should have sponsors.

Do you remember the 1980 Mariel boatlift when Castro opened Cuban prisons and mental health facilities and 10,000 refugees became our problem.

Do you remember 9/11/2001 The September 11 attacks were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  They were here legally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Changes, Many Not Good For The City

As Mayor of our city, Keith James is off to a rough start removing key people from postilions they excelled in and a few that retired immediately after the election.

Lets look at a few.
A staff member who for years kept the Mayor’s office running smoothly retired right after the election.

Dorritt Miller who “knew where the bodies were buried” and people reporting to her worked in fear of being fired and in my opinion she should have been replaced years ago, there are two stories circulating city hall. She retired or she was fired. Important fact: She’s gone.

Christine Brevik who brought the IT Department into the 21st Century was fired, but I am told she is being rehired next week. That is excellent news for the city and she never should have been fired in the first place.

Peter Bieniek, Director of Public Works. Peter was hired by Muoio 2 years ago and it didn’t take long for him to prove himself worthy of the job. Peter put new procedures in place, and had other ideas that would have improved the efficiency of the process, eliminating unnecessary steps, using modernizing techniques, or taking other approaches. So what happened? Scott Kelly happened. As I have been told by numerous insiders who watched the interaction between the two men. After hearing different versions I can only conclude Kelly was in fear of his own job due to the fact Peter was doing an outstanding job, and may one day replace him as Assistant City Manager.  After the election Kelly went to James and complained, and James fired Mr. Bieniek, I can tell you honestly that Scott Kelly has personally lied to me on certain issues, along with residents of the city when he makes presentations concerning developments. Scott Kelly was one of five executives fired from the city of Jacksonville, Fl. in 2012. if he was not good enough for Jacksonville what makes him good enough for WPB? James definitely fired the wrong guy. Read the story below.

https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20121210/NEWS/801242052

When the IA (Internal Audit) completes an audit of different departments the head of the department appears and answers any questions whenever the committee member or staff need clarification.. I attend all IA meetings, and have heard Ms. Brevik and Mr. Bieniek on occasions when committee members and staff commend them on the job they have done, and continue to do. Want to know how both managers handle the praise? “They couldn’t have accomplished it without their staff members.” Ask the guy who picks up your trash and yard waste what they think of James firing Peter, they will tell you. Both managers had the respect of the people reporting to them. Nuff said.

I am going to digress here and you will understand why if you continue reading. I watched a program where they asked middle school students grades 6-8 (ages 11-13), and high school grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) if they ever consumed alcohol. A shocking 20% said they had. The experts came in and spoke with the kids and they all left a little smarter than when they arrived. They were told of peer pressure and manipulation. The children thanked the experts and one young lady said she understood how she was manipulated and would not be again. So the experts came in and spoke to the kids with a hope of turning their thinking around, and it worked at least with one young lady. They reached out to the young and I believed were successful. Do you believe they would have had the same outcome with College age kids, who are set in their ways and know absolutely everything.

Police Chief Sara Mooney always reached out to the young children while making the rounds in the toughest neighborhoods in the Northend. She is reaching the kids because this is where change begins, with them, not the gang members who destroy and terrorize a neighborhood.

It’s my opinion the WPB Police Dept. is the finest in the state, led by the strongest Chief. I am not naïve enough to believe all police officers walk on water and some should never wear the uniform because they bring disgrace on themselves and their department. The remaining cops put their lives on the line every day protecting citizens who despise them for the uniform they wear. The PBA (Police Benevolent Association) President John Kazanjian endorsed James for Mayor. If a cop is accused or terminated they can turn to the PBA for protection, and they step up. The PBA did not step up for Chief Mooney, but defended Palm Beach Gardens police Officer Nouman Raja who was found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm and attempted first degree murder in the 2015 shooting death of Corey Jones. Thank God the jury made the right decision or once again police would be the bad guys painted with the same brush. How do you rid the departments of the bad guy’s when the PBA defends them? Corey Jones’s family finally received justice. Read the story below for the PBA reaction for finding Raja guilty.

https://www.wpbf.com/article/pbc-police-benevolent-association-reacts-to-raja-verdict/26751289

James is replacing Chief Mooney with Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley. Don’t know anything about Former Chief Adderley, but Neighborhood Scout is reporting on Fort Lauderdale, “We found that the violent crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). Violent offenses tracked included rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon.”  If you weren’t aware WPB have three excellent Assistant Chief’s  West, Spatara and Kahil.  Why does James constantly overlook excellent choices to look elsewhere when replacing people that are not replaceable? Now you know the reason why workers moral can be in the dumpster.  Read the stat’s below.

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/fl/fort-lauderdale/crime

One of the best program introduced by Chief Mooney, and there has been many, is the “Community Response Team.” and Officer Courtney Sullivan is our neighborhood Community Officer. She reached out to a few residents and supplied her phone no; along with her e-mail address for any resident who wished to talk to her concerning problems in their neighborhood, like drugs. There are too many residents throughout WPB who are afraid to talk to police for fear of retaliation.  If you ask Officer Sullivan not to park her police car in your driveway she wont and that is one way of protecting residents. Officer Sullivan reached out to the Board of Directors with an invitation to speak before residents to let us know she was in the neighborhood and approachable. That was approximately 6 months. The board has not accepted her invitation. I can tell you from experience I called her and her response was faster than white on rice, but that wont help residents who aren’t aware she’s in their own neighborhood waiting to assist them.

It is my understanding city hall has received complaints concerning Chief Mooney’s removal as Chief of Police and after the uproar from Mayor Muoio and others James offered her a position as Chief of Police for Emergency Management. Now this is just my opinion, and take it for what it’s worth. James never expected Mooney to accept the job, but accept she did. Mayor Muoio knowing how Keith James felt about Chief Mooney gave him her endorcement after he told her he would leave Mooney in place as Chief. James lied. Was Muoio that nieve? Hadn’t she learned how strong women intimidated him? Again my opinion.

If you didn’t know, Keith James is a Harvard Graduate. My wish is had common sense and used it.

Channel 5 ran a story on Mooney and Muoio’s response. They mentioned 2 commissioners who were basically OK with James decision, but didn’t name the commissioners. Again just my opinion it was commissioner’s Peduzzi and Lambert. I believe those 2 because I have heard Commissioners Neering, Shoaf and Ryles defend the chief.
What would happen if those 3 commissioners didn’t confirm a new chief of police for WPB?

Hear news 5 report below.

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/former-west-palm-beach-mayor-calls-replacing-police-chief-a-travesty

I Have A Questions—But No Answer

I live in a community with retired teachers and a few starting their careers. I had a conversation with a new teacher and asked how much homework she sent home with her kid’s and her answer was “my kids don’t do homework.” I was shocked remembering how much homework I had as a kid. My next question, which I regret asking (sometime ignorance is bliss) was why. Her answer was shocking. There aren’t enough books to go around.  I spoke with her recently and she informed me she did receive 3 1/2 % pay raise, and no the school still doesn’t have enough books to go around.

Let’s do a small bit of history:

January 1988  Fl. voters approved a Referendum approving the lottery to benefit schools. I voted approval, brought billions to the state, and I learned a lesson.

January 2017  “When county residents voted two years ago to hike the county’s sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, the move was supposed to raise $2.7 billion over a decade for the school district and the county’s municipal governments. Palm Beach County’s 10-year “penny tax” may last for only nine years, thanks to higher-than-expected sales countywide since the tax took effect in January 2017.”

Please read the entire story below. The state beat expectations of 2.7 billion and in 10 years they will ask voters to approve an extension for another 10 years. Hope I live long enough to vote no.

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20181112/palm-beach-countys-10-year-penny-sales-tax-increase-may-last-just-9-years

 

Nov. 2018 Once again homeowners were called upon with a new Referendum. “The tax would add $1 for every $1,000 in taxable value, contributing $800 million to the district’s coffers over four years. The owner of a $225,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption would see a tax increase of $150 per year.”  This tax will run for 4 years. Read the entire story below. In four years they will ask for another  extension.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-ne-voter-guide-palm-referendum-20180925-story.html

 

If you voted for this tax increase, below is the Referendum wording on the ballot.

REFERENDUM TO APPROVE AD VALOREM LEVY FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, TEACHERS AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS

Shall the School Board of Palm Beach County have authority to levy 1.00 mills of ad valorem millage dedicated for operational needs of non-charter District schools to fund school safety equipment, hire additional school police and mental health professionals, fund arts, music, physical education, career and choice program teachers, and improve teacher pay beginning July 1, 2019 and automatically ending June 30, 2023, with oversight by the independent committee of citizens and experts?

Seems pretty clear to me, so why are folks demonstrating at the PBC Supervisor of Elections office? Charter schools are suing and want a piece of the pie, and the media’s attention is the way to go. I only hope they are protesting at the State Capitol also.

“One area that opponents of charter schools largely take issue with is their management by for-profit companies. In the state of Florida, a higher percentage of charter schools are run by for-profit corporations than are nationally. About 45 percent of Florida’s charter schools were managed by for-profit corporations in 2017-18, according to the report, significantly higher than the national rate of about 15 percent.” Read the story below.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180918/new-report-questions-growth-of-charter-schools-in-florida

 

“A tax package approved by a Florida House committee Thursday seeks to settle the dispute by requiring school districts to share revenue generated through property tax increases with charter schools.” Read the story below.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-tax-plan-school-funding-20190411-story.html

 

“March 2019 – Florida falls in national teacher pay ranking to 46th. The Sunshine State swapped places with Arizona, now 45th. Florida teachers got some bad news this week that bolsters their case asking for better pay: The state dropped from 45 to 46 on the National Education Association’s annual report of average teacher salaries.”  FYI Florida is short 2200 teachers.

Is Florida a third rate country? Read the entire story below.

https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2019/03/13/florida-falls-in-national-teacher-pay-ranking-to-46th/

 

Below is one more example of how the Florida Legislature respects what voter’s approved.

Nancy Graham First strong mayor 1991-1999        And the beginning of the end for WPB

March 1996 Voters pass 5 story limit on Flagler. Part of the story reads.

“If the referendum passes, no skyscrapers could be built east of Olive Avenue or in the Government District along Banyan Boulevard. New towers would be allowed only along Okeechobee Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue, east of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.” Read the story below.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-03-11-9603110072-story.html

 

When we voted for the second time to keep the building height at 5 stories, officials ran to the Tallahassee Florida Legislature’s and they ruled against voters, and WPB can and did go as high as developers wanted and have no problem spending millions of dollars in lawsuits.

My question, with no answer is. Why do we keep sending these guy’s to Tallahassee?