THE
GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 7 MARCH 25, 2021
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WILTON MANORS & OAKLAND PARK
Wilton Manors and Oakland Park Shine Light On Suicide By John McDonald Know the signs. “I have an autographed Mickey Mantle baseball, if I gave that away you should be worried about me,” said Joel Smith, program director for the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention. Smith was the featured presenter at March 18 evening’s Suicide Prevention Virtual Town Hall hosted via Zoom by the City of Wilton Manors and the City of Oakland Park. A diehard New York Yankees fan, Smith said his baseball, signed by the Hall of Fame slugger, is a prized possession and when people start giving away their prized possessions that’s a troubling sign. Other indicators of potential suicide risk, Smith said, are loss of energy, staying in bed, not bathing, a change in eating habits with either significant weight gain or loss and not communicating. Suicide claimed the lives of more than 47,500 Americans last year making it the 10th leading cause of death. Additionally alarming, 12 million Americans seriously thought about suicide in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anxiety, trauma and depression — all forms
of mental illness — are principle drivers of suicide, Smith said. Smith also emphasized a change is needed in how suicide is reported, cautioning Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton for using the term, “committed suicide.” “We need to rethink that and to say died from suicide and no longer say ‘committed suicide,” Smith said. The new phrasing recognizes mental illness is a treatable condition, Smith said. Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin disclosed her niece’s husband died from suicide in November last year. “It was quite shocking,” she said. “So this is very personal to me.” Broward County averages 250 suicides a year, Smith said. White working-class men between the ages of 45 and 62 have the highest suicide rate in the nation. Other high-risk groups include older gay men who have recently lost a partner or are living alone and transgender youth often times surviving on the streets. Sexual minorities, Smith said, tend to create their own family units for support. “It’s harder to feel isolated when you are a
Anxiety, trauma and depression — all forms of mental illness — are principle drivers of suicide, Smith said.
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part of something,” Smith said. The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately broken some of those units apart and the long-term effects have yet to be measured, Smith said. The Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention operates under the auspices
of Mental Health America of Southeast Florida and was created out of tragedy by five families in the mid-1980s. Smith said Florida ranks last in the country in funding for suicide prevention and changing that is a priority for First Lady Casey DeSantis.
For more information on suicide prevention, contact MHA at 954-746-2055.
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WILTON MANORS
OPINION
GAZETTE As a Community Let’s Embrace Amanda Gorman’s Poetic Words During National Poetry Month
Holding back from tossing myself into the fray caused by the proclamation coming out of Fort Lauderdale City Hall last week, I will turn my attention to springtime and all its wonder. Perhaps not so noticeable here in South Florida as is north of our borders, where flowering bulbs are popping out of the ground as snow still falls, springtime has a magical effect on people. Coming out of the dark and cold, one begins to see sunlight, warmer tomorrows, flowering beauty, and an overwhelming awareness that life is just an amazing miracle to embrace and enjoy. Perhaps that is why the month of April was selected to be National Poetry Month, since the power of poetry and the power of springtime are the perfect match. Poetry can describe the absolute beauty one sees in the budding flower on a sunny morning, and can also shine light on our darkest fears. Back in January a young poet named Amanda Gorman reminded a nation of the power of poetry. Spoken words that brought a nation out from the darkness of the past four years, words fortified with hope and inspiration. We had become all too familiar with words used to insult, to harm, to degrade, to demonize, to tweet out hate and lies. What a refreshing moment to hear life return to our language, to hear inspiration, to hear hope, to hear poetry move a nation. When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid The new dawn blooms as we free it For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it Reading Amanda’s words tonight as I write is pulling me back where I did not want to go when I began writing this article. Amanda talks about breaking the time worn habits that do not move us forward as a community.
And many in our community had their eyes on the past this past few weeks as shouts of
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shock and disbelief rose up as Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis talked about leaving the past behind. Myself amongst those expressing such feelings, my reactions based on a need for justice of past wrongs, a need to have past atrocities atoned for, to have some statement acknowledging past misdeeds. Rather than receiving any demonstration of contrition, members of the Coral Ridge congregation made statements showing no regret or remorse for the damage caused to so many in our community over the years. Such actions just expose the hypocrisy practiced by many in the name of Christianity. While looking back in the past, we should take a look at another poem, this one written in the 14th century by Dante Alighieri entitled Divine Comedy. Dante depicts hell as a realm of those who have rejected certain spiritual values. Those rejections or sins where laid out as nine concentric circles, each ranked in their degree of severity. The deepest levels reserved for hypocrites, deceivers, falsifiers and liars. Not for me to judge, but you can see where I am going with this. So perhaps Dean Trantalis is more of a
spiritual leader in our community than those pounding the pulpit at some local houses of worship. Judging by Dean’s words, “It’s time to build a future based on love and not hate. And it’s time for those who still harbor resentment to let go of it. I know I have. And I know our community is better off for it,” causes me to stop, pause and really reflect on what we need to do to become a better community. That reflection brings me back to Amanda Gorman’s enlightening words on that cold January day on the steps of the Capital Building: “When love becomes our legacy … let us leave behind a country … better than the one we were left with … we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one … our people diverse and beautiful will emerge … When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid, the new dawn blooms as we free it … For there is always light.” We celebrate that light in springtime — during spring time holidays and festivities as we rejoice in rebirth and reawakening. We celebrate that light in the coming month of April with its designation as National Poetry Month. We celebrate that light as we recognize the magic and wonder of poetry and poets who bring words to life. Let that light guides us as we move beyond the hatred of the past, as we continue to move beyond the dark days of the COVID pandemic, and as we come together once again as a community to celebrate what makes life just better here…
www.WMGAZETTE.com • 3. 25.2021
2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
READING AMANDA’S WORDS TONIGHT AS I WRITE IS PULLING ME BACK WHERE I DID NOT WANT TO GO WHEN I BEGAN WRITING THIS ARTICLE.
For while we have our eyes on the future history has its eyes on us… We will not march back to what was but move to what shall be…
March 25, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 7 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre
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BUSINESS
OAKLAND PARK
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Gets OP Approval To Open
NEWS
WILTON MANORS Kareem Awadalla. Photo via Facebook.
By Christiana Lilly The Oakland Park City Commission approved a conditional use request from One Plant, a medical marijuana dispensary, to open its doors in the city. The building is currently a vacant restaurant space and the business needed approval to turn the structure at 499 E. Oakland Park Boulevard into a dispensary. The vote passed 4-1 after a quasi-judicial hearing, with Vice Mayor Michael Carn being the one dissenting vote. “This is meeting security standards; it’s a highly secure facility, the landscape improvements are pretty phenomenal,” Mayor Jane Bolin said of the plans from the business. “If you can imagine how it will actually increase the look and feel of that particular part of Oakland Park Boulevard, it’s pretty amazing.” One Plant has eight locations around the state, including Jacksonville, Orlando, St. Petersburg and Port St. Lucie. It sells medical marijuana for patients with a prescription written by their doctor for ailments such as anxiety and pain. On its website, products include marijuana flower, pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes and cartridges for vape pens. There are currently no medical marijuana dispensaries in Oakland Park. The commission did approve another facility, but construction has not started on that one yet. Floridians voted to legalize medical marijuana in November 2016 with the passage of Amendment 2. The work to open One Plant’s doors started over a year ago, with neighborhood participation meetings in January and November 2020, a hearing with the city’s Planning & Zoning Board in December, and finally approval from the commission. The Planning & Zoning Board approved the business’s request 5-0. The approval did not come without stipulations, though. The dispensary cannot have a marijuana plant as a logo or on any signage, open a drive-through, or have doctors write prescriptions on site. Structural and landscaping improvements will also be made to the more-than 13,000-square-foot space, including nearly tripling the landscaping space on the lot. Perhaps the biggest stipulation is that the dispensary can only sell medical marijuana, even if the state legalizes recreational marijuana. Should that occur, One Plant must come back to the commission for further approval. “We are gratefully accepting the conditions
Kareem Awadalla. Photo via Facebook.
Journalist Removed From Wilton Manors Commission Meeting By John McDonald Photo via One Plant, Facebook.
that you proposed, that we would not be able to change from medical use if changes come from the state without coming back to you,” said Stephanie Toothaker, the lawyer representing One Plant. Law prohibits dispensaries to open within 500 feet of a school or childcare facility — Mt. Zion AME Church, which is two blocks away, wrote a letter confirming that their childcare facility would be moving before the opening of the dispensary. Hammerhead Aquatics, though, wrote a letter against the dispensaries opening as they will be opening an aquatics center across the street. However, it was deemed that the swim school did not qualify as a school. “I know that ‘harmony’ is one of the requirements, it’s one of the criteria,” said Commissioner Aisha Gordon. “How does harmony look in this situation when you have your neighbors who are really concerned about having this facility put in place?” Vice Mayor Carn asked the city attorney if there are rules in place to space out dispensaries — the city attorney said since it qualifies as a pharmacy, there are no rules. “The state has told us that we cannot regulate these types of businesses more than we regulate a pharmacy, am I correct?” Carn asked. He ended up voting against the conditional use.
Kareem Awadalla was there to do his job. Awadalla, a freelance broadcast journalist, was asked to leave the Wilton Manors’ Commission chamber on Tuesday night prior to the start of the city’s regular commission meeting. Due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic, Wilton Manors has not opened its commission meetings for public attendance. “Since the CDC guidelines allow in-person meetings with minor modifications, why are Wilton Manors residents not allowed to attend the city hall meeting, let alone journalists?” Awadalla asked. Awadalla was originally granted access to the meeting room by a police officer who returned minutes later and asked him to leave. “Virtual meetings are the exception and will NOT become the new norm,” Awadalla posted on his Facebook page, Wilton Community News. Johnnie Goodnight, spokesman for the office of City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson, said Wilton Manors is working on a plan to re-open commission meetings to the public. A discussion will be held on this topic at the April 13 meeting. Currently commission, board and committee meetings are held via Zoom to comply with health measures. Awadalla, however, notes the White House allows journalists to attend meetings and neighboring Fort Lauderdale is giving the public access to attend meetings.
Awadalla’s removal from the chamber was peaceful although it did spark a robust discussion online. “The Commission meetings should be open and socially distanced on a first-come, firstserved basis,” wrote Mike Sansevero, chair of the city’s Community Affairs Advisory Board, in response to Awadalla’s Facebook post. At the March 24 meeting, Commissioner Mike Bracchi asked Henderson’s office to develop a plan to begin hybrid meetings that ensure the safety of residents and staff. Commissioner Chris Caputo, in a Facebook post, wrote he was “looking forward to reopening these meetings to the public.” Goodnight said the commission chamber’s capacity is close to 90 people. The CDC recently relaxed social-distancing requirements to three feet for schools. At the time of his removal, Awadalla said there were four commissioners, a police officer and an internet technician in attendance. There has been greater public demand for city proceedings of late. Wilton Manors increased its Zoom capacity for planning and zoning board meetings from 100 to 500 people due to interest in eastside development. Awadalla believes in-person meetings must come back, safely of course, but suggested some public officials have been using the pandemic as cover. “It seems some politicians are enjoying being distanced from the residents,” he said.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WILTON MANORS
It’s Time To Safely Reopen Our Commission Chambers By Chris Caputo
SPIRITUALITY
SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM
LISTINGS CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org RabbiNoahKitty@etzchaimflorida.org Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m. HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM
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CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach. churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM TEMPLE BAT YAM 5151 NE 14th Ter Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954-928-0410 Friday Night & Saturday Morning Streaming Online at templebatyam.org
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This past Tuesday, Kareem Awadalla walked into the City Commission Chambers. As a journalist, he was there to look his elected officials in the eye and listen to their views on the many critical issues our commission planned to address that evening. Kareem was politely escorted out by a member of the Wilton Manors Police Department since the chambers are not yet open to the public. Awadalla’s Facebook post in the Wilton Community News Group that evening asked, “Since the CDC guidelines allows in-person meetings with minor restrictions, why are Wilton Manors residents not allowed to attend the city hall meeting, let alone journalists?” Residents who attended the meeting virtually also heard Jake Valentine of West Wilton Manors express concerns about any member of our commission regularly attending meetings remotely using a virtual background of the dais, without disclosing their physical location, while the city requires the public to clearly state their physical address before speaking. Jake asked on Facebook later that night, “Why is the public required to provide their home address to speak at a commission meeting while our commissioners may be out of the city or even state without the knowledge of their constituents during a commission meeting?” To be clear, the commissioners, vice mayor and mayor who were physically present on the dais expressed interest in seeing our city staff put together a plan to re-open the commission chambers to the public. There was a strong consensus among those physically present that our city staff should create a plan for a COVID-19 safe reopening while continuing to offer remote access to anyone uncomfortable or unwilling to attend in person. The more ways to participate at a city commission, the better, in my opinion! It’s worth mentioning that working in a purely online environment has made it easy for a small number of dishonest residents in our community to spread misinformation — like one particular resident who struck fear in residents by claiming some commissioners wanted to build 36-story buildings in our city. (No, not a single commissioner has ever voted for even 1/3 as much height!) I am confident that when we safely reopen our commission
Journalist Kareem Awadalla from Wilton Community News captures a photo of an empty Commission Chambers where he briefly sat alone with Mayor Scott Newton, Vice Mayor Paul Rolli, Commissioner Mike Bracchi and Commissioner Chris Caputo.
chambers, we’ll see more honest and productive discussions of our city’s future. Our city is a critical junction. We’re facing both serious challenges and exciting opportunities. As elected officials, we are accountable to those we serve in our community. Being able to look those residents we serve in the eye and navigate sometimes difficult discussions is the job we signed up for. It is a duty I take seriously and am very grateful for. I want to thank my fellow commissioners on the dais who urged the city to begin planning to reopen our commission chamber to the public. I also want to encourage the public to call the city and let them know that you, too, would like to see our commission chambers reopen safely. I look forward to the day when hybrid meetings — ones that are both in-person and online via Zoom — bring the greatest resident participation we have ever seen as a city. We’re better together here in the City of Wilton Manors. WMG
www.WMGAZETTE.com MARCH 25, 2021
— Chris Caputo
WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER