WPB vs. Office of Inspector General Continues
The recent election in 2015 held in WPB for Mayor and Commissioners was vital for the welfare of our city. The mayors race was particularly important and much attention was placed on it with an excellent outcome when Mayor Muoio was overwhelming re-elected.
What went completely under the radar, not raised as an issue was the City’s lawsuit against the Office of the Inspector General. (OIG)
To refresh memories the OIG was overwhelming voted on by residents who took the time to vote after 3 County Commissioners, (McCarthy, Masilotti and Newell) and 2 City Commissioners (Liberti & Exline) were sentenced to prison for various wrong doing.
It didn’t take long for the mayor and City Attorney Claudia McKenna to file the original lawsuit in an attempt to undermine the budget of the OIG. It worked! The OIG was unable to hire people needed to investigate cities under their jurisdiction. A loss for residents.
WPB Watch wrote a story on October 3, 2013 concerning the investigation of the city reimbursing former City Commissioner Kim Mitchell $7,325.00. I invite you to read it below and direct your attention to City Attorney Claudia McKenna’s answers to questions asked. WPB Watch wrote their opinion of her statements to the OIG.
“City Attorney Claudia McKenna appeared disingenuously repetitive, and vague. Ms. McKenna answered no questions, and repeatedly questioned the OIG jurisdiction over her and others, and used the word “Jurisdiction” no less that 40 times. When asked a question her response was with the words Fraud, Waste, Mismanagement, Misconduct, and Abuse 22 times. My question to Ms. McKenna would be if you believe, as stated, the OIG “has no jurisdiction over me” why did you feel compelled to accept their invitation to meet for an interview, why not decline?” Her Interview time was 42 min. where she repeated the same statements until the investigator ended the interview.
WPB Officials Disrespects OIG : WPB Gov Watch
Too add insult to injury Ms. McKenna retired from the city in April 2014 and was kept on retainer for $4,800.00 a month. In 15 months she has collected $72,000.00 from taxpayers.You good with that? How many hundred’s of thousands has the city spent to continue the lawsuit?
A new story written by the Palm Beach Post can be read below.
In March 2015 lower court Judge Catherine Brunson issued her 11 page ruling that the Town of Gulf Stream vs. PBC the costs imposed on cities to pay for the office of Inspector General are legal. Of course Judge Brunson’s ruling will be appealed which will be an added expense for the taxpayers. You good with that?
There may be new hope on the horizon with an upcoming election of 3 city commissioners Moffett, Materio and Ryan in 2016. This issue will not slide under the radar this time around, and if these 3 commissioners will not commit to ending the financing for the lawsuit, they don’t deserve to represent the citizens of WPB. Time will tell.
A Good Deal For The City?
Mr. Green as the city’s Financial Director did not do a monthly bank reconciliation for over a year meaning the difference between the city cash balance shown on a bank statement and the amount shown in the city account holder checkbook. This was reported by Marcum the city’s outside CPA who works in unison with city’s Internal Auditor and Audit Committee Members. If there were unscrupulous, dishonest employees working in the finance department who knows what kind of damage could have been done in a years time with taxpayer dollars.
Business and Rental Licenses:
The Internal Auditor Dept; which is headed by Mr. Roger Strout, has an outstanding staff who audit departments for the city. I attended the Audit Committee Meeting held on 2/27/2015 and received an excellent report from the audit dept. which included a report on business and rental licenses which is needed to conduct business in the city of WPB.
Here is a small part of their audit report.
Numerous business and rental property are operating without a license.
Rental License:
The audit department made a comparison between the city, county, and PBC Property Appraisers office to locate businesses and rental property not licensed by the city.
The city’s Development Services Department (DSD) has a policy of going back 3 years if they found property being rented. The report states there is a potential to collect $1,000,000.00 a year, and possibly $3,000,000.00 for the previous 3 years.
Business License:
A grocery store for example may need multiple licenses with the city in order to do business. A Supermarket, Pharmacies & Drug Store, Beer Wine & Liquor Store, and including an ATM license. One store = 4 licenses.
The audit dept. obtained a list of businesses licensed with the county and made a comparison with the businesses located within the city limits and found based on a sample of 60 businesses they estimate that the potential yearly revenue could amount to approximately $9,000.00 a year, or an average of $150.00 per business. Now add to that a business which also pay’s for fire and zoning inspections and possibly a Certificate of Use which could raise yearly revenues to $13,000.00 or 217.00 per business.
When the Internal Auditors report was released Mr. Green stated the report was wrong and Mr. Strout was confused about the process.
Audit: West Palm Beach not collecting all its fees | www.palmbeachpost.com
City Administrator Jeff Green has one of the most responsible job’s in the city with each department reporting to him with the exception of the Internal Auditor who the City Commission oversees. I don’t believe we are getting our money’s worth with Mr. Green and questioned why he was promoted to City Administrator when he had absolutely no experience in the field.
Mr. Green recently negotiated the purchase of 336 Flagler Drive. Below are the results.
A piece of property at 3336 Flagler Drive has the lowest point along a four block length of Flagler Drive and is prone to flooding and I agree with the city something must be done to alleviate the problem. A little history.
This property was purchased in March 1983 for $300.000.00
On March 16,2015 the City Commission unanimously voted to purchase the property. Here is my problem with the commissioners vote.
When Mr. Green was finished with negotiations the commission voted to spend
$2,950,000,00 for the land and home.
1/22/15 Anderson & Carr appraised the property for the city at $2,400,000.00
PBC Property Appraiser Total Market Value as of 12/31/14 was $1,764,000.00
The city commissioners voted to spend $1,185,603 dollars over the PBC Property Appraisers market value. I don’t find this to be in the best interest of the taxpayer, but rather in the best interest of the homeowner selling to the city. This amounts to over 980% profit. The city is not only bailing the owners out, we are enriching them also.
The city had three alternatives to alleviate the problem and they choose the most expensive option.
The property is in Commissioner Moffett’s district and she has stated she wants to see the home, which she say’s is in excellent condition, moved instead of being torn down. How much will it cost the taxpayer’s to move the home, and to where? Will the city purchase more land in which to place the home? Why not auction the house to the highest bidder, and the winner moves the home?
With the city’s purchase the land and homes in the area have increased dramatically, and the city is aware there is flooding in other area’s of Flagler and will it cost taxpayers many millions more to acquire other property. The city states:
“The city is not prohibited from paying more than the appraised value if necessary to acquire property” Because the city can doesn’t necessarily mean it should.
I believe the city should advertise for a City Administrator with experience. We can’t afford more negotiation by Mr. Green.
DVD vs Thumb Drive
It is at times an exhausting endeavor to request and receive public records request (PRR) from the city of West Palm Beach. The leaders continue to make it as difficult, and now as expensive, as possible to receive documentation. 1 example.
First Amendment Foundation letter to Jeff Green, City Administrator and Elliot Cohen, Director of TV 18. This letter is in reference to a complaint filed by a city resident who’s PRR went unanswered and ignored by the city. Please read the response below.
New Tab
10/24/14 A PRR was placed with the City Clerk for the last three invoices for the purchase of DVD and Thumb Drive purchased by the city.
Here is the results of that request.
12/9/2009: 200 DVD purchased at a cost of $87.96 or $.4398 ea. (Office Depot)
6/11/2013: 400 DVD purchased at a cost of $395.58 or $.98895 ea. (VSA Inc.)
1/6/2014: 300 DVD purchased at a cost of $105.72 or $.3524 ea. (B&H)
The three invoices average out to $.65 ea.for the DVD
The city provided one invoice for a Thumb Drive.
11/ 2014 Purchased 5 at a cost of $49.95 or $9.99 ea.
Coupon for $20.00 discount for a cost of $5.99 ea.
Elliot Cohen at a public meeting when asked about the decision to change from DVD to Thumb Drives told the mayor and commissioners it was less expensive. Really?
When a complaint is filed with the OIG or the PBC COE their office request a copy of the city meeting when the residents has concerns of improper management.
The resident filing the complaint request a copy of the meeting and provides the DVD with all pertinent documentation to be investigated. The WPB DVD is imprinted with the city logo and includes the date, time, and type of meeting. Both agencies request DVD with the city logo imprinted on it.
Residents could request a copy of any meeting and it was made available within two day’s, and residents were not charged for the copy of the meeting due to the inexpensive cost of the DVD. There is no labor charge for a meeting to be copied.
Here is an e-mail sent to the City Clerk on March 19,2015. Over 5 weeks have passed with no response from the city.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Date: 03/19/2015 09:02 AM
Subject: Copies of CD
——————————————————————————–
Good morning Ms. Cobb,
Debbie Finnie filed a complaint with The First Amendment Foundation, and you can view the letter she received from them below.
Previously when complaints were filled with the PBC Commission on Ethics or the Office of the Inspector General both agencies required copies of WPB CD to have it’s logo printed on the CD. (We could not make copies and present them to either agencies)
With that said could you please give me the procedure for requesting copies of meetings on CD.
Please confirm e-mail received
Thanks
Sandy Matkivich
Subject: Re: Copies of CD
Date: 3/27/2015 10:02:48 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Good morning Sandy,
I wanted to follow up on your request. I emailed the City Attorney and asked for direction when your email was initially received. I followed up on Wednesday, March 25th, and am waiting for a response. I apologize for the delay and will let you know as soon as I receive a reply.
Thank you,
Venice P. Cobb
Deputy City Clerk
City of West Palm Beach
401 Clematis Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-822-1206 Fax: 561-822-1214
Email: [email protected]
The City of West Palm Beach is governed by the Public Records Act as set forth in Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. E-mails are subject to the Public Records Act and are public records subject to disclosure. All e-mails sent and received are retained as public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in a response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
It is now been five weeks with no response from the city. Why the clerk felt it necessary to forward my e-mail to the city attorney Kimberly L. Rothenburg and why she hasn’t responded would be a guess on my part. My guess would have to be the city doesn’t want the information known.
Mayor Muoio has placed on the agenda for city commission meeting for
4/27/15 Ms. Rothenburg name for appointment as City Attorney replacing former City Attorney Claudia McKenna. If you have followed city politics you are aware of McKenna’s leadership of the attorneys office. So many bad decisions coming from her office. Ms. Rothenburg
worked under the direction of Ms. McKenna. What do you think?
The Nomination of President Of The City Commission
Congratulations to Commissioner Sylvia Moffett on her appointment as president of the city commission for a second consecutive term. The commission president chairs the city’s audit committee, serves as temporary mayor, If the mayor dies or leaves office early and he or she runs meetings, If the mayor is unavailable.
There are clear indications to me, that Commissioner Moffett’s appointment has a lot to do with the Universal Law of Karma . . . . what goes around, comes around and the very few who closely follows the inner workings of our local government, will remember what happened in April 2013 and will agree. Within the city of West Palm Beach, there has been a tradition of rotation for commissioners to serve as president of the commission but in April 2013, a precedent might have been set when Commissioner Moffett was next in line to serve but was snubbed and publicly demeaned by Kimberly Mitchell’s remarks and nomination of another.
Commissioner Keith James was the current president of the commission during the time Kimberly Mitchell nominated him to serve a second term, with her saying, the city has major issues in front of It and that she would consider re-electing Commissioner James for a second consecutive term as Commission President. Because Mitchell had a rein over the commission at that time, It was a cinch for her to get the support she wanted. Commissioner James certainly does have ample leadership skills and served as president very well. The problem was, Ms. Mitchell’s demeaning remarks towards her colleague and stepping outside of rotation, which opens the door for the same.
After this years March 10th Elections, a Special City Commission Meeting was held on April 2nd , for the swearing in of the newly elected commissioners, Cory Neering and Paula Ryan and incumbents, Mayor Jeri Muoio and Commissioner Keith James, who both won their races by landslides that spoke volumes. Muoio easily beat Kimberly Mitchell and James easily beat Len Fintzy. During the ceremony, Commissioner James nominated Commissioner Sylvia Moffett for a second term, as president of the commission and that was a gate previously opened by Kimberly Mitchell, when she snubbed Moffett and lead the charge to skip over her as next in line, only to have the same thing happen to her friend and team player, Materio.
It is ironic that the recipient of Mitchell’s bad act, skipped over Shanon Materio, who was next in line for the position of president of the commission and that is not something Kimberly Mitchell would have wanted and she was there to see It. The ceremonial day of April 2nd, was a cascade of failures for Mitchell, starting with her huge loss to Mayor Muoio, after vowing to forum audiences, to show us how to win an election. That evening, her parting comments were surprisingly few, compared to her normal spiel and only two on the dais walked over to embrace her.
There is still work to be done to recruit a candidate for the March 2016, District 5 race, to make sure Mitchell and Pinsky does not have a direct line to WPB city business.
A Commissioner’s Memo On Election Night
This article is belated due to the time It takes to receive public records that I wanted to post with this article.
Congratulations to Mayor Jeri Muoio, Commissioner Keith James and District 2 Candidate elect, Cory Neering for their victories in the March 10th election. Congratulations are also in order to the voters of West Palm Beach, who were able to stay focused and choose the better of the two mayoral candidates and District 4 candidates, to move our city forward without the fear of losing control of our most prized natural resource .. . water!
I did not support Candidate Cory Neering because of his association with Mitchell & Materio, and their clear team efforts. Most residents of this city would rather be served by independent and critical thinkers and a “team player” mentality is not conducive to independent thinking.
Both Mayor Muoio and Commissioner Keith James, not only survived a relentless barrage of criticism in commission meetings but both won by landslides. Jeri Muoio won 63% of the vote vs Kimberly Mitchell with only 37%. Commissioner Keith James won a whopping 71% of the vote vs Len Fintzy, with only 29% . The voters spoke loud and clear and was able to weed through all of the disingenuous tactics used at forums, on the street, at meet & greet’s, on campaign flyers and on the elderly by the Mitchell Team.
This mayoral election sent a clear message that nobody’s unbeatable, not even incumbents. Ms. Mitchell didn’t lose by a handful of votes, she lost by a landslide and difficult to recover from. Her frequent campaign visits to African American areas which has been unfamiliar territory to her for the full 12 years she has sat on the dais and the astronomical and overwhelming amount of campaign signs displayed at forums and the downright disrespectful behavior was enough to contribute to her loss at the polls.
Throughout Mitchell’s campaign, Shanon Materio was attached to her side and her participation seems to have been outside of the code of conduct expected of an elected official. She sits on the same board as Ms. Mitchell and not only attended every forum but participated in Mitchell’s street rally’s, holding her campaign signs and visible, up front and center at all forums.
On the evening of the election, Shanon Materio sent a memo, addressed to the City’s Administrator, Jeff Green and City Clerk Hazeline Carson, entitled “Election Irregularities”, acknowledging her travels to various polling locations. What is she doing traveling to various polling locations? Ms. Materio speaks of an “absolute conflict of interest”, in her memo, but see’s no conflict of interest regarding herself being a sitting commissioner, who was obsessively involved with another commissioners election campaign.
Judge Brunson’s Opinion on the OIG Funding.
A long awaited decision has been reached concerning the funding for the Office of Inspector General.
Circuit Court Judge Catherine Brunson ruled in the case, Town of Gulf Stream vs. Palm Beach County, the costs imposed on cities across Palm Beach County to pay for the Office of the Inspector General are legal.
The lawsuit led by West Palm Beach elected officials and former City Attorney Claudia McKenna hopefully is over and the city will not spend any more tax dollars to appeal the ruling that residents overwhelmingly voted for after three County Commissioners, Mary McCarty, Warren Newell and Tony Masilotti, along with two West Palm Beach City Commissioners Jim Exline and Ray Liberti were sentenced to Federal Prison for betraying the public trust.
In my opinion this lawsuit was never about who should fund the OIG but an attempt to destroy their budget which led to minimal staffing. If the funding isn’t available the investigations aren’t available. Read Judge Brunson’s ruling here which is posted on the City of WPB website.
Newly reelected Mayor Muoio has recently stated WPB will join PBC State Attorney Dave Aronberg “Anti-Corruption Taskforce” and has pledged WPB police officer’s will be permanently assigned and will work under the direct supervision of the State Attorney’s office. I applaud Mayor Muoio on her decision to join forces and have more eyes on elected officials. I believe it’s needed, and hopefully this partnership was not put in place to replace the Office of the Inspector General.
The mayor further stated “Transparency and integrity have been top priorities of my administration from day 1”
I would encourage the mayor to allow Judge Brunson’s ruling to stand and not allow the city to waste taxpayer dollars in an attempt to appeal her decision.
Time to stop talking the talk, and start walking the walk, and fund the Office of the Inspector General. It’s long overdue.
Stories written on the OIG can be read here.
African American Betrayal On Behalf Of Kimberly Mitchell
Commissioners Mitchell and Materio may have broken the Florida Sunshine Law during this mayoral campaign while at the same time aiding and abetting in the betrayal of Black residents of the Northwest Community in order to privatize our water and move the city water plant for Poseidon Resources and Richard Pinksy, Mitchell’s ex-husband to Riviera Beach.
There has been some recent discussion involving Poseidon Resources Principals, Mitchell, Materio and her hand picked Black community representatives, who are also loyal campaign supporters and who have been assured, the water plant will be moved from It’s current location, at Banyan & Australian Avenue, If Mitchell is elected mayor. The discussions took place sometime after the current city commission voted 3 to 2 to approve a $33.5 million ultraviolet water filtration system the city says is the cheapest and most rapidly-implemented way to meet a 2018 ultimatum from the Florida Department of Health. Mitchell’s Black community representatives were assured that once Ms. Mitchell is elected, this vote of the current commission will be overturned and the water plant will be moved.
These same representatives were told that families, who live in Twin Lakes Estates, a low-income residential community just north of the water plant, will be relocated and we all know what happens to poor people who are said to be, temporarily re-located, only to be introduced to a word called, gentrification. The Twin Lakes residents will have no choice in the matter because Twin Lakes Estates will be razed, their homes demolished and a new development built If Mitchell & Materio have their way. These Black representatives are evidently OK with that. They are willing to sell out unsuspecting poor people and their souls for the promises of city jobs and appointments from Kimberly Mitchell.
Plans are in the conception stage to connect the west side of Australian Avenue, in the Westward area where Black middle-income homeowners have been living, some for more than 35 years, to the east side. Mitchell stated she wanted sail boat activity on Clearlake and visions for the current water treatment plant property are endless, so says Materio who’s already gotten an appraisal of $33 million for that land. Kimberly’s vocal Black representatives can’t see the forest for the trees and evidently have no objection to such a plan. If by some unforeseen fluke, Kimberly Mitchell is elected as Mayor; do you really think she is going to appoint any of those, getting her into African American homes, churches and access to the elderly, a top position in city hall? Well, It’s delusional for anyone running around town for Kimberly Mitchell to think they’re going to end up anywhere but under the bus, If she wins or lose. When does moral character reject ill gotten gains and look out for the betterment of individuals and neighborhoods that’s been systematically left behind?
Because Commissioner Materio has accompanied Kimberly Mitchell on all of her forums and debates and given a shout-out at each one, it is no surprise that these two might have been present at back door meetings where this African American betrayal took place. There may also have been a violation of the Florida Sunshine Law that occurred.
Natalie Edwards
West Palm Beach
Busted
At a recent debate Commissioner Mitchell told listeners she was not concerned with the amount of endorsements that Mayor Muoio had received. It was of no consequence to her.
She was happy to report she had received the two PAC endorsements that were most important to her: City Watch and the newly formed SEPAC (South End Political Action Coalition). SEPAC was formed with the help of her BFF Commissioner Materio for the benefit of Commissioner Mitchell, Len Fintzy, and Cory Neering in the upcoming election.
In my opinion SEPAC is being marketed as a grassroots efforts borne from residents when nothing could be further from the truth. As I stated in my earlier story, “How to Steal an Election”, City Watch’s endorsements were bought and SEPAC was founded a few days before Commissioner Mitchell filed. Neither are true grassroots efforts.
I believe these are the only two endorsements Commissioner Mitchell received.
Unfortunately there was a problem with SEPAC and the “Thumb’s Up” the candidates received from them.
In able for you to fully understand the story I must mention the names of two people involved, and this is right out of “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”
Taylor Materio is the daughter of Commissioner Materio.
Taylor McLeod is the future Daughter in Law of Katherine Waldron, candidate for City Commission, District 2.
Both Taylor’s do, or have done, business with Mad Dog Mail.
Taylor McLeod received an e-mail, intended for Taylor Materio, from Mad Dog Mail asking her to approve a campaign mailer and pay the invoice for $5,929.65. Here is the e-mail received. Please read e-mail dated 3/3/15 @1:37 PM from Matt Martz, then 3/3/15 @ 7:15 PM from McLeod to Katherine. Told you it was right out of “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” Ms.McLeod, & Katherine Waldron requested their e-mail address be blocked, and I blocked all e-mail addresses from publication.
From: Taylor McLeod <xxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 7:15 PM
Subject: Fwd: Second piece and invoice
To: Katherine Waldron <xxxxxxxxxxx
This was just enailed to me. Im super confused.
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: “Matt Martz” <xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mar 3, 2015 1:37 PM
Subject: Second piece and invoice
To: “Taylor McLeod” <xxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: “Beth Kennedy” <xxxxxxxxxxxxx, “Richard Pinsky” <xxxxxxxxxxxx
Taylor,
heres the second piece and the invoice for it. If Dodger hasn’t already fedexed the first check if he could add a check for this piece to, that would help on our end
payment and approval need to be quick just like on the last piece
thanks
matt
PAC’s are not legally allowed to coordinate mailings with candidates or candidate staff. The e-mail clearly shows that SEPAC coordinated with Beth Kennedy, campaign manager for Mitchell, Fintzy and Neering, and please notice Richard Pinsky, lobbyist and ex husband of Commissioner Mitchell, was also copied.
As a result, an ethics compliant has been filed. So stay tuned…
Please see Mailer here.
Please see Invoice here.
Please read PB Post story below.
Residents Question Commissioner Mitchell’s Commitment to their Neighborhood.
Dear Neighbor,
There has been a Coalition of Neighborhoods, Businesses and Cultural Institutions hard at work to improve our neighborhood for the last 11 months. We have been advocating for the creation of a detailed urban design plan for the Dixie Corridor. Several of us in the neighborhood have been hard at work identifying private dollars which, in conjunction with a unique opportunity for the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization to utilize special planning dollars, will help realize that plan and make the corridor eligible for federal highway enhancement funds. Through Mayor Muoio’s efforts the City Planning staff was engaged to provide technical assistance. In addition, the Mayor provided funds to help fill the gap to cover the cost of the study. Although the dollar amount was small, it was the catalyst needed for moving forward. During the entire process, Mayor Muoio engaged with the community stakeholders to make sure the efforts of the South Dixie Corridor Planning Study team and the Urban Land Institute’s Technical Assistance team would not be in vain. Dixie Highway has been neglected for years. Fortunately for us, Mayor Muoio has become the champion for much needed change.
Along with others in the community, we have tried to dialogue with our District Commissioner, Kimberly Mitchell. But she refused to meet with any of the Stakeholders. Fortunately, the steps we have taken to implement the study did not require approval from the City Commission, as it was initiated and paid for by the community. When Commissioner Mitchell realized that our efforts had resulted in a contract with The Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council to begin this work, she criticized the project saying there were other neighborhoods which needed more attention than ours. She went so far as to say that the money raised from the Metropolitan Planning Organization to supplement the funds we raised privately, should go to area south of Forest Hill Boulevard. She did nothing to support the members of her District and, when given the opportunity, she criticized the plan and said she was not aware of the project. Watch the video below. Kimberly Mitchell has been our District Commissioner for 13 years and has never lifted a finger on our behalf. We did this ourselves, and now she wants to take it away. If Kim Mitchell was truly looking out for the City she would have done more to help bring about the much needed change we have all been advocating for. The neighborhoods and businesses along the Dixie Corridor have been the economic engine for our City for almost 100 years. To ignore our needs she jeopardizes our future.
Commissioner Mitchell said she didn’t know about the project. Maybe if she had attended our meetings or answered our phone calls she would have known. The bottom line is this is our neighborhood and we deserve to have elected officials who show up to do their job and not try to stall our own neighborhood improvement projects.
Kim Mitchell plays favorites. She chooses to reward her friends – many of whom are lobbyists – instead of helping our neighborhood. Kimberly Mitchell may have grown up in West Palm Beach, but she ignores the needs of our City, fails to show up for meetings, but is quick to criticize and complain that she wasn’t aware of what was going on in her own back yard. If Kimberly Mitchell becomes our next Mayor, she will work to prevent our project to improve Dixie Highway from going forward despite the fact that this is what our community wants and is willing to pay for.
That’s not what we need in a Mayor. What we need is what Jeri Muoio will provide: honest, effective leadership that will support the work that this community has begun.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email and view the video. We hope you find this information as important as we do.
Gregg Weiss Andy Halper
Flamingo Park Resident El Cid Resident
The Last Hurrah!
I attended the last mayoral candidates forum, Friday night at 6pm, at The Bridge Church, located at 515 Palm Street, in the Grandview Park Neighborhood. I wasn’t familiar with the area so I researched It on Google. It is in the vicinity of The Norton Art Museum, a couple blocks west of Dixie Highway. As I drove south on Dixie, past Okeechobee Blvd, Kimberly Mitchell took all of the guess work out of anyone trying to find the place. After passing Woodlawn Cemetery, I saw a barrage of “Kimberly Mitchell” campaign signs, every 2 feet. All along Dixie Hwy before even arriving at Palm St and turning right onto Palm was a sea of roughly 60 signs, leading 2 blocks up to the church. I saw two “Muoio” and two “James” signs.
I arrived early and was able to see the camaraderie. District 2 Candidate, Cory Neering, District 4 Candidate Len Fintzy, Commissioner Keith James and Commissioner Materio were all there. Prior to starting, Mayor Muoio walked the full length of the room, introducing herself and shaking hands and as guest entered, the mayor made It over to them, thanking them for coming and introducing herself. Mitchell had the two front rows of friends and supporters sitting on the left side of the room, directly in front of her seat on stage and that comfort zone of supporters is where Mitchell remained. Her cheerleaders appear to be a fix for Mitchell at every forum as she paces the floor, giving little quick waves and blinks while gazing all over the room.
The moderator explained ground rules for the audience, forbidding remarks and candidates addressing each other. Mayor Muoio was called first and she stood, introduced herself as our mayor, touched on happenings in the city and her vision moving forward. Mitchell started out looking over the audience, calling out friends she see’s in the audience and saying she sees those who like her and she sees some who might not like her and by the time she started her spiel, the time keeper called time! Mitchell stood there stunned as If an opportunity to speak was taken from her. Mic still in her hand, with a stunned look and said something, off record, to the host. That was nothing new because Mitchell has done the same thing at all forums I’ve attended, looking over the audience, calling out names of friends as opposed to introducing herself and her vision. Like at all other forums, Materio’s name takes center stage out of Mitchell’s mouth, which has nothing to do with her record and her vision as mayor. No other candidates call out names in the audience, other than introducing a spouse that was present.
One question was the 83 meetings Mitchell missed and I’m sure the data was checked. Mitchell got up, questioned 83 meetings? and said, “I attend a lot of meetings and some are very important meetings out of state, that is a benefit to the city”. She went on to defend her absence in Agenda Review Meetings saying she protested the meetings because the public is not allowed to speak. She said she feels the public should have input and meetings are only 15 minutes and not televised. She claimed to be sitting right in her office when the meetings are going on. Kimberly Mitchell’s answers were not only dishonest but intoxicating. Not even Smirnoff Gin can deliver a high to compare to those lies. As most of us know, agenda review meetings are very important for our elected officials to attend. The meeting is conducted by the mayor, for officials to go over the agenda items and ask questions of staff, to be prepared for upcoming commission meetings and is open to the public.
Mitchell said she doesn’t know of any public who attends agenda review meetings but how would she know when she doesn’t attend? If she becomes Mayor, will she protest the meetings she’s expected to lead? The fact is, she made up an excuse for not attending agenda review when she should have acknowledged her failure and taken responsibility for It and that is something she hasn’t been willing to do. The few agenda meetings she has attended, was she not in protest at that time? “Here’s the thing” . . as she often says . . . she uses commission meetings as both agenda review and commission, grossly delaying commission meetings as she’s being brought up to speed. An abuse of the mayor, her colleagues and city staff who are subjected to her lashings in commission meetings.
The moderator had flash questions requiring quick answers and the first question was, “look in this room and find someone from “this” neighborhood you recognize and a restaurant you’ve attended in this area” Mitchell was first and out of her mouth came, “Commissioner Materio” and said, Vinnie would be upset If I she didn’t mention Ambrosia. The neighborhood is Grandview Park, which is roughly 5 miles from Commissioner Materio’s home. Mitchell is so fixated on Materio until she didn’t even listen to the question, based on her answer. The mayor picked Greg Weiss who lives in the neighborhood and Table 26 as her choice of restaurant.
Mitchell talked about the condition of Howard Park being unacceptable to her and she want to see upgrades immediately. She mentioned South Olive needing repair on tennis courts and not once did she mention Westward Park where there are real dangers facing elementary school children who have to pass over or around a canal with no railings to get to and from school. “The Real Black Leaders” who Mitchell referred to, in the North End Forum, at Grace Episcopal Church, needs to take a break from promoting Mitchell and challenge the unconcern she has for children in her district and in their neighborhoods. Mitchell said she and Materio voted against The Chapel By The Lake, when both were part of a unanimous commission vote, approving the project In March 3rd Commission Meeting.
In the mayor’s closing remarks, she reiterated current events, her vision moving forward and named most of her endorsements, with one being the Palm Beach Post. Mitchell took the mic and said, “well, The Post got It wrong!” and talked about her $50 million dollar plan for infrastructure and roads, using Clear Lake as a great resource for sail boats, recreation and races and planning for WPB becoming a metropolitan city.
In my humble opinion, Kimberly Mitchell is not fit to be the CEO of anything. She displays an unprofessional demeanor, giddy, habitual tardiness and punctuality is the soul of business, she has a demeaning & bully behavior in public meetings toward colleagues & staff and demeaning subordinates is never ok. Kimberly Mitchell will be bad for the progressive movement and she has been the captain of a few ships and every one of them have hit the rocks because she refuse to listen to the rudder. The city of WPB is a huge ship and we need a captain who can, at least steer a ship. Mayor Muoio have not been everything most of us wanted but by far, she is the better candidate to run this city.