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GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 15 JULY 29, 2021
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WILTON MANORS
‘Where’s Gary?’ Wilton Manors Commissioner Draws Heat Over Attending Meetings via Zoom By John McDonald
Ahead of this week’s jam-packed meeting via Zoom as the commission adhered to schedule, the whereabouts of one Wilton COVID-19 protocols. Resnick said he has used Manors commissioner is being called into the video conferencing platform to attend Broward League of Cities and National League question. “Where in the world is Gary Resnick?” writes of Cities meetings. “There have been more meetings this year Wilton Manors resident Jake Valentine in an between the city and league email to the Gazette. “Maybe than any prior year,” he said. with Carmen Sandiego? Being in the room, however, Maybe with Waldo? My bet is is a different experience. This Waldo…” week’s schedule is loaded with Waldo is a reference to the the two commission meetings, popular children’s puzzle two budget workshops and books where kids search for an Island City Foundation a bespectacled, toboggan meeting. wearing character. Attached “It’s inappropriate for him to to Valentine’s email was a be missing meetings in person,” spreadsheet showing Resnick said Doug Blevins, vice chair of absent for eight commission the Wilton Drive Improvement meetings since 2019. District. “He’s not getting the “If Wilton Manors is going full effect of people coming to require someone to live in to comment and a good sense the City to run for commission, of what’s happening as a does that mean they can move Vice Chair of the Wilton Drive governing body.” as soon as they are elected?” Improvement District Blevins is a longtime Resnick Valentine wrote. “Do we want foe, having come up short in part-time residents as city a couple of attempts to oust commissioners?” Asked to respond to Valentine’s Resnick from the dais. Blevins called Resnick charges, Resnick denied being an absentee a smart attorney with a passive-aggressive style. commissioner. “He’s lazy,” Blevins said. “He avoids “I haven’t missed any meetings and I still any direct confrontation with the other live in Wilton Manors,” Resnick said. The majority of Resnick’s meeting commissioners and if he doesn’t like the attendance this year has been virtually discussion he’ll log off.”
“He avoids any direct confrontation with the other commissioners and if he doesn’t like the discussion he’ll log off.” - Doug Blevins
The Wilton Manors City Commission Chamber. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
Blevins is alluding to last month’s fivehour meeting when Resnick decided to exit before the stroke of midnight. “He took his ball and went home,” Blevins said. “It was immature and disrespectful to fellow commissioners.” Valentine said it’s time for Resnick to enter the arena and face the public. “It’s time to have some accountability for Wilton Manors commissioners for missed meetings and long stretches away from
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the City, especially in times of crisis, not to mention rezoning, etc.” Valentine also wants commissioners who use Zoom to disclose their location. “Commissioners should NOT use the chamber backdrop in video meetings if they are not in the city!” Valentine writes. “While the records show many missed meetings by Resnick, was he even in the state during the Zoom meetings he did participate in?”
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OPINION
WILTON MANORS
The Nightmare Continues…
2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305
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so badly, then lead the nation in requiring mandatory vaccinations! Campaign across the state advocating COVID vaccinations mobilizing every corner of this great state. That would be true leadership governor. Please stop posing with those who burn masks and refuse to be vaccinated and stand with the thousands of health care workers who have been vaccinated, the thousands of teachers who have been vaccinated, the thousands of restaurant workers and hospitality workers who have been vaccinated. This is what is needed to open our state up fully, not peddling misinformation and encouraging behavior that threatens the health and safety of us all. Thankfully we are beginning to see the attention shift away from antivaxxers claims of individual rights, turning now to the growing anger amongst the vaccinated in our society. Those of us who have been vaccinated do not want to spiral
back down a COVID hole. Finally the topic of mandatory vaccination is front and center as California, New York City, large corporations and others begin to require mandatory vaccination of health care workers and school staff. Nationally, The Department of Veterans Affairs will require 115,000 of its frontline health care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in the next two months, making it the first federal agency to mandate that employees be inoculated. Here in our Island City, we need to be more aware when out and about. Wear a mask indoors, practice social distancing around groups of people, and don’t be so quick to let your guard down thinking there is no longer any serious threat from COVID. Look to encourage friends, co-workers and family members who have not been vaccinated to go ahead and get it done. Together we will move beyond this current nightmare. Pretending it no longer threatens us is not going to make it go away. Putting our heads in the sand will not make it go away. Getting our state and nation fully vaccinated will do a hell of a lot to make this nightmare go away. Advocating for and achieving higher vaccination rates will only make life just better here…
www.WMGAZETTE.com • 7. 29.2021
July 29, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 15
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
Governor, if you want to open our state up so badly, then lead the nation in requiring mandatory vaccinations!
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GAZETTE Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre About two months ago, life seemed to burst back with a glorious exuberance coming out of a COVID hibernation for over a year’s time. People were getting vaccinated, hospitals were no longer filled to capacity, death counts were dropping significantly and good news seemed to be right over the horizon. Unfortunately, the nightmare of the COVID pandemic never really went away and is back raging all around us. Although we call ourselves the Island City, we are not protected from the harsh realities of a world outside our waterways. Half the population of the state and nation have not been vaccinated, many are out and about wearing no mask or social distancing, people are crowding indoors once again, and the pandemic is spreading at an alarming pace. Luckily residents of Wilton Manors and those living east to the beach areas have some of the highest vaccination rates in Broward County at 80% and higher. County-wide is doing much better than the rest of the state and the nation with an overall vaccination rate of around 68% compared to a state-wide and national rate of less than 50%. At a time when Gov. Ron DeSantis is using sweeping authority to get rid of pandemic restrictions in the state, pretending that everything is fine and dandy, area hospitals are filling back up, people are still dying, and the vaccinated are becoming ill at higher numbers. Not looking to be labeled a Debbie Downer or a Henny Penny, but it appears that this nightmare is not quite over yet. Here in the Sunshine State, COVID infections continue to spread at an alarming rate as we lead the nation in Delta variant cases. Booster shots for those vaccinated might be right around the corner, particularly for vulnerable and immunocompromised individuals. Hopefully we will see some local effort to halt our governor’s march to the edge of the cliff as he dismantles COVID restrictions, battles to open up cruise ships to fester more infections, brings children back to schools without masks or safety precautions and hides from the growing public health threat. Governor, if you want to open our state up
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South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. MEMBER
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A sunny day in the Island City! Photo credit: Carina Mask.
COMMUNITY
WILTON MANORS
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
Woman Found Dead in Street After Hit and Run in Oakland Park By Christiana Lilly
A bloody mary during the holidays at the Sports Den at Manor Lanes Bowling. Photo via Facebook.
Wilton Manors Businesses Receive Grants For Revitalization
A woman was found dead in the early morning of July 19 in an Oakland Park roadway after being killed in a hit and run, police say. Concepcion Siverts, 55 of Lauderhill, was found dead in the 1300 block of East Commercial Boulevard, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. BSO reports that they responded to the scene when they received a call around 1:42 a.m. about a woman lying on the westbound lanes in Oakland Park. She was pronounced dead at the scene and her injuries were consistent with someone who was struck by a vehicle, BSO said in a media release. They did not provide information pertaining to a vehicle that could have been involved in the case. There is a $5,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest. A number of hit and runs have occurred in Oakland Park, as well as throughout the
Photo via PxHere.
county. In January, Nancy Vazquez was killed in a hit and run and an eyewitness report as well as debris left behind at the scene lead police to believe that the car involved was a 2013-2015 black four-door Honda Accord EX. In March, an unidentified man was also killed in a hit and run. A few days later, Matthew Masters survived a hit and run and shared his story with SFGN.
If you have information about this hit and run, contact BSO Traffic Homicide Detective Chandler Greetham at 954-321-4844. To remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
By John McDonald Thirteen Wilton Manors businesses received grants from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar was the top recipient. The longtime Wilton Drive gay bar was awarded $2.1 million. No other business reached the million-dollar mark. The next highest was Manor Lanes Bowling, 1517 NE 26th Street. The bowling alley and sports pub, which is veteran owned, was awarded $502,827. Ethos Greek Bistro was awarded $389,433 followed by another Wilton Drive eatery, Shawn and Nick’s Courtyard Cafe, $265,804. Gym Bar placed fifth on the RRF list. The Wilton Drive gay sports bar was awarded $155,567. Two businesses located in the Gables Wilton Park were awarded grants: Matty’s, a veteran owned video bar, $136,493 and Infinity Lounge, an upscale cocktail lounge, $117,340. The rest of the RRF awardees are as follows: Dairy Queen, $83,280, Menchie’s, $75,332, Subway, $43,981, Sozo Sushi Bar, $43,088,
Wilton Creamery, $33,909 and Ming Kong Chinese Restaurant, $16,859. Five of the 13 businesses were designated social and economically disadvantaged. They are Infinity Lounge, Dairy Queen, Sozo Sushi Bar, Ming Kong Chinese Restaurant and Matty’s. Two of the 13 — Subway and Menchie’s — are womenowned businesses. Subway and Ming Kong are located on North Andrews Avenue and are the only two on the list located in Congressional District 20. The majority of awardees are located in Congressional District 22, which is represented by Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton). Congress has specified eligible uses for the funds include rent and payroll. The $28.6 billion dollar fund, administered by the Small Business Administration, closed on July 2. More than 100,000 restaurants received funding from the program which is part of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.
Congress has specified eligible uses for the funds include rent and payroll.
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Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
Federal Rescue Plan Sending $5.3 Million To Wilton Manors By John McDonald The money is coming. That’s the word from Finance Director Pennie Zuercher on funding provided by President Joe Biden’s direct relief plan to contain COVID-19 and rescue the economy. Wilton Manors is expected to receive $5.3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Zuercher said half of the funding should arrive before October. “We are awaiting the final rule of the Department of Treasury,” Zuercher told the Gazette on July 21. “Once we have those guidelines we can make a decision on how to spend the money.” At the July 13 commission meeting, Zuercher gave a presentation on ARPA, which Biden signed into law on March 11. Wilton Manors will receive — through the State of Florida — two annual payments of $2.6 million. Eligible uses of ARPA funds are broken down in four categories: responding to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, premium page for essential workers, mitigating government services due to lost revenue and investment in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. Zuercher outlined public health uses such as COVID mitigation and prevention, medical expenses, behavioral treatment for depression resulting from unemployment, public health and safety staff and improved design and execution of health programs. ARPA funding goes into the grants fund, said Zuercher, where the city can then distribute
to employers in the fields of healthcare, food production and service, sanitation, education, safety and social services. Premium pay for essential workers in these fields goes up to $13 per hour. The broadband improvements, Zuercher said, are designed to meet adequate computing speeds and are provided to unserved and underserved households and businesses. The upload/download speed must meet 100 megabytes per second. Commissioner Gary Resnick noted the rescue package could not have happened without the support of the National League of Cities. “This statute was a direct result of the lobbying efforts of the National League of Cities,” said Resnick, who sits on the NLC board of directors. “It’s the first time in history that every town, village and city in the country is getting direct funding from the federal government.” Mayor Scott Newton said the funding is huge for the city and figuring out where it will go will be critical. “We have to get the best bang for our buck,” Newton said. “We have some needs in the city where this could help … namely the water, sewer and stormwater.” ARPA funds cannot be used to pay pensions, Zuercher said and must be spent by December 31, 2021.
Commissioner Gary Resnick noted the rescue package could not have happened without the support of the National League of Cities.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WILTON MANORS
Mobility Matters At Any Age In response to Aimee Ballantyne’s recent critique of my Letter to the Editor published in SFGN on May 10, I stand by my opinion that cars alone cannot meet all our transit needs. I also remain open to a healthy debate among my neighbors when we do not agree on a particular issue. The strength of Wilton Manors and the one for which I am most proud is our diversity, which includes the opinion of each member of our community regardless of their age, socioeconomic status or health. We must embrace other modes of transportation as we continue to evolve and thrive as a community. That is not to say we should abandon the automobile and those who rely on it. Automobiles are and will remain a vital part of our community for our many of our residents, visitors, ride-sharing apps and emergency services. However, we should consider the benefits of walkability and alternative transit choices for current and future residents of any age. As I mentioned in my initial letter, approximately half of all car owners in the U.S. are over age 60. While my statistics referenced age, Aimee’s assumption that I don’t care about our active aging residents is absolutely incorrect. I probably should have shared that about 12% of Americans over 65 don’t own a car, either. While I recognize that Aimee may find it easiest to travel by car, there are many seniors in our community who are unable to drive due to a handicap (I.e., vision impairment), cannot afford a car, or simply choose not to drive. Lastly, our vibrant active aging community is filled with residents over 60 who walk or ride a bike for health benefits. Walkability and transit options are critical components of their quality of life. Focusing on pedestrian accessibility and walkability for everyone, including those with disabilities, is needed. Numerous residents have shared their frustration with sidewalks which are difficult or unsafe to navigate due to obstructions. The Lazy Lake sidewalk is
Photo via PxHere.
There are many seniors in our community who are unable to drive due to a handicap (I.e., vision impairment), cannot afford a car, or simply choose not to drive.
a prime example. Ensuring ADA-compliant sidewalks exist that allow access and usage for mobility aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters is important for our active aging residents. Aimee, I appreciate your input and value you as a resident. Walkability matters to residents at an age and that matters to me. I hope that you will join me in advocating for alternative forms of transportation and better walkability for Wilton Manors residents, and not just those that drive. Life is just better here, regardless of your age or how you choose to get around.
— Chris Caputo
WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER
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NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
Rickards Students Will Get $8.8 Million Portables After Ceiling Collapse By Christiana Lilly
The Broward County School Board unanimously approved an $8.8 million request to build portables for students at Rickards Middle School after the ceiling in their media center collapsed in March. The plan includes 30 portables for students of all grade levels to use as the Oakland Park school is under construction. It would be paid for by capital reserves. “I know that the community is very, very thankful,” said Sarah Leonardi, a school board member whose district covers Oakland Park. “I am so, so thankful for your willingness to invest in this community.” On July 20, the board approved requests to demolish the damaged building and funding to renovate Buildings 2 and 5 for students to use but postponed the big-ticket decision for Thursday. The ceiling of the media center collapsed back in March; it was unoccupied at the time so there were no major injuries. A dozen students and staffers were taken to hospitals to treat anxieties and headaches. Ever since, students attended school at Broward College or virtually. Virtual school was not given as an option by the state as students return to inperson classes in August. Staff broke down the cost to the board. Of the $8.8 million, roughly $3 million would go towards the portables, $4 million would be to the electrical and engineering contractor, $1 million for IT, and the remaining for canopies, ramps, design and management, and contingency funds. “The modulars are really the cheapest part of the whole thing,” said Frank Girardi, executive director of capital programs. Staff told the board that while the county owns portables, “nearly all are ineligible for relocation” due to changes in the building code since they were built. A second proposal that would only cost $6.8 million was presented, but it would mean that eighth graders would not return to campus when the portables are completed and would
stay at Northeast High School. Other proposals that were shared with parents at a community meeting in June included splitting up each grade level at different schools, sending all students to Pines Middle School in Pembroke Pines, and having them at temporary schools and relocating to campus when the portables are complete. “What happened to them was traumatic,” said school board member Debra Hixon. “I think the fair thing to do is to keep them together. I don’t even like putting eighth graders at Northeast; I think they need to stay together.” The students will be separated for a period of time, though, as work to get Buildings 2 and 5 would take until the end of September. With the approved request, all students would be able to return to campus after Winter Break when the portables are complete. “We have basically taken away middle school from these students,” said board member Donna Korn. “This isn’t a financial decision. These are not business offices, these are not industrial warehouses, these are classrooms.” Girardi said the likelihood of moving students into portables after Winter Break was “very good” and that he was “comfortable” having Sept. 27 as the final date for the two renovated buildings to be complete. Leonardi, who represents the district covering Rickards Middle School, shared thoughts from parents and teachers such as the negative impact separating students would have on enrollment, teachers who teach multiple grade levels having to drive to multiple schools in a day, and working parents navigating having their children at different schools. Raymond Adderly, a student advisor for the board, said, “Rickards is a majority Black
With the approved request, all students would be able to return to campus after Winter Break when the portables are complete.
The aftermath of the roof collapse at Rickards Middle School. Photo credit: Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.
and Brown school that is full of minorities and outside of that, a majority of the students there are on free and reduced lunch. We aren’t doing them any favors if we make them split between three different schools.” Principal Dr. Washington Collado, who was awarded Principal of the Year for 2021, urged the board to keep the school together. “[Teachers] have expressed it every time they had an opportunity,” he said. “They ask, respectfully, that the Rickards community
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maintains its homogeneity in one place … We feel we would be able to work with our parents and in all their languages. A message goes out from Rickards Middle School in the various languages communicating every step of the way and everything that we do.” The board voted for the portables option and the district will be relaying details to parents soon. The first day of school is Aug. 19.
POTS, PANS AND POVERELLO By Avraham Forrest The Poverello Center food pantry isn’t just providing the food, but also helping clients cook it. The Poverello Center, a local food pantry which serves people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hosts cooking classes every Wednesday. “So our clients, most of them have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, so they have at least three medical conditions,” Registered Dietitian at Poverello Katheryne Romero said. “So their nutrition and whatever they eat, alongside their medications is what ultimately gets them healthier.”
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The items found in the food pantry are used in the cooking class, which include fresh produce and vegetables.
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The class is held every Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Poverello center.
“We’re part of the Food Is Medicine Coalition, so all of our items are selected by me, I’m a registered dietitian, so that they can be very nutrient dense and kind of provide that food as medicine,” Romero said.
MAYOR JUSTIN FLIPPEN TO APPEAR IN UPCOMING BOOK
Brooke explained that since Flippen was the heart and soul of Wilton Manors and was a “warm and positive person” at all times, in the book, he’s basically a guide for the Dragged into Murder Detective Society by giving characters advice. “We wanted to include him and use
TODAY JAZZ OUT WITH KUBS Check out live jazz and blues at KUBS in Wilton Manors from 7 - 10 p.m.
FRIDAY STARLIGHT MUSICALS CONCERT Listen to the Starlight Musicals concert series Fridays from 7 - 10 p.m. on the football field at Holiday Park.
SATURDAY MAGIC JACK The incredible Magic Jack brings his magic for one night only to The Foundry from 8-10 p.m.
SUNDAY BOOZY BABES DRAG BRUNCH AT HOLY MACKEREL Enjoy a fantastic brunch at Holy Mackerel complete with superb drag artists from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
MONDAY GIVE BACK MONDAY AT BONA ITALIAN Dine with Bona Italian Monday from 4:30 - 9 p.m., with 10% of proceeds going to the local non-profit community.
By Avraham Forrest
Brooke and Randy Bitton are looking for readers to come forward with memories of Justin Flippen for their upcoming book “GAYME OVER... ‘Justin’ Time for Murder!” which is a sequel to “Dragged into Murder.”
CALENDAR
his personality and use his persona because he was such a positive aspect of the community,” Brooke said.
ON THE HORIZON
Brooke also said they are going to donate a portion of the proceeds to multiple charities including Flippen’s Charity Foundation.
AUG 5: HOLY MACKEREL COMEDY SHOW Have a laugh at the Holy Mackerel Brewery at 7 p.m.
They wrote a tribute book called “Our Friend, Justin, The People’s Mayor” that they sell online and all of the proceeds go to a charity set up in his name.
AUG 21: ART WALK WILTON MANORS Take in the work of gifted local artists with the Wilton Manors Art Walk from 5 - 9 p.m. on Wilton Drive.
People can send their submissions until Aug. 20 at brookebitton@gmail.com. The late Mayor of Wilton Manors Justin Flippen. Photo via Facebook.
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NEWS
WILTON MANORS
Former Mayor’s Firm Hired to Woo Commuter Rail By John McDonald Wilton Manors Commissioners approved a consulting services agreement with the law firm of former Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler. The deal, approved unanimously at July 19 night’s meeting, is for one year with a $9,000 compensation. Seiler, who served as mayor of Wilton Manors from 1998 to 2000, is a principal attorney of Seiler, Sautter, Zaden, Rimes & Wahlbrink. He retired as mayor of Fort Lauderdale in 2018 after serving three terms and currently serves as president and chair of the Capital One Orange Bowl Committee. City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said the firm’s assignment will be lobbying on behalf of Wilton Manors to Broward County and beyond. “We anticipate their efforts will help bring us a commuter rail station,” Henderson told the Gazette. Before the meeting adjourned, Commissioner Gary Resnick demanded the agreement produce a comprehensive report on
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commuter rail service. “Where’s it going to go? What’s the cost? What are our obligations and benefits?” Resnick asked. “To go forward on this we all need to be on the same page.” Added Mayor Scott Newton, “Getting it is one thing, supporting it is another.” Elsewhere, the only commission meeting of July lasted one hour and 22 minutes, a far cry from the five-hour and 37-minute session in the aftermath of the Stonewall Pride tragedy. Some of the highlights: Resnick, attending remotely, tried to revive the debate over density, stating he was against 60 units per square acre, but was voted down by Commissioners Mike Bracchi, Chris Caputo and Vice Mayor Paul Rolli. Finance Director Pennie Zuercher gave a presentation on the American Rescue Plan. Zuercher said the city is expected to receive $5,360,355 over two years from President Joe Biden’s direct relief plan.
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The railroad crossing at NE 26th Street in Wilton Manors. Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
Anthony Logrande, chair of the Wilton Drive Improvement District, reported on the board’s efforts to improve safety, beautification and marketing in the district. Logrande asked the commission to eliminate temporary signage in the city. Commissioners tabled the feather flag sign and temporary banner discussion for a future meeting. Community Development Services Director Roberta Moore provided information on the county’s Building Safety Inspection program. Structural and electrical inspections on buildings 40 years old or older are required every 10 years. Moore said the city is preparing 16 inspection notification letters with the bulk going to Manor Grove associations.
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A proclamation recognizing July as Parks and Recreation Month was issued. Mayor Newton mentioned repairs are needed to the children’s playground at Hagen Park. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board member Lisa Theisen asked for funding for the expansion of Colohatchee Park, the Kiwanis Club proposal and Site 92. Resident Michael Rajner asked the city to change its elections format to ranked voting, referencing the recent New York City elections as an example. Rajner said no Wilton Manors candidate for city commissioner received more than 38% of the vote during the last election cycle. “When you run for office you should get a majority of the vote to win and ranked voting helps accomplish that,” Rajner said.