Comment Up
At the July 1, 2014 commission meeting, we had a presentation on the results from the Citizen Survey Report. The top three concerns were
1) Slum & Blight
2) Potholes
3) Crime
We rarely touched on these issues during this last election although I have been talking about it for years. To me, they are the number one issues--not growing taller, not some sleaze ball taking over our casino complex, and certainly not pouring $15 million dollars into that piece of dirt off of Boutwell Road, a road that we annexed from the County.
Read about the survey
It wasn't that long ago, commissioners, but your priorities have changed. Mine are still the same.
Read about our horrible crime.
21 comments:
Property values in Lake Worth went up a higher percentage than any other municipality in Palm Beach County last year. What was it 22%? That was mainly due to elimination of slum and blight conditions and mainly in the CRA district.
Pot holes were part of the bond. It was voted down narrowly. They are being addressed with resources we have and grants we have obtained. Look at 6th Ave. That project has been on the drawing board for years. Probably since the survey was taken back in 2014.
Crime statistically is down but sure doesn't feel like it because property type crimes are all over the place. You might be able to connect some dots there.
Property values in LW went up 10.5% in Lake Worth last year. It was due to the recession ending and slumlords, developers, investors coming in and buying depressed properties. ☺
Pot holes were part of the $131 general obligation bond for 34 years. People were lied to by this commission as to the final cost and where all the money would go. A Finance Director was fired for telling the truth.
Crime is NOT down overall but it is in a couple of stats.
OK trio you ask for suggestions on how to reduce Slum and blight, potholes problems, and crime here are a few.
Slum and Blight - Go after the investors that are buying substandard homes in Lake Worth and renting them out. Make them fix up these homes and properties and maintain them. They are currently just slumlords just collecting lots of money. Start fining them, then take that money and put it into repairing roads. Trust me if code enforcement was doing their job you would have a whole lot of money Potholes - Yes the infrastructure needed to be repaired but in the meantime fix the potholes properly. Don't just fill them in. Cut out a section much larger than the pothole and pack it, roll it and protect it until the filler has set. Check out I-95 if you need to know how to do it properly. We are not asking for out streets to be completely redone right now, that is just an excuse you are using to not fill in potholes correctly,
Crime - Put in more bike and walking patrols. Let the people know that you are their. Right now the police only respond to calls (which are many). They would be more aware of areas that need a close watch program. You would be able to see where the drug deals are going on, where the prostitution is going on and also be able to meet with more residents and assure them that you are doing you job to protect them.
You should also reign in the ones that think just because they wear a uniform they can harass residents. I have personally had contact with many police officers and I will say that the majority of them are courteous and actually listen to the person who made the call and can defuse a situation that could have gone horribly wrong. But I have come into several that are arrogant, argumentative and disrespectful to citizens of Lake Worth. I have reported the arrogant and disrespectful officers to there superiors but I never know if they are reprimanded. Kindness goes a long way. They should also keep a record of response times to calls and review it frequently because on 4 occasions we have had to call the police in our community and it has taken them 2 1/2 to 4 hours to respond. I understand priorities but if it takes this long we need to hire more people.
Great suggestions, anonymous @ 11:38.
What city in Palm Beach County had a higher percentage increase in property values?
If investors were buying up "depressed" properties, the purchase price would have reflected a decrease in sales price. Instead it went North, and by more than any other city. That was because of the NSP2 initiative.
It was a $60 million bond. Yes, with interest over 30 years, it would have cost more.
usually you can find answers to your questions right on Lynn's Little Bit of Trivia--
http://lynn-a.blogspot.com/2015/06/property-values-palm-beach-county.html
Now, back to the bond. I already told you what the bond was going to cost.
Investors ARE buying depressed properties regardless of what you say. I know of a person living in Lake Worth who is renting from an investor and the house is deplorable and costs them $1100 a month just to live there. The pipes are leaking, the roof is leaking, and the front door is so warped it won't close properly. The have tried to get the owner to repair this property but to no avail. There are many more in Lake Worth just like this one. They would move but there is no other place this family of four can afford. They have another person helping them with the rent. And before you ask they are legal and they are struggling because the husband lost his job to a company that decided overseas management is cheaper.
I know of a few prominent people who are slumlords in this city. it might surprise you.
Once again idiots defending themselves. If the trio would get out of their area and actually walk the streets of Lake Worth and not just the upper middle class streets and actually speak to the people (not just campaign with a bunch of lies) they might actually find out what the people without lots of money are concerned about and actually see the living conditions of some of these homes. Why don't you take some of that wonderful campaign money you didn't spend and help the real home owners (not the slum lords) fix up their properties. What a concept, help the people of Lake Worth instead of turning a deaf ear and a blind eye.
Hey trio, while you were campaigning did you see how many homes were up for sale. Did you ask the people why they were selling. We did, guess what many of them said they are fed up with the way this city is being run. The city does not care about it's people. I can honestly tell you that Lake Worth DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD NAME in the surrounding communities. You will probably deny this too just like you do everything else. WAKE UP the people of Lake Worth are trying to talk to you. LISTEN TO THEM
Nothing would surprise me. Wonder if Maxwell is a slumlord. Anyone know????
The house next door to Maxwell is rented out. Wonder if they have a rental license? The owners probably couldnt take living next door to Burger Boy anymore!
Anon @ 12:50.
In my neighborhood, homes are up for sale because the owners will make a nice profit now. Double and triple what they paid years and years ago.
4 homes have been sold in the last few months and the new owners are completely renovating or rebuilding on the properties.
I see a huge difference in people's opinions of Lake Worth in the last 2 years.
I see people who thought I was crazy to move here 12 years ago, now taking an interest, and buying.
The general perception that I see is night and day from where it was 10 years ago.
New tax revenue will bring in more $ toward street repair, etc. and it's definitely starting to happen.
My neighborhood is thriving and other neighborhoods will start to feel it too.
What neighborhood is it?
Code should be focusing on health and safety first. Landlord, and I'm one myself, should have to play by the rules, rental properties should be properly licensed and number of residents should be limited both by bedrooms and parking. This is a sensitive issue in our City b/c of past rental raids but that doesn't mean the City should just ignore it.
The City should work with property owners that want to fix up properties but that doesn't mean just letting them doing repairs and renovations on the downlow. I've called about a property near me, major work being done (good), no permits pulled (bad), calls to the City go unanswered or ignored.
Crime, come on, we pay tons and tons and tons, where the heck are the patrols?
Thanks, anonymous, I always love your perspective as twisted as it might be...never giving all of the facts or all of the reasons why this bond was defeated.
The bond was defeated by a miracle as the money was against us. We gave plenty of reasons why at the time as well as solutions. You have selective memory.
Speaking of the NSP2, it is amazing that the CRA WOULD NOT HIRE LOCAL COMPANIES. Now that is a crying shame. Building these little houses and running through $23 mil didn't put a dent in all the blight.
Companies had to bid competitively. They also had to qualify as a "small business" under HUD's NSP2 guidelines. Local companies did bid for some of the work and some won the bidding.
I know many people, including myself, who would disagree about how much of a dent these 155 brand new owner occupied and rental living units made in the foreclosed, dilapidated and abandoned properties predominantly in the alphabet streets where the need was the greatest. We even were able to start some long overdue development on Lake and Lucerne West of Dixie and the tracks.
Back on February 17, 2011, the Lake Worth Herald had a front-page article that said:
LW Contractors Nixed by CRA for HUD work.
A lot of them probably were. If they didn't win the bid, were they nixed?
To ALL ANONS about Code Enforcement: How do you know that code hasnt already addressed the issues and the properties arent running in daily accruing fines? Its all Public Record, go look and if they arent just put in a complaint like ive done. The officers have to investigate a complaint within 24hrs! Also code cannot make anyone do anything they can only place a city lien on the property which hundreds of properties are currently in. Try going to a Court Hearing @ City Hall, the judge is the real problem. She lets all of the slumlords get away with EVERYTHING. What can go do if the judge won't even enforce the cases they present? Im so tired of everyone blaming code when their hands are tied by the weak ordinances our commission voted in.
Thank you 10:33. You just showed us how your hands are tied and that the current commission voted in weak ordinances which have tied you hands. Who is the judge that will not support you. Is she a friend of the trio. Most probably. What ordinances should we be looking for that do not support you doing your job.
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