I received an email from John Mikus today that went out to all Estaters.

He requested that we go to the editorial page of ther Sun-Sentinel & read a specific editorial about the proposed new City Center in W.P.B. He commented that he believed that the editorial "has the right view on this project."

I accessed the site & read the editorial which follows. After that I replied "to ALL" Estaters (see below editorital). I commented on the editorial, John's comment, & kind of tied it in to our Baywinds legal situation relative to some residents fighting the good fight in the trenches for all of us.

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West Palm Beach

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board
Posted April 4, 2006

ISSUE: A soured group of residents seeks a referendum on the City Center project.

After a long stagnancy, downtown West Palm Beach is poised to finally realize its potential as a waterfront jewel, if Mayor Lois Frankel has her way.

The City Center complex would combine two agonizingly overdue projects, a new City Hall and a new library, in a blighted corner of downtown. Along the way, the sorely underused waterfront would get a public park, greater amenities, a refurbished marina and most needed of all, a four-star hotel.

The possibilities are exciting and could transform this proud city into a popular destination spot. Or, those high-minded plans could all be leveled by a disgruntled group trying to float a disingenuous ballot initiative. The question it wants to ask is deceptively simple: Should City Hall and the library be moved?

But if the group really wanted citizen input, why didn't it seek it two years ago, when city commissioners voted to move the City Hall and library to the D&D Centre? Here's why: In those days, many in the group supported City Center, so voter input was irrelevant.

That's why this effort reeks of sour-grapes politics. Many of its backers are still miffed at losing the effort to keep the library where it is. Others wanted a different architect. Many more detest Frankel. So this is their retribution, a way to undo Frankel and her project. But delaying it or killing it will only drive up costs and harm the city as a whole.

Because of escalating construction costs, the city estimates a six-month delay could add up to $3.6 million to the price tag. If the effort succeeds in barring City Hall and the library from being moved, West Palm is stuck with a substandard, undersized City Hall site and a library blocking a spectacular downtown vista of the water.

City Center is not perfect. Frankel's sometimes abrasive governing style does her no favors, either. But scrubbing the project, or delaying it, would mean bigger headaches and fewer exciting prospects for a city on the verge of something special.

BOTTOM LINE: The referendum is deceptive and could be harmful to the city's future.

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My comments to John Mikus & all Estate Residents

John,

You sent an email to all Estate residents, providing a hyperlink and asking them to access an editorial site and read an editorial in the Sun-Sentinel of 4/4/06. Your comment was that the newspaper had the right view on the contained subject.

I believe you are supporting an issue without presenting the other side's position which was CLEARLY stated in a public letter sent out by West Palm Beach City Commissioner, Kimberly Mitchell, dated March 21, 2006. In her letter, she states that the going forward of this project is not a matter of how beautiful the new City Hall & library would be, or how good it would be for our city, but going against the overwhelming mandate of the people which was decided in a referendum vote in 1996. If THAT legal vote were to be followed, as it should be, West Palm Beach may NOT legally subvert the will of the people, as decided in that 1996 referendum, which related to keeping height restrictions to five stories on structures within the city zones involved in the sale. The buyer of the valuable City Hall property wishes to build an 18 story condo complex.

Ms. Mitchell also CLEARLY stated that if perhaps the will of the people has changed since 1996, the question should be brought back to the citizenry of West Palm Beach & put to a vote. She stated that Mayor Frankel has been contemplating a referendum for almost two years.

I don't believe the editorial board of the Sun-Sentinel is correct in calling those residents of W.P.B. who are asking for a referendum, "a soured group". It is very easy for a newspaper or TV station to cast aspersions on these citizens without merit to those charges. Legally, the City Center project may NOT proceed. Thus the legal thing is to have a new referendum to see if the voters wish to change the building height restrictions for that zone. Just because a prior ruling or law is old, doesn't mean we can close our eyes to its legality. Thus this "soured group", though small in number is acting correctly and being good citizens.

It seems we have somewhat similar issues within Baywinds regarding what is legally correct. Those issues will now have to be settled in a court of law,..........LEGALLY!! An important lesson to be learned by the powers that be in both West Palm Beach and Baywinds is that It's not for those in power to ride roughshod over the will of the people or the law.

Irwin Seitelman