The Martin County
Defender
The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 141
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We kick off the New Year with a new series of satirical montages:
The Martin County Follies
The first “Follies,” titled The Fire/Rescue Orchard, is at the end of this issue. Others in the series will be included from time to time.
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UPDATE: Announced scheduled flights from Witham Field may be hot air
About a month ago, Treasure Cost Airlines announced that it will provide scheduled and on-demand air service from Witham Field to Bahamas . Though on-demand charters are allowed, it is our understanding that scheduled service would violate a county ordinance. We checked and found that the county legal department is reviewing the matter. Al so, to the best knowledge of the airport director, there have been no such flights.
SKEPTIC’S REMINDER: Just because someone makes an announcement, it does not mean what is intended will become reality.
On 2-4-08, DEFENDER published the results of its airport poll of Martin County residents. To the question about whether Witham Field should have scheduled commercial airline service, or remain a community airport without such service, the results were:
88.7% wanted community airport, no scheduled commercial service
6.1% wanted scheduled commercial service
5.2% undecided
False rhetoric about ESNs exposed
In case you missed John Patteson’s exposé in the Stuart News of the excuse for 6 Essential Service Nodes (ESNs) – commercial development on 5-acre corner lots at rural highway intersections – here are some highlights from his revealing column.
“ ‘The goal of the change to the growth management plan to allow commercial development at rural highway intersections is to allow rural homeowners to buy groceries, gasoline and other necessities without traveling a long way,’ said [Commissioner] Ciampi.
“Three of the six essential ESNs — Kanner Highway and Bridge Road, Pratt Whitney and Bridge Road, and Citrus Boulevard and Southwest 96th Street — are all within a 2.5-mile radius from a Sunoco gas station, a Subway sandwich shop, a storage center and more than 27 acres of existing vacant commercial property at Southwest 96th Street and Kanner Highway, and all are inside the urban services boundary. The area in question is nowhere near the western Martin County rural homeowners.
“The needs of the residents of western Martin County are not the real reason for the creation of these essential service nodes… What we residents really need, not just in western Martin County but everywhere in the county, are commissioners that listen to the voters and not just to the money junkies and developers, who have overbuilt and depreciated our county.
One might also add that no needs analysis was made to justify ESNs in the first place before the Commission changed the Comp Plan.
How Democrat healthcare legislation is likely to affect Floridians
- Less than 10% will gain coverage or subsidies for insurance.
- The great majority will pay higher federal taxes to cover the huge, unprecedented costs over the next ten years - despite President Obama’s promises to the contrary.
- Seniors, who constitute 17% of Florida ’s population (26.1% in Martin County , 12.6% nationally), will face lower quality medical care because of almost a half trillion dollars of Medicare cuts – despite Senator Bill Nelson’s claim to the contrary. More doctors will stop accepting Medicare payment. Bad news lies ahead.
- Citizens not buying insurance will be fined with a tax. (Expect much costly litigation on this based on constitutional grounds.)
- Both group and individual healthcare insurance premiums will rise at this time of high unemployment and business failures.
- State taxes in Florida will go up to pay for the unfunded Medicaid mandate. Other states represented by Democratic senators who sold their votes, will not have to bear a larger Medicaid tax burden. Florida picks up their share.
THE DECADE AHEAD … AND ITS PAINFUL COSTS
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the true total cost of the Senate healthcare bill will be $2.4 trillion, not the touted $871 billion. The total covers Tax Increases, Medicare Cuts, and additional Spending, including tax credits. The annual breakdown in billions as expenses progressively kick in will be:
Year Tax Increases Medicare Cuts Spending
2010 $ 1.9 $ 0.4 $ 2
2011 $ 7.1 $ 9.9 $ 4
2012 $ 9.1 $ 15.9 $ 5
2013 $ 32.6 $ 25.1 $ 6
2014 $ 39.3 $ 48.4 $ 60
2015 $ 57.5 $ 51.3 $ 99
2016 $ 75.9 $ 58.8 $ 151
2017 $ 88.6 $ 73.5 $ 172
2018 $ 98.9 $ 86.6 $ 184
2019 $106.8 $ 105.4 $ 199
…. A lump of coal Christmas gift for our children and grandchildren (it’s even worse in the second decade).
Healthcare needs reform. There are workable solutions. However, the “cure” in the bills passed by Congress is worse than the malady.
The reckless behavior of the Congressional Democratic majority, and their demagogic pretexts, may set a precedent for Republicans to follow in the future. It’s the politician syndrome. The political pendulum always swings back and forth in time. Fortunately, our system provides a means to correct a corrupt Congress – starting in November 2010.
The $100 billion climate boondoggle
The administration promises to squeeze $100 billion/yr out of western democracies (biggest chunk from the U.S. , of course) to give to so called developing nations to help control climate change. This giveaway originated at the Copenhagen Climate Summit, where the vicious attacks against the U.S. and capitalism by Hugo Chavez were greeted with standing ovations. Recipients of the shakedown money will include such countries as Zimbabwe , Sudan and Somalia . The climate meeting itself, which resulted only in vague promises, created 46,200 tons of carbon dioxide – a record.
This wealth redistribution scheme is a perfect example of the transfer of wealth from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
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For a free subscription to The Martin County Defender, send request with “Subscribe” in the subject line to: mcdefender@gmail.com
Comments and requests to unsubscribe may be sent to this same address.
Al
Al Forman, Editor 1/1/10
The Martin County Defender is published and Copyright 2010 by WordsmithAmerica, Box 1828 , Palm City , FL 34991 . Al l rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for public or private use, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. NOTICE: Al l correspondence not bearing legal copyright notice which is sent to the Defender or its editor is subject to being edited and published.
All previous issues of the Defender are archived at our website:
The Martin County
Defender
The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 142
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ATTACHED TO THIS ISSUE
The Martin County Follies
A School Board Misunderstanding
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LAST CALL: Let DCA hear your voice
You have until next Tuesday, Jan. 12 (but better to do it by Jan. 9), to let the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) know that you believe Martin County’s response to the 48 DCA objections to Comp Plan EAR Amendments fails to correct the errors and insufficiencies cited in DCA’s Objections, Recommendations and Comments (ORC). Your speaking up by asking DCA to reject Martin County ’s Comp Plan EAR Amendments may help prevent sprawl and its inevitable quality of life and tax burdens.
To concentrate your focus on three of the most important issues, please consider commenting in your own words on the following:
FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT: The County failed to provide a useful needs analysis; also its population projections were fatally flawed.
FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT: The County failed to provide an adequate public benefits explanation regarding PUDs; also its response does not prevent the misuse of PUDs to circumvent Comp Plan amendment procedures.
TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT: There is inadequate data analysis concerning Level of Service, a key factor in traffic jams.
Please add your personal comments and email them to:
mike.mcdaniel@dca.state.fl.us, bob.dennis@dca.state.fl.us
Flights from Witham – a follow-up
Following up our report on Treasure Coast Airlines in DEFENDER No. 141, we’ve learned that the company lists a regular flight schedule on its website: Friday, Monday and Wednesday from Stuart to Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas ; Saturday and Tuesday to Walkers Cay, Bahamas ; and same day return. Equipment is a Piper Navajo Chieftan eight passenger plane.
Airport Director Mike Moon is investigating whether unlawful scheduled flights were being conducted without the airport’s knowledge, or if the flights were really allowable on-demand charters. Treasure Coast Airlines was listed with an office at 2240 Witham Field Drive , apparently a tenant of a subtenant of Galaxy Aviation. Such sub-leases require Commission approval, which was not obtained.
County officials acted immediately to notify Galaxy of the situation, and Galaxy has directed its sub-tenant “to cease and desist from allowing TCA to operate out of any portion of the premises … by January 6, 2010.”
County neglects Pendarvis Park
We received the following note from reader Paul McElroy:
I emailed the commissioners a photo of a boat at Pendarvis Park that was dragged up from the bottom of the St. Lucie River by several homeless men who planned to patch it, float it back out into the river and live on it. It is just sitting there - people called the Parks Dept and were told that it is Growth Management's responsibility - they called there - Kathy Reynolds, Growth Management person in charge of derelict boats, that the boat does not present a navigational hazard to boaters and is very low on our removal priority list. Plus, we are out of funds.
The boat blocks the boat ramp and presents a liability to the county if some kid gets on it, slips and cuts his leg off. They just don't understand do they? Plus they don't care. I did not receive a response from Ciampi or any other commissioner.
If you saw the picture of the slime covered boat, you’d be disgusted. It’s time for commissioners and county employees to do what they’re paid for: GET RID OF THAT DAMN BOAT!
Conning the gullible about converting ag land to a huge industrial park
In DEFENDER No. 130, we reported on the proposal to convert 1,782 acres of agricultural zoned land on 714 west of I-95 to a huge industrial park – and connect it with a bridge over the canal to another such facility in Port St. Lucie. We noted that this Consolidated Citrus project would set a precedent that would spell the end of the Urban Services Boundary as a control of sprawl. Though it would profit the developer, it would eventually mean taxpayers picking up the cost of extending long utility lines and upgrading roads. [A copy of that report is available free upon request.]
We focused on the broader implications of this radical proposal for changing our
Comp Plan – so recently having undergone massive change favorable to developers – and did not examine the impact on nearby residential communities. To minimize potential opposition from neighbors, Consolidated Citrus is going around to community boards to keep them pacified with bland assurances and vague promises. And some boards may be swallowing the sales pitch whole.
A case in point is the Stuart West development, separated from the proposed industrial park by the narrow strip of I-95, but sharing the same 714 road access. Do the Stuart West directors and president recognize the hazard of added heavy traffic that will be flowing across their no-stoplight entrance? Have they expressed concern over the vulnerability of their aquifer? Have they tried to rally the troops to oppose this radical zoning change?
No. They are taking the same head-in-the-sand attitude that almost put a biotech industrial zone next to them a few years ago after being receptive to sweet talk by a zoning change supporter, and exhibiting impatience with an opposing view. (The biotech effort was thankfully thwarted by people outside of Stuart West.)
The take home message for residents is to keep watch, not only on what your board and officers do, but what they fail to do in response to threats to your lifestyle and home value.
The truth about Medicare cuts
A couple of ObamaCare supporters complained that we were fear mongering about Medicare cuts for political purpose. In previous Issue No. 141, we stated: “Seniors will face lower quality medical care because of almost a half trillion dollars of Medicare cuts. More doctors will stop accepting Medicare payment. Bad news lies ahead.”
There are a number of Martin County residents who know the address 4500 San Pablo Road , Jacksonville , quite well. Know it too well, perhaps. It’s where they go for special medical treatment at Mayo Clinic. Mayo reports that it lost $840 million at all of its clinics by treating seniors. At its Glendale , AZ clinic, an area like South Florida that is popular with senior retirees, Medicare reimbursement covered only about 50% of the cost of treating elderly primary-care patients. Recently we learned: Mayo will no longer accept Medicare patients there! Can Jacksonville be far behind? It could be the start of a trend.
Mark Robitaille, Martin Memorial Health Systems CEO recently stated:
“Hospitals and doctors across the nation are very concerned that expanding coverage could result in significant decreases in reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid services. That would severely impact the quality and level of health care services available.”
This reduction in medical care for the elderly is happening even before “reform” legislation kicks in to make matters still worse. We leave it to readers to decide whether we were fear mongering, or whether some people are blinded by faith in political dogma and can not face reality and the truth.
P.S. Congress recently postponed – but is still considering – a 21.5% reduction in Medicare payments to doctors. It doesn’t take much imagination to guess how doctors will treat Medicare patients if that passes.
Understanding climate change
John Coleman, renowned meteorologist and founder of the Weather Channel, presents a detailed, 8-minute video on climate change. Simple explanations, enhanced with clear charts and graphics, make this complicated subject easy to understand. Visit:
http://www.kusi.com/home/78477082.html?video=pop&t=a
Quotable quote
“If America is in decline, its political class is leading it over the cliff.” – Daniel Henninger
For a free subscription to The Martin County Defender, send request with “Subscribe” in the subject line to: mcdefender@gmail.com
Comments and requests to unsubscribe may be sent to this same address.
Al
Al Forman, Editor 1/7/10
The Martin County
Defender
The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 143
County is shafting residents:
The Green River Wall screw-up
The Green River Parkway in Jensen Beach runs along the property lines of residents in Pinecrest Lakes . As is common in new highway construction, a concrete buffer wall is being erected between the road and homes to provide noise reduction and privacy. After the engineering plan, dated 3/1/2008 was approved and permits issued, but before Issuance for Bid, the engineering construction plan was revised. The revision was made about 6/2009, though the changed plan still carries the 2008 date.
The changed wall is about 15 ft. closer to the resident property line, leaving only about a 5 ft. County strip. Not only does moving the wall away from the road and toward homes introduce a sense of confinement, it also makes the wall less effective in reducing noise. Worse yet, it has a gap at its base. The gap allows more noise and fumes to invade homes. It also allows animals and children to have access to the road.
Why was this done? The excuse stated by a County project engineer explains: “The change was made so that the County would not need to maintain a strip of land in what would appear to be a property owner’s backyard.” So for the sake of appearances, the County is foolishly willing to harm residents!
ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE REVISED PLAN
Two affected residents, Keith Kopp and Jeff Pagano – both well qualified to understand the construction technicalities – appealed to County Engineer Don Donaldson to erect the wall as originally planned. Donaldson’s reply was a good example of bureaucratic dodging that did not address the detailed complaints sent to him.
His self-serving copout reply states: “The decorative screen wall at the Green River Parkway project is properly engineered and is consistent with the design concepts that have been approved by the Board of County Commissioners .” The phrase “consistent with the design concepts that have been approved” is questionable, and a far cry from what should be consistent with the details of the permitted plans.
Complaints were also sent to Commissioner Doug Smith, who supposedly represents residents in his district, as well as to the other commissioners. Only Commissioner Ed Ciampi was interested enough to look into the matter.
DETAILS FROM AFFECTED RESIDENTS
The correspondence and engineering plans, which we have examined, are much too long to include here. However, we will present below highlight excerpts from letters to the County written by two of the affected residents.
From Keith Kopp:
“This change was slipped thru without notice to the affected parties after all the project review was completed and after all the permits have been issued.
“The wall installation itself appears problematic. It now appears the posts are buried between 1 and 2 feet into the bottom of the swale. The manufacture of the fence recommends a minimum of 21 inches in hard ground for non hurricane zones. These posts are located in loose sand. To make matters worse, during a storm event, the swale will likely contain water which will effectively lubricate the sand causing a further degradation of the sand’s holding power. Add the wind load during a storm and I question the walls stability. Does this configuration really meet Martin County ’s 130 MPH requirement?
“The document you sent appears to indicate that there is a gap between the bottom of the wall and the ground; as much as 2 to 3 feet. Is this true? If it is, the wall has become ineffective in substantially lowering the road noise. The wall manufacturer cites a greater than 30 dB sound attenuation but only when the wall is in contact with the ground.
“The revision has a number of serious problems. The original plan placed a wall close to the major noise source; the roadway. Locating the wall close to the roadway is the best location for reducing noise. Further, the wall is now shorter and is no longer in contact with ground. If there is a significant gap from the bottom of the wall to the ground, the noise reduction potential is greatly reduced. This phenomenon is similar to the effect of opening a door in a house to the outside; even though the walls of the house are intact, the open door allows a path for the sound pressure waves (noise) to enter. The gap under the wall is also a security, privacy and a safety issue.”
From Jeff Pagano:
“The reason for the existence of this, or for any screening wall for that matter, is to act as a buffer between the roadway and the private property that abuts or is in close proximity to that roadway. To mitigate the deleterious effects of the roadway some of the items that a good screening wall should accomplish are:
1. Reduce Noise Pollution (in large measure by being as close to the road as possible);
2. Increase Privacy (sight lines),
3. Enhance the Safety and Security for Residents;
4. Control Runoff;
5. Provide a Wind Break;
6. Create a Barrier to Flora and Fauna
7. Enhance the Beauty of the Surrounding Landscape;
8. Meet Standards Established by the Controlling Authorities (e.g. 130mph wind load); and
9. Provide for ease of maintenance.
“The Wall, as originally designed and approved by the Commission, accomplished all of the above objectives. It was located on top of, and buried into, a berm that ran parallel and as close to the road as practicable. However, as currently constructed, it is sitting at the bottom of a swale (without consideration for drainage), further from the road and about fifteen feet (15”) closer to our property lines than the original design. Now, there is a space of varying height between the bottom of the wall panels and the ground.”
On Jan. 10, a couple dozen Pinecrest neighbors met, determined to do what is necessary to correct the wall problem.
A LEGAL MINEFIELD FOR THE COUNTY
When pleas to County officials go unheeded, the only recourse is the legal process route. Pinecrest residents have engaged the services of attorney Virginia Sherlock. In a letter to Acting County Administrator Taryn Kryzda, she said in part:
“Please consider this letter a request that the County cease construction or installation of the wall and any other structures or features which are not in accordance with the approved permits and the plans which were presented to the public and to the Pinecrest Lakes Homowners Association in April of 2009.
“If the County chooses to proceed with construction, it will do so at its peril, as my clients will pursue all legal remedies available, including removal of all non-compliant structures or features, in the event that construction does not meet the requirements and specifications at the original plans and approved permits.”
Most Martin residents may recall that several years ago Pinecrest Lakes is where the court ordered new residential apartment buildings, illegally approved by the Commission, to be torn down. We hope that this time the Commission will act to rectify the problem before some court orders: Mr. Donaldson, tear down that wall!
Equal justice before the law … maybe
Two local co-defendants will be pleading guilty and sentenced in the next couple of months for conspiring to manufacture and distribute marijuana. One is plain joe Stephen Shepherd of Hobe Sound. The other is Jensen Beach resident Kobie Gary, son of wealthy and famous Stuart attorney Willie Gary. We’ll be watching to see what sentences are imposed because we know that all too often the law, in all its majesty, treats both rich and poor alike only when both are stealing bread to eat.
Teacher union doubts may block funding
Teacher union opposition around Florida may block the state from receiving $700 million in federal school reform money, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Federal approval hinges in part on support from school districts and teacher unions. The president of the state union has encouraged local union presidents not to sign off on the state’s application.
Florida is widely considered a leading contender because its education policies are closely in synch with the Obama administration’s. The program, called Race to the Top, would cover such sensitive issues as teacher training, evaluation and pay - matters the unions want to control.
Update on Indian Street Bridge litigation
The Martin County attorney provides the Commission with a monthly status report on the lawsuit filed by Odias Smith on April 20, 2007 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against federal and state agencies involved in the bridge construction. Plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order to halt all work on the project was heard on Sept. 30, 2009 by Judge Martinez.
There has been no ruling on the Plaintiff’s motion, or on the Defendant’s motion for summary judgment to dismiss the case. According to Senior Assistant County Attorney David Acton, “There is no deadline that the court must meet, so it is not possible to predict when a decision on those motions will be rendered.”
Separately, Florida Department of Transportation consultant George Denti predicts that bridge construction will begin in May 2010.
BBB issues census warning
The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning to be alert for possible scams in the name of census taking this year. Currently, census workers are verifying only two address items: How many people live in your household; and how many are adults. You are not required to answer any other questions at this time. Subsequently, census takers will visit to ask about names, age, gender, race and other relevant data.
BE AWARE THAT:
1 – Every census taker will have a badge, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see these items before answering questions.
2 – No matter what is shown you, DO NOT give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information. Of course, DO NOT invite them into your house.
3 – Eventually, census takers may contact you by phone or mail. They will not contact you by email. So do not open any attachments purporting to be from the Census Bureau.
A new Orwellian 1984 Newspeak definition for Congress and White House:
“Closed door opacity is open door transparency.”
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For a free subscription to The Martin County Defender, send request with “Subscribe” in the subject line to: mcdefender@gmail.com
Comments and requests to unsubscribe may be sent to this same address.
Al
Al Forman, Editor 1/13/10
The Martin County
Defender
The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 144
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ATTACHED TO THIS ISSUE
( Al so published in Stuart News)
The Martin County Follies
Notice to Public Speakers
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Update on Green River Wall report
In Issue No. 143, we reported how the County is building a wall between the new Green River Parkway and Pinecrest Lakes . After plans were drawn and permits obtained, County Engineering changed the plans so the wall is closer to homes and less protective. The outrageous excuse for the change is that the County would not need to maintain a strip of land in what might appear to be a property owner’s backyard.
On Jan. 15, 2010, residents Keith Kopp and Jeff Pagano met with Deputy Engineering Director Terry Rauth and Project Manager Paul Bangs to present data and reasons why the wall should be constructed as originally planned. The meeting was polite, but the County representatives stubbornly insisted that no changes would be made, and that they would plunge ahead so the wall will be completed by Feb. 1, 2010.
In answer to resident questions, the engineers affirmed that no cost benefit analysis was made to justify the change. No noise analysis was made. No quality of life issues were studied. And no copy of the change order is available.
The primary responsibility for not making things right rests with County Engineer Don Donaldson. He stated in a letter that the presentation to Commissioners in 2008: “Berms and/or walls that would be included as part of the project to minimize impacts to homes abutting the new roadway.” County Engineering has failed to do what it promised commissioners it would do. This is not the first time that Mr. Donaldson has displayed an arrogant attitude toward residents. For someone receiving about $142,000/yr plus benefits from resident tax money, he should be more responsive to reasonable resident needs.
We know that Commissioners Sarah Heard and Ed Ciampi are looking into this matter. We hope the others are as well. They should order Engineering to build the wall as originally intended. It will be the decent thing to do – and more cost effective than having a court give the order to tear it down and rebuild it.
Weberman pitches lower commercial taxes (that means higher taxes for residents)
Addressing the Jan. 12 Commission meeting as a public speaker, Lee Weberman, candidate for District 4, pleaded with the Commission to institute property tax abatement for commercial property. How wise is that proposal when we face a $20 million tax shortfall next year? The only way that abatement could happen is for taxes on residential property to increase to balance the commercial cuts. Such giveaway tax cuts should appeal to campaign contributors from the development industry.
We admire Mr. Weberman’s consistency. When he was a commissioner, before his election defeat in 2008, he voted regularly in favor of developer and real estate interests.
CofC needs broader officer representation
Local Chambers of Commerce do a lot of good for the community, but we would like to see leadership positions more broadly representative of businesses that are not integrally connected to the development industry.
For example, all three officers of the Palm City Chamber of Commerce are significantly connected to developers. President-elect Linda Hake, an attorney with Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart PA, regularly represents developer interests before county boards. Vice-President Don Cuozzo is president of Houston, Cuozzo Group, a land planning company. Treasurer John Fedorek is with Hill, Barth & King, a multi-state CPA and business consultant with specific programs for construction contractors and real estate. These are competent people, but surely there must be someone from among the Palm City CofC’s hundreds of excellent business members - most of whom are not directly connected to the construction/development industry - who would be willing to serve as an officer.
Why not have an officer from a grocery, or healthcare, or hair salon, or kennel, or pest control, or sports bar? How about at least one officer who is a jeweler, or caterer, or dance instructor, or physician, or veterinarian, or florist, or upholsterer? They, or other small business owners and managers belonging to the CofC, would broaden the view beyond knee jerk support of development at any cost.
The Florida political class vs. the voters
Florida Senate Bill 216, signed into law in 2009 (Section 106.113, Florida Statutes), “prohibits a local government from expending, and a person or group from accepting, public funds for a political advertisement or electioneering communication concerning an issue, referendum, or amendment that is subject to the vote of the electors.”
This is an eminently fair and sensible law. In effect, it says that when voters have placed a referendum or amendment on the ballot, government officials may not use public tax money to electioneer. There is no prohibition that prevents officials from speaking for or against a referendum item – as long as they don’t spend public funds to do so. Some political hacks are outraged that voters should have some legislative control over their own lives, so they want to weaken or repeal SB216.
Among the miscreants are State Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton), a developer who originally voted for the bill; Florida Association of Counties lobbyist John Wayne Smith; and President of the League of Cities and Mayor of Tallahassee John Marks. They are prompted to take their anti-voter stand because of the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 on the 2010 ballot.
These hack$ and others recognize that giving voice to voters on how their communities grow reduces their power and opportunity to make more money by screwing residents. There is no better demonstration of why – TO PROTECT OUR HOME VALUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT - we should:
VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 4
Another Clunker disaster from Washington
Fresh from their $3 billion Cash for Clunkers car program, the White House and Congress are getting ready to launch another clunker of a program – this time to boost more energy efficient appliances such as washers, air conditioners and refrigerators. This boondoggle has a price tag of “only” $300 million.
Our guess is that Cash for Clunker Appliances will be as cost efficient as the one for cars. According to car specialist Edmunds, about 125,000 cars were junked. The average cash rebate was about $4,000, and the average new car cost about $25,000. Here’s the rub – the wasteful spending. Divide the $3 billion of your tax money spent by the junked 125,000 cars and you get a government cost of $24,000 per car! It’s the Federal Disappearing Money Act. And the government wants to run our healthcare. Hmmmm.
Speaking of clunkers, in Issue No. 139 we analyzed the $787 billion stimulus program, and found that it was hardly creating any jobs, either locally or nationally. A recent Associated Press analysis confirms our conclusion. So what does the White House do? It redefines job creations. The AP report said: “Any stimulus money used to cover payroll will be included in the jobs credited to the program, including pay raises for existing employees and pay for people who never were in jeopardy of losing their positions.”
POLL: Majority would not elect Obama today
The Al lstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll, conducted Jan. 3-7, 2010 covered 1,200 adults. Margin of Error was +/-2.8%. The poll found that if elections were held today:
- 23% would definitely vote to re-elect Obama; 16% probably would vote to re-elect Obama. TOTAL RE-ELECT: 39%
- 37% would definitely vote for someone else; 13% would probably vote for someone else. TOTAL ELECT SOMEONE ELSE: 50%.
- 10% DON’T KNOW OR REFUSED.
A White House epiphany
Gee, the United States isn’t just a great big Chicago !
Quotable quote
"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." – Will Rogers
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For a free subscription to The Martin County Defender, send request with “Subscribe” in the subject line to: mcdefender@gmail.com
Comments and requests to unsubscribe may be sent to this same address.
Al
Al Forman, Editor 1/18/10
The Martin County Defender is published and Copyright 2010 by WordsmithAmerica, Box 1828 , Palm City , FL 34991 . Al l rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for public or private use, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. NOTICE: Al l correspondence not bearing legal copyright notice which is sent to the Defender or its editor is subject to being edited and published.
All previous issues of the Defender are archived at our website:
The Martin County
Defender
The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 145
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ATTACHED TO THIS ISSUE
The Florida Follies
Residents Must Control Growth
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Green River wall construction on hold; abutting homeowners to be surveyed
Responding to the requests by numerous Pinecrest Lakes residents [See issues 143 and 144], the Commission unanimously decided to halt construction of the privacy wall next to resident homes. The 35 abutting residents will be surveyed by mail as to whether they prefer the wall to be placed close to their property line, or moved away about 20 ft. closer to the road.
It may be recalled that the more distant placement was the one specified in the original permit. Without consulting neighbors, plans were changed by the Engineering Department, resulting in the protests. The solution decided by the Commission was one that was not offered by County Engineer Don Donaldson when he was asked at the 1-26-10 Commission meeting what the options were. He offered that the wall should be left close to resident property lines, and maybe raised or lowered.
If the resident consensus is that the wall should be moved back as specified in the original plan, presumably the Commission will so order.
Florida’s financial prospects: NOT GOOD
WHAT MARTIN COUNTY COULD, SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT DO TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS
First thing, we must not kid ourselves into believing that the worst is over, that recovery is just around the corner, that we can stop tightening our belts, blah blah blah.
This past week, Amy Baker, chief economist of the Florida legislature reported that the state’s unemployment rate would probably climb to 12% and remain high for some time. When the part-time working underemployed and those who have just given up are included, we believe that the real unemployment figure is at least 18%. Baker noted the depressing effect of the housing surplus. Population migration is outward rather than inward. State revenues will be $3.2 billion lower next year that the $66.5 billion budgeted for 2009-10.
Senate budget head J.D. Al exander said 4% would have to be cut from the budget. Senate President Jeff Atwater stated that the Senate would not increase taxes.
The biotech money pit
According to the Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability, Florida taxpayers spent $767 million to bring Scripps and Max Planck biotech companies to Jupiter, the supposed seed for biotech cluster growth. Al most half of that was from Palm Beach County residents. What have they got to show for it? Not much. The number of biotech companies in Palm Beach grew from 46 to only 54. If you count six other biotech companies lured to Florida , some $1.5 billion was spent. This huge state-wide expense brought only 1,100 jobs, not all for Florida residents. That’s over $1.3 million per job.
The enthusiastic boosters of such corporate socialism in the business and government communities are trying to tell us that it takes time to build an industry megacenter; maybe 10 or 20 years. That may be true, but after a few years one should expect a better return than what we’ve seen. Of course, most of those spending boosters will be long gone a decade or two hence. Our children will foot the bill.
What Martin County should not do
For a start, Martin should be skeptical about costly growth schemes. For the most part, Martin has been prudent – and should remain so. The anticipated positive impact of biotech is a cautionary tale. We should take with a grain of salt projections that skyrocket ever upward. For example, the highly regarded “beeber” projections about population from the University of Florida ’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) should not be treated as flawless. Projections are educated guesses unable to predict some future conditions. BEBR projected that Martin population would grow by almost 7,000 from 2005 to 2010. It actually grew by about 40% of that figure.
Another thing that we should not do is to allow special interests to use this difficult economic period as an excuse to abandon protections that have served the county so well for so many years. There are always people like White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel who don’t want to “waste a crisis.” That is, they want to take advantage of the fear and ignorance of others. So when someone proposes that huge swaths of agricultural land should be converted to industrial land, their motives are worth questioning – especially when there are now thousands of undeveloped acres zoned for industrial.
What Martin County should do – or continue doing
Martin County is doing many things right, and should continue to do them. We have organized the Life Sciences Consortium to nurture technology. This initiative represents collaboration among academia, business, government and healthcare organizations. We need to encourage this group to do more, to further develop the details of a diverse economy and to communicate them to the public. This Consortium has not yet lived up to its full potential.
We need to make it easier for companies to expand if they’re here, and to come here from out-of-county locations. To this end, the Commission has wisely doubled the budget of the Business Development Board, which focuses on commercial and industrial growth that provides jobs and a larger, solid tax base. The County should encourage these activities, but not accede to those BDC grow-at-any-cost ambitions that unravel Comp Plan protections.
The County has streamlined its Development Review process. Roughly 90% of needed County actions have been on time. The Information Technology Department should finalize its excellent online application process, and seek other areas to streamline.
After taking large losses, banks are understandably hesitant to lend. They should be prodded to ease up on holding back worthwhile business loans. Reminder: Initially it was residential overdevelopment that triggered the economic fall, not business loans.
A stable community that residents can afford to live in is vital. That means keeping a lid on taxes, which can be achieved only by tightening the belt on County spending. There are tough choices to be made, but we have nothing but contempt for efforts to scare the public by threatening to close libraries and fire stations. First, let’s see those excessive County salaries brought into line before anyone talks about closings or tax increases. And the County should stop providing free rent to politically influential private organizations like the Jensen Beach Chamber.
When was the last time the County submitted to outside experts to examine if there are more cost effective ways to operate? How seriously is the County implementing suggestions by the Martin County Taxpayers Association and others who propose savings?
Martin County is special. Let’s preserve what we have. Then we can prosper by seeking county-wide improvements, not special interest benefits.
Aquatics Complex, a worthwhile project, approved - but at what cost?
On 1-26-10, the Commission approved the construction of the $8.7 million Aquatic Complex on Willoughby Boulevard . The vote was 4-to-1 with spending watchdog Sarah Heard dissenting. This ambitious project includes pools and slides and an 8,000 sq. ft. building funded by the half-cent conservation and recreation sales tax passed in 2006.
There appears to be popular support for the complex because it offers teaching, recreation and business stimulation opportunities. The enthusiastic support is also based in part on projections that operation will pay for itself. However, it seems doubtful that it will generate the estimated $1.2 million in revenues needed to break even.
Let’s do the math: Planners expect annual admission revenues of $493,250 to make a small profit. Let’s assume that admissions average $6/person, based on $5 for children and seniors, $7 for adults. Taking weather into consideration, staff projects 140 operational days/yr. That’s $3,523/day needed in admissions. At $6 per admission, it would require 587 people to pay for admission every operational day. That sounds way too optimistic.
Similarly, the projected concession gross of $425,000 would require a revenue stream of $3,036 every operational day. This would mean that, over and above whatever people bring in their picnic baskets, all of those maybe 587 visitors would have to spend over $5 each and every day. If half bought food, each would have to spend over $10.This, too, seems highly optimistic. So do some other income projections. Break even? Not likely. Other government owned water parks operate in the red.
We are not opposed to the Aquatic Complex, even if revenues (up to a point) do not cover expenses. After all, the County spends a lot on parks, beaches and libraries to improve our quality of life. So why not a thoughtfully conceived aquatics center? However, we do resent promoters irresponsibly using unrealistic, inflated numbers – essentially unquestioned and unchallenged by the Commission, except for Commissioner Heard – to sell the project as completely self sustaining. Residents deserve a more realistic estimate of what they will be taxed to pay for in years to come.
Weberman: “Suspend permit fees”
Construction permit fees help pay the salaries of County staff needed to process permit applications. Now, in a transparent effort to show prospective campaign contributors how he would vote if elected, Commission candidate Lee Weberman wants to suspend such fees. The fees are a tiny part of any project, so it is unlikely to affect building decisions. In effect, suspending fees would put windfall money in the pockets of developers by requiring more property tax money to pay those staff salaries. A bad idea. Real bad.
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Al Forman, Editor 1/27/10
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