Stet NewsFor you today, a remarkably successful Riviera Beach adversary challenges the city again, protecting voters and a shopping special.
📍 Lozman vs. Riviera Beach: the boundary dispute
Riviera Beach critic Fane Lozman lost a legal ruling last month that determined he does not own the submerged land beneath a private dock on Singer Island.
Yes, but: He says he won a fire station instead.
And, he claims, the legal ruling puts into question the property line for hundreds of Singer Island homeowners, creating potential chaos, an interpretation others reject.
Key points:
The legal ruling relies on a long-lost 1858 land marker. But land development has proceeded for more than 100 years on a marker established in 1915.
The judge says he employed the 1858 marker for the sole purpose of determining the western boundary of Lozman’s submerged land. Lozman says embracing that long-lost marker throws off the long-established property system.
Read the full story here.
🛡️ Election Protection coalition gears up
The nation’s largest organization of nonpartisan election monitors is recruiting volunteers in Palm Beach County to be advocates for voters.
Why it’s important: Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link told Stet News last week that because of a decline in vote-by-mail requests, she anticipates longer lines for in-person voting.
What’s happening: The Election Protection coalition plans to have helpers at many Palm Beach County early voting locations and at key precincts on election day in August and November, said Kate Renchin, co-chair of the Palm Beach County Voting Rights Coalition.
What they’re saying: “We don’t have a dog in the fight,” Renchin said. “We are there to give voters accurate and nonpartisan information. Also, at times, we can lower the temperature.”
Volunteers receive training and serve four-hour shifts. They report long lines, broken machines, what Renchin calls “hyperpartisan activity” or other barriers to voting.
They also answer simple questions from voters and can refer them to the Election Protection call center: 866-our-vote (866-687-8683).
The center is staffed by civil rights lawyers.
“We want everyone to vote,” Renchin said. “It’s so heart-warming to participate in this important process.”
“We want everyone to vote,” Renchin said. “It’s so heart-warming to participate in this important process.”
How to volunteer: Several online training sessions are planned including on Aug. 3, 6 and 8. Sign up or learn more here.
🎓 The juice
🐊 University of Florida President Ben Sasse’s abrupt exit leaves big plans unfinished, UF’s future uncertain. (Florida Alligator)
🏥 West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James was treated at a Wellington hospital and released last month after taking a “hard fall” in the middle of the night about three blocks from his home in his gated community. His Apple Watch helped alert 911. (WPBF Channel 25)
🚰 Riviera Beach fired its utility director, Michael Low, on Wednesday after he stormed out of a City Council meeting. The decision culminated months of controversy over his department’s handling of positive fecal tests in June 2023. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
🚜 Forest Development, the builder of the high-rise, waterfront Nautilus 220 in Lake Park, has proposed paying Riviera Beach $3.46 million for 2.2 vacant acres at 1851 Broadway. The developer wants to build 450 apartments, with 5 percent set aside for workforce housing, and some stores or restaurants on the site across the street from the Safe Harbor Rybovich boat yard. The item is on Wednesday night’s CRA agenda. (South Florida Business Journal $$$)
🏗️ Three developers including the Related Group of Miami have revealed plans for a 20-story apartment building at 1300 Broadway in Riviera Beach. It features 418 apartments with small spaces for stores and offices on a 2.45-acre site. (South Florida Business Journal $$$)
🚌 Palm Tran named Ivan Maldonado executive director. He was deputy executive officer at Metro Transit Omaha. He replaces Clinton Forbes, who died in November. (Mass Transit Magazine)
👩🏽🏫 👨🏻🏫 561 insider: Back to the mall
It pays to go to college, at least for one day at The Gardens Mall.
What’s happening: Current and incoming college students can get some return on their tuition investment with four $10 vouchers at 32 mall stores, including American Eagle, Lilly Pulitzer, Lululemon, Nike and Sephora.
Mall officials have high hopes. They’re giving away vouchers for the first 2,000 students. They say “Bring your friends.”
How it works:
Students must register online and bring proof of enrollment (acceptance letter or student ID).
Vouchers can be combined or used at different stores.
It’s during the state sales tax holiday for back-to-school items, meaning shoppers could save an additional 6 percent.
When: From 11 am to 8 pm Saturday Aug. 3.
Bonus: Enjoy a party with a root beer float station and games such as football toss, foosball and a giant Connect 4.
The bottom line: Youth mall culture is coming back for a day, plan accordingly.
🎈 A Stet welcome to our first-ever intern, Mary Rasura. Mary is a Florida Atlantic University senior who attended Dreyfoos School of the Arts and lives in Lake Worth Beach. We’re glad you are here!
🏆 And a Stet thank you to the leaders of the Speaking Up for America/Indivisible group for inviting Joel to moderate Sunday’s candidate forum in Palm Beach Gardens.
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📪 Do you have a story or tip about something we should know? Write to us at stet@stetnews.org.
