In his remarks, the president quoted Luke 12:48: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” The president sees this verse as a command for him to raise taxes on the successful so the money can be “spread around” to the less successful. If the president’s interpretation of this verse sounds a little like Karl Marx, it should. Marx said, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” click for balance of article

“PASTOR MARK D. BOYKIN AND THE ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC PASTORS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY WILL SPEAK AGAINST THE PROPOSED GAMBLING REFERENDUM BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS”
 
Contact:  Martin Camacho (561) 329-7896
 
West Palm Beach, Florida (December 19, 2011).   Pastor Mark D. Boykin, Senior Pastor of Church of All Nations in Boca Raton and the Association of Hispanic Pastors of Palm Beach County will be speaking against the proposed gambling referendum by the Palm Beach County Commission on:
 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011
9:30 AM
Palm Beach County Commission Chambers, 6th Floor
301 Oliver Road
West Palm Beach, Florida
 
The Palm Beach County Commission plans to take a final vote whether to hold a referendum on November 2012, asking voters to allow slots machines at the county’s parimutuel facility, the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach and the old jai-alai fronton in Mangolia Park.  Allowing slot machines would also open the door to more of the casino-style gambling long advocated by the kennel club owners, the influential Rooney family.
 
 “This referendum will be a waste of taxpayers money, and their proposal will bring higher crime rates, and violence to  a neighborhood already in need,” said Pastor Mark D. Boykin.  “I believe that everything that happens in Vegas, must stay in Vegas, and we do not need the kind of crime, prostitution, and others evils associated with gambling to expand in Florida,” continued Pastor Mark D. Boykin.
 
“For decades we have cultivated a family-friendly vacation postcard image here in Florida and this proposed referendum is a waste of taxpayers money and will destroy our image,” said Pastor Valentin Fontanes, President of the Association of Hispanic Pastors of Palm Beach County.
 
According to NeighborhoodScout.com and based on FBI data from all 17,000 local law enforcement agencies across the United States, the City of Las Vegas, Nevada has 3 of the top 20 most dangerous neighborhoods with the highest predicted rates of violent crime in America.  (#3 Balzar Avenue; #4 N. 28th Street; and #8 D Street; all neighborhoods in the City of Las Vegas).
 
“There have been a numbers of studies that show that gambling does not bring any economic advantages and more importantly it brings a higher rate of crime,” ended Pastor Mark D. Boykin.
 
Pastor Mark D. Boykin, Pastor Valentin Fontanes and others members of the Association of Hispanic Pastors of Palm Beach County will be speaking at the Palm Beach County Commission Meeting. For more information on C.A.G.E (citizens Against Gambling click here

Mark Boykin, a pastor at the Church of All Nations, led the “March of the Crèche” to City Hall on Tuesday. The procession was made up of men, women and children.

Boykin began his fight in December 2009 when he lobbied to get a nativity scene placed beside the menorah at the city library. The city had a Christmas tree on display, but Boykin argued that it wasn’t a secular symbol.
Last year, he led the charge to include a Christmas crèche with City Hall’s other holiday decorations.

In November, Boca Raton leaders decided not to allow holiday decorations of any kind inside city buildings. However, after complaints from residents, the city reversed its decision Monday.

“We already know that whether we have decorations or not is not going to prevent those that wish to come forward and say their peace and get their news coverage,” Mayor Susan Whelchel said at Monday’s City Council meeting. “It’s not going to make a difference one way or the other, so I don’t think we should deny ourselves the opportunity to be part of the joy of the season.”

The city agreed to allow Christmas trees, a menorah and a “Season’s Greetings” sign, but Boykin said that’s not enough.

Nobody from the city would speak to WPBF 25 News. A statement from the city said the decision is “consistent with Supreme Court and other judicial rulings.”

“There we go again,” Boykin said. “We’re chasing our tail. Again, she does that to try and get the pressure off, but the crèche is still not allowed. Why is the crèche being discriminated against? That’s the question.” Click here for article

A few weeks ago, the City of Boca Raton decided not to have any holiday decorations inside City Hall or public libraries in an effort to avoid upsetting the group. But the Mayor admitted Tuesday that was a mistake. She says there will be protestors regardless what city leaders decide, and she’s also heard from many residents who miss the decorations. In an about-face, the city voted Monday night to permit holiday symbols inside city buildings that the U.S. Supreme Court deems allowable. It includes Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs. The Supreme Court says both those symbols don’t necessarily signify religion.

But that isn’t enough for members of the Church of All Nations who feel they have the right to display the crèche and other religious symbols anywhere.The City of Boca Raton has set aside a place for all religious decorations in Sanborn Square off Federal Highway. That is a place where nativity scenes and Jewish symbols like the Star of David are allowed. To view complete article click here

Boca Raton to skip holiday displays

Tired of the annual battle over holiday decorations — a seasonal tradition in sensitive South Florida — Boca Raton this year has opted not to display any imagery, religious or otherwise, at City Hall and other facilities. It joins at least one other South Florida city, Weston, in avoiding the wrath of special interest groups by taking a pass on holiday displays.

“The city seems to be in the middle of a decoration maelstrom,” Boca Assistant City Manager Michael Woika said Thursday. “The last few years we’ve tried to strike a balance on decorations, but it seems like we’ve not been able to do that.” Every season, cities grapple with the issue of what to display and where, and how to dodge the seasonal squabble over holiday decorations from religious and secular groups.

Many cities — including Davie, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Lighthouse Point and Tamarac — try to appease everyone by exhibiting the whole spectrum of displays, a menorah next to a manger, for example. That complies with a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said such displays were not unconstitutional because they endorse no particular religion. Some cities, such as Sunrise, avoid overtly religious displays, like nativity scenes, in City Hall and city parks, but allow such displays in more neutral areas such as civic centers. In Tamarac, a Christmas tree and menorah are on display at the city’s Community Center.

“We have not had any controversy,” said city spokesman Chad Quinn. But Boca Raton can’t seem to dodge that controversy. For the third year in a row, a local pastor plans to launch a salvo at City Hall because it’s bereft of religious Christmas imagery, which he says discriminates against Christians. “Just when you think the city of Boca Raton officials would join in the Christmas spirit, they have engaged in an act of insanity,” said Mark D. Boykin of the Church of All Nations.

This weekend, Boykin will ask his congregants to fashion small creches and join him in carrying them to City Hall on Tuesday. “All we’re asking is just put up a creche, put one up in the spirit of unity,” he said.

“As in years past, he comes to the steps, he makes an impassioned speech, then he and his followers bring the creches in,” Woika said. “He’s exhibiting what he believes to be the appropriate thing.” TO VIEW THIS ARTICLE CLICK HERE

A final vote of the commission is set for Dec. 20. Upon approval by commissioners and then voters, slot machines would be allowed at the track, the county’s only pari-mutuel. Seven pari-mutuels in Broward and Miami-Dade counties have voter-approved slots. A 2009 amendment to the Florida Constitution allowed the two counties to conduct referendums on whether to allow the machines. MORE

One gambling company’s monstrous vision for Miami triggers concerns

As a betting man, I’ll set odds of 50-to-1 against the South Florida resort casino bill co-sponsored by state Sen. Ellyn Bodganoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, from being approved in the legislative session that starts in January.
With so many opponents and hurdles, a 2-percent chance sounds right.

Even if the bill gets through a Legislature that’s been historically anti-gambling, socially conservative and fiercely protective of Central Florida’s theme parks and convention business, there’s no telling what Gov. Rick Scott would do when it lands on his desk. He likes jobs and new business, but in a recent meeting with the Sun Sentinel editorial board he made clear his personal aversion to gambling.

Still, the proposal to allow three Las Vegas-style resort casinos in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and the jockeying among major casino companies to our Florida market, has been entertaining. MORE