November 2022 Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2022

In this newsletter:

VIDEO: What Gregg is thankful for

IN THE NEWS: Vice Mayor Weiss was interviewed by CBS12 about homelessness.

Tips from Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division.

Why and How to Recycle Used Cooking Oil.

Have You Received Your Tax Bill from the The Tax Collector's Office?

New Live Video Chat With the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller.

We're sharing pictures of a few events Vice Mayor Gregg K. Weiss attended. Let us know if you'd like him to visit a meeting or event in your neighborhood.

What Gregg is thankful for

Vice Mayor Weiss on CBS12

CBS12's Matt Lincoln interviewed Gregg about homelessness in Palm Beach County

Read article and watch video here.

Holiday Tips

With the holidays around the corner, the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division has a few tips to help consumers make informed decisions about businesses and protecting consumers from unlawful, deceptive and unfair trade practices.

Holiday returns and refunds

It’s the law: Retailers that DO NOT offer refunds or exchanges MUST post a sign saying so. If no such sign is posted, then the store must provide its policy in writing when asked. The law also requires stores with no refund or exchange policy to provide refunds within seven days of the date of purchase when you have the original receipt, assuming the items were not used and are in the original packing.

Check the store refund or exchange policy before you buy pricey electronics. Retailers may have their policies on the receipt. Keep it as your proof of purchase. Get a gift receipt to be included with the gift, just in case.
Always look for the refund/return/exchange policies which are usually posted in the customer service area or at cash registers. Do not assume the regular return policy applies to sales or clearance items. Some merchants consider sale items to be final, so make sure to ask.
Be patient during the holidays. Stores may hire seasonal workers who may not be familiar with all the store policies. Ask to speak with a manager. Be prepared with your original receipts.

Gift card tips

Before purchasing or using a gift card, consider the following:

General purpose gift cards, also known as bank cards, are sold through companies like Visa, MasterCard and American Express. They are accepted by most stores and restaurants. General purpose gift cards may have an expiration date and activation or transaction fees.
Store/restaurant gift cards also known as retail cards are sold by retailers and restaurants and can only be used with the named merchant. In 2007, Florida enacted a law making it illegal for retail cards to have an expiration date or any fees that would reduce the card’s value. It is important to consider the financial health of a store selling the card. If the store closes or files for bankruptcy, the gift card may be worthless. A good practice is to use a gift card as soon as possible.
Split payments: Check with the cashier before using a gift card when the purchase price is greater than the face value of the card. Most large chain stores accept split payments with their gift cards. A general purpose gift card sometimes does not allow split payments.
Avoid buying gift cards from online auction sites because the cards may be counterfeit or may have been obtained fraudulently.

Resources:

Consumer Federation of America: http://www.consumerfed.org

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov

Toy safety

Along with being fun, toys should be safe. Here are some tips for a happier holiday:

Consider the child’s age, interest and skill level. Look for labels that give age recommendations as a guide. The Child Safety Protection Act requires choking hazard warning labels on toys containing small parts. Remember a toy intended for an older child may be dangerous in the hands of a younger child. Information on age-appropriate toys can be found at http://www.usa.safekids.org and http://www.cpsc.gov.
Buy from a reputable retailer, and ask if they have removed all recalled toys from the shelves. Get a receipt for your purchase and verify the store’s return policy.
Be extra cautious when buying second-hand or used toys. Look for signs that state all sales are final. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act also prohibits thrift shops, garage sales, consignment and online stores from selling recalled toys. Toys can be recalled for reasons such as toxic levels of lead in the paint or a strangulation risk (cords) or a choking hazard (small parts).
You can see the recalled toys list and sign up for email alerts at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website http://www.cpsc.gov.
Your child’s first big bicycle is not a toy. That big bike is now considered a vehicle and your next purchase should be a helmet.

Fake check scams

Variations: It can start with an offer to pay you to work as a “shopper.” You could receive an “advance” on sweepstakes you’ve “won.” This might be the first “payment” from the millions of dollars promised to you for agreeing to transfer money from a foreign country to your checking account.
You are sent a check, but are required to wire money back. There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money, to ask you to wire money back to them. If a stranger wants to pay you for something, insist on a cashier’s check for the exact amount, preferably from a local bank.
Why can’t the bank tell if the check or money order is fake? With current technologies, crooks can make very convincing fake checks which can take weeks to be discovered. You are responsible for any funds you withdraw against a check presented to the bank. Don’t assume a check is good unless you know the person or until the bank can confirm the check has cleared.

Resources:

www.fakechecks.org | www.ftc.gov | www.nclnet.org | www.fraud.org

For more information or to file a complaint contact

Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division

561-712-6600

Click here to visit its website

From Solid Waste Authority

Why collect used cooking oil?

Fats, oils and grease, including used cooking oils, can be a serious problem for home plumbing and Palm Beach County's wastewater collection system. Cooking oil that’s poured down the sink, even if followed with hot water or soap; flushed down the toilet, or put down the garbage disposal doesn’t disappear. It can gel and solidify into thick layers inside drainpipes, sewage pipelines, and sewage lift stations, constricting water flow and possibly backing up home plumbing. It’s messy, smelly and costly to clean up.

How to recycle cooking oil properly

Allow the used cooking oil to cool.
Carefully pour the used, cooled cooking oil into a large, sturdy plastic or wax-coated leak proof container, such as the original container or a juice carton, no larger than five gallons in size.
Cap the container so it is secure.
Store the container in a cool, safe location until it is full.
Don’t mix the grease with any other liquids or products.
Once the container is full, bring it to a Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County Home Chemical and Recycling drop-off location.

Where can I take cooking oil?

Palm Beach County residents can bring their used residential cooking oil to any of the Solid Waste Authority’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.

For more information on how to collect used cooking oil click here.

Visit Solid Waste Authority

From The Property Appraiser's Office

Have you received your tax bill from the

Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s Office?

If you have a question about your assessment or exemptions, the Property Appraiser is happy to explain.

Call: 561.355.3230

To pay your property taxes, visit pbctax.com

Save yourself the trip to one of the Property Appraiser’s office locations

Utilizing their online tools on the Property Appraiser Public Access (PAPA) website:

pbcgov.org/PAPA.

Tangible Personal Property Appraisers are doing field inspections for the 2023 tax roll. Business owners file their TPP Tax Returns by April 3, 2023: https://bit.ly/3sZ5gb3.

Read the latest news coming from Property Appraiser’s office in their November newsletter, they discuss military exemptions, updating your mailing address online and more:

https://conta.cc/3gKDPyW.

Video Chat With the PBC Clerk of the

Circuit Court & Comptroller

Live video chat is available Wednesdays,

from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

(No video chat on Nov. 23 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.)

Ready to chat?

Must be during the operating hours listed above. You will need a device with a functioning camera, microphone and internet access.

Customer Service Video Chat agents can answer your questions about:

Criminal court cases
Family court cases
Traffic tickets
Marriage licenses
Passports
Jury duty

(Florida law prevents staff from providing legal advice.)

For more information click here.

Commish in the Community

A celebration, a groundbreaking, supporting community causes and initiatives, recognizing business leaders, joining neighbors' festivities and going to neighborhood meetings, Vice Mayor Weiss spends a lot of time in the community.

“As an elected official, I want to be part of the community I represent," said Vice Mayor Weiss, "I want to understand the issues in my district and that’s why I spend many evenings going out to events to listen and learn.”

If you’d like to invite Vice Mayor Weiss

to your event, let us know.

NATIONAL KINDNESS DAY

Over a hundred area high school students were honored by local officials for their volunteer efforts in beach and environmental cleanups. In addition, over $10,000 in cash prizes were awarded to winners who have participated in this year’s “act of kindness” competition in celebration of National Kindness Day. Commissioner Weiss attended the November 12 event in Delray Beach and handed out several awards.

RECOGNIZING PALM TRAN BUS OPERATOR

At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Oct. 18, Vice Mayor Weiss presented a certificate of recognition to Murray Seabrook for achieving Palm Tran's Second Place Bus Operator of the Year.

Murray has been a bus operator for Palm Tran for 25 years and exemplifies Palm Tran's core values of respect, integrity, recognition, teamwork, communication and safety.

BUSINESS MATCHMAKER CONFERENCE & EXPO

The 16th annual Palm Beach Partners Business Matchmaker Conference & Expo offered a full day of networking, workshops. Vice Mayor Weiss and other community leaders joined the conference for the lunch and awards presentation.

HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK

At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Nov. 1, Vice Mayor Weiss presented a proclamation declaring Nov. 12-20, 2022, as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Palm Beach County.

This proclamation is meant to educate the public about the many reasons people are hungry and homeless in the county.

PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH

At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Nov. 1, Vice Mayor Weiss presented a proclamation declaring November 2022 as Prematurity Awareness Month in Palm Beach County.

The purpose of this proclamation is to raise awareness of the infant health crisis of preterm birth.

GROUNDBREAKING

When completed, bicyclists will be able to ride safely along Lyons Road and Sansbury’s Way all the way from Forest Hill Boulevard to Okeechobee Boulevard.

Vice Mayor Weiss and other county leaders participated in the groundbreaking event kicking off the construction of buffered bike lanes on both sides of the road. The project is expected to be completed in early 2024.

HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS CEREMONY

The Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Palm Beach County celebrated its annual Hispanic Heritage Awards to highlight achievements by Hispanic students and teachers.

Vice Mayor Weiss and The School District of Palm Beach County leaders joined in recognizing the honorees and their family members.

Visit Vice Mayor Weiss' Facebook page for more photos and stories.

Make sure to follow him!