On Sept. 20, 2013, a Loxahatchee Groves resident of 24 years wrote a letter to the editor titled “Tired of Business As Usual In Groves.” The letter, in part, expressed concerns for the activities found in the commercial district of Loxahatchee Groves.
Since town hall has left Palms West Plaza, the loitering, drunkenness and unsavory activity has increased. Even the ladies of the evening are now offering a breakfast shift.
We need to improve the quality of our commercial areas. Public drunkenness is not a family value. The area is a magnet for drunks, drug addicts and vagrants. These individuals have been seen at night in close proximity to adjacent residences looking for who knows what. The Philippine restaurant moved to Royal Palm Beach because of these issues.
We have family, the elderly and our friends living next door to these hangouts. Will the council wait until one of them fall into harm’s way before taking action to protect the health, safety and welfare of our community?
The “Business as Usual” letter indicates a LGWCD board member commented that he doesn’t go that way. The author followed with “I guess if he doesn’t see it, it doesn’t affect him.” If only the LGWCD would unblock the portion of West D Road that the LGWCD occupies improperly, the board supervisor could go that way, but that is an issue for another letter.
The residents of Loxahatchee Groves deserve better.
Council, you want new businesses that produce revenue, the ULDC only allows it on Southern Blvd. The town’s womenfolk should be allowed to feel safe when going to the post office. The Groves funds the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office $283,000 annually. Apparently, it costs more than that to keep the drunks and other unsavory activity out of approximately 6 acres of the town’s commercial business district.
A donut shop would attract the sort to the area that the Groves residents would like to see.
Council action is warranted. Officially notify the commercial property owners of the community’s concern. Invite the owners to council session to discuss issues and develop initiatives to resolve.
To paraphrase the original letter of September 2013, I love my little town. I’m finding as many residents are frustrated now as back then. Two years has gone by since these issues were pointed out. Same council, same indifference, same blight to Loxahatchee Groves.
Keith Harris, Loxahatchee Groves
