PBCEC Opposes Anti-Immigrant Candidates in Lake Worth Election: Scott Maxwell, Loretta Sharpe, Rene Varela and Wes Blackman

In past environmental organizing efforts in Lake Worth, confronting bad development plans had occasionally presented the challenge of working with people who haven't shared the same values towards social justice and human rights. While the relationship between environmental protection and human dignity has been a common sense alliance for the PBCEC, some neighborhood activists have not shared this view.

But with the coming election, that murkiness is starting to clear a bit, as the most developer-friendly candidates are turning out to also be some of the least responsive to needs of low-income and immigrant families in the City. Below are some cited samplings of the four candidates of greatest concern: Scott Maxwell – candidate District 1, Wes Blackman – candidate District 3, Loretta Sharpe – candidate for Mayor and Rene Varela candidate for Mayor.

The PBC Coalition for Immigrant Rights (PBCCIR), which recently collaborated with PBCEC in our Lake Worth candidates forum, has been a primary advocate for the Lake Worth Resources Center. The PBCEC considers the Center to be a quality-of-life issue in the urban environment, we support the work of PBCCIR, and feel that many of those who have opposed the effort do not have the interests of the public at heart. Further, there is a strong element of xenophobia and racism which has surfaced and must be exposed and challenged.

The above-mentioned four candidates for Lake Worth City Commission have been vocal opponents the city's efforts to create the Lake Worth Resource Center, which brings day-laborers off the corners, providing education, employment and access to services. Following are some of the public comments these candidates have made in opposition to the City’s effort to welcome immigrants and integrate them into our city through education, employment and recognition of their cultural heritage. Many of Lake Worth's immigrants families have been residents in the City of over 20 years (and are still refused the right to vote). The Resource Center is a critical piece of Lake Worth's efforts to be a city of tolerance, working pro-actively to create stable employment for residents so they can provide for themselves and their families.

I hope all voters will give serious consideration to these candidate’s opinions.


Scott Maxwell
Maxwell has presented himself as being openly anti-immigrant. Until recently, he hosted a weekly radio program called “Connecting the Dots on Illegal Immigration”, Thursdays 8pm on WBZT 1230 Clear Channel. He ended the radio show upon his candidacy for City Commission.

He attended the City of Lake Worth public meetings when they were voting to open the Resource Center to help provide employment for residents, and to get Day Laborers off the street corners. At that meeting he spoke against the center, I have included his comment from the official City Clerk meeting minutes (source, page 14:
http://www.lakeworth.org/vertical/Sites/{5E6FE119-0228-4C9B-B2DB-067168049C16}/uploads/{4C61269D-F7D7-401E-BE4E-3DFB26D56F17}.PDF).
His entire comment can be found on the official Clerk recording of the meeting. The meeting was held September 2, 2008

“Scott Maxwell said this was an important night for Lake Worth. The decision of the Commission would send an important message to its residents, businesses and developers, and America that the City sold its soul and pandered to those who tried to come to the country and improve themselves. The federal government allowed immigrants to get away with entering the country illegally. This was one of the most generous countries to allow legal immigrants to enter. With enough people, the government and the political country could be taken over. He said he was against Matricular Consular Identification and opposed the center."

Further proof of his vocal opposition to immigrants can be found in this email posted on the website of City blogger Lynn Anderson. (source: http://lynn-a.blogspot.com/2009/05/e-mail-from-scott-maxwell-on-illegals.html):

"Lynn,

Very well written piece on your blog regarding illegal aliens.... (except for the part where you plugged my show! You know how bashful I am & can be J ! )

This week’s guest will be Steven Camarato, Director of Research for the Center for Immigration Studies. I really appreciate your being on top of this issue....hopefully we as Americans, will wake up and place some of our petty issues aside for the resolution of some of the more important.... Our country is in a terrible fight for survival...we are going to meet the same fate as all the other great civilizations before us...too bad that again, folks refuse to learn from history... Again, thank you for your activism...you are truly blessed with great writing skill....wish I could have a fraction of that gift....

Best, Scot"

[*note: Upon a simple search, quotes from Maxwell's guest, Steven Camarato, came up on the Storm Front, the 'white pride world wide" website out of West Palm Beach: http://www.stormfront.org/forum/sitemap/index.php/t-47305.html ]
UPDATE 11/7/09: The reason that this guest came up on the search is that the guest's name, actually Camarota, was spelled wrong by both Scott and the anonymous Stormfront blogger. Since the publication of this post, information has surfaced linking Scott Maxwell to several known racist hate group. More info can be found at: whoisScottMaxwell.blogspot.com

Wes Blackman (also a former employee of Kilday & Associates, one of Palm Beach County's nastiest developer/lobbyist firms)
While sitting as a CRA board member, Wes Blackman voted against a small $1,000 grant to provide wireless cards for the Resource Centers computers. Mr. Blackman’s comments at the July 4 meeting can be found at:
http://www.lakeworthcra.org/downloads/July%2014%202009%20Minutes.pdf

Mr. Blackman visited the center to try and confuse the staff and claim he was being discriminated against, and wrote about it on his blog. His petty and pointless complaints amount to nothing of substance and display his affinities with the organized anti-immigrant efforts in the City.
http://wesblackman.blogspot.com/search?q=resource+center


Loretta Sharp
Sharpe has also been a vocal opponent of the Lake Worth Resource Center. In her public comment during the City Commission vote to open the center, she compared the center to a brothel. Her comment as recorded in the official Lake Worth City Commission meeting minutes of September 2, 2008 is below. The entire comment can be found on the City's website, under the September 2, 2008 official meeting recording.

“Loretta Sharpe said she was a resident for twenty-one years complained about the prostitutes on Highway; however, no Commissioner offered to open a bordello to get the prostitutes off the streets. The Commissioners were thinking about opening a resource center, but it would not improve Lake Avenue. The Commissioners took away many events over the years, yet were considering opening a mentor center for people who did not pay taxes. Employees and programs were being cut in the proposed budget. She said she hoped everyone would record the vote tonight and remember it during the November municipal election and a year from November."

Source: http://www.lakeworth.org/vertical/Sites/{5E6FE119-0228-4C9B-B2DB067168049C16}/uploads/{4C61269D-F7D7-401E-BE4E-3DFB26D56F17}.PDF


Rene Varela (involved with the capture of wild dophins for private profit)
Varela also made public comment during the September 4 City Commission vote on the Resource Center. Following are his comments as recorded in the official city minutes, although his position is murky here (as it often tends to be), he has been clear during other forums that he does not support the center. At best, his position should be clarified.

“Dr. Rene’ Varela said his parents came to the United States from Cuba forty-three years ago. They became legal citizens and integrated into the county. The decision of the City’s future was being made during the budget process. This was a town with great compassion and no one had a monopoly on providing compassion. There was a need for a competent legal opinion on the impact of the center; needed to bring in a broader faith based organizations; needed a buy-in from the federal, state, and local governments who created the problem; needed a code of ethics for those involved in the center; needed those individuals who would benefit to own up to the law; and needed a mission that required all users to be legal citizens or were seeking legal status.”

350.org Climate Change events in South Florida

www.350.org/presentation


-Oct 17 ‘Age of Stupid’ movie showing at Unitarian Universalist church in Boca, 7pm, 2601 St Andrews Blvd

-Oct 22 ‘Age of Stupid’ movie showing at L’dor V’dor, 7400 Lake Worth Road, 7pm

-Oct 23 Climate Change/350 presentation at the Pollution Prevention Coalition (P2) of Palm Beach County meeting, 2:00 pm Palm Beach County Health Department, 800 Clematis Street

-Oct 23 Rally at DEP about failure to address climate change, 400 North Congress, 12:00-1:30pm, www.350.org/DEPFlorida

-Oct 23 Critical Mass(k) Halloween-theme bike ride for 350, downtown Ft. Lauderdale, 5pm (following Food Not Bombs picnic in park)

-Oct 23 Interfaith Service on the Climate at L'Dor V'dor, 7pm, www.350.org/SFlainterfaith

-Oct 24 Climate Change Wall of Hope and Shame, 3pm Rally at Atlantic Dunes Beach Park (1605 South Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, Florida) www.350.org/palmbeachcounty350

-Oct 24 Broward County 350 event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 24, 2009, at the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale (Broward Blvd. and Andrews Ave).

-Oct 24 Ocean Watch: Community Day of Action in conjunction with 350.org, from 12:00 to 4:00pm Between Bicentennial Park and American Airlines Arena, 1075 Biscayne Blvd, Miami

Check out this great coverage with local Greenpeace volunteer organizer Bobette Wolesensky:
http://www.envmagazine.org/350-TheMostImportantNumber.html

Mayoral Candidate Rene Varela profits off of wild dolphin trafficking

Since we hosted the Environmental Candidates Forum in Lake Worth, Rene has refused to communicate with the PBC Environmental Coalition. Perhaps this is why...

He is featured in a recent award-winning Canadian documentary called The Dolphin Dealer:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2008/dolphindealer/characters.html

The documentary indicates that Rene Varela is a "key character, " involved in selling 28 wild dolphins caught off the Solomon Islands to a luxury resort in Dubai. He's worked for Ocean Embassy, a company that traffics in marine wildlife, in since 2005:
http://www.oceanembassy.com/team-varela.html

A Few Facts About Dolphins in Captivity
For every wild dolphin taken captive, at least one other is injured or killed during the capture process. Studies suggest that mortality rates increase six-fold after capture.

Even in the largest facilities, captive dolphins have access to less than 1/10,000 of 1% (0.000001) of the space available to them in their natural environment.

Dolphins in captivity are often restricted to swimming in circles. In many dolphins, this behavior is a sign that the dolphin is suffering psychologically.

In cement pools, chlorine is added to keep bacteria levels safe for humans. The levels of chlorine used, wreak havoc on a dolphin's skin and eyes, sometimes even rendering them completely blind.

For more on dolphins in captivity, check out World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2220_dolphins_in_captivity_faqs.cfm

City of Lake Worth to vote on Publix deal; Will they ignore farmworkers and local grocers' concerns?

This article below was posted on www.CIW-online.org news. It sounds a little too familiar.. (the article online has several helpful links to its sources, if you want the fuller version, check out:
http://www.ciw-online.org/news.html and scroll down to Sept 2.)

September 2 , 2009

Publix sweetheart deal at taxpayer expense in Ft. Myers, Florida, comes under increasing scrutiny...

A columnist for the Ft. Myers News-Press took a strong stand this past week against the questionable use of taxpayer dollars in a time of economic crisis... and the recipient of the public largesse in question is none other than Florida supermarket giant Publix ("Ft. Myers in no shape to give Publix rent break," 8/28/09).

It seems that Publix -- which is "ranked No. 10 on Forbes' 2008 list of America's Largest Private Companies and is the largest privately held company in Florida" -- has been receiving free rent at a new downtown Ft. Myers location for two years now, at the rate of $50,000 per month. Now the company is looking to keep the taxpayer money flowing its way for another two years, for a total of another $1.15 million. We'll let Columnist Mr. Cook take it from here:

"Fort Myers is broke, yet the city's Community Redevelopment Agency may forgive Publix two more years of rent, which, based on the past two years, amounts to $1.15 million.

For those keeping score, Publix on West First Street was forgiven five years of rent two years ago when it opened. A rent-free extension is preposterous - even for Fort Myers officials.

'From the beginning, the free rent was offensive,' says Councilman Warren Wright.

Why is a city $400 million in debt not charging rent to a for-profit grocery chain?..."

It seems the sweetheart deal was struck to lure Publix to open a store in the downtown area of Ft. Myers as a means to encourage the neighborhood's further economic development. But according to the News-Press story, there is no indication that the downtown Publix is struggling, especially after Publix closed a nearby store the company had apparently promised to keep open:

"... While the CRA ponders Publix rent, resident Timothy Jones gives it food for thought.

'I don't think Publix is hurting,' says Jones, who owns property next door on Clifford Street. 'They're getting the old customers from the Cleveland Avenue location plus more from downtown.'

Jones says public money should not be used to sustain a failing business.

'I find it hard to believe this store is not profitable,' he says. 'The parking lot is full. Where is the evidence? The City Council should demand proof. Would they take my word if I was asking for a million bucks?'

Wright also reminds folks Publix speaks with a forked tongue.

'They promised the Publix on Cleveland Avenue wouldn't close, but it did,' Wright says. 'If they don't make enough money, they will pull out of the new one, too. Whatever happened to capitalism?'''

Tough questions for the company known as the "neighborhood grocer".

The questions may only get tougher when the Community Redevelopment Agency takes this into consideration... [Tale of two grocers]


BELOW IS A LETTER SENT TO LAKE WORTH CRA AND CITY COMMISSIONERS:

On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 11:35 AM, PBC EnviroCoalition wrote:

"Honorable Commissioners,
I am addressing this to the both the City Commission and CRA. As i know, many of you are familiar with the conditions and efforts of farmworkers in south Florida. As you may or may not know, many of the residents in our immigrant communities have lived and worked in the Immokalee area prior to living in Lake Worth, and many continue to work in an agricultural sector plagued with reports of exploitation and multiple cases of modern day slavery prosecuted by federal law enforcement.

In the midst of discussing an official invitation to bring Publix downtown, potentially accompanied with a contribution of $500,000 dollars of public money through the CRA (which is intended for flighting blight in our neighborhoods NOT courting corporate interests to town) a leading farmworker-led south Florida organization has called for protests of Publix's denial to recognize the human rights and dignity of those who harvest our food.

Meanwhile, here in Lake Worth, the undeniable reality is that the Publix supermarket will primarily service residents OUTSIDE of the CRA district. There are already multiple locally-owned and operated grocers in or near the CRA district--including a Publix already within walking distance to the westside neighborhoods.

Let's put aside the question of whether or not this Publix is needed in Lake Worth (as the majority of officials elected or appointed to represent the City seem indifferent to that factor), and look at the issue of justice and social responsibility. There are three primary matters at hand:

1) CRA money to Publix
Is it just or responsible to hand half-a-million dollars of public money, a substantial portion of the CRA's annual budget, to the Publix corporation, who have not established any need for such assistance on public record? Does this disregard low-income residents the neighborhood improvements they deserve and pay for?

2) Publix's role as a neighbor in Lake Worth
Should we invite a new Publix to town without a commitment to honor the basic wage increase and commitment to human rights standards being asked of them?

3) The small locally-owned grocery businesses
How will big-box development, such as Publix, impact long-standing and new struggling local businesses? Will the City and CRA make commitments to continue assisting these businesses as well?

Below is some current background info on the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) stance on Publix and schedule for protests. The response that they have received from Publix thus far does not indicate that they are committed to being a socially responsible neighbor to local residents nor to the agricultural workers who contribute to Lake Worth's local economy.

I look forward to your response, and am open to further dialogue on the matter. Our group is committed to the protection of both our natural environment and an equitable quality of life for all residents. We would like to believe that you are as well.

Sincerely,
Panagioti Tsolkas
Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: coaimmwkr
> Date: Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 3:42 PM
> Subject: "The Autumn of Our Discontent": CIW announces Publix protests set for the fall


Fed up with Publix's empty excuses for inaction, farmworkers and allies plan a full fall calendar of action at Publix supermarkets across Florida!

Check out the CIW site, http://www.ciw-online.org today for all the details! Here below is an excerpt of what you'll find there:

*****************
"Publix: Where shopping is still a shame"

When Compass Group and East Coast Growers announced their groundbreaking agreement to implement the CIW's Fair Food principles this coming season, Senator Bernie Sanders, a long-time observer of the Campaign for Fair Food, issued a statement that began:

"Today marks the beginning of the end of the harvest of shame that has existed for far too long in Florida's tomato fields."

Indeed, with farmworkers and growers finally working together to produce a fairer tomato -- including higher wages and better farm labor conditions made possible, in part, by the support of major retail food corporations that buy Florida tomatoes, like Compass Group and McDonald's -- it seemed inevitable that other large tomato buyers would seize the opportunity to be part of the solution to Florida's longstanding shame of farmworker exploitation.

Publix, however, refuses to be part of that solution.

Farmworkers and their allies will be joining forces this fall to press their case with Publix and demand that the largest publicly held company in Florida do its part to help improve farm labor conditions and eliminate modern-day slavery in the state.

Toward that end, a full calendar of actions at Publix stores has been set. Here below are the dates as they stand at this time (with more to come in the days ahead):

Month of Publix Protests:
> Oct 17 & 18 - Southwest Florida (Naples, Port Charlotte, Venice, Sarasota and Ft. Myers)

> Oct 24 & 25 - Gainesville

> Oct 31 & Nov 1 – Orlando

> Nov 7 & 8 - Ft. Lauderdale & Miami

> Nov 14 & 15 – Tampa & St. Petersburg

> Statewide Organizing Tour: November 18-24

> Major Action in Lakeland (early December, exact date to be announced)

If you live in or near any of the cities above, email us to find out how you can get involved at workers@ciw-online.org!

It's time for Publix to end the excuses and work together with farmworkers, growers, and consumers for social responsibility.

Join us this fall in pressing Publix to make shopping truly a pleasure by supporting fair wages and working conditions for the farmworkers who pick its tomatoes.

Thanks - Coalition of Immokalee Workers

xxx

PBCEC October notes and updates

Our first official meeting on the second Monday of the month had a great turnout. Over 20 people gathered to discuss and strategize on regional environmental issues. Next meeting is November 9, 7pm at the Friends Quaker Meeting, 823 North C St, Lake Worth. Please bring food or drink to share. Below are notes from the October meeting, with updates and live links:

**Updates on FPL
the proposed modification for increasing the emissions of FPL’s WCEC, which can be viewed here:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/air/emission/apds/default.asp
The proposal adds several additional tons of air pollution through an auxiliary boiler. There will be a public hearing on the matter soon (Nov 17 or 19, location/time TBA... stay tuned!)

We also discussed the SFWMD decision to give FPL $1 million to relocate water pipelines in relation to the WCEC. They are supposed to vote on that, item #50, today Oct 15.. Yesterday the District agreed to give money to FPL for the Turkey Point water regional impacts.. You’d never know that damn company was making billions in profits, they way they extort the public.

**350.org Days of Action organizing events:
-Oct 17 ‘Age of Stupid’ movie showing at Unitarian Universalist church in Boca, 7pm, 2601 St Andrews Blvd
-Oct 22 ‘Age of Stupid’ movie showing at L’dor V’dor, 7400 Lake Worth Road, 7pm
-Oct 23 Rally at DEP about failure to address climate change, 400 North Congress, 12:00-1:30pm, www.350.org/DEPFlorida
-Oct 23 Interfaith Service on the Climate at L'Dor V'dor, 7pm, www.350.org/SFlainterfaith
-Oct 24 Climate Change Wall of Hope and Shame, 3pm Rally at Atlantic Dunes Beach Park (1605 South Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, Florida) www.350.org/palmbeachcounty350

check out this great coverage with local Greenpeace volunteer organizer Bobette:
http://www.envmagazine.org/350-TheMostImportantNumber.html

**Town of Palm Beach is still opposing Federal Protection for endangered Staghorn Corral! Click here to take action:
http://reefrescuealert.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/ask-palm-beach-to-withdraw-their-objections-to-coral-protection/

**the PBC Legislative Delegation begins meeting across the County starting next month through January. One of the primary issues of environmental concern across the state is the proposal to lift the ban on drilling off-shore for gas and oil. Other issues mentioned at our meeting included: funding for Florida Forever, rock-mining, the DCA, Scripps… Anyone can speak at these events, but it is best to sign up to secure a spce. The schedule can be seen here.
http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/legislativeaffairs/pdf/Hearing_Information.pdf
You can sign up by calling 561-355-2406

**Eagle Training Center in Venus.. there was a victory for residents in Highlands County last week, but it’s not over yet. Our friends on the other side of the Lake are asking for our support again October 20.. for details: http://www.noeagletrainingcenter.com/

**Scripps is back on the agenda!
And it’s already hitting road blocks from the Regional Planning Council and DCA. Check out their schedule for upcoming approvals: http://www.tcrpc.org/Briger.html
Nov 12, 7pm, the Briger Tract will be on Palm Beach Gardens agenda. Contact PB Gardens for more info: www.pbgfl.com


**Turkey Point rally date pushed back
The proposed Nov 7th date has been changed. The rally will be reschuled for sometime in the next several months. Keep an ear out..

**Mike Roselle’s book “Tree Spiker”
There’s a proposal to invite his book tour down here.. Here’s a little more about the book:
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1929701,00.html
If you want to help us bring Mike down on his book tour, contact his book publicity manager, ask them to come to South Florida: rachel.ekstrom@stmartins.com

**We posted our endorsements of Lake Worth candidates on our website:
http://pbcec.blogspot.com/2009/10/lake-worth-candidates-environmental.html

**Several PBCEC folks attended the cancer cluster meeting with Erin Brokovich and gave a report back. Mixed reviews. Sources are still uncertain, but it seems very worth keeping up with this efforts and deciding how to support those who are coming forward in a sincere effort to stop the cancerous poisoning of our communities (and also be cautious of the County's efforts to force rural communities onto a central water system without finding the source of toxicity).

**A PBCEC participant suggested we invite Barry Sanders, retired professor and author of Green Zone, a book on military pollution

**other announcements
-PBC Beekeepers Association monthly meeting, 1st Friday every month, 7pm, at Mounts Botanical (for now)

-FrankenFoods Film Fest, Nov 5th, Delray Library

-co-chair Barry Silver is speaking on the radio 1230AM at noon-1pm

-There is a healthcare rally at Humana in WPB, Thursday (today!),

-And last, our friends in the Coaltiion of Immokalee Workers have called for protests at Publix against their refusal to negotiate better wages for farmworkers. Read more: http://www.ciw-online.org/