Charles Bender Featured at December Lunch

Place of Hope is a private-sector community-based child-care agency for abused and neglected children. Charles will share his insights into how the private sector can effectively address social issues and work together with government agencies to help low-income individuals and families, the homeless and at-risk/dependent children and youth.

---

Charles is the Founding Executive Director of Place of Hope, a faith-based and state-licensed family-style residential child-caring agency for abused and neglected children, located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He earned his B.A. degree in Sociology from Florida Atlantic University and also studied at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Charles came to Place of Hope in 1999 following many years of work with various housing, social, and human services organizations throughout Palm Beach County. He has participated in numerous community committees, task forces, special initiatives, and boards. He has been a team member of several other local leading organizations including: Palm Beach County Housing and Community Development, Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc., the City of Delray Beach Community Development Division. The majority of Charles’ work has involved low-income individuals and families, homeless and substance abusing populations, and at-risk/dependent children and youth. Prior to spearheading implementation of Place of Hope, Charles was a primary volunteer in the multi-year visioning and development processes while still a “vision” of Christ Fellowship (founding church).

Charles has significant experience developing and administering social programs and low-income housing initiatives, executing growth plans, implementing federal, state, and local funding programs, building organizational capacity and community coalitions, enhancing service delivery systems, raising capital and annual operating funds, and managing overall non-profit operations.

Thoughts on the Election with Sid Dinerstein

When we first booked Sid Dinerstein for his “after-election, looking-forward” thoughts, our current electoral chaos was not anticipated. With four races still in flux eight days after the election, we still don’t know with certainty where we will be when the dust settles, but Sid did have some encouraging words for us.

Starting with the fact that the military ballots (which lean considerably Republican) have not yet been tallied, and that recounts rarely if ever move votes in any substantive way, he opined that DeSantis and Scott will likely prevail. With the current 5,000 vote deficit, it does not look as good for Matt Caldwell. It is clear that the Supervisors of Election in Broward and Palm Beach must be replaced before the next election, and we need to work towards that end.

On a national level, losing the House was not a desired outcome, but it has interesting ramifications for 2020. Gridlock will ensue, not some Progressive tsunami. Sid believes we will have no immigration reform and no wall, but with an expanded majority in the Senate we will have judges. When President Trump is done he will have appointed fully 1/3 of federal bench. Deregulation is likely to continue (it doesn’t need Congress), as will trade negotiations, and the economy will continue its good performance. With the expectation that House Democrats will be out to torture Trump with endless investigations and impeachment, something even most Democrats are not asking for, a big 2020 sweep for the President is likely.

On the state level, Rick DeSantis origins in the Freedom Caucus bode well for no tax increases, more school choice, continued growth in population and tourism, a low crime rate, and no Medicaid expansion – a complete opposite of what a Governor Gillum would have sought. We will continue what Sid sees as the “Golden Age of Florida.’ And lest we forget, we will have 3 new conservative justices on the Florida Supreme Court in January.

Overall, not a bad outlook!

Sid was introduced by current GOP Chair Michael Barnett who calls Sid his mentor. Michael also asked for volunteers to help with the “count watching” at SOE as the hand recounts begin shortly. We also had at the meeting victorious State Representatives Rick Roth (HD85), Mary Lynn Magar (HD82), and Michael Caruso who is currently ahead by 37 votes in HD89, and Palm Beach Gardens Councilman Matthew Lane.

Please join us on Wednesday, December 19 for Charles Bender, Executive Director of the Place of Hope who will give us an update on their activities, and we will also have a little holiday music.

Thoughts on the Election Just Past – 11/14

With the election over,  it looks like Florida delivered (subject to a recount on the Senate race).   Although Republicans lost a House Majority, we held our own CD18 seat, the Governor’s Office and (subject to a recount for Ag Commissioner) the cabinet.  At this writing, Rick Scott has about a 22K lead on Bill Nelson.

Nationally, with a Democrat House, it will certainly put a crimp in the Trump agenda and we can look forward to investigations, harassment of administration figures, and the return of “Speaker Pelosi”.   We may even be dealing with the spectacle of impeachment for no reasonable cause – both the President and Justice Kavenaugh.  An expanded Senate majority though, and a new Attorney General will give our side the means of fighting back.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back about your business!

Sid will give his thoughts on what the election results mean for all of us.

---