Four Important Issues Facing West Palm Beach:

Out-of-Control Crime

Rampant Corruption

Crumbling Infrastructure

Runaway Taxation

It’s easy to say crime is a problem.

The hard part is finding solutions.

We can all agree that crime develops for many reasons: lack of parental guidance, low education, joblessness, drugs, dysfunction, hunger, etc. It can seem daunting and too big to get your arms around when looked at in its entirety. Even our current Police Chief Delsa Bush has been quoted as saying “illegal drugs and the horrific consequences associated with them are so embedded in the cultural fabric of our society that they will never be eliminated, not in our time or generations to come.” Does this mean we should throw our hands up in the air, sell everything and head for the hills? I guess that’s one way to approach it.

I refuse to accept our helplessness. Having participated in the West Palm Beach Police Academy, I do not accept the premise that we live in a “culture of crime.” I do believe that if we stay in denial of the problem, it will get worse. Also, throwing more money at it by adding policing and video cameras will not stop it or control it. The criminals will find a way to continue to do business and go around whatever road blocks are set up.

What can the City leadership do?

More important, what can WE as a community do?

In 1999, the north end of the City saw a serious increase in drug sales, gunfire battles and home invasions. Through the leadership of Claudia Deprez, the Northend Coalition of Neighborhoods was formed. As a community we gathered together and took our concerns to City Hall. With the cooperation of the administration, an engaged citizenry, and a clearly directed action plan, we took back our communities. From this effort rose a momentum of cooperative involvement not witnessed in the history of West Palm Beach. From the commitments of government, neighborhood residents, code enforcement, the legal department and law enforcement, we launched a plan of “zero tolerance” to behavior unbecoming to our City. New neighborhood organizations were formed. Citizens took on court-watch appearances. The legal department within City Hall began looking for legislation that would take petty crime off the streets. Code enforcement pro-actiely demanded respectable maintenance and adherence to ex isting ordinances and codes. We even established a drug-free zone around our schoolyards.

It worked!

A corner was turned and those involved witnessed a rebirth of civility.

Our current administration lacks this spirit of cooperation, to the point of being near-criminal in its neglect. Our City is in dire need of leaders in City Hall. These leaders must continually ring the bell, calling attention to these problems until they are solved. Possible solutions and ideas have been brought forward by Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell, such as a "Chronic Nuisance Property Code" implemented in Milwaukee and Port St. Lucie. What is lacking in West Palm Beach is the political will to make them priorities. This will not stop crime, but it is a step in the right direction to taking back those ills that ail us which we can address.

It is paramount to empower, enroll and encourage community participation, while at the same time demonstrating a sincere interest in the partnership of government and citizens. Currently the political will to bring everyone to the table is missing. Many past leaders in our neighborhoods have moved, or decidedly have disengaged from advocacy because they feel disenfranchised. As leaders, we can change this mentality and we must change our attitude. I have a plan to deal first with the apathy and sense of frustration, then with a continued approach with proven preventative measures. We need meaningful ideas and resolve; we can solve this downward spiral of “criminal culture” and restore our neighborhoods to families and prosperity for all communities especially those who are in most need.

It is my intent to not allow the cries of the community to go unheard.

It is my promise to be your voice at the dais until the administration either listens or leaves.

For the sake of our families and children we must never stop making this our top priority.

If a “culture of crime” exists in the streets, a “culture of corruption” exists within our government halls. With two former City Commissioners now serving jail time and two Grand Jury reports stating that a perception of “pay to play” exists in City Hall, we would be naive to think it not important to address. Whether blue collar or white collar, criminal activity is not to be tolerated. In government, we especially want to believe there is a process and all are treated equally. We elect “representatives” whom we believe have the moral fiber and character to stand as role models for our children. When we place our trust in them at the polls we hope that they will govern with a conscience and selfless motivation to do the right thing. For obvious reasons, these guiding principles are important. To be sure that we all are held to righteous standards we have laws and ethics. Laws are clearer to define than ethics. A lack of ethics may not be punishable if no law is bro ken, b ut the harm and damage done by unethical leaders leaves more than a wake of personal disgrace. Intellectual dishonesty is a hideous ethical breach that creates fools of us all and brings disgrace to our City.

I believe that during the past five years we have witnessed the worst cases of criminal corruption in the history of West Palm Beach. Yet far worse, but not indictable, is the corruption of what I call the “process of government”. We, the taxpayers, have never had to pay for so many lawsuits, legal battles and court defenses--many against ourselves--as recently seen with the infamous City Hall and Library Referendum; as we continue to waste our tax dollars rather than putting it to a public vote.

The successful removal of the Commission Meetings from the public by holding them at an hour which is inconvenient to most citizens is a direct slap to those who have been watchdogs for our community. The argument that the business community finds it more convenient shows us who this administration truly cares about most. Corruption comes in many forms, not all of them in cash or contributions. A government who cares not for the opinion of its electorate, and a process that has been manipulated to benefit the powerful, is a recipe for corruption. Recently they returned the City Commission meeting to the 5:00pm hour, however they continue to discuss placing the Public Comment portion behind the business. Still last, still not important, and still after they can comment to any business the Commission may speak to. As Leaders we ought to treat the public as the MOST important stakeholder. Giving them priority and reverence, as well as courtesy and respect.

My allegiance is to one entity. Our Constitution is the basis of our founding principles and if any part of it is threatened, so are we. I will serve our City with the highest regard for due process, fair treatment and equal unalienable rights for all residents of West Palm Beach. Anything less is unacceptable.

I make one promise in this campaign; you will be proud that I represent you as City Commissioner. I will represent all of us: not just those who elect me, but all those who call West Palm Beach home.

I will strive to always put the "all" in City Hall.

Flooding on the corner of Winters Street and South Olive

Flooding on the corner of Winters Street and South Olive, flooding on North Flagler near 33rd Street, flooded homes in Pineapple Park, sewage in the sales and front yards, broken unsafe sidewalks, dangerous streets with no sidewalks, streets with no visible markings or lanes, bike paths that do not connect, water we can’t drink, ...the list goes on.

There is no excuse for the lack of serious attention this administration and City Commission has paid to our infrastructure needs. These problems did not just creep up on us. Not one elected official can claim they were unaware of existing problems and warnings given regarding our water system, sewage distribution or the condition of our roads and sidewalks. These issues have been ignored at best, neglected at worst. The prospect of selling contracts, building rights, and placing all our capital in various, politically expedient places has served this administration well. However, it has left the residents holding the bag, the growing money bag of debt and mounting critical needs.

Last year these realities hit home in the form of a boil water order. After a series of public relations efforts to save face and unsuccessfully trying to bring security to the public, the City had to acknowledge that our problems would require hundreds of millions of dollars ($239 million to be exact, as stated at the capitol improvements workshop). We have yet to correct the problem. The “antidote” may cause more problems then repairs. We now face a serious situation of copper pipes which are bursting due to what some believe is the prolonged and heavily out of balanced ph in our water due to the chlorine flush which started in November and continues today. There may be yet more unexpected issues for the City to face, such as health related problems, corroding sewage pipes, or permanent dilapidation of infrastructure both private and public. Time will tell.

There are two major problems I have with how these problems are being handled.

First, the fact that they, the leadership, are not talking about it in a problem-solving manner. The dialogue has been limited and not very forward in their thinking. The request for a comprehensive outside prospectus, with alternative solutions must be approached. As Leaders who’s job it is to protect the public interest, not only today but in the future, we must consider the age, condition and limitations of our existing plant. I suggest a thorough research on reverse osmosis or desalinization be considered before we spend any more time or money on repairing the system we currently have in place. Throwing good money after bad is not fiscal responsibility.

Second, financial realities of our situation is not being addressed. The financial impact and necessary routes to accomplish our goals of providing potable water and other infrastructure needs requires mature and fearless consideration. This would not be so worrisome if we had been fiscally prudent and prepared prior to the emergency boil water order. Or if they had not already placed a debt of $153 million on our backs for a shiny new City Hall, library, and photographic museum. From the onset I have been on the record identifying this expenditure of the City Center project as the largest boondoggle in our history. The entire project lacked merit and public approval from the start. Now we are saddled with debt not warranted and unavoidable needed future debt for infrastructure.

Today we are at a critical state, both financially and physically. As a city which prides itself on being a world class destination, we carry the same warning as most third world countries: "Don’t drink the water!" When it comes to West Palm's water, the glass isn't half full, the glass isn't half empty. The glass is broken.

I will lead the demand for a long term plan of action to approach these pending issues in a realistic and fiscally responsible fashion. We can no longer accept this administration at face value. It has none. We must change the way we do the business of the City, which means holding the Mayor accountable for a reliable and well thought-out future plan. I will not tolerate knee-jerk reactions and bandage solutions. You would not accept substandard remedies for your home and we will not accept them for our City.

Eight years ago, while we still had honest community dialogue, I made a public presentation at the monthly Neighborhood Summits, held at the Police Community Center. The presentation illuminated the shell game that the government plays with our tax dollars. The end result was a clear accounting of how money had been misappropriated which was intended for our parks as promised by the sale of the auditorium. The administration's reaction was to fully support and fund a $20 million rehabilitation and redevelopment of our parks. This was presented to the voters in the form of a referendum and passed overwhelmingly.

My steadfast study of every budget since 1999 has led me to speak publicly at every budget hearing, workshop and meeting to try and illuminate some obvious bloat and misuse of funds. Rarely has the administration taken heed or interest in my observations or suggestions. Why? They had, and continue to have, other plans for our money. These plans include constructing buildings to then give away at ridiculously low rents to favored organizations, or building a library for which we could not possibly begin to fund the operating costs. Recently they began a discussion about alternatives only to have the message shot down like a harbinger of ill tidings. The conversation of options or ideas never came forward. I believe it was false hope and a strategic trap by the administration to give the illusion of conscience.

Until the mandate came from Tallahassee, this administration never, in four years, I repeat, never considered that they should return some of our money in the form of lower taxes or lower milage rates. The “spend it if we have it” mentality has been worse than we could have ever possibly imagined. Not only have our tax dollars been spent haphazardly, the professional services paid to friends, supporters and cronies was, and continues to be, out of control. Contracts have been awarded to unqualified people, sometimes with no public Requests For Proposals. Personal agendas for public relations purposes have been fully funded all at the expense of more serious needs.

This administration has turned budget workshops into a joke. The sound bites and staff presentations skim over the realities of needs versus wants. There are no performance measures or cost benefit analysis provided for serious, mature consideration. I am certain the majority of the Commission could not even read the budget and fully understand it unless some one with experience walked them through it I certainly do not profess to understand it in its entirety, but I can see bloat and overspending when the numbers are presented to me.

I can assure the residents of West Palm Beach that not only can I read and comprehend the budget, I can also find the bloat and ask the right questions. Approving the budget is one of two responsibilities given to the Commission in the City Charter. I consider it the more important of the two, and the one which is in most need of fiscal responsibility--this is my strength. I am not shortsighted when it comes to approving something as important as our City’s budget. The Commissioners must understand what it is they approve. Not just the knee jerk spending or power-point version of allocation. Most importantly, Commissioners must understand all the aspects of providing for the future health of our City both financially and prudently.

If we are to maturely and seriously face ALL the issues in our City, we must first craft a meaningful fiscal approach with the budget. Performance standards, cost benefit analyses and factual department data must be implemented in order to achieve what we ALL demand: wise use and appropriation in a fair and equitable manner, of ALL our tax dollars. Whether from CRA funds, Fees, Assessments, Service Charges or millage rates, it is all coming from the stakeholders of West Palm Beach and ALL falls under the heading of revenue to the City coffers, hence: TAX.

Whether we receive the funds from property tax, utility profits, grants or enterprise funds, we must protect the taxpayer’s money, not just from waste, but from abuse. The taxes entrusted to elected officials are not open checkbooks. It is our hard-earned dollars which must be spent wisely and prudently. Unless there is a shift in the approach we take at the Commission level, the shell game will go on. I intend to stop the hoodwink at the budget workshop level. We deserve better management and guidance then we are currently getting.