News & Updates
April 2024
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A Message from your County Commissioner | |
Dear Palm Beach County District 3 residents,
As we step into April, I'm delighted to take a moment to reflect on the productive month of March and the numerous engagements we shared as a community. Throughout the past month, my team and I remained steadfast in our commitment to serving you, our fellow residents.
From coordinating resource fairs and strip mall tours to attending community events and meetings, I embraced every opportunity to connect with you, the backbone of our community. Together, we explored avenues to promote self-sufficiency among our youth, connect families with valuable resources and provide crucial assistance on matters such as first-time home buying and emergency rental aid.
I've been actively engaged in discussions surrounding the development of a Hispanic multicultural center, ensuring that our community's diverse voices are heard and respected. Additionally, I've remained vigilant in advocating for policy changes aimed at combating human trafficking, safeguarding our communities and upholding the values we hold dear.
Through events like the "Coffee with Mike" series and community celebrations, I've cherished the opportunity to directly engage with you, listen to your concerns and work together to find solutions. Through these personal interactions, we can truly make a difference and strengthen the bonds that unite us as neighbors and friends.
As we look ahead to the coming months, I remain committed to serving you with integrity and dedication. Let's continue to uphold the principles that make our district strong and vibrant.
Warm regards,
Commissioner Michael Barnett
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Barnett's Boots on the Ground | |
Commissioner Barnett and his staff explored Restoration Bridge International (RBI) Facilities on March 13. RBI was founded in 2001 and, as of 2023, has tirelessly served over 90 million pounds of food to Palm Beach County residents in need. | |
Pictured Left to Right: Director of Operations for Restoration Bridge International Jason Mandle, Assistant to Director Tammy Rice, Executive Director Pastor Daniel West and Commissioner Michael A. Barnett. | |
During the tour, attention was drawn to RBI's urgent need for additional warehouse space equipped with refrigeration to preserve perishable items. Their founder, Pastor Daniel West, exemplifies this organization's dedication, whose vision to fight hunger has turned into a force for good. | |
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Commissioner Barnett enjoyed attending the Town of Lake Clarke Shores Annual St. Patrick's Day BBQ celebration. It was a joyous occasion where residents had the opportunity to meet and greet neighbors and town officials for Lake Clarke Shores. The catfish, corn, beef and pork served were delicious, hitting all the right flavors. A big thank you goes out to all the sponsors whose support made the event possible and to the Town of Lake Clarke Shores for hosting another memorable barbecue! | |
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Virginia Savietto, senior administrative assistant to Commissioner Gregg K. Weiss and the Latino Leadership Alliance for graciously allowing us to address the attendees. | |
Commissioner Barnett was honored to have the opportunity to engage with the Latinos Leadership Alliance during their meeting on March 16. It was a pleasure to meet Dr. Gabriela Mendez from the Hispanic Education Coalition of Palm Beach County and to hear her insightful remarks on community engagement for the betterment of our students and educators. | |
Please join us at the next Latinos Leadership Alliance Meeting on April 27 at 9 a.m. Extraordinary Charities 2635 Old Okeechobee Road, West Palm Beach 33409. For more information, visit facebook.com/Latinosleadershipalliance. | |
Commissioner Barnett attended the Family Resource Fair hosted at the Greenacres Community Center, where he witnessed the heartwarming turnout of families and children. Many Community partners and sister agencies, such as The Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, HomeSafe, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Palm Beach County, and 211 Palm Beach Special Needs Helpline, provided the community with toys, snacks, games, resources and information. | |
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Palm Beach County Commissioner Barnett attended the inaugural FLITE Center Palm Beach Gunther Motor Company Collective Impact Awards Gala. The gala, presented by South Florida Business & Wealth, was held at the Ben Hotel in West Palm Beach and commemorated the dedication and contributions of key community leaders pivotal to establishing the FLITE Center in Palm Beach County. Distinguished guests included Palm Beach County Vice Mayor Marino, Commissioner Baxter and Commissioner Weiss. In a gesture of recognition, Commissioner Barnett, alongside Commissioner Baxter, presented a proclamation to the FLITE Center, designating Feb. 27 as FLITE Center Day in Palm Beach County. | |
Commissioner Barnett participated in the "Why Did You Stop Me?" workshop. The workshop, co-hosted by the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission and Captain Todd Baer from The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, aimed to help the community and law enforcement understand each other's perspectives to serve the community better. Thirty-five other community representatives also attended the workshop. | |
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During a special bus unveiling, Commissioner Barnett joined members of the Forbes family, fellow Palm Beach County commissioners, administration and Palm Tran staff. The bus wrap celebrates and honors the life and leadership of the late Executive Director Clinton B. Forbes. Mr. Forbes' legacy includes more than 30 years of leadership in public transportation; he committed his professional life to improving public transportation services. | |
Commissioner Barnett joined Commissioner Bernard to present a proclamation declaring Feb. 7, 2024, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Palm Beach County Community Services Department and Compass Community Center staff members received the proclamation in honor of individuals and families affected by the disease. Commissioner Barnett provided remarks and thanked Dr. Casey Messer, who spearheads the Ryan White Program. The program offers medical and dental care, case management, housing, food services, transportation, legal services, substance abuse and mental health counseling. Initiatives like the Ryan White Program in Palm Beach County demonstrate our commitment to supporting those in need and eradicating HIV/AIDS stigma. | |
Hispanic Multicultural Resource Community Center | |
The Hispanic Multicultural Resources Community Center continues to be one of Commissioner Barnett's highest priorities, as his passion for this project and the betterment of his community are driving forces in his administration. He recently had another roundtable with leading public and private sector figures to discuss how to finance this initiative. They discussed grants that could be offered through local, state, and federal programs and various foundations that would create a public/private partnership with community/private donations towards this much-needed center. He also brought in leaders, including non-profits and those who have developed cultural centers in other areas in the state, to learn from their expertise regarding facility creation and how to connect all these individual pieces. With each step taken and every conversation had, Commissioner Barnett comes closer to actualizing this dream and advancing this informational resource hub for the community of today and the future generations of tomorrow. | |
Human Trafficking Initiative | |
What You Need to Know About Human Trafficking | |
Human Trafficking is one of the greatest issues that our country faces, with over 1,000,000 victims in the nation. Florida is the third largest trafficking state in the country, with Palm Beach County ranking third in the state for the largest population of victims. Due to this, Commissioner Barnett remains steadfast in his efforts to promote change and combat this travesty. | |
What Commissioner Barnett is Doing | |
Commissioner Barnett recently called a meeting of many county departments to discuss their human trafficking policies, awareness training and the various marketing materials available throughout the county, including Palm Tran, Palm Beach International Airport, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, and the Healthcare District. In this discussion, he also included anti-trafficking nonprofits such as the Flite Center and Pepper Behavioral Health to hear how the county could help from a victim perspective. | |
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Since this initial dialogue, staff has met with many more agencies, such as the Port of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County Victim Services, the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Taskforce, and the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches individually for a firmer grasp on the specific changes that need to be made and various action items to pursue in the name of policy improvement and awareness campaigns regarding this subject. | |
What To Do If You Suspect Trafficking | |
While much change still needs to be made worldwide to begin to slow the progression of this issue, something never to forget is that “global freedom starts with local action.” If you see someone who may be a victim or if it does not look or feel right, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 OR the Department of Children and Families Hotline for children under 18 years old: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873). | |
Commissioner Barnett hosts ''Coffee with Mike" visits at various locations within District 3. Last month, he visited with FoundCare Inc. CEO Christopher F. Irizarry. | |
FoundCare's main office in Palm Springs to engage in an open dialogue with the team. Commissioner Barnett shared insights into his role throughout the conversation and showcased a strong commitment to the community's well-being. He also attentively listened to staff members' concerns and fellow Palm Beach County residents to learn about their experiences with FoundCare. | |
April 2024 National County Government Month | |
At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on April 2, 2024, Mayor Sachs presented a proclamation declaring April 2024 as National County Government Month in Palm Beach County. The nation’s 3,069 county governments serve more than 330 million Americans and provide essential services to create healthy, safe and vibrant communities. The National Association of Counties’ theme for the month, “ForwardTogether,” highlights county leadership and celebrates the role of county governments in connecting, inspiring and leading as intergovernmental partners. | |
Pictured here (l to r): County Attorney Denise Coffman, Commissioner Sara Baxter, Commissioner Mack Bernard, Mayor Maria Sachs, Commissioner Michael Barnett, County Administrator Verdenia Baker, Vice Mayor Maria Marino, Commissioner Marci Woodward and Commissioner Gregg Weiss. | |
April 2024 Financial Literacy Month | |
At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on April 2, 2024, Commissioner Barnett presented a proclamation declaring April 2024 as Financial Literacy Month in Palm Beach County. The mission of the Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast is to inspire and promote financial literacy and economic empowerment among area students. Educational opportunities provided by the organization give educators, business professionals, and community volunteers a chance to teach lessons that connect classroom learning to real-life money management skills. | |
Pictured here (l to r): Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast (JAPBTC) Board Member Kathy Burstein, JAPBTC Board Chair Trey Fogg, JAPBTC Board Member Melissa Nash, JAPBTC President Claudia Kirk Barto, JAPBTC Board Member Rob Anderson, Commissioner Barnett, JAPBTC Board Member Tom Pinckney and JAPBTC Board Member Dr. Mary Ann DuPont. | |
April 1-5, 2024
National Community Development Week
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At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on April 2, 2024, Commissioner Barnett presented a proclamation declaring April 1-5, 2024 as National Community Development Week in Palm Beach County. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program in 1974 to provide local governments with the financial resources to assist low and moderate-income persons with affordable housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities. Over the past five years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Palm Beach County over $32 million in CDBG funds. | |
Pictured here (l to r): Water Utilities Director Ali Bayat, Facilities Development and Operations Division Director Eric McClellan, Department of Housing and Economic Development (DHED) Division Director Carlos Serrano, TED Center Executive Director Seabron Smith, Palm Beach County Black Business Investment Corporation President Pamela Stewart, DHED Capital, Real Estate and Inspection Services Manager Bud Cheney, DHED Director Jonathan Brown, Commissioner Barnett, DHED Division Director Sherry Howard, DHED Planner Yvette Cueto, DHED Planner Stefania Russell, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County Inc. Supervising Attorney Tequisha Myles, DHED Planner Joyce Grimm, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Development Coordinator Theodore Geardino and County Engineer David Ricks. | |
Palm Beach County District 3 Roads & Contruction | |
6th Avenue South Bridge Installation Update |
Visit the Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works department website for a comprehensive update on road projects at discover.pbcgov.com/Pages/Roads or call Constituent Services at 561-233-5500.
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For the past two years, crews have been working on making improvements to 6th Avenue South, and for the last year, it has been closed off west of I-95. But if all goes well, the end is in sight. The 6th Avenue South construction project started in April 2022; it set out to replace the bridge over Lake Osborne and reconstruct the mile-long roadway from Grove Street to Congress Avenue. | |
The project also included the installation of a new stormwater management system, the construction of new sidewalks, curbs, and guardrails, the installation of new mechanically stabilized earth-retaining walls, and the inclusion of a buffered bike lane along the 6th Avenue South roadway. Along the way, we experienced some setbacks that have slowed down the project, including proximity to electrical wires, which forced the contractor to work at night for ten days in August 2023. | |
The remaining work includes roadway widening, traffic railing, grinding and grooving of the bridge deck, guardrail, milling, paving, and embankment. As of today, the project is scheduled to be completed in the 2nd quarter of this year. | |
District 3 Mobile Office Hours | | | | |
