Mayor Jeri Muoio was the first!
June 26, 2023
As you may be aware the City of WPB passed an ordinance that in order to feed the homeless a permit to distribute the food to more than 25 people or they could face a $500 fine or 60-day jail time. Two organizations have been issued a warning, FNB (Food not Bombs) and “We Care About People Inc, President Canta Chestnut. If either organization request a permit, and if it’s granted, they can only feed twice a year in one location.
Homeless, homeless, homeless, that’s all I hear from City Hall so at a recent City Commission meeting I invited the Mayor and Commissioners to join us at the next feeding hoping they could put a face to the homeless. My invitation was not accepted.
FNB (Food Not Bombs) feed the homeless on the 100 block of Clematis St. every Saturday @ 4:30. Canta Chestnut still makes the rounds feeding the homeless.
Saturday, June 24, 2023 I was traveling down Clematis St. to the 100 block in order to watch the process, and see if the police would make an arrest. They did not, but I was upset by the time I reached my destination.
Passing City Hall I witnessed an ambulance parked, stretcher on the sidewalk with a body totally covered with a white sheet. At the foot of the stretcher a backpack and other belongings, much like the homeless carry to a feeding.
If the human being under the sheet was indeed a homeless person, He ate dinner Saturday night with the man who created him and I believe he received the softest pillow to lay his head on.
WPTV Chanel 5 Posted at 4:43 PM, Jun 20, 2023 Entire story can be found below.
“New parking meter revenue will support homeless initiatives”
“The City of West Palm Beach has authorized the use of extra parking meter revenue to help support homeless initiatives within the city.”
“The City of West Palm Beach has authorized the use of extra parking meter revenue to help support homeless initiatives within the city.
A city ordinance will allocate $39,745 in parking meter revenues to funding various projects geared toward impacting the lives of people within the community experiencing homelessness.
In a statement the city released, Mayor Keith James said: “We believe in the power of collaboration and the potential of every individual. By redirecting parking meter revenues towards homelessness initiatives, we are taking proactive steps to tackle this pressing issue head-on. Our goal is to provide vital resources, support services, and pathways to stability for those who need it most.”
Is it possible residents may have judged Mayor James to harshly, is he trying to help the homeless population after all?
WPTV Chanel 5 Posted at 5:45 AM, Aug 14, 2018
“Leftover time on West Palm Beach parking meters will help homeless”
“A new program in downtown West Palm Beach is helping the homeless, and it has to do with how much time you put on the meter.
The West Palm Beach City Commission gave unanimous approval to establish a program that transfers unused parking revenue to the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
There are more than 200 sensor-enabled street meters, which can detect the arrival and departure of vehicles.
The meters are programed to clear any remaining time balance when the first car leaves and the next car parks and earmark that balance for donation.”
“The ‘Recaptured Meter Time Revenue’ program is innovative, thoughtful and collaborative,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio “I am proud of the city employees at both the parking administration and the HCD Departments for their forward-thinking approach to support our homelessness initiatives, which remain a top priority.”
As more meters are replaced, the city anticipates an annual increase in donations.
Former Mayor Jeri Muoio and City Commissioners approved the plan in 2018, Jeri Muoio last year in office, and City Commissioner voted unanimously to approve and Keith James was a member of the City Commission at the time.
What happened to donations for over four years? If you paid attention you are aware the city’s Chief Financial Officer, Mark Parks, was fired and removed from City Hall by security when the budget meeting began soon after Mayor James was elected. So who replaced Mr. Parks? City Administrator Faye Johnson took to the podium and gave all presentations for the upcoming budget while Mark Parks sat in the audience. Who put an end to the donations to aid the homeless?
I asked a question above, Is it possible residents may have judged Mayor James to harshly, is he trying to help the homeless population after all? I will answer my own question. No, I do not judge him to harshly, you decide for yourself.
Do you have, and love a dog? Do you consider them a part of your family? Do you walk them daily? If you answer yes to the questions are you aware oh how hot the ground is? Onto Google. How hot is the sidewalk at 90 degrees?
“If you are walking your dog on the sidewalk, you are exposing them to very, very hot temperatures, which could be dangerous to their non-protected paws. A temperature of 90 degrees means that the concrete is around 125 degrees and asphalt is about 140 degrees.”
This picture was taken on Sat. June 24th. one homeless man had no shoes, the other just had socks.
The end