Here is the story; the City of Lake Worth is helping us fight Palm Beach County Government.  Namely Commissioner Joanne Golden is advocating for small business against unethical charges, and misapplied fees being put to small businesses.  Mayor Varela in support of the small businesses has drafted a letter to Palm Beach County, asking them to reconsider these “fees” and also feels they are being misapplied.  We all must respond to this, it is vital because…where does it end?

The current argument to charge me, to pay musicians to play here (yes you read that correctly…) Is based on venues that “charge for music,” as you all know Havana Hideout and many other bars in town do not charge for music and offer it free to their patrons to make their visit more enjoyable, and quite honestly to get you to stick around! 

Ann Gannon’s argument (and this is printed in the paper!)  Is that by creating this hospitable environment, people are coming into my establishment and spending money on food, drink etc….therefore…..wait for it……I’m charging for the music!  Yep in black and white…

The really scary thing about this mentality, is it has no end and can be converted to fit any reasoning…….I keep the garden pretty, plants trimmed, and flowers blooming for the enjoyment of my guests….do I now need to pay for a landscaping license because people like to enjoy the garden with a glass of sangria?  I keep the bathrooms clean and stocked; do I now need a janitorial license?  I paint the cracked and peeling walls…do I need a painting license?  I pressure wash my sidewalk and walkways to keep them clean….am I to be charged for a pressure cleaning license?  Where does this insane excuse for logic stop?  It is dangerous, and people need to speak up. 

If they get away with this, fewer musicians will be hired to work, this will affect commerce, which affects revenues, which affects the lively hood of many of our local residents, and their ability to pay their electric bills, rent, not to mention spend any money at the play house, or Kilwins, or any number of businesses struggling to survive for that matter.

Please respond…Tell the city commissioners to keep up the fight and that we support them supporting us!

Below their contact information is a typical job description for being an employee at the Tax Collectors office…they have more benefits, paid vacations and holidays….than I have ever gotten in my 60+ hour work week, I guess they gotta pay for it somehow…the Palm Beach Post article follows the job descriptions.

Rene’ Varela (Mayor) rvarela@lakeworth.org

Jo-Ann Golden (Vice Mayor) jgolden@lakeworth.org

Then Tell Palm Beach County, Ann Gannon and The Governor how you feel

Ann Gannon;    taxconta@pbcgov.org

Charlie Crist;   Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

Thanks again to everyone, we love ya!

Chrissy Benoit

Owner

Havana Hideout