elginjones3web.gifNEW RAIL SYSTEM
Plans for a $2.5 billion rail line along the eastern coast corridor from Jupiter in Palm Beach County to Miami in Miami-Dade County has gained the approval of the metropolitan planning organizations in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The proposed train will have 40 to 60 stops and would also use a bus shuttle service to connect to and complement Tri-Rail service. It will create around 26,000 jobs. The Florida Department of Transportation will now under take environmental impact studies and other assessments to complete the feasibility part of the process.

Palm Beach County

FATHER BUSTED
Anthony Genovese, 41, of Lantana was arrested and charged with child neglect on Friday, Nov. 5, after police were called to his home and found alcohol stored in his teenage daughter’s bedroom and a marijuana cigarette in a living room ash tray. A stripper pole had been erected and a party was apparently taking place. One of his two daughters said the liquor was for a party the teens were having. Another daughter said the marijuana belonged to her and her father allowed her to smoke it in the house, according to the arrest affidavit.

BOGUS LANDLORD
Albert William Linden, 44, was arrested for allegedly advertising and renting rooms in a $2 million home that did not belong to him. Linden was being sought for making off with $40,000 in deposits put up as down payments for the rentals. He was arrested last month in New York and returned to Palm Beach County, where he is being held without bail.

CAUCUS CONTROVERSY
Newly elected Congressman Allen West  had named controversial radio talk-show host Joyce Kaufman as his chief of staff, but she had to withdraw from the job offer amid widespread critism of her appointment. Kaufman’s comments and positions on Muslims, abortion, immigration and other hot issues are what led to her withdrawal. Her appointment would have meant  West would have to spend valuable time fielding questions about Kaufman, instead of serving the district.

TREASURER FIRED
The Palm Beach County School Board voted unanimously to fire Morikami Park Elementary School Treasurer Rovielle Elmond. He had allegedly been using school funds for his personal use, most of which he repaid.  Among them was a $45,000 loan which he repaid in installments with personal checks. He also took $4,600 to buy a car. Elmond said he was unaware he was not supposed to borrow school funds for his personal use. Yeah, right. Wonder if this guy has any swamp land for sale.

Broward County

PASTORS SPEAK OUT
Pastors of churches with predominantly black memberships are speaking out on what they say is neglect in their communities. They will discuss that neglect, which they insist is being propelled by some black pastors who are following the “white evangelical model” of preaching redemption from personal sin, while ignoring the need to be saved from political and economic oppression and injustice. “The community is a reflection of the church and the church is a reflection of its pastor,” said the Rev. Mathes Guices, of Koinonia Worship Center said in a press release. “If there is a dysfunctional community, for the most part there are dysfunctional churches in that community and the pastors are the ultimate source of the dysfunction.” The issue will be discussed at a conference on the church’s role in addressing the causes of crime, youth violence, family dysfunction, education deficiencies and economic inequalities, as opposed to simply responding to the symptoms. The conference is open to the public and will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at Koinonia Worship Center, 4900 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Pembroke Park.  Panelists will include the Rev. Dr. Anthony Davis, pastor of the Church Of Brotherly Love in Deerfield Beach; the Rev. Dr. O'Neal Dozier, pastor of the Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach; the Rev. Michael Anderson, pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in West Park; and Rev. G. Vincent Lewis; chief of staff of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Miami. For more information, call 954- 964-2901.

Miami-Dade County

ELECTION CLIFFHANGER
The race for the district 8 commission seat in Miami-Dade County County is not officially decided, but former Homestead Mayor Lynda Bell has a 347-vote edge over Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn. Even though Flinn was the favorite, he was simply out-hustled by Bell, whose campaign was precise and efficient.

Elgin Jones may be reached at EJones@SFLTimes.com.