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GAZETTE VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 23 DECEMBER 15, 2022
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WILTON MANORS
WILTON MANORS CONSIDERS REVOLUTIONARY BIKE-FRIENDLY INTERSECTION By John Hayden The last meeting of 2022 for Wilton Manors City Commissioners was unique for two reasons: it was exceptionally brief and, as noted by Mayor Scott Newton, all public comments had a positive tone. The first part of the meeting was spent learning about a new, hopefully safer way for bicyclists to get around busy intersections. Commissioners liked the idea of trying something new but weren’t ready to sign off. FDOT sent a representative to unveil how a Protected Intersection Crosswalk (PIC) would work. The idea is proposed for Wilton Drive and NE 20th St. If you’ve never heard of a PIC, that’s understandable. This would be the first one in Florida. A video explaining how to use one was shown and then a diagram was put
THIS ONE INTERSECTION WOULD INVOLVE CHANGING THE WAY PEDESTRIANS, BIKE LANES, AUTO LANES, AND STREET-SIDE PARKING INTERACT.
up. This one intersection would involve changing the way pedestrians, bike lanes, auto lanes, and street-side parking interact. It would also create an apron on some corners for trucks to have extra space while turning. Commissioner Chris Caputo, an avid bike rider and bike safety proponent, had a lot of questions about how bike lanes would function for “Warrior Riders” versus your average leisure bike rider. Another concern of the commission is that, due to structural issues on the Richardson Park corner, only three points of the intersection would be truly affected. It would also take a lot of education to get people to re-learn how to drive/park/walk/ bike at that area. Commissioners also wanted to know would this intersection be one-anddone? Or would this be a pilot program in Wilton Manors with more intersections to come? The FDOT representative said she would look into many of the questions and meet further with city officials. Vice Mayor Mike Bracchi asked perhaps the most pertinent question: What problem is being solved? He asked Police Chief Gary Blocker to research traffic issues for that area.
GET IT TO GO Commissioners also spent time addressing a traffic safety issue in front of Ethos and Chef Nate’s restaurants. Ethos has offered to pay $220 per month for one dedicated parking space in front of their restaurant
Photo by truth lee, via Unsplash.
($420 per month for two spaces during season). This would be a reduced rate for a meter spot, only about seven dollars per day. The reason behind the request is that there is extremely limited parking for restaurants in that building, and many get their orders to go or use delivery services. That forces drivers to park illegally and dangerously, often during peak times. This would allow drivers a safe space to do their jobs. Commissioners’ concerns were about treating Ethos differently and setting a
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precedent for future dedicated parking space rentals. To the last point, it was noted that most restaurants along Wilton Drive have access to at least some lot parking so future requests are expected to be few, though no criteria were established for future requests. Newton was concerned that other restaurants by Ethos would be put at a disadvantage. It was decided that the signage wouldn’t be specific for any restaurant, even though Ethos is paying for it.
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
A CLOSER LOOK AT OAKLAND PARK ELECTION RESULTS
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Oakland Park City Hall. Photo via Wikipedia.
in Congressional District 23 and Jared Moskowitz took those, getting 5,443 votes (64%) to 2,941 (34%) for Joe Budd. The other four are in Congressional District 20, where Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick ran up big numbers, defeating Republican Drew Montez Clark, 3,272 (76%) to 1,001 (23%). In the only city race, Tim Lonergan and Steven Arnst were elected commissioners
using an at-large format among six candidates where voters could vote for up to two. Lonergan got 4,168 votes (26%) and Ernst received 3,799 votes (24%). Ernst’s 38 vote margin over Letitia “Tish” Newbold triggered a recount, but did not change the outcome. Overall, White voters make up 45% of the electorate in Oakland Park, followed by 22% for Black voters and 18% for Hispanics.
NEWS
WILTON MANORS
YEARS AFTER WILTON MANORS ARMED ROBBERY, ASSAILANTS STILL LOCKED UP By John McDonald Almost six years after a sneaky armed robbery in Wilton Manors, two of the assailants remain behind bars. In the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2017, Adolfo Vela, Darrion Vankleeck and Corey Dukes assaulted and robbed Denis Kladchihin as the victim was walking home from Wilton Drive. The attack happened at the corner of NE 21st Ct. and NE 1st Ave. and was partially captured by surveillance cameras. Video showed the attackers hiding behind bushes and then chasing Kladchihin, who was later pistol-whipped and robbed. Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker, who served as Operations Commander at the time, made the case a top priority, stating the department “will not tolerate acts of this nature.” An anonymous tip led to the trio’s apprehension three days later. Arrest records show WMPD Detective Patrick Newton caught up with them at a house
• 12.15.2022
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From left: Adolfo Vela, Darrion Vankleeck and Corey Dukes. Courtesy photo.
in the North Andrews Gardens area of Oakland Park. All three assailants were 18 at the time and pleaded no contest to felony charges. Circuit Judge Tim Bailey ordered a $9,800 joint restitution payment to the victim. Court records show Vela is serving an eight-year prison sentence with a minimum of three years after his probation was
revoked. Vankleeck originally got three years probation, but violated those terms with trespassing and drug smuggling charges and is now serving a four-year prison sentence. Dukes was sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of probation, but violations earlier this year had him serve a 120-day sentence inx Broward County Jail.
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GAZETTE December 15, 2022 • Volume 9 • Issue 23
By John McDonald Oakland Park remains a solid base of support for Democrats, a post-election review showed. Data from the Broward Supervisor of Elections show there are 26,697 active voters in Oakland Park with 53% registered as Democrats, 27% unaffiliated and 18% Republican. Oakland Park has 10 precincts and Democrats won them all with the strongest support coming in the four precincts (D007 to D010) west of I-95. Precinct D004 in the North Andrews Gardens area has the most active voters, 3,933, in the city. In the race for U.S. Senator, Val Demings won handily with 8,898 votes (68%) to 4,051 (31%) for Marco Rubio. In the governor’s race, Charlie Crist got 8,656 votes (66%) to 4,363 (33%) for Ron DeSantis. Six precincts (D001 to D006) are
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