You Wont Believe This
Most people I know have gone through a rough patch in their life, struggling to make ends meet. I go through it every time the City of West Palm Beach wants to charge be exorbitant fees for my public record requests that should be free and public information!
But when it comes to elected officials who are responsible for spending our tax dollars, I think they should be held to a little higher standard, such as, just paying their bills!
In the case of Commissioner Keith James, it has been common knowledge that he has had more than his share of rough patches in his life, starting back in 1997, going all the way up to 2013, with over $124,000.00 in federal income tax liens; two mortgage foreclosures, totaling almost $500,000.00; and multiple law suits by creditors for failing to pay his bills.
I think being able to pay your bills should be a prerequisite before being allowed to run for Mayor.
But hey, the past is the past, and after a 15 year rough patch, it appeared Commissioner James was on the wagon and was finally getting his life on track… until October 17, 2018.
Poor Commissioner James (and I do mean poor), has fallen off the wagon again.
Apparently Commissioner James has not been paying his bills, according to a Final Judgment issued by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit here in Palm Beach County against Mr. Keith A. James, which grants the Midland Funding LLC, the garnishment of Commissioner James’ wages he receives from the City of West Palm Beach for being a Commissioner. If that isn’t a new way of tax dollars being used, I don’t know what is!
I am sure Commissioner James sees nothing wrong with this and will brush it off as bad luck, or another rough patch, and just keep on running for Mayor. And I can think of a few developers and lobbyists that will continue to help him do just that. Read the judgment below, and ask yourself if this is the man you want running WPB with a budget of hundreds of millions of tax payers dollars.
After this story was published, an observant reader questioned if the attorney that represented Commissioner James was an attorney working for the city. On page 2 of the attachment you will see the name Zoe Panarites who is indeed a city attorney. That’s what we old timers call “rubbing salt in the wound.” Ask yourself why Mayor Muoio would allow our tax dollars to be used for a personnel court case.
Federal Keith James had the following tax liens placed against him by the Internal Revenue
Service for failing to pay his taxes
1. Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 4510 PORTOFINO WAY APT 209
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-8101
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $299
Filing Date: 10/21/2008
Filing 1
Number: 20080384408
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Book: 22915
Page: 1558
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
2.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 4510 PORTOFINO WAY APT 209
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-8101
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $1,349
Filing Date: 5/2/2007
Filing 1
Number: 20070212917
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Book: 21686
Page: 1648
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
3.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 4510 PORTOFINO WAY APT 209
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-8101
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $89,825
Filing Date: 1/25/2006
Filing 1
Number: 20060049411
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Book: 19845
Page: 28
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
4.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 2054 CHAGALL CIR
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33409-7524
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Creditor Information
Name: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $32,969
Original Filing
Number: 01166941
Filing Date: 4/30/2001
Type: FEDERAL TAX LIEN
Release Date: 12/26/2002
State of Florida Taxes
Keith James had the following lien for failing to pay his state taxes.
1.Name: JAMES, KEITH A
SSN: 514-62-XXXX
Address: 319 BUCKINGHAM RD
WEST PALM BCH, FL 33405-1607
Creditor Information
Name: STATE OF FLORIDA
Filing Information
Jurisdiction: FL
Amount: $178
Filing Date: 3/14/1997
Number: 97091558
Type: STATE TAX LIEN
Book: 9698
Page: 302
Agency: PALM BEACH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Agency State: FL
Agency County: PALM BEACH
Palm Beach County
Keith James had the following liens and judgments filed against him.
1.Case Number: 50-2013-CA-016573-XXXX-MB (2013)
Green Tree Serving, LLC Filed a mortgage foreclosure against Keith James and his ex-wife, Elaine Johnson James, for $380,403.13.
2.Case Number: 50-2011-CC-010187-XXXX-MB (2011)
Business Loan Fund of the Palm Beaches sued Keith James for failing to pay back his loan, in the amount of $13,219.81.
3.Case Number: 50-2008-SC-000416-XXXX-MB (2008)
LVNV Funding sued Keith James for failing to pay his bills. The case was dismissed for lack of activity. A summons against Keith A. James returned because they could not locate him.
4.Case Number: 50-2007-SC-012118-XXXX-MB (2007)
Keith James was sued by Capital One for failing to pay his bills. The case was voluntarily dismissed. A summons against Keith A. James returned because they could not locate him.
5.Case Number: 50-2007-SC-006166-XXXX-MB (2007)
Midland Funding, LLC sued Keith James for failing to pay his bills, in the amount of $1,374.91.
6.Case Number: 50-1997-CA-001116-RFAI-MB (1997)
Citibank, Federal Savings Bank filed a mortgage foreclosure against Keith James, in the amount of $187,193.29.
WPB: Learn From Your Mistakes
If someone were to ask me how many mistakes I made in my life, I couldn’t give an honest answer, there have been that many. If I was asked how many mistakes were repeated I could honestly count on one hand the number. That’s because I learn from my mistakes and tend not to repeat them. I wish the City of WPB did the same.
Below is a draft of the next City Commission Meeting to be held on 11/19/2018, and I draw your attention to Redemptive Life Planned Development.
Item #14 on the agenda reads:
RESOLUTIONS
Staff Recommended Motion: Approve Resolution No. 315-18 and Resolution No. 330-18.
Background:
On March 27, 2017, the City Commission approved a Major Amendment to the Redemptive Life Residential Planned Development to construct a 240-unit apartment complex (“Village at Mangonia Lake”) on a 7.6-acre parcel located at 2201 North Australian Avenue. The plan includes the construction of three, six-story buildings fronting Lake Mangonia, two, three-story buildings located along North Australian Avenue, a clubhouse and related site improvements. The City owns a 1.85-acre parcel with an address of 2405 North Australian Avenue which located on both the east and west side of North Australian Avenue. AHS Development Group, LLC wishes to acquire the .72-acre portion of the property located on the west side of Australian Avenue, which is located directly to the north of 2201 North Australian Avenue, to construct a private park to serve the residents of Village at Mangonia Lake.
Section 2-31(27)(c) of the City Code of Ordinances requires an appraisal to sell City owned property, and Section 2-31(27)(b) of the City Code requires the property to be disposed of by Ordinance. An Ordinance approving the sales contract and authorizing the disposition of the property will be brought back at a future meeting for approval by the City Commission. Resolution No. 315-18 declares 2405 North Australian Avenue to be surplus and authorizes the City to enter into negotiations with AHS Development Group, LLC for the sale of the property.
Additionally, AHS has requested that the City grant a temporary construction easement to AHS which would allow AHS to use the .72-acre portion of the property for staging and storage purposes for the Village at Mangonia Lake project.
Resolution No. 330-18 grants a Temporary Construction Easement to AHS Development Group, LLC. COMMISSION DISTRICT:
The Property is located in District 1 Commissioner Kelly Shoaf district.
Redemptive Life Residential Planned Development along with Commissioner James, has made the news previously with a scandal that broke in WPB, and Internal Auditor Imogene Isaacs, who’s department was doing an audit of the church was accused by Commissioner James of causing the leak to the PB Post, which she did not leak, because I know who did. Below are 3 news articles along with a memo written to Ms. Isaacs from James and also included is a response from former Commissioner Ike Robinson that I hope you take the time to read.
Channel 25 news: https://www.wpbf.com/article/west-palm-beach-investigating-bishop-his-charity-group/1311298
South Florida Times: http://www.sfltimes.com/news/local/redemptive-life-fellowship-possibly-facing-foreclosure
Gossip Extra: Don’t miss additional stories included in the article. Feds investigate city-church $4 million-snafu
— Church at the heart of WPB housing scandal loses tax-exempt status
http://www.gossipextra.com/2011/12/05/keith-james-commissioner-scandal-church-3995
Appeal to the City of WPB. Please learn from your mistakes.
Lets Keep Corruption County In The Past.
This story is a walk down memory lane and due to new readers of WPB Watch who aren’t aware of Palm Beach County and WPB political history, this story is for you.
PBC become known as “Corruption County” nationwide, starting In 2006 when 4 County Commissioners (Mary McCarthy, Warren Newell, Tony Masilotti and Jeff Koons) along with 2 WPB City Commissioners (Jim Exline and Ray Liberti) were caught in a federal corruption investigations, resigned, pled guilty to felony charges, and sentenced to a Federal Prison. The above named Commissioner’s enriched themselves from thousands to millions on deals with businessmen. If you want more history on the above politicians Google them. It’s all there. Residents were outraged and demanded action. We got it, or did we?
The County Commission approved a new code of ethics, created the PBC Ethics Commission and agreed to hire an Inspector General to serve as a full-time government watchdog targeting waste, fraud and corruption. Here’s the story on the new watchdogs.
Palm Beach County Inspector General: Mission Statement: From their website claims:
“Our purpose (why we exist) is to provide independent and objective insight, oversight, and foresight in promoting integrity, efficiency, and overall effectiveness in government.” The PBC Commissioners choose the Inspector General. In my opinion this is ludicrous and should be an elected official and not appointed. How do you investigate the guy that signs your paycheck?
Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics (COE) from their website claims:
“The mission of the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics is to foster integrity in public services, to promote the public’s trust and confidence in that service, and to prevent conflicts between private interests and public duties.” The PBC Commissioners along with businessmen and schools of higher learning appoint the 5 members of the board and the public has complained for years with one question. How do you investigate a public official that appointed you to the board, or is a friend? I personally have zero faith in the COE due to past “investigations” performed on politicians. I offer this example.
One member of the COE is named Peter L. Cruise and here he is in a picture with elected City Commissioner Lambert. Cruise is on the left. Here’s the question. If a complaint was filed against Commissioner Lambert, how confident are you the complaint would be taking seriously? Below contains a story on Mr. Cruise, who teaches ethics at FAU
http://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/peter-cruise-pbcc-ethics.php
Mr. Cruise donates $750.00 to Lambert’s campaign.
Rick Asnani, President of Cornerstone Solutions and Political Consultant to Lambert, along with Mr. Cruise from the COE Former Commissioner Materio has filed a complaint and a lawsuit against Cornerstone Solution. I hope her complaint wasn’t filed with the COE as I don’t believe she will see justice in the good old boy’s club.
Who is the Wantman Group?
WGI (The Wantman Group) is an engineering firm that has steadily increased the amount of business being awarded to them by the City of West Palm Beach. The projects are typically approved by the City Commission.
Total fees paid by the City to WGI is tough to find because they are often buried in contracts that go through the Procurement Department. I recently placed a public records request and as soon as the city sanitizes the request they will send me what information they want me to have.
In the meantime, WGI seems to enjoy a “favorite firm” status with the City in the same way a certain general contractor seems to be a “favorite firm”, and you know who I am referring too. It is the same general contractor that vocally opposes the City even discussing a disparity study.
After doing some homework, it turns out, WGI’s senior vice president, Jeffrey Brophy and his wife Erin, own a home in Andros Isles, the gated community on the western outskirts of West Palm Beach. However, the Brophy’s do not live in the home at 2365 Pigeon Cay. So who does? Their tenant happens to be none other than City Commissioner Keith James and his new wife Lorna.
It gets better! WGI is helping another one of our City Commissioners, Christina Lambert, who was sworn in on April 5, 2018, and a mere 4 months later WGI hired Commissioner Lambert’s husband, Monte, as a “Senior Business Development Manager”
Mr. Lambert’s recently departed from his Achieve advertising firm as Vice President, as the result of a scandal and law suit against Forte Interactive and RacePartners, a division of Achieve, a major sports franchiser for missing marathon race proceeds. Read the story below:
Does Wantman want more? Time will tell. In my opinion, they will always want more. However, if Commissioner James becomes Mayor James, they won’t need any more “friends” on the Commission to make sure they keep getting more.
I just received e-mail from the City and they want $1,295.01 for the Public Records Request. Makes me wonder what they don’t want me to see/read. Business as usual.
Your Vote Counts
Friday morning at 7:30 AM I was in the PBC Election Office and was pleasantly surprised to see the number of residents already at the polls for early voting. Every vote counts, and folks who take an interest, and pay attention to politics know this to be true due to the fact it was reported that over a million people have already voted in person or by mail in Florida.
Here’s what I can’t wrap my head around. Voters turn out in record numbers to vote for the President along with the Governor’s race, because they want the best candidate to run our Country and State, and with a population of 110,222 residents living in WPB and according to the PBC Election Office there are 68,119 registered voters and less then 9,000 voted in the last City Commission race. Why don’t people care who’s running their city, raising their taxes and wasting their money?
WPB will be called on in March 2019 to vote for a new Mayor and 3 Commissioner seats will be open if Commissioner Ryan does resign her seat to run for Mayor, along with Commissioner James who is term limited out, and Cory Neering the last decent commissioner on the dais. So lets look at their voting record, and see how well they took care of their constituents as sitting City Commissioners. Ibis first:
“Ibis Golf and Country Club is a tranquil community comprised of 33 individual neighborhoods, all with their own distinct design and architecture. Situated adjacent to Grassy Waters Nature Preserve, a 23-square mile wetland ecosystem endemic to Florida, Ibis Golf and Country Club is a private oasis surrounded by tropical vegetation, mature trees, and indigenous wildlife. Real estate in Ibis consists of large custom estates, single family residences, townhomes, and condos. This is a large community with 1850 homes and around 1350 members of the Country Club. This Club offers 3 Jack Nicholas designed championship courses, all in excellent condition. There is also a large Clubhouse, Fitness center, pool, and tennis center.” So Ibis website tells us.
Ibis has contaminated Grassy Waters Preserve maintaining their beautiful lawns and golf courses by using weed killer and fertilizer that have leached into the grounds and the ponds on Ibis land, and the PB Post writes it could cost “Ibis’ 1,800 homeowners possibly $40 million in pollution clean-up costs.” Let’s do the math. $40,000,000 divided by 1850 residents equal over $21,621.00 per household for a Special Assessment. Could explain why Mayor Muoio sold her home in IBIS and moved downtown to little Copenhagen. One home in Ibis is on the market at 10520 Hawks Landing Terrace West Palm Beach, Fl. 33412 for $3,998,800. Why mention this? Ibis is a community of wealthy homeowners and one thing they have in common is they don’t want to pay to clean up their pollution in Grassy Waters, so they have the city clean up after them. Both Commissioners James and Ryan voted to spend two million dollars toward the cleanup effort, and that’s only the beginning of our wasted tax dollars.
Ibis & State Rd. 7 extension.
The city lost a lawsuit, and appealed the decision to the three-judge panel of the Fourth District Court of Appeal. On Aug. 8 the panel rescinded the South Florida Water Management District permit that approved the extension. The judges found that an administrative law judge who backed the permit made procedural errors that denied the city a fair hearing and misinterpreted the applicable water quality standards. The panel sent the matter back for a new administrative law hearing.
The Northern Improvement District was required to do a study and if determined the storm water permit for the construction of State Road 7 would not be detrimental to the areas or the wetlands, they would allow for the permit, which they did and that permit was used by the Water Management District and the DOT (Dept. of Transportation) to fight the lawsuit the city has against the extension. Recently the city attorney’s made a deal with the Northern Improvement District. The deal is the city would pay for the clean up if the district would pull the permit and remove the use. That action puts the city in a much better position to win the fight on the road extension.
Commissioner James has continued to support Ibis residents for his 8 years in office, and Ryan in her 3 years in office, and it’s estimated to have cost taxpayers almost 3 million in the battle over State Road 7 with the help of both Commissioners voting to continue the lawsuit. Why? Simple answer The upper class elitist vote, and they will vote for whoever protects their wallets which is James & Ryan.
So who do you believe made up the majority of the 9,000 people who voted in the last commission race?
My opinion: Voters made a big mistake when we voted to change the City Charter from single district voting to city wide voting. We should have known it wouldn’t benefit residents unless you lived “Out West” in one on the gated communities. Why should Ibis choose our commissioner in district 1;2;3;& 5; and why do we allow it? Simple answer} not enough people bothering to vote in the above numbered districts. Shame on us.
Please read the story’s below.
We Need To Break Cycle of Dictatorial Mayor
Do you need Smart Water?
The alarm clock goes off in the morning, you hit the snooze button, thinking I only need 10 more minutes. Ten minutes later your reminded it’s time to get up. You do, still tired, but you have to get to work because you have responsibilities such as the mortage, car payments, utilities–you get the idea. You work when your tired, maybe not feeling your best but you do your job and go to work because you need that paycheck.
Monday night your husband is watching Monday Night Football on the big screen TV you both saved months to buy.Your son is playing Nintendo while your daughter’s on the computer, and you plan as a family to watch a new movie tonight on your DVD player.
Tuesday morning and everyone’s up. Kids leave for school, you and your mate leave for work. The driveways empty and that’s when they come out riding up and down streets looking for empty driveways, homes where there appear to be no activity. There is no activity at your house because your where your supposed to be–your working. Some are not, their casing your house because they want what you work for. They want your “stuff” and come hell or high water they’ll do their job which is to steal what they can from you.
You come home from work and learn you are a victim of someone breaking into your home and the TV, Nintendo, Computer and DVD player are gone along with your son’s games, and they even took your movies, the ring your mother left you along with the watch your husbands father left him. The thieves don’t care about the sentimental value of the watch and ring. They don’t care you spent $1,000.00 for your TV; if they can sell/pawn it for $150.00, they had a good day. It doesn’t always happen to someone else, you may very well be that someone else.
What can you do to protect what’s yours. One idea thats catching on in Police Departments across our state is “Smart Water”
I attended the first presentation led by Officer Seth Buxton and learned the WPB Police Dept. invested in the product “Smart Water” and presented it to residents Tuesday night and they are making another presentation on 9/29/18 (Sat) @ 9:30 AM at 3510 Spruce Ave, WPB Fl. and it is worth your time to attend and have the product explained to you. Residents asked many questions and Officer Buxton went into detail on the product.
Here’s the short version:
You will be asked to fill out a form with your name, address, phone no. and e-mail address. A small dot of Smart Water on your possessions and it leaves a code which is registered to you. One bottle will mark approximately 75 of your possessions, and will remain active for 5 years. You also receive 3 stickers to place on your window/door stating; THIEVES BEWARE Smartwater Forensic System In Use. Many neighborhoods have “Neighborhood Watch” signs and now you can replace them with signs warning thieves your neighborhood is Smart Water protected.
Pawn Shops have rules and regulations they must follow. Most do, some don’t, and this is where most thieves pawn your TV and items listed above for pennies on the dollar. I learned if you pawn an item you must show identification and police don’t need a search warrent to inspect pawn shops for possible stolen items. The police have a flashligh that is similar to a black light and if a TV shows the Smart Water code, and it’s registered in your name, guess what? You get it back.
If you have the time Saturday morning it’s an hour well spent to learn about this new product. The Police Dept. is making this available to residents at no cost. Help them, help you.
Commissioner Ryan Busted
At the City Commission meeting held on 8/13/2018 Commissioner Ryan commented she had received 8,000 pieces of correspondences concerning the OBD, stating the majority of the correspondences was in favor of the OBD, and invited anyone wanting to view the documentation was welcome too. I want to review the documents, all 8,000 and sent a PRR to the City Clerk.
BREAK IN PROCEDURE: For the first time I did not receive a direct response from the City Clerk but dealt directly with Ms. Brooks, Executive Assistant to the Commission.
Ms. Brooks wrote in part ” In response to your inquiry, Commissioner Ryan has asked me to follow up with you. Commissioner Ryan will be out of town the remainder of the week and would like to schedule a time next week for you to come into the office and review her files. I will contact you upon her return to coordinate a mutually convenient time.”
I did not request a meeting or conversation with Ryan, as any dialog with her was unnecessary. Her vote in favor of the OBD was all the conversation I needed.
The appointment was set for 8/31/18, and what I did not find was 8,000 e-mails supporting the OBD. I did find e-mails and petitions sent to Ryan and the vast majority were against the OBD.
*Support in favor (petition) 650
**Against (2 separate petition’s) 4,655
Individual e-mails for 22
Individual e-mails against 253
** City Commission held 9/25/17 a member of the “Preserve WPB Citizens Coalition” presented the city with over 4,200 petitions against the OBD. These petitions were not presented to me in my PRR (Public Records Request) and if not for a concerned citizen I would not have known about them and neither would you. I watched that meeting on the city website to verify what I was told, and you can check it for yourself if in doubt.
*The large binder I was presented with petitions (650) in favor was discouraging because I didn’t want to count hundreds of pages which contained 1 signed petitioner per page. After thinking about it, I went back the next day and set reams of paper(500 sheets per ream) next to the petitions and decided 650 was in the ball park.
Clearview is a Polling and Research Co. that contacted the city with results from a poll and dated 7/21/17. Not sure I was meant to see this document. Read their letter below.
Correspondence from Ken Himmel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Related to Commissioner Ryan dated 7/23/17. Read the e-mail below.
Commissioner Ryan was far from truthful when she stated she received 8,000 petitions in favor of the OBD and if you listen to the meeting, she spoke on and on like she was trying to justify her vote. News Flash: No one bought it.
And I would like to make a prediction here as far as her announcement she is running for mayor of WPB 2019. Not going to happen, and here is why I believe it wont.
1st. She would have to resign as City Commission to run. She won’t give up the power.
2nd. She would want Rick Asnani, President of Cornerstone Solutions to run her campaign, and they are already committed to Commissioner James, also running for mayor, and voted in favor of OBD.
in my opinion Cornerstone Solutions would say and do whatever is necessary to elect their candidate, and are under investigation for their handling of the Materio/ Lambert campaign. So why did Ryan announce her intention to run?
Around town it’s called “Pulling A Moffett” Announce your running for office and the day qualifing ends, pull out of the race, so anyone who wanted to run–to late–to bad.
It worked once, please don’t let it work twice. If you believe you would make a good mayoral candidate, would listen to residents and have common sense please consider stepping up. We are represented by college educated teacher’s, attorney’s, and business folks, who listen to what “staff” recommends. News Flash: We didn’t elect “staff” to run our city. I prefer one with common sense, how about you?
One of my favorite pictures presented again for your viewing pleasure, along with the names.
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.
Clematis VS Northwood Rd.
Clematis Street was the place to be for entertainment with shops, restaurants and too many bars rocking the night away with loud music that the city allow to remain open into the wee hours of the morning. Now add residents who chose to buy condo’s in the area who complain to the city about the loud music keeping them awake at night. So who’s complaining? Appears to be the “older generation”.
The Millennia’s (also known as Generation Y) is anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (ages 22 to 37 in 2018) is considered a Millennial. This age group wants to be able to work, dine, have their entertainment, bicycle and walk in the downtown area without worry of the evil automobile slowing them down.
So Mayor Muoio decides to travel to Copenhagen, comes back home converts WPB into Copenhagen by tearing up Clematis St; removing parking meters to narrow streets and widen areas for outdoor dining, walking and bicycling. Outdoor dining is very important to restaurant owners and diners so the city in it’s infamous wisdom placed “No Parking” hoods over two meters right across from City Hall, allowed restaurant owners to place a small table and chairs in the road gutter for patrons dining pleasure. That plan didn’t last long.
After attending a commission meeting I stood outside Duncan Donuts talking to a friend when a dozen bike riders converged on the area, and I would estimate late teens or early 20’s taking over the courtyard, jumping their bikes off and on steps and small wall. One came at us very fast, dropped his bike, skidded toward us and at the last minute pulled his bike up while laughing like hell and flew off down the stairs. I thought I was going to be thrown through D.D. plate glass window. City Hall security personnel witnessed the incident on camera, came outside, and the punks rode off. At the next meeting I told the tale to the mayor who advised me to “call the police”. (There are two police officers stationed in the commission room during meetings and they keep the politician’s and residents safe from harm.) I mentioned to the mayor I would have notified the police but they were busy escorting her to her car in the garage. Obviously she doesn’t feel safe in the city hall parking garage without a police escort. She may be onto something there.
We had two recent incidents with a vacationing sidewalk diner being stabbed in the neck while lunching with her daughter, and another 60 year old woman stabbed in the chest while riding her bike. It was decided to hire security personnel to walk Clematis Street.
Please read the stories below.
How’s that working out? Businesses are leaving Clematis St. and the Y generation can walk and bike in complete safety without diners, shoppers and visitors along with auto drivers getting in their way. I hope there are enough of them to sustain what few businesses will be left on a street that is slowly dying with help from the mayor and city commissioners. Have you heard Clematis may be made one way—-maybe. What a dismal failure.
Please read story below:
Old Northwood
I went on an excursion this morning and traveled to Old Northwood with Northwood Rd; being my destination where dozens of quaint shops and courtyard restaurant appeared to be thriving. Rumor has it the Alchemist will be relocating to Old Northwood along with other businesses. Better not wait long I only saw a couple of empty store fronts.
A picture of Northwood Road shows wide streets with on street parking, and please notice no parking meters. Free parking where diners can dine and shop while keeping an eye on their auto’s. What a concept.
WPB Penny Wise-Pound Foolish
If you travel on Village Boulevard do you take the time to appreciate the landscape, the medium strip separating the 4 travel lanes with well trimmed Oak Trees, grass that is virtually free of weeds, the flowers planted at the entrance to “The Villages?” We have The Villages to thank for the upkeep from 45th.St to Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.
Here’s the story:
There are 54 West Palm Beach Parks & Rec area’s which the city is responsible for it’s upkeep. While I have the upmost respect for city workers who maintain the 54 parks there are too many parks and not enough staff to maintain them all properly. They virtually run from one park to another trying to maintain the area.
While some parks receive extra attention others have grass cut along with the weeds, and a few, plain and simply, are a disgrace.
Recently removed from Village Boulevard were the Australian Pines, and here is the history of the tree according to Google.
“Australian Pines were introduced from Australia to Florida during the 1890s.
Appearance: This tropical evergreen tree grows up to 150 feet tall.
Habitat: Australian pine now occurs throughout South and Central Florida and because of its aggressive growth rate, never plant Australian pine trees. There are native trees that provide shade and do not harm the environment. Possession of Australian pine with the intent to sell or plant is illegal in Florida without a special permit. Australian pine trees tend to uproot and topple during high winds and pose a significant hazard to coastal storm evacuation routes.”
Many years ago the city planted the pine trees along Village where the needles on the ground were ankle deep, the rain washed the needles down to the storm drains where they overwhelmed the drains, and the outcome was severe flooding in the area.
The city spent $800,000.00 to remove the pines and plant palm trees with Coco Plum hedges in between and when the hedges are grown they will need to be maintained. While traveling Village I noticed a fern growing on the fence, and am familiar with this fern because my development has a problem with them growing on our Coco Plum. I brought a piece of the fern to the Mounts Botanical Garden where they identified it for me as the “Old World” climbing fern. Here’s the story on the fern:
Why the Old World climbing fern must be managed:
Highly invasive in natural areas.
Severe threat to Everglades tree island communities
A canopy producer that smothers native trees and shrubs.
Can serve as a fire ladder that carries fire into native tree canopies that normally wouldn’t burn.
The fern is rapidly spreading in South Florida’s public conservation lands.
About now you may be asking yourself why is she making an issue of the pines if they have been removed. The issue is not the pines, the issue is the vine.
While traveling Village I noticed the vine overtaking a fence that separates 95 from Village. I contacted Commissioner Neering who reported the vine to the city. Later that week I saw a couple of men pulling the vine from the fence. Well done Commissioner, and thank you.
Well damn the vine is making another appearance and will continue to do so until the root is removed and city workers continue to pull the vine off the fence, hedges and palm trees before they smoother $800,000.00 dollars worth of taxpayer dollars.
So what’s the solution?
The Villages have a contract with the city to maintain the medians on Village Boulevard and in my opinion it’s money well spent. Eight years ago the city decided they could save money by trimming the Australian Pines and that’s when it all went to hell. The city allowed the pines to get out of control with months of no trimming and then proceeds with “Hat Racking” known as Tree Abuse, by removing the top of the tree while ignoring the fast spreading vine. (WPB had code enforcement violate homeowners for “hat racking” in my development when homeowners were actually trimming trees back before the start of hurricane season)
The “city” should contact the Villages and sign a contract allowing them to maintain the new plantings and control the vine before $800,000.00 flows to the storm drains. penny wise, pound foolish, if they don’t/wont.