Critics rip 'one-sided' voter education campaign for proposed LWB city charter changes
'It is blatantly advocating a ‘yes’ vote on all the amendments" on the March 10 ballot in violation of state law, a local attorney says
Lake Worth Beach’s $48,500 public information campaign to educate voters about the five proposed city charter changes on the March 10 ballot is coming under fire from residents who say it’s misleading and violates state election law.
Instead of offering neutral fact-based information, as required by law, the material shared in four-page brochures at public presentations this month goes too far and advocates for passage of the five ballot questions, critics say.
“A blind man on a galloping horse can see that this document is not neutral, it is not fair, it does not lay out the pros and cons of these amendments…and it is blatantly advocating a ‘yes’ vote on all the amendments,’’ Nancy Udell, an attorney who lives in Parrot Cove, said in a letter to city commissioners and officials Jan. 15.
Two days earlier, a citizens group called Lake Worth For All asked the Palm Beach County Office of Inspector General for an opinion on whether the material, prepared by a taxpayer-funded consultant, complies with state law.
“The public materials do not explain these proposed changes, but serve to promote” public private partnerships “and to paint the changes to the charter in a positive light without letting the public know they will be limiting their ability to vote on projects that require long-term leases on public land,’’ Lake Worth For All President Kim Stokes, a former city commissioner, wrote in a complaint to the inspector general Jan. 13.
The material was prepared by Cornerstone Solutions, a West Palm Beach political consulting firm hired by interim city manager Jamie Brown on Dec. 30 to help the city spread word about the referendums. The contract calls for Cornerstone to create “a neutral, fact-based public information campaign” including digital and print ads, social media blasts and four town hall presentations.
Included in the contract is a $2,500 line item for an attorney to make sure the material complies with state law. At two town hall presentations earlier this month, Cornerstone facilitator Elliot Cohen, responding to impartiality concerns raised by speakers, said the material was reviewed by an attorney.
Neither Cohen nor the city have divulged the name of the attorney despite several requests from residents. Cornerstone president Rick Asnani has not responded to a request from the Lake Worth Beach Independent for the name of the attorney.
Of the five referendums, two dealing with private leases on city-owned land at the beach and west of State Road A1A, respectively, have stirred the most concern for opponents.
As Cornerstone rolled out its campaign earlier this month, yard signs made by Lake Worth For All started popping up around town: “Hands Off Our Beach & Parks, Vote NO on all amendments.”
Critics have taken aim at lists of “Reasons for this amendment” in the brochure’s summaries of each ballot question. (Click here to read the brochure.)
Among the “reasons for” changing the charter to allow for private leases of up to 99 years in city parks, at the beach and at city-owned spaces downtown: Creating new revenue streams for the city; allowing private entities to pay for improvements to city-owned land and “enhance the public’s beach experience without depleting city resources.’’
Critics say the brochures should, but do not, list “reasons against” the amendments or the potential downsides if the referendums pass.
For example, critics say, the presentations fail to point out that approval of the two lease referendums — they’re listed as No. 2 and No. 3 on the ballot — will strip voters of the final say they currently have on leases and transfer that authority to a majority of the five-member City Commission.
Here’s how that could happen:
The current charter allows a City Commission majority to approve private leases for up to 30 years on city-owned property east of A1A and for up to 20 years on city-owned property west of A1A. Lease terms in excess of 30 or 20 years, respectively, require voter approval. If ballot questions 2 and 3 pass on March 10, voters lose that power and only have a say on leases of more than 99 years.
“The document is clearly one-sided, clearly advocating a ‘yes’ vote for all of the amendments, and clearly not limited to ‘factual information as required by Florida Stat. 106.113(2),’’ Udell wrote in her letter to the city.
The next two town halls are this Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Lake Worth Beach City Library downtown at 15 N. M St. and Jan. 28 at the Lake Worth Beach Casino Complex at 10 S. Ocean Blvd. Both start at 6 p.m.
The first town hall, Jan. 8, attracted a dozen people at Peniel Haitian Baptist Church of Lake Worth on the north end of town. The second, Jan. 12, drew about 25 at Osborne Community Center on the south end. At both meetings, several residents complained their questions were not answered.
“The consultant/facilitator’s handling of the public and dismissal/non-answering of their questions was an embarrassment to the city,’’ Commissioner Chris McVoy said in a letter to Brown after he attended the first town hall.
“To the best of my knowledge, it also violates the statutory requirements concerning neutrality. I formally request cancellation of the contract,’’he said.
McVoy cast the lone no votes late last year when the city commission approved ordinances placing the five referendums on the March 10 ballot.
He and other opponents have voiced concerns that the proposed questions were not reviewed by the city’s Charter Review Committee before they were considered by the commission.
Brown and Mayor Betty Resch declined to comment for this story.
The current LWB town council is biased toward commercial over-develoment and coercive tourism. These are personal agendas based on their conflicts of interest. These politicians do not represent you or me or most LWB residents and voters. This is baseless egotism on their parts.
VOTE NO on their 99-year blank check development leases, and vote them out in municipal elections 2027.
Save and preserve our LWB!!