The 3/19/2024 election & Cornerstone Solutions
This story is important, and I ask readers who voted to read the story and the link below written by the Miami Independent. Here are the voting results.
Should a candidate running for office in West Palm Beach be required to live in the city 12 months prior to the election date, instead of the current 6-month prerequisite.
Yes 7,666 80.5%
No 1,853 19.5% TOTAL VOTES 9,519
Should the Mayor be prohibited from seeking outside employment and limit holding a financial interest in any business?
Yes 6,886 72.4%
No 2,624 27.6% TOTAL VOTES 9,510
Christina Lambert 6,872
Matthew Luciano 2,640 TOTAL VOTES 9,512
I was not shocked by the results of our recent elections, and with less than 10,000 people voting I made a call to the PBC Supervisor of Elections office on 3/20/2024 with one question. How many Registered voters in West Palm Beach, Fl? Nine minutes later and being placed on hold twice I was advised to travel to the PBC library for the information I requested. Maybe I should have called Rick Asnani of Cornerstone Solutions for the information I wanted.
Please take the time to read the shocking story below.
The Miami Independent: Published September 21, 2023, and states an investigation is warranted for the relationship between Rick Asnani of Cornerstone Solutions and the PBC Supervisor of Elections, Wendy Sartory Link. I agree.
“A Highly Partisan Democrat Political Consulting Firm Is Deeply Embedded In The Palm Beach County Supervisor Of Elections”
I published their story concerning Cornerstone Solutions and the PBC Supervisor of Elections. Read the story below published by WPB Watch 10/16/2023 for access to the Miami story. This definitely doesn’t pass the smell test.
https://wpbwatch.com/2023/10/cornerstone-solutions-and-pbc-supervisor-of-elections/
Southridge See the Problem?
When I think things couldn’t get worse for the residents of WPB I find myself surprised once again.
WPB Government, under the guidance of Mayor Keith James is at it again with the help of his minions, better known as the Cornerstone five. and now the city is focused on the Hispanic Community.
Southridge West Palm Beach Housing Authority:
“Southridge located at 3801 Georgia Avenue was built in 1941 is a designated elderly development that contains 148 units and is located on a 12.5 acre site convenient to shopping, public transportation and medical facilities. A variety of health, social and related support services are provided to the elderly residents.”
https://www.wpbha.org/housing/public_housing/south_ridge.php
July 31, 2009 by Ken Steinhoff
“Southridge, one of West Palm Beach’s oldest public housing projects is exactly half-way between my home and the newspaper where I worked for 35 years. It’s also just across the street from the old carriage house I wrote about in May. Both of them are in the shadow of the Southern Blvd. FEC Railroad overpass.
The population of Southridge appears to have become more diversified over the years. When I rode through there last night, I’d say that a large number of the residents are Hispanic, which reflects the overall neighborhood makeup.
Southridge has strong sense of community”
http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/stimulus-project-fdr-style/
Palm Beach Post June 6, 2022
“Senior housing bid raises questions”
“Am I understanding this correctly? There are 148 low-income senior housing units occupying a complex on Georgia Avenue. The city (of West Palm Beach) has agreed to pay $640,000, which with low-income housing federal tax credits and a mortgage, will allow a developer to spend $35 million to tear down and replace the units with 150 units.
One way to think about this is that two low-income senior housing units are being added for $17.5 million apiece, and the government covers the cost to house people who are displaced until the new housing is ready. The proposed four-story complex frees up space for the developer to insert 200 more units, some for affordable and workforce housing. That’s a separate deal which will likely take in more tax dollars and tax incentives.”
I was told the story of the Hispanic community living in the Southridge community and what they were experiencing under the James administration, and I wanted to see and hear for myself what was going on. A friend, who speaks Spanish agreed to accompany and interpret for me. Here’s what I found.
I met two senior citizens; one was 77 and the other 87 years of age. I won’t use their names because I am afraid they will be retaliated against.
Here’s what I learned.
Both seniors receive Social Security monthly and told me one received $958.00 and the other $1,040 a month.
Both receive numerous letters from the city, and I was shown the documents which I had no problem reading because they were in English, and they had no idea what information the city was sending them because they can’t read English. See the problem?
They were told they are going to be moved. They don’t know when or where. See the problem?
They will be given a $900.00 voucher to move elsewhere. See the problem?
The city has moved 5 senior citizens, who are ill to a new location within the past month. They walked with me and pointed out the apartments which were in darkness. They can’t visit with their friends because their whereabouts are unknown. See the problem?
Hopefully you read the PB post story and recall the quote “the government covers the cost to house people who are displaced until the new housing is ready;” Where the hell are people going to be moved to and how long until the new housing is ready? the city doesn’t have affordable housing for working class people let alone senior citizens living on Social Security. Are we looking at more homeless people living on the streets? See the problem?
The 87-year-old resident invited me into her home and the place was spotless. It has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, eat in kitchen and bathroom with a walk-in shower. The floors were hardwood, the walls painted, and she has lived there for 5 years, and claims she has everything she needs and very happy surrounded by her friends.
The West Palm Beach Housing Authority pay for water, gas, electricity and security. Each apt. has a gas stove and refrigerator. Furniture belongs to the tenant.
There is a security guard who they no longer see walking the area. Both admitted they get nervous when they see strangers or young people in the neighborhood.
They received notice that in the future they will be paying their own electric bills.
Seniors are told the buildings are old and they are replacing them with brand new ones, and they will be welcomed back when construction is over. These homes were built during WW2 and stood strong during hurricanes and other natural disasters. These were built back in the day when construction was done and done right. Remember the Champlain Towers built in 1981 and collapsed in 2021. Owners were not aware the building would collapse in 40 years.
Commissioner Christina Lambert, I have heard you tell people you are proud of your Hispanic heritage, as well you should be. Are you going to represent the Southridge residents and be a voice for them?
The Hispanic residents of Southridge are in trouble. You really should visit and talk to them. They will invite you into their home to see for yourself what they have.
I understand you don’t speak Spanish, so you also will need an interpreter.
Do you have any idea how stressful it will be for a 77- and 87-year-old to move– twice? Commissioner lambert do you see the problem, do you care?
The end
Goodbye PAL
PAL History (Police Athletic league)
“SFAPAL, Inc. was formed in 1983 by 5 local PAL chapters, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Miami Beach, St. Petersburg and Tampa. The Police Officers involved had a goal of developing PAL Programs in every city and county in Florida, so youth would have an opportunity to know Police Officers and Police Officers have an opportunity to understand youth. By using athletic and education based programs during after school and weekend hours, police officers working with youth have decreased the amount of free time youth have available for negative activities.”
The City of WPB allocated $100,000.00 a year to the Pal program to pay for equipment, uniforms, transportation and other expenses. My opinion, money well spent.
https://sfapal.com/florida-pal-history.php
4/4, 2019 Keith James sworn in as mayor of WPB and a few months later the PAL program lost its city funding, and the program was in trouble and near an end.
9/1/2019 Below are excerpts from the PB Post. Entire story can be read below.
“Palm Beach Rams Pop Warner football program saved by community.”
“For over 15 years, the West Palm Beach youth football teams supported the community around them. When told they’d no longer receive funding from the Police Athletic League after last year, it was the community’s turn to support the team.
Last Saturday, the newly named Palm Beach Rams played their first games of the season in five Pop Warner divisions, donning Los Angeles Rams-style helmets and jerseys — all paid in full by the coaches, players, and kind souls of the surrounding area.
Mr. Murdock and vice president Corey Tate are both veteran coaches of the West Palm Beach youth football scene. These kids have nothing if they don’t have football,” Murdock said. “If we hadn’t picked it up, they wouldn’t have had no program down here. And I couldn’t see not having a football program in West Palm. I couldn’t see it.”
Claudine McFarlane, who does the paperwork for the Rams, spoke on what all of this means for the kids and the program.
“Our kids in West Palm Beach — a lot of them don’t really have anything constructive to do,” McFarlane said. “And with all of the violence that’s going on in our neighborhood, I just think it’s a great thing that our kids can come together and play football, do something constructive, cheer lead, mentor and tutor, a lot of things some of them don’t have to help them move forward in what they need to do in life.”
I met with Rams president Donovan Murdock and Vice President Corey Tate and learned the city sold the helmets, shoulder guards and training pants to them for $2,000.00 and I also learned the helmets must be inspected every 2 years. When the inspection took place most of the helmets had seen better days and would not protect the small heads that wore them. The cost of a new helmet at the time was $125.00/ea. How badly did the city need the $2,000 Mr. Mayor? Why were the kids left stranded after practice and left parents scrambling to pick them up, Mr. Mayor?
February 16th, 2024 Channel 12
“Local apartment director and police rally for change in violence-hit community.”
“Andrea Stonom is the regional director of Lake Mangonia Apartment Complex, an area that many describe as a hot spot location of violent crimes.”
“WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Less than ten minutes away from the popular Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach is a community plagued by violence. Drug deals in broad daylight. Deadly shootings with children close to getting caught in the crossfire and no end in sight.” Read the entire story below.
February 22, 2024 Channel 25
“Looking for witnesses’: Man shot and killed in West Palm Beach apartment complex”
“Authorities are investigating after a man was shot and killed Wednesday morning at an apartment complex in West Palm Beach. The incident happened at the Lake Mangonia Apartments in the 2100 block of North Australian Avenue. Police say the young man, from Palm Beach County, was dead by the time officers arrived.” Read the entire story below.
https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-shooting-australian-avenue-west-palm-beach/46886373
The crime in this area of WPB is mainly black- on- black crime and the area has its share of gang activity, shootings, drug trade, murders, rapes and other crimes.
Young men, very young men, are recruited to join the gangs and unfortunately many do.
Young men on the Rams football team had a different choice and it has made a difference in their lives. Kids & cops work and play together until another black-on-black crime occurred in 2019 and their funding was taken away until the community stepped up and now these young men don’t have time for gangs. They are too busy winning trophies. Go Rams!
Treasure Coast Conference 2020.
Finalist Trophy for 8-year-old 2023.