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GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 16 AUGUST 19, 2021
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OAKLAND PARK
Oakland Park Foreclosure Ordinance Undergoing Major Legal Overhaul By Christiana Lilly The Oakland Park City Commission is asking came about during the recession in 2007, when city staff for a “major overhaul” of a proposed homes were being foreclosed on at a rapid rate. ordinance that would require properties that However, she said that the proposed ordinance are in foreclosure to be registered with the city. needs to “go back to the drawing board.” “I think the definitions have to change. I The ordinance, presented at the commission’s Aug. 4 meeting, currently only also wonder about enforcement mechanisms,” she said. “Does our registration requires this if the home is requirement get us anywhere?” unoccupied. Commissioner Aisha Gordon “It’s kind of overreach for said she asked staff how many the government and I don’t homes would fall under this want to do this; I don’t see us ordinance, as she was “taken getting ahead of anything,” off guard by this request.” While said Vice Mayor Michael Carn. she did not share the number, “This does nothing for me but she said it didn’t seem to be reach into people’s personal something the city needed to business.” pursue. In order for the ordinance to “Right now I don’t see a real be reworked by city staff, the crisis with distressed properties, commission had to approve especially based on the number the first reading. Otherwise, that was given to me. It was a the ordinance would die and very low number,” she said. remain as is. Commissioner Mitch According to the cover sheet Rosenwald, a social worker and provided to commissioners, professor at Barry University, “staff recommends adding the Vice Mayor, Oakland Park added that it seemed more requirement for all properties important for the city to be aware in a state of default [vacant and occupied] be required to register with the City, of code violations, not whether the home is in which will allow for earlier active monitoring foreclosure or not. He also said the ordinance and compliance actions by Community makes assumptions about homeowners who Enhancement Staff.” City Manager David are in foreclosure. “They may be in a crisis, and when people Hebert explained that the information would help staff be notified of violations and are in a crisis, things break down,” he said. “There are other people who have obstacles in warnings. Mayor Jane Bolin, who is a real estate life, when in foreclosure, and still take care of attorney, explained that the ordinance probably their kids.”
“Why should I have to register with you because I’ve fallen on bad times?” - Michael Carn
Photo via Adobe.
While he agreed that the ordinance needed work, Commissioner Matthew Sparks said he didn’t think the spirit of the ordinance was to put a spotlight on people in foreclosure. “All we’re doing is saying we’d like a list of bank-owned properties,” he said. “We’re not actually saying we want you to file before you go into bankruptcy. I’ve been through this and I
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have no problem with owning up to that.” He also shared that he himself was foreclosed on during the recession. Carn emphasized his opposition to the ordinance as it was written. “Why should I have to register with you because I’ve fallen on bad times?” he asked. “No. We just don’t do people like that.”
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NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
Oakland Park Appoints 2 New Members to School Advisory Board By Christiana Lilly
August 19, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 16 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald
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JACK DONNELLY A software manager for Nielsen Ratings/ Scarborough, Donnelly maintains the mainframe computer systems all over the country, he wrote in his application. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in biology, chemistry and physics. His community involvement includes the Oakland Park Democratic Club, the Oakland Park Volunteer Corps, Kings Point Democratic Club, and Equality Florida. Donnelly was first recommended and appointed by Mayor Jane Bolin in 2020 and again this year.
COBY KING King works as a neighborhood support specialist for the Broward Sheriff’s Office, where he helps deputies form positive relationships with their community. “I have worked in youth development for over 15 years, empowering young minds for better futures,” he wrote in his application. He graduated from Florida Southwestern State College with a degree in business and is a part of the Unified Neighborhood Alliance of Central Broward. King was originally appointed to the board by then Commissioner Tim Lonergan in 2020 and was recommended and reappointed by Vice Mayor Michael Carn.
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Oakland Park City Hall. SFGN file photo.
computer science (Broward College) and accounting (FAU). He has been a memory of the Rotary Club for nine years and said he has been an education and community activity and advocate for more than 25 years. He was appointed by City Manager David Hebert in 2020 and recommended and appointed this year by Commissioner Matthew Sparks.
The advisory board is responsible for keeping the commission in the loop with school happenings.
LEWIS NAYLOR A broker and owner of Naylor Realty for three decades, Naylor has an Associate’s Degree in agricultural management (SUNY Cobleskill),
SARA NUNEZ
The executive director at the Pace Center for Girls, Nunez also shared on her application that she worked with the YMCA for 17 years and the Girl Scouts for six years. “I am passionate about the education and development of youth.” She is a member of the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the Broward Women’s Alliance. Nunez earned her Master’s in psychology from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. She was recommended and appointed by Commissioner Mitch Rosenwald, a professor of social work at Barry University.
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS Thomas has been a program analyst for the Department of Veterans Affairs for a decade, where he oversees its managerial cost accounting program, performs financial and healthcare analytics, and creates technical tools and reports, according to this application. Thomas has a Master’s in public administration from Arizona State University, where he also earned a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He currently serves as the treasurer/secretary of the Urbana Homeowners Association. He was recommended and appointed by Commissioner Aisha Gordon.
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Legal counsel•Russell Cormican Accounting Services•CG Bookkeeping 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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ALTERNATE: NATHAN CHERSON The Bank of America Merrill wealth management adviser was originally appointed to the board by then Commissioner Sara Guevrekian, who resigned from the commission in October 2020. Cherson has a degree in international relations from Tufts University. He is involved in the community as a coach for Northeast Little League, was an Oakland Park soccer coach in 2017, and was appointed to the Broward School District’s Human Relations Council.
www.WMGAZETTE.com • 8 .19.2021
GAZETTE
Webmaster • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com
The Oakland Park City Commission appointed members of the community to its School Advisory Board on Aug. 4, including two newcomers. The advisory board is responsible for keeping the commission in the loop with school happenings — especially important now with the pandemic and the ceiling collapse at Rickards Middle School. The advisory board members are:
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AUGUST 19, 2021
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Keep your eyes on the ocean... Hurricane season is in full swing! Photo via PxHere.
IN MEMORIAM
OAKLAND PARK
The Loss of Beloved Friend Robert Neu By John Hayden South Florida is mourning the loss of a beloved friend and talented stylist. Robert “Bob” Neu died suddenly over the weekend leaving his friends, family, and co-workers stunned. Bob was a barber at Dick’s Service Station in Oakland Park and had worked there since it opened in 2016. Owners Chris Santiago and Eric McKnight told SFGN that Neu was a master barber and had a big, loyal following. On their Facebook page they said, “He was the kind of guy who was always there, so much so that we all expected him to always be there. Making each memory we shared with him feel that much more valuable.” They went on to echo what so many expressed in online tributes. “To say he has added to the success of the shop would be an understatement. Sometimes quiet and reserved, other times the center of attention with one of his crazy stories.” While Bob was at the top of his game
Robert Neu. Photo via Facebook.
professionally, he also was a friend and confidant away from his barber chair. A friend of 10 years says Bob helped him through difficult days. “When I first started my sobriety journey I talked to him often and he gave me amazing advice on staying clean.” What caused Neu’s death hasn’t been released, but it appears to have been unexpected. His Monday appointments weren’t rescheduled until Sunday.
PHOTOS
WILTON MANORS
Delighted Tobehere!
On Saturday, August 7, The Pub in Wilton Manors hosted the shining debut of drag queen Delighted Tobehere. The performer, singer and comedian was carried to fame after her appearance on America’s Got Talent. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
WILTON MANORS
From Wilton Manors With Love An Interview with Gay Poet Dustin Brookshire By Gregg Shapiro
S
ome poets love the spotlight, while others prefer to work behind the scenes. Gay poet Dustin Brookshire (dustinbrookshire.com) has an equal amount of both qualities. The author of two chapbooks, “Love Most Of You Too” (Harbor Editions, 2021) and “To The One Who Raped Me” (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2012), Brookshire was a finalist for the 2021 Scotti Merrill Award, as well as a Pushcart Prize nominee. His work has been published or is forthcoming in a variety of publications including “Assaracus,” “Whiskey Island,” “South Florida Poetry Journal,” “Mollyhouse,” “Oddball,” and “Gulf Stream Magazine,” in addition to the anthologies “Divining Divas: 100 Gay Men on their Muses” and “The Queer South: LGBTQ Writers on the American South.” Brookshire is also the founder/editor of the literary journal “Limp Wrist” and curator of the Wild & Precious Life Series, a Zoom-based poetry reading series. He was kind enough to answer a few questions shortly after the publication of his latest book. GREGG SHAPIRO: You have been a resident of Wilton Manors since 2019. What was it that brought you here? DUSTIN BROOKSHIRE: I visited Wilton Manors with, at the time, my best friend, as he was exploring the city in preparation for a move. I helped him relocate and visited every month thereafter. I fell in love with Wilton Manors because it is so gay. The city is walkable and a few miles from the beach. Did I mention it is super gay (laughs)? What’s not to love? GS: There are some fascinating recurring themes in your new book “Love Most of You Too” (Small Harbor, 2021) beginning with family, including a brother (“Waiting to Come Out”), an aunt (“Aunt With A Mission,” “Bad Apple”), a mother (“Bypassing Peachford”), and a
Dustin Brookshire. Courtesy photo.
grandmother (“On Line Dancing Night at the Gay Bar I Think of Grandma,” “Losing At Cards”). Please say something about the experience of writing about family in a poetic format. DB: I’ve been out since I was 19, and it hasn’t always been an easy road with my family. Hell, it’s been a hard and painful journey. I’ve captured a lot of my family in experiences in my poetry since I own the fact that I’m a confessional poet. It feels really damn good to write about my familial experiences, and it feels even better when the poem is on point. GS: Do you know if any of these relatives are aware of their presence in your work? DB: I hope not [laughs]. When I was 19 or 20, my mother called to demand that I rewrite a poem she read online because the details of the poem weren’t accurate in her opinion. I refused and let her know it’d be best if she didn’t Google my poems. I’m not sure if she’s adhered to that request. If she hasn’t, well, at least she hasn’t called to demand rewrites.
To read the rest of the interview, visit SFGN.com. www.WMGAZETTE.com 24
• 8 .19.2021
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