On behalf of the membership of Realtors Commercial Alliance-Palm Beaches, chapter president Ed Kearney has extended a large thank you to president-elect Christina Pearce and Dionna Hall of the Realtors Association of Palm Beach for their efforts to defeat a proposed sales tax ballot initiative.
A large number of people spoke against the proposal at the Palm Beach County Commission meeting on June 8. The commissioners did not listen to the public outcry and voted to include the proposal on the November ballot, said Ed Kearney, managing director of Kearney Commercial Realty/Sperry Van Ness in West Palm Beach, Fla. However, the county attorney found issues with the language of the proposal and it was withdrawn.
“As with other issues at so many other levels of government, the Palm Beach county commissioners did not listen to their constituents,” Kearney said in his monthly message to members. “I urge you to remember that when you vote in November.”
“The efforts of so many who spoke against this proposal highlights the public outrage over government’s madcap spending,” said Kearney. “If we want our local, county, state and federal governments to stop the mindless taxation they continue to saddle us with, we must all become active tax protesters, become better informed about the candidates and get out the vote this November.
“Hopefully, sending a message to our politicians with our votes in the next election will keep issues like the sales tax increase off future ballots,” said Kearney. “Let’s hope that this is the first of many successes that we at the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Realtors association and the general public will have over the current crop of tax-and-spend politicians.”
Another example of ridiculous spending, Kearney said, was highlighted at the recent visit to the alliance’s breakfast by West Palm Beach mayor Lois Frankel. She is trying to close a $20 million budget gap with spending cuts and layoffs.
“You may have heard the recently announced layoffs within the city,” Kearney told chapter members. “Unfortunately, the mayor and the city have no control over half of that budget gap. That $10 million is the result of state laws endorsed by the police unions that require certain annual pension contributions. Municipal workers, county workers, state workers, police, fireman, teachers and many others are all eligible for government pensions.”
The real question is the one that lawmakers have never asked: Does it make sense for someone to get a government job at 22 years of age, work for 20 years, and then be paid a pension with medical benefits for the next 35 to 40 years?
The politicians have never done the math, Kearney said. It is an unsustainable formula and a recipe for economic calamity that many towns, cities and states are now waking up to.
Kearney also encouraged alliance members and affiliates to attend our events. The after-hours events are a good way to meet members.
Several weeks ago, The David Associates hosted a great event at the Harvey Building in downtown West Palm Beach. It was well attended with more than 65 RCA members present, Kearney said. Bahama Mama’s, a restaurant opening soon on Clematis Street, catered the event. It served an abundance of terrific island food in an engaging atmosphere enhanced by soft jazz.
The next alliance event is scheduled for July 29 in Delray Beach, Kearney said. The chapter will e-mail an announcement with specific time and location.
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