Stet NewsHappy Election Day! — although the data shows most of you have already voted. Also, America’s mayor casts his ballot in West Palm, the latest on plans for a new African-American museum and the ghostly pall left by the founders of the county’s oldest working theater. And, to our kind supporters, thank you if you’ve already given to our matching donor program. If not, scroll down to see how to help.
🗳 Embracing early voting
As we enter old-school Election Day in Palm Beach County, about two-thirds of registered voters from both major parties have cast ballots.
While Democrats in Palm Beach County split their votes evenly between mail-in ballots and those cast at early voting sites, Republicans leaned heavily toward in-person early voting. Nearly half cast ballots at early voting sites while just a fifth voted by mail, county election data show.
- Palm Beach County’s registration breakdown is 37% Democratic, 32.2% Republican and 30.8% no party or minor party. Registration rose by more than 27,000 since the August primary, to 896,037.
Election conspiracy theorists note: If the county records more than 900,000 votes, something is wrong.
Statewide, nearly six in 10 registered voters had cast their ballot by Monday morning, the Florida Division of Elections website shows. Florida has 13.95 million registered voters.
- Nearly 40 percent are Republicans and 32 percent are Democrats.
While more than 60 percent of all Republicans statewide (64%) and Democrats (61%) had voted by Monday, just one-fifth of non-major party voters had cast a ballot.
In Palm Beach County, about half of those non-major party voters turned out; one-third at early voting sites and one-fifth by mail.
The polls will be open from 7 am to 7 pm today. How people voted won’t be available until polls close. Results will be published on the supervisor of elections website here.
Why it matters: Aside from the hotly contested presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, voters will select a U.S. senator, U.S. House members, state legislators, county commissioners, state attorney, sheriff, election supervisor, school board members, judges and decide six amendments to the state constitution, including legalization of marijuana and access to abortion.
- Voters also will be asked to approve a half-cent sales tax for Palm Beach County schools.
Voters braved long lines at many of the county’s 26 early voting sites to cast 344,000 votes since early voting began Oct. 21.
The sites with the most votes recorded as of Monday morning:
- Lantana Road Branch Library, 22,201.
- Wellington Branch Library, 21,735.
- Palm Beach Gardens Branch Library, 20,176.
Drawing the highest percentage of Democrats:
- Belle Glade Library, 62.3%.
- Loula York Branch Library in Pahokee, 62.2%.
- Wells Recreation Community Center in Riviera Beach, 62.1%.
Drawing the highest percentage of Republicans:
- Tequesta Council Chambers, 57.3%.
- Jupiter Community Center, 55.1%.
- West Jupiter Community Center, 51.8%.
Three locations in or around Boca Raton drew the heaviest percentage of non-major party voters, at about a third each. They were the Glades Road Branch Library, Sugar Sand Park Community Center and the Spanish River Library.
— Joel Engelhardt
🏘 Rudy votes for his condo
When former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani emerged Thursday from voting at Gaines Park Community Center in West Palm Beach, the 80-year-old disbarred lawyer said it was the first time he had cast a ballot outside his beloved home state.
What he didn’t say: His 6-month-old Florida voter registration, along with his July decision to declare a $3.5 million condo in Palm Beach as his residence, is being hotly contested in federal court.
What they’re saying: “Rudolph W. Giuliani does not live in Florida. But he is pretending to in a brazen attempt to shield his luxury Palm Beach condo from his creditors.” That’s from the attorneys who are working to recover a $148 million judgment from Giuliani for defaming two Georgia election workers in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
Why residency matters? Florida’s constitution says a homestead can’t be seized to pay off a judgment. Florida is one of six states that provide such protection, earning it the reputation as a “debtor’s haven,” a magnet for people trying to shield assets.
How does voting fit in? Having a Florida voter’s registration card is one of several documents — along with a driver’s license and vehicle registration — that property appraisers use when granting homestead exemptions.
While Giuliani insisted the 2023 judgment will be reversed on appeal, his election-denying work for former President Donald Trump has already cost him.
A federal judge in Manhattan on Oct. 22 ordered him to turn over his $5 million New York City apartment, sports memorabilia, pricey watches and a 1980 Mercedes to the two women he falsely accused of election fraud.
- If Trump pays the $2 million that Giuliani says the former president owes him, they get that, too.
A decision about whether he will be forced to relinquish his Palm Beach condo is up to another judge, who is reviewing the legitimacy and timing of Giuliani’s Florida residency.
Court documents show:
- Giuliani said he got his Florida driver’s license on Feb. 22.
- He registered his now seized 1980 Mercedes (once owned by Hollywood star Lauren Bacall) on May 4.
- He registered to vote and filed for a homestead exemption, which was granted, on May 18.
- He filed a “declaration of Florida domicile” with the county clerk’s office on July 14.
Yes, but. Attorneys for election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, took steps to seize the condo on Aug. 8. They said documents alone don’t prove residency. A person has to actually live in the house.
While Giuliani insists he does, he got the address wrong while testifying in a bankruptcy hearing.
“Gosh, I hardly have to use the address,” he said. He then said it was “316, that’s it, OK, South Lake Drive.” The address is 315 South Lake Drive.
— Jane Musgrave
🏘 $80 million Roosevelt High rebuild, Black history museum picking up steam
Momentum is building for a long-sought African American museum and library at the site of the historic Roosevelt High School in West Palm Beach.
What’s happening: About 70 people gathered Wednesday to discuss the project at a town hall meeting led by Danita DeHaney, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
Why it matters: Construction of the $80 million campus that will include the African American Museum and Research Library began with a ground-breaking in February at the former Roosevelt site at Tamarind Avenue and 15th Street.
On Sept. 6, the Palm Beach County School Board committed $30 million on top of an initial $20 million. And now, a newly formed board is leading the fundraising for the remaining $30 million.
- Board members include County Administrator Verdenia Baker, County Commissioner Mack Bernard, state Rep. Bobby Powell and DeHaney.
Flashback: The museum, library and cultural center have been in the planning stages since the high school closed with the graduating Class of 1970. Over the years, three groups interested in preserving the history of the school and the neighborhood sprouted.
Cora Perry (Class of 1965), is president of the Industrial/Roosevelt High School National Alumni Association and Friends; Annie Ruth Nelson (Class of 1967), is president of the African Research Library and Cultural Center of Palm Beach County; and Debbye Raing (Class of 1966), is president of the Palm Beach County African Diaspora Historical and Cultural Society.
All three had a common goal, so they joined forces.
“Now we’re one voice,” Perry said.
Read more about what’s ahead for the museum here.
– Janis Fontaine
🍊 The Juice
⚖️ Claiming the Juno Beach Town Council engaged in illegal contract zoning, a neighbor sued to block the town’s approval of Pulte Homes’ 40-unit townhome project on Donald Ross Road west of U.S. 1. William Black claimed the developer’s offer of $100,000 toward a town park amounted to contract zoning. His St. Petersburg attorney also claimed the town did not follow proper procedures and asked a three-judge appellate panel to quash the town’s Sept. 25 approval. (See the lawsuit here)
🇮🇹 Confirmation that Eataly is coming to CityPlace late next year has arrived. It’s expected to open in fall 2025. (Miami New Times)
The woman who pleaded guilty to dressing up like a clown and killing a Wellington mother in 1990 has been released from prison after serving 18 months for second-degree murder. (Associated Press)
🪪 Palm Beach County state Rep. Rick Roth’s journey from opponent to supporter of the 2023 Florida law that requires businesses to verify worker immigration status. (ProPublica)
🔎 561NSIDER: Searching for spirits in Lake Worth Beach
This week marks the 100th anniversary of the Lake Worth Playhouse.
Why it matters: On Nov. 3, 1924, brothers Lucien and Clarence Oakley launched the Art Deco landmark on Lake Avenue as the Oakley Theater.
- In addition to being the oldest working theater in Palm Beach County, the playhouse is the home to alleged paranormal players.
Flashback: Reports of ghost sightings date to the 1930s, Helen Greene, the former Lake Worth Historical Museum curator, told writer Joe Capozzi.
- “There were people who said they heard voices and said the organ played without anyone at the organ. They really believed it,’’ she said.
Over the years, reports of “considerable energy upstairs,’’ a black handprint on a newly paneled wall and unexplained noises contributed to the theater’s lore.
What they’re saying: “I can definitely say I’ve heard stuff and felt things. I definitely think the Oakley brothers have a presence,’’ said Katherine Lamb, the playhouse’s marketing director.
Believe in them or not, the brothers have brought publicity and revenue to the nonprofit playhouse.
- They inspired the 2010 fictional short film “Lumiere Fantome” (“Ghost Light” in French), shot at the playhouse and narrated by actor Burt Reynolds, who performed at the playhouse before becoming a Hollywood star.
- They’ve been portrayed by actors leading haunted playhouse tours.
What’s happening: On Dec. 3, the playhouse will host a Roaring ‘20s-style centennial celebration with hors d’oeuvres, desserts and drinks from a password-only speakeasy.
- There will be a band, silent movies with live piano accompaniment, birthday cake and a silent auction.
- Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their best ’20s attire.
- Tickets are $100 per couple and $60 for singles, with the proceeds going to playhouse renovations.
There’s more to the story: Read about the Oakley brothers’ imprint on Lake Worth Beach history, their tragic end and the modern-day search for their spirits at ByJoeCapozzi.
— Reported by Joe Capozzi
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table Saturday at NAMIWalks in John Prince Park. We loved meeting our new and established readers. In addition to passing out some nifty Stet News swag, our team raised more than $3,200 to support NAMI’s national goal of “Mental Health for All.”
And on another personal note, while you’re waiting for election results to roll in tonight, tune to True Oldies 95.5 FM at 7 pm for radio host Anita Mitchell’s interview with Stet’s Joel Engelhardt. The interview, videotaped in August, also will appear on the “What’s Your Story with Anita Mitchell” website here.
