Kim Stokes: Vote No on 2 and 3 March 10 in Lake Worth Beach
Former city commissioner urges residents to stand against 99-year leases on public land
Guest column by Kimberly Stokes, president of Lake Worth 4 All and a former Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner
Lake Worth Beach has always belonged to its residents, and as someone deeply invested in this community, that’s something I believe is worth protecting.
Lake Worth Beach is one of only a few places in Palm Beach County where working families, seniors and longtime locals can still enjoy a public beach and family-friendly parks without feeling priced out of their own hometown. To protect what makes our community special and accessible, we must vote NO on charter amendments 2 and 3 on March 10.
At first glance, these amendments may seem like technical changes to charter language, but they carry very real consequences for our community.
Right now, residents have an important safeguard written into our charter: Major, long-term development deals involving city-owned property require voter approval. I believe that protection matters because it keeps decisions about publicly-owned land in the hands of the people who live here.
Amendments 2 and 3 would severely weaken that protection.
Under these changes, the city could enter into much longer leases with private developers for up to 99 years without a public vote, removing residents’ direct say over large-scale development at our beach and other city-owned properties.
Why does this matter? Because access and affordability go hand in hand.
Across South Florida, we’ve watched waterfront spaces slowly shift from community gathering places into destinations shaped by luxury development, rising fees and limited public access. Lake Worth Beach has remained different because charter protections were put in place specifically to prevent overdevelopment and preserve public use.
If Amendments 2 and 3 pass, that balance will change.
Long-term private control of public beachfront property means higher costs for residents. What begins as redevelopment can quickly lead to expensive parking, fewer accessible amenities and less space at the very beach our tax dollars maintain.
At a time when affordability is top of mind for so many families, I believe we should be protecting access to public spaces, not risking making them harder for residents to enjoy.
Just as concerning is transparency. These amendments shift decision making away from voters and toward negotiations residents may only hear about after deals are done. We simply cannot give up our right to public oversight of these negotiations. No matter where you stand on future development, we should all agree that we, the residents of Lake Worth Beach, deserve a voice in shaping our hometown.
This isn’t about stopping progress. It’s about protecting participation.
On March 10, we have a clear choice: Keep our friendly, inclusive spirit and welcoming sense of place by preserving public access, affordability and transparency, or give up our right to participate in deciding the future of our own city.
As neighbors and residents, let’s protect what makes Lake Worth Beach ours and safeguard our community for future generations. Vote NO on Amendments 2 and 3.
Commissioner Segrich's editorial is far more grounded in reality and fact-based than this, which is largely an appeal to emotion. Socialists are like that.
This vote also affects properties all over LWB. Citizens should keep their right to vote, no on two and three, to retain the decision on development plans. Our situation today was guided by commissioners. The thought that three commissioners, now or future, will suddenly know what is best for the entire city is absurd. It's more likely any three commissioners will vote for a bad project than an entire city. Three commissioners could eliminate a park not in their own district, meaning residents living there didn't even elect the commissioners who change their neighborhood forever, 99 years. A full vote of the public, rather than 3 commissioners who are bombarded with developers, lobbied, campaign-donated, and even misled. Three people who may have no experience in these kinds of projects. At least with a public vote, the project is viewed openly and vetted, and the commissioners and public both win.