06 Nov The On-Going Political Saga: Boca National
The Political Saga of Boca National has reach new heights but the expected outcome remains the same...
24 Sep Challenging Development: Loser Beware!!
Residents are at extreme financial risk in any effort opposing local government's approvals for development.
24 Sep Tax Increase Robocall…Misleading the Public
An Outrage....Robocalls have been received over the last few days containing misleading facts designed to generate public opposition for a minor millage increase by the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District.
24 Sep Madelyn Savarick: Philanthropist and Patron of the Arts
When I arrived in Boca Raton some 11 years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting a very exciting and interesting personality, Madelyn Saverick.
11 Sep When is a Lobbyist Not a Lobbyist?
PUBLISHER'S UPDATE: This morning I received a text message from an interested third party informing me that Blake MacDiarmid has registered with Palm Beach County as a lobbyist for Virgin Trains USA. A review of the Lobbyist Registration list demonstrates that Blake MacDiarmid is still not registered as a lobbyist for Virgin Trains USA, but yesterday, a James MacDiarmid did register. James and Blake may turn out to be the same person. If true, why the need to use a pseudo name. Furthermore, since publishing today's article, www.blakestrategy.com has been taken down off the internet. Al Zucaro, Publisher ____________________________________________________________________ Narrative: With the March, 2020 City Council elections inside a 6 month window, the time is now to look at the political and policy issues on the horizon and the professional influencers shaping Boca Raton's politics and legislative outcomes.
06 Sep Boca’s Fit Body Boot Camp
Having celebrated a 70th birthday last month, my present to myself is better health and physical fitness...So what did I do...Join a boot camp program and compete with people half my age....An incredible experience....
06 Aug Mulligans in the Making for Boca National
One of the quirks of golf is the “mulligan” – the do-over for a bad shot. Although outside of the rules of golf, it’s nevertheless a well-accepted courtesy in amateur play; amateur play being the operative phrase with the negotiations to date.
05 Aug The Appraisal of Ocean Strand
Last month, in a search for alternative financing for the Boca National Golf Course, the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District requested an official opinion of the market value of the vacant parcel of land located at 2300 N. Ocean Blvd., known as the Ocean Strand; this unimproved parcel is currently zoned "PL", Public Land.
24 Jul BrightLine in Boca: Costly Yet Irresistible
Virgin Lines is coming to Boca Raton. Make no mistake about it. With this City Council, 'Development is now Good'. At yesterday's Council workshop, Boca Raton's five elected officials unequivocally demonstrated that they are, by far, the most development friendly group of elected official in the history of Boca Raton.
09 Jul Where Do We Stand on Boca National Now?
In Part 1 (link below), I summarized the current positions of the City and the District towards joint participation on the Boca National Golf Course project. I believe that these two governments are still so far apart that any hope of going forward together is quixotic at best.28 Jun The End of Keeping Golf Public In Boca?
Forty years ago, Boca citizens voted themselves into the golf business. Golfers and non-golfers alike agreed that it would be an important recreational feature and economic development investment for their growing City. They set up their venture as an Enterprise Fund at City Hall. City Council...
25 Jun Objections to Towers in West Boca
It should be no surprise that the City Administration, with or without collusion from the City Council, regularly attempts to get approval for controversial items by bringing such items to the public's attention at the last minute while arguing that time demands immediate action even...
24 Jun Tri-Rail vs. Boca Raton Hospital – the Subterfuge Continues
I recently read yet another ‘Plant’ or ‘Seed’ (or setup) article on June 13, 2019 published in the CityWatch section of Boca Magazine presumably at the behest of Steve Abrams, the current Executive Director of the SFRTA.21 Jun Breaching the Public Trust or Violating the Sunshine Law
It was over two years ago that the City Council was confronted with having to investigate the actions of one of its own, former Mayor Susan Haynie, when, during the election cycle of March 2017, facts were uncovered which eventually led to probable cause findings...
20 Jun Defining REASONABLENESS
In my June 4th article, about ‘The Sunset of Resident Friendly’, I commended Councilmember Andrea Levine O’Rourke on her position paper to the community where she opines that “we can’t stop development” and that “developers are reasonable business men and women” with development rights; a position shared by many including myself.
04 Jun Developers Are Reasonable
This morning I awoke to a message from City Councilwoman Andrea Levine O'Rourke outlining items of interest to the residents of Boca Raton. Most of it is pretty mundane but one item is well worth the read. For years, prior to being elected, Ms. O'Rourke was...