The Pathology of Corruption

What could be more odious to the public than being forced to cover the cost of bailing out Wall Street Bankers who bankrupted the whole country? Or what about the greatest environmental disaster in the world with government regulators in bed with the oil companies?

We’ve come to accept that thievery and corruption have no limits as to the scale and depravity on which corruption can operate right under our noses. And you have to ask, why did it take ten years for anything to happen after someone first blew the whistle? Where was the media? Where were the watch dog agencies that were supposed to protect the public? Where was the prosecution of legal remedy? So you might think this is only endemic to the Federal government? Think again.

What about a local governing board that establishes ground rules to protect the public from a known threat and its own agency of government that was supposed to secure these critical protections for the public …countermands the governing board and promotes the financial interests of a corporation against the people ...and ten years of public suffering result? That’s not too small is it? Especially when you multiply ten years times a thousand households affected.

And let’s not forget the big ticket item that bears the heaviest cost to the public… the apathy generated by these events that depletes public faith in our system of government as communities are forced to accept the abuse they were supposed to be protected from.

And so, here’s what we have:

What a dirty political ambush really is

An editorial by William Coakley

Well, its not often a chance arises to let out some line and actually rag on something funny. Funny ...not because the event isn't sad enough for taxpayers who will be footing the 20 million dollar bill, but funny because the headline in our local Herald sounds so serious that some even took it seriously. But you have to know the editor to understand his sense of humor.

Does city management inspire trust?

Editorial by William Coakley

Is he telling the truth? "Nothing's been withheld ...we gave you everything WE KNEW..." city manager Robert Baldwin

CLICK FOR BALDWIN VIDEO CLIP

LESS THAN 10 MILLION DOLLAR RO CLICK HERE

CITY MEMO SHOWS TWO LOW COST OPTIONS 3C AND 3E THAT BALDWIN WITHHELD FROM THE COMMISSION

Earlier this year, city manager Robert Baldwin finally admitted that he regretted having recommended the FMPA generation deal to the city. But over the months that followed, he became much better prepared to railroad through a 20 million dollar, 40 year water deal that was every bit as damaging to the well being of Lake Worth as the FMPA contract would have been.

Outsourcing the city as a solution to everything

Editorial by William Coakley

With the temporary city manager’s view to outsourcing everything but the city clerk, LWM wanted to raise a few obvious questions… obvious to us but maybe not to city management and some of the public unfamiliar with what’s going on.

HERALD editorial scrambled on some points

Commentary on Commentary: LW HERALD page 6 April 17, 2008 "No Sad Songs for defunct RO"

In addition to claiming that LW hasn’t managed it’s assets well… which I agree with and there is a way of fixing that… the commentary made accusations concerning commissioner Golden not doing her own homework, presented incorrect information on DEP permitting, and made statements about deep well injection that are incorrect.

Will WPB water be on the agenda?

Editorial by William Coakley

January 29, 2008 - The three options immediately open to Lake Worth to supply 3 - 5 million gallons of supplemental water are: 1. the RO (Reverse Osmosis) water system we have so far invested about 15 million into  2.  buying county water or 3.  buying water from WPB.

What's worst for the city:  allowing Mock Roos to continue racking up millions in waste without putting the remaining portion of the contract out to bid... and leaving their grandfather status in place so they could drain more from us in the future without competitive bidding.

What's best for the city:  stop the RO project now and dismantle the good ole boy grandfathering status of Mock Roos while we study some real options for water supply including joint ventures, partnerships, or coop'ing to see if we can redeem the project and... putting the remaining portion of the RO project out to bid to see if the anticipated 10 million savings from the Mock Roos estimate could be realized.

$575,000 suggests recall of CRA

“I’m concerned that Southport isn’t asking for more money.” Matt Tompkins

Editorial by William Coakley

Quick Summary  -  3 companies responded to a request for proposal put out by the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) for a piece of property the CRA is paying $15,000 a month for the owner not to sell it to anyone else.  One company (Southport) offered to pay the CRA more for the property and didn't ask for the CRA to give them any money.  The other companies offered the CRA less for the property and wanted $575,000 of taxpayer money to proceed with the project.  The selection committee (a volunteer board created to rate the three bidders) rated Southport number one but in a peculiar reversal of logic... Southport lost the deal and the CRA agreed to take less for the property and pay the developer $575,000 of your money.

With congressional earmarks receiving so much attention these days it's no wonder a number of concerned Lake Worth residents are suggesting that its time to recall the CRA from its Disney tour where it is reported that money is found reappearing on trees everywhere and ready for spending.

With $575,000 of your taxpayer money given to a developer by the CRA last night (concerning the Pugh property on sixth avenue south)— it is hard to know where to begin to explain this irrational behavior that just cost taxpayers $575,000 in addition to the $128,000 already wasted. The money was requested by two of the three bidders for the project leaving the top rated Southport the lone bidder who wasn’t looking to dip their hands into taxpayers pockets… yet they didn’t get the deal.

Appellate Court rules in favor of WPB petitioners

says: Citizens initiative and referendum rights “should be honored” and “legal right to govern themselves should not be abridged.” Lower courts not “authorized …to interfere with the electoral process by precluding a decision of the voters” on a proposed ordinance.

CLICK HERE FOR APPELLATE COURT OPINION

This week, the principles of Justice and fairness prevailed as this stinger of a decision rails against local government trying to prevent initiatives and referendums from getting on the ballot. For the city of Lake Worth, which presently holds petitions hostage from years ago and has twice attempted to impede the "electoral process,” it is the proverbial “handwriting on the wall.” The clarification of powers by the Appeals Court puts citizen rights to initiative and referendum in its proper place and relegates city efforts to stifle these public movements as impeding "the electoral process."