Mayors press Frankel for more funds
Congresswoman gets an earful from municipal officials.
her office might assist them. She got an earful. The mayors said more beds need to be available for the mentally ill, and they told her they’d like to get more federal funding to help with community renovation projWEST PALM BEACH — U.S. ects, tearing down abandoned Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West buildings and youth programs Palm Beach, started her day that could steer young people Wednesday tearing into Presaway from drugs and make ident Donald Trump for firing a dent in the opioid crisis. FBI Director James Comey, If there was a unif ying a topic that drove news covtheme, it was a predictable erage across the country. one: money.
But that hot topic gave way “We’ve got to get rid of all of to more municipal concerns these abandoned buildings,” when she met at the Palm Belle Glade Mayor Steve WilBeach County Governmenson said. tal Center with nine mayors Greenac re s Mayor Joel in her district, Chief Deputy Flores said he’d like to get Michael Gauger of the Palm help paying for youth proBeach County Sheriff ’s Office grams. Lantana Mayor David and Palm Beach County ComStewart said his city wants missioner Melissa McKinlay. more funding for beach resto
The goal, Frankel explained, ration. And Royal Palm Beach was to give local leaders an Mayor Fred Pinto said more update on federal issues and money is needed to combat get their feedback on how the opioid crisis.
Republican Gov. Rick Scott recently declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. Frankel asked McKinlay, who has pushed for more state and federal assistance, why it took him so long to do so.
“They hadn’t heard enough or didn’t feel it was an emergency,” McKinlay said. “It was a frustrating process.”
Fo r h e r p a r t , F r a n k e l reminded those in attendance that a recent federal funding bill includes money for local governments that have incurred security and road management expenses during President Trump’s many trips to Palm Beach County.
“The burden is spread out among the taxpayers,” Frankel said.
Turning to Gauger, whose department has borne the brunt of the security and road management tasks during Trump’s v i s i t s , she s a i d: “One of these days, Mike, the money will be in the mail.”
The congresswoman predicted that the county could see fewer presidential trips now that the weather is warming and the social season is over.
“All I can say is thank goodness it’s summer,” she joked.
Lantana Mayor David Stewart asked Gauger if so many motorcycles have to be used during presidential trips.
“Does i t re qui re 1 , 2 00 motorcycles?” Stewart asked. “I thought I was in Daytona for bike week.”
Noting the deaths over the last several years of two motorcycle-riding deputies offering campaign or presidential protection, Gauger exp l a i ne d t ha t t he l a r ge squadron of motorc ycles makes it clear to the public that they are escorting someone.