Once again I bring you KUDOs and KOs, an easy overview of the ones who get it, and those who desperately need to...

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KUDOS...to Glenn Beck as a historian and patriot by continually informing the American public on the history of the Progressive movement inside our political structure. Progressive elements are identified in both major political parties with their agenda being in opposition to the basic tenets of the American Constitution… Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…

KO...to the Obama administration for not responding the Mr. Beck’s accusations that not only is our President the most liberal occupant of the White House of all times but of also being in opposition to his own party, the Democratic party, by advancing positions that covertly are aimed at changing the basic tenets of the constitution and replacing those tenets with a social democracy designed to redistribute wealth through big government control…


KUDOS to the Obama Administration for granting Temporary Protective Status to Haitian nationals within the Unites States and for accelerating the immigration process for those orphans that have waiting U.S. adoptive homes to come too. Haiti is the most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere, in part, because the U.S. set by nearly 40 years tolerating the Duvalier regime. A national blunder by us...Humanitarian aide is the least we can now do... However, the future would be best served by encouraging private sector investment in Haiti employing a hearty and willing workforce in a God fearing nation where family values will flourish given a reasonable chance.

KUDOS to Governor Crist for access to Florida medical facilities for Haitians with serious life threatening injuries. The Governor announced that Florida’s projected budget has a surplus for the first time in years. Charity is the greatest virtue. We, Floridians, can show a little charity in this hour of darkness facing our island neighbors.

KUDOS to the American Red Cross for its efforts in Haiti and around the world. Yvonne and I attended the American Red Cross Gala at Donald Trump’s Mar-o-Lago in Palm Beach. The commitment of Palm Beach Society is overwhelming even in this down economy and after the Madoff scandal. An incredible event with Ambassadors from over a dozen countries present and participating.

KUDOS to Enterprise Florida for advancing the international trade and finance agenda as the growth opportunity for Florida to emerge from the economic slump of the last two years. At its quarterly meeting in January, Manny Mencia, Senior Vice President, International Trade and Finance operations, made a strong case for directing this years efforts to increasing Florida exports.

KO... to Palm Beach County’s administration and official economic development agencies for continuing to be missing in action when it comes to recognizing the merits of Enterprise Florida’s focus on international trade and finance. International trade is estimated to be In excess of 100 billion dollars statewide. World Trade Center Palm Beach uncovered over a half billion dollars in import and export economic activities within Palm Beach County’s borders. To date, no official efforts have been made in an attempt to harness this newly identified economic business activity.
Wake up folks, International business is more than the next real estate deal.


KUDOS to the city of Austin, Texas for identifying a special talent and recruiting that talent away from Palm Beach County. Kevin Johns, the former Economic Development Director for the County has left for Austin and will now take his international strategic which received for two years in running recognition as the nation’s top international business strategy to that city in the state of Texas. Good for Austin, bad for Palm Beach.

KO...to Palm Beach County’s administration for cutting the economic development department’s budget by near 45% over the last two years resulting with the lose of a very significant talent and focus. There are many in the Palm Beach County economic development community that will be happy with Kevin’s departure and will rejoice with the renewed reality of the county not setting an economic development agenda but shifting this to designated outside agencies. That is full circle back to the way business was done pre-2003, pre-Scripps….For those of us that remember, that sure worked out well, didn’t it…How soon we forget…



KUDOS to the Port of Palm Beach for proceeding forward with aggressive business development efforts in spite of the opposition from those that are late to the table and now have paralysis through analysis. Port of Palm Beach had been advancing the intermodal logistic center in western Palm Beach County with the cooperation of the state and now over the objection of the state. POPB has been honoring a process over time. To now have a state road block put up seems more political than not. The Everglades restoration program will not be affected by the South Bay location. To believe the contrary is merely an excuse to support the Governor’s preferred location in Hendry County and the overly expensive land acquisition deal he has encouraged with the U.S. Sugar Corporation.

KO...to the state of Florida for an eleventh hour roadblock of the efforts by the Port of Palm Beach to get ready for new business opportunities that are calculated from the expansion of the Panama Canal. The fact is that in order to capture this business, we, in Florida, need to be ready with the intermodal logistic center prior to the completion of the canal. I suggest that in order to assure that timeline, the location issue is decided; the funding identified; and the shovels in the ground, now!!!!!


KUDOS to the Photographic Center in West Palm Beach for the grand opening and its attraction of world class photo opportunities. This is the bright spot to have emerged form the political fight over the location issue for the new city hall and the library matter. A sweetheart deal for sure but at least there seems to be an actual return on the investment.

KO to the Citizens of West Palm Beach for letting an election of three city commissioners in March 2010 go virtually without any challenges. I do not argue that the incumbents are without merit but do argue that citizen apathy seems higher than ever in a city that clearly has a history of citizen involvement with its elected officials.


KUDOS to the Port of Palm Beach and the Bahamas Celebration Cruise Line for signing a five-year agreement bringing the cruise line to the Port of Palm Beach. Under the agreement, the 680-foot Bahamas Celebration will begin offering two-day cruises next month from Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island. A special advantage is that the ship has capacity to facilitate freight and cargo on these trips…..Shopping in Palm Beach anyone?????

KO to Tropical Shipping for announcing it will close a 108,000 sq ft warehouse on April 2 resulting in the layoff of 35 to 40 workers at the Port of Palm Beach location. Tropical Shipping a major supplier of groceries and other goods to the Caribbean, says tumbling cargo volumes are necessitating this move. Anticipated volume increases are expected to reserve this decision in the future. Employees may be rehired by the company in other positions during this downturn.

The end…phew….I apologize….it has been nearly 5 months since I published my newsletter. There are so many more things that are going on but I fear reader boredom….Thank you for continuing to participate and I welcome your input and your articles…

--Al Zucaro