Making friends with OPM (other people's money)

Is that the game? LWM received some employee feedback this morning concerning the article directly below.

The cost of corruption ...add $50,000

The WASTE CLOCK is a convenient summary of what is causing Lake Worth to lapse into bankruptcy and dysfunctionality. That central problem remains uncorrected and its called… corruption. And its right at the top levels of Lake Worth government.

Leaving it intact has just cost taxpayers another $50,000 added to a previous $347,000 (not on the clock) in a series of willful and deliberate flourishes of wasting taxpayer money as commissioners knowingly allow the wasting to continue. [Mr Mayor… where is the forensic audit of the utility you promised? Haven’t heard a word about it.]

Taxpayers keep paying - the compass building

Not once, not twice, but many times LWM has received calls about poor morale at the utility and other departments. As we all know morale starts at the top and trickles down so it was interesting to hear that LW employees are so crammed for space that they now have four employees working full time in the lunch room at the utility.

In the midst of our financial crisis, where the burden of keeping the city solvent has fallen on residents who are paying additional taxes in the form of 30% more for electricity (projected 48% within two years) and water rates increasing through the roof… the city manager and commission decided to spend more of your money to bail out Compass to whom we were already renting 12,000 sq feet of premium office space a stones throw from city hall… for a lousy $83.00 a month!

Taxpayers pay another $347,312 to cover gross incompetence

Looks like another $347,312 of hard earned taxpayer money is scheduled for the commode, with yet another transformer blown up by city employees at the power plant. LWM first reported on this months ago when it happened.

The total cost to taxpayers for this act of gross incompetence is $647,312. The incompetent behavior centers on the fact that no one checked for shorts/faults after repairing transformer TPGT 1. Basic electricity 101 means you TEST BEFORE ENERGIZING but Dave Mulvay (plant manager) ordered the transformer energized anyway. According to records, Mike Timmons should have done the basic tests.

From an email to FPL customers:

FPL customers: Good news, you're getting a rebate!

Our customers will start the new year with a one-time fuel rebate recently approved by the Florida Public Service Commission. "Customers are seeing the benefit not only of lower fuel prices but also our investments in modern, more fuel-efficient power plants," said FPL President and CEO Armando Olivera. Current customers during the January 2010 billing cycle (meter readings Jan. 1 through Feb. 2) are eligible to receive the refund. The exact amount is based on your energy usage. For instance, a customer who used 1,000 kilowatt-hours in their January bill would receive a rebate of approximately $44. FPL does not make a profit on the fuel purchased to produce electricity. [editor's note: whereas LWU does!]

Editor's comment: FPL’s typical residential bill is the lowest of all 54 electric utilities in Florida, and including the proposed BASE RATE increase, customer bills will actually decrease about 8% on Jan. 4, 2010 due to lower fuel prices.

Why Sarah Palin is unfit for office

Recently in an interview with Barbara Walters, Sarah Palin was asked about the middle east problem and whether or not she would favor expanding settlements in the Palestinian areas. A bouncy Palin instantly responded that she definitely would support it and indicated that it was the right thing to do. Walters somewhat puzzled by the callous response asked her again and Palin offered the same enthusiastic response.

THANK YOU

THANK YOU to all those who supported me in the election. You have helped plant the seeds of future change. In behalf of LWM and William Coakley, we are very proud to have served you and served you well over the past four years… saving the city over 50 million dollars. This is unprecedented across the country.

LWM is a unique creation using its multi media approach and long term focus on issues to solve problems and stop millions in waste. But its primary uniqueness lies in the incorporation of the Democracy Project as an integral part of the site.

The Democracy Project was designed to give you a convenient voice in your government by continually polling public opinion. Quality Control for government …what a unique thought!

With that said, LWM will suspend all operations until further notice as the rigors of spending 24/7 during the past four years has required that I give full attention to resurrecting my business and getting out of debt. It has been a pleasure to serve you and now watch as the seeds of future change planted by LWM will begin to sprout and over take the weeds.

Last night's meeting at the Organic Music Cafe

October 1st 2009 - Last night’s meeting at the Organic Music Café located at 4th Ave N and Dixie focused on environmental issues concerning Lake Worth. But only one of the two faction's candidates showed up. The other faction’s candidates including mayoral candidates: Loretta Sharpe, Rene Valera, John Jordan, and commissioner candidates Scot Maxwell and Wes Blackman did not attend.

Commission fails due diligence on RO project

It was evident from the final vote and figures presented at Wednesday afternoon’s meeting which by the way, failed the required 24 hour notice period… that city leadership failed to exercise due diligence to insure the best deal for rate payers.

Instead of encouraging public participation and scrutiny, the city manager, after admitting a credibility gap existed between residents and city management… lost her cool saying “this is insane, this is insane… accusing us of malfeasance.” But this off the wall and out of context protest of innocence only added fuel to the rising public awareness that this city manager is not well connected and not what she presented herself to be in the beginning.

Why I want to be a Strong Mayor

Here is what I see for Lake Worth… the potential for greatness and the reestablishment of its preeminence as the Jewel of the Gold Coast. But what’s the reality? The reality is… left on its current path; Lake Worth will never achieve more than it has become …which to most residents is not acceptable given its potential.