THE
GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 6 MARCH 11, 2021
FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE NEWS
WILTON MANORS
Home Rule Rights On Wilton Manors Agenda By John McDonald
At the next commission meeting, Wilton Manors will once again try to assert its own sovereignty. Two resolutions dealing with home rule were on the agenda for Tuesday night’s regular commission meeting. The virtual Zoom meeting began at 7 p.m. The first resolution opposed unfunded state mandates imposed on cities and lawmakers’ efforts to “impede the constitutional right Florida citizens have enjoyed for more than 50 years to govern themselves under municipal home rule powers.” Furthermore, the resolution opposed the legislature’s “persistent intrusion into local finances, which are necessary to provide financial stability and essential services uniquely required by municipal residents and local businesses.” The second resolution called for the Florida legislature to oppose HB 403 and SB 266 which would regulate home-based businesses and prevent cities such as Wilton Manors from enforcing their own laws. The resolutions continue a theme of local vs.
state being played out in chambers across the peninsula. At their previous meeting, Wilton Manors commissioners had voted to oppose proposed state legislation of vacation rentals. Commissioner Chris Caputo cast the lone dissenting vote in an attempt to disrupt the notion that vacation rentals destroy neighborhoods. “As a city, I’m incredibly frustrated that we continue the narrative that vacation rentals decrease property values and vacation rentals are a problem,” Caputo said. Commissioners Gary Resnick and Paul Rolli attempted to persuade Captuo to join the majority in solidarity with local governance. “We can’t eliminate vacation rentals, it’s something we have to live with,” Rolli said. “The issue is the opposition of the preemption of local law.” “All we’re doing is opposing bills that would take away our existing code,” Resnick told Caputo. “It sounds like you support that, so you might want to revisit your vote on this specific issue.” Caputo followed through with his no vote
The resolutions continue a theme of local vs. state being played out in chambers across the peninsula.
Inside a Wilton Manors City Commission meeting. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
translating into a yes vote for HB 219 which would turn over control of vacation rentals to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Wilton Manors resident and Gazette columnist Sal Torre called Caputo’s vote crazy and confusing. “Some might chalk it up to inexperience
www.WMGAZETTE.com
but do not be fooled Islanders, Commissioner Caputo made it very clear that he will defend and protect short-term vacation rental business owners here in the Island City even if it means voting against preserving and protecting our right to Home Rule in the great State of Florida,” wrote Torre.
3.11. 20 21 •
17
OPINION
WILTON MANORS
More Than Just A Fool…
2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Webmaster • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald
Correspondents
Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun
Staff Photographers
J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires
Sales & Marketing For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970
Photo via Pixabay.
aback by such accusations. No, there must be some mistake. How can it be true? How can this court jester who runs around telling silly tales all day be behind such a diabolical plot to reign in the kingdom and to strip away years of strategic planning that would preserve future generations within the realm? But yet this tale is to be true. Sir John The Planner laid out tales of unimaginable growth, of incomprehensible intrusion to the existing way of life, with many falling under his intoxicating lure. Sir John’s plan was to prevent those in powerful positions from making correct choices on the future of the realm. Feed the court misinformation and get them all worked up in a frenzy fed by fear. All this from the Court Jester? All this from the fool? No, not a fool, but perhaps the smartest of all within the realm. Who else but the smartest of the land can unfailingly bring to a halt every major planning project within the Eastside realm? Who but the cleverest of all the land can stop the King and advisors in their tracks, bring postponement and wreck such havoc over the strategic planning many years in the making? Who can gather the masses into the Central Square and
demand action based on lies, misinformation, and falsehoods so continuously over the years with such great effectiveness? Yes my friends, all by the Court Jester, laugh no more, for the fool is he who is in charge. Thankfully some cracks are beginning to show at the palace gates. Two members of the King’s Planning Council, Lord Flint and Sir Molinet voiced the truth for all to hear beyond the walls of the court. Calling the Court Jester out in public for his fear mongering, his disingenuous tale of immediate destruction and the many campaigns over the years of misinformation, laid bare for all to hear. The ripples of power throughout the court were on display at the King’s Council of Advisors meeting this past night. Sir Gary was quick to defend the Court Jester, to take up in his defense. “We need more time,” “We need my input,” “We need to punish those on the Planning Council for their outspoken heresy of truth telling,” is what this timeworn advisor bellowed repeatedly. The only thing left for us gallant, optimistic assembly of courtiers to do now is to gather around our two brave noblemen on the Planning Council and stop the cries for revenge. Quell the rising chants calling for retribution. Praise the truth, applaud those who speak with righteousness, honor those who step up gallantly, and to defend until our deaths the right for truth and justice to prevail from waterway to waterway, throughout the land, forever assuring that life will always be just better here…
www.WMGAZETTE.com • 3.11.2021
March 11, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 6
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
SAL TORRE SATIRICALLY ADDRESSES WILTON MANORS' TUG-OF-WAR OVER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY.
18
GAZETTE Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre Beware all those who think that the court jester is but just a fool — for that fool is he who is in charge. Here in our magical land of Wilton Manors all is not in harmony. This week saw daily life grind to a halt throughout the realm due to the raucous display over Public Comments brought on by the hysteria of local Eastside titled land barons and baronesses. Up in arms where these barons of property to defend and protect themselves from the immediate danger of invasion from the barbaric hordes of the TOC tribes. As they stood around court gossiping the tales that have spread far and wide, they clamored to have their voices heard. “You must save us all from total ruin,” they pleaded. “You must save our way of life,” they cried. The cries grew loader as the day went on, pleads of help, cries of panic. The King’s advisors scurried around to gather news and information on what was behind the court’s toiled and agitated state on what should be another fine day here in The Manors. “I was told that a 30-story structure was going next to my manor house,” one nobleman was overheard saying. “Well I was told that a 36-story sun blocking monolith was what was to be built in front of my manor,” stated another noble. As the King’s advisors moved around the room, the tales began to have a similar cadence, one that told the tale of overdevelopment, extremely tall structures that would block the sun, destruction of existing infrastructure, and unimaginable tales of clogged roadways and canals throughout the land. Who could be spreading such craziness? What was the source of such misinformation? Who is behind such deceitfulness? The King’s advisors needed to find out quickly and report back before this growing tide of discontent and misinformation got out of control and could spiral into social unrest. The wise advisors did not have to look far to see who was feeding the misinformation to the lords and ladies of the land. All fingers pointed to the court jester — the King’s confidant himself, the lord of the Eastside realm, none other than Sir John the Planner. Yes my fellow Manorites, I too was taken
THE
2 •
MARCH 11, 2021
Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Accounting Services by 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
MEMBER
Associated Press MEMBER
MEMBER
Copyright © 2021 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.
Wilton Drive. Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
NEWS
WILTON MANORS
Wilton Manors Green Lights Stonewall Event With Conditions
Volunteers Deliver Vaccines and Hope in Wilton Manors
By John McDonald Wilton Manors approved a special event permit for the Stonewall Parade & Street Festival at Feb. 23rd’s commission meeting. The event date is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 19. The event recognizes the Stonewall riots of 1969 which sparked the gay liberation movement. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the permit request by Jeff Sterling of Stonewall Pride, Inc. City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said $15,000 was earmarked in the 2021 budget for a Stonewall Economic Impact Study. Commissioner Mike Bracchi asked that those funds be used for barricades, road closures and traffic maintenance. Bracchi said he would support the event if organizers get approval from the Broward County Department of Health. “Our businesses need help and this is one way we can help them if they are able to get approval
540+ People Received Vaccinations at Richardson Park From Left to Right: Mauludi, Penny, Kristen, Amy, Dio, Scott and Brian. Photo courtesy of Chris Caputo.
By Chris Caputo
Photo via the Stonewall Parade & Street Festival, Facebook.
from the county,” Bracchi said. Commissioner Gary Resnick said he would not support the event unless Broward County signed off on it. “They indicated in the permit application that they’re gonna have the approval by March 19,” Resnick said. “So if it gets approved by the county by March 19 I’m happy to support it.”
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
Oakland Park Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing From Home Depot By Christiana Lilly An Oakland Park man was arrested after allegedly stealing more than $17,000 worth of power tools from at least 11 Home Depot stores in Broward County. Alain Carre, 39, was arrested in Lauderdale Lakes on Feb. 25 by the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Burglary Apprehension Team (B.A.T) alongside the Coral Springs and Fort Lauderdale Police Departments. Carre was wanted for thefts at Home Depot stores in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, North Lauderdale and Sunrise, according to a BSO press release. But he’s also wanted outside of Broward County — there is a warrant for his arrest in Palm Beach County and two pending cases against him in North Miami. Carre stole more than $17,000 worth of power tools — mainly Milwaukee brand tools — during at least 11 thefts at different
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WILTON MANORS
Alain Carre. Photo via the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Home Depot stores, according to BSO. On the agency’s website, there are 19 charges against him, including attempting to elude law enforcement, resisting arrest, driving without a driver’s license, grand and petit theft. He is currently being held at Broward County’s Main Jail.
3 •
I must admit, when City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson told me the city wanted to become a COVID-19 vaccination site, I was immediately filled with fear. It was late January, and newspaper covers were dominated by depressing tails of aging seniors unable to make vaccination appointments due to overwhelmed phone lines and failing websites. I was afraid our city would be unable to handle the crushing number of requests we would undoubtedly receive. Leigh Ann demonstrated true leadership, explaining why we must step through our fear and deliver as many vaccinations as we could. She acknowledged my concerns: we might have residents that wouldn’t get through and we would probably have to turn away residents who were qualified due to a lack of inventory. It might mean that residents would be angry and they might call us failures, but we had to be willing to look past that. As Leigh Ann convinced me, the benefit of being able to vaccinate 50 people from our community every day far outweighed the risks of not running a perfect vaccination site or not being able to meet demand. The City Manager was right, if we save a single life, any negative backlash would have been well worth it. I’m happy to say that none of my fears came to fruition. There was no backlash — but there were a lot of happy, vaccinated residents! The City of Wilton Manors has vaccinated 540-plus people over the last few weeks and I have not heard a single complaint. In fact, my inbox and phone has been flooded with kind words and appreciation from countless happy residents. One thing most people didn’t realize is that
MARCH 11, 2021
our Wilton Manors vaccination site has been run 100% by volunteers. While you may have recognized a familiar face from our city staff at the Richardson Park vaccination site, like Dio or Penny, they were there on their days off volunteering their time to serve their city. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the volunteers who made this possible! The City is now delivering the second shot to those members of our community who had been vaccinated in the last few weeks. While we are no longer accepting appointments for first time vaccinations, there are a growing number of locations here in South Florida where you can get a vaccination. For the latest list of locations offering vaccinations, you can visit https://www.broward.org/ CoronaVirus/Pages/VaccinationSites.aspx. Thank you, again, to all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make our Wilton Manors City Park vaccination site a success. I am eager for the day when we can all come together, in person, in community, as one. The efforts of these volunteers have brought us one step closer to that! WMG
The City is now delivering the second shot to those members of our community who had been vaccinated in the last few weeks.
— Chris Caputo
WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER
www.WMGAZETTE.com 3.11. 20 21 •
19
POLITICS
WILTON MANORS
Young Gay Democrat Going After Open House Seat By John McDonald “A third of the vote might be enough to win,” he said. It’s an open seat Elijah Manley is ready to claim. District 94 covers the western precincts of Wilton Manors, Manley, a 22-year-old activist, is announcing plans to campaign for the Florida House of Representatives. Manley a majority of Fort Lauderdale, including downtown and precincts in Oakland Park and Plantation. will seek the Democratic nomination in Manley said his message to voters will focus District 94, whose current Representative, on improved health care, expanding Medicaid Bobby DuBose, is term-limited. and opening more community clinics. “I definitely believe this is our time for “I firmly believe healthcare is a human real,” Manley told SFGN in a telephone call on right,” he said. Monday. Other issues Manley is focused on include Manley, a Black gay man, released a video adding more affordable housing, dealing on March 3 announcing the campaign and effectively with climate change, raising coinciding with Florida’s first admittance into workers’ wages and protecting LGBT rights. the United States. - Elijah Manley Manley said he believes in the vision of This will be Manley’s second attempt President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” at the District 94 seat. He received nearly ACTIVIST campaign and seeks to put an end to the 9,000 votes for a 30% showing in the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 Democratic primary, going head-to“I am encouraging residents to remain socially distant, head against DuBose, the ranking Democrat on the House wear their masks, and get vaccinated when the time is appropriations committee. This time around look for a crowded field with as many as appropriate,” Manley said. “COVID-19 is not over yet.” six candidates, Manley said.
“I definitely believe this is our time for real.”
Elijah Manley. Photo via Facebook.
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
Ceiling Collapses at Rickards Middle School in Oakland Park; No Major Injuries Reported By Christiana Lilly The ceiling of the media center at James Rickards Middle School in Oakland Park collapsed the morning of March 5, forcing the school to evacuate its children and faculty. Fortunately, the room was not occupied and there were no major injuries reported. “It was really fortunate that the area was under construction and not occupied at the time,” said Shannon Vezina, the public information officer for the city of Oakland Park. At around 10 a.m., principal Dr. Washington Collado heard a noise and went to investigate, Vezina said. He discovered that the roof had collapsed at the media center, which was under construction. According to photos sent by the city, the entire ceiling appears to have fallen in almost a single piece. No students, faculty or construction workers were in the room at the time.
Per protocol, the students and staff were evacuated to nearby Northeast High School, where parents were able to pick up their children. Emergency medical services also took 12 students and faculty to Broward Health and Holy Cross Hospital to be checked out for headaches and anxiety. Oakland Park Fire Rescue and tactical response teams from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and the Broward Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident. On site, they found that there was a water leak, but Vezina said they are unsure if it was the cause of the collapse, a result of it, or a coincidence. Students will not be returning to school today, and it’s unclear what the plans are for Monday. Collado was recently awarded Principal of the Year in the county and was recognized at last week’s Oakland Park City Commission meeting.
Parents wanting a status update can call 754-322-1550.
www.WMGAZETTE.com 20
• 3.11.2021
4 •
MARCH 11, 2021
Photos courtesy Shannon Vezina, City of Oakland Park.
NEWS
WILTON MANORS
WILTON MANORS
COMMUNITY Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.
From Cuba to Wilton Manors Yariel González Celebrates New Life and Freedom in America
A first-person account by Michael K. Lavers
Washington Blade
Parking meters on Wilton Drive. Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
Wilton Manors Approves New Pilot Parking Program By John McDonald “I don’t think we should be adding that,” Parking surfaced again as a hot button issue in Wilton Manors with the city’s newest Bracchi said. “Just like COVID hit. We never solution coming in the form of resident know what’s going to happen. The city staff has no intention of raising it.” permits. Mayor Scott Newton said In a 4-1 vote, commissioners he did not know where the approved a new pilot program rate increase idea came from giving residents access to park and cautioned Caputo about their vehicles in any of the mentioning it on social city-owned parking lots for a media. one-time cost of $50 during “I don’t understand where the program. The program you got that from,” Newton began March 1 and runs told Caputo, adding he through December 31, 2021. If doesn’t have “an inkling in successful, the program will my eye” to raise parking rates. be implemented for 2022 at an “Just be careful how you annual cost of $60 per permit, say that on social media,” said Penny Zuercher, city Newton said. finance director. The five city lots are Commissioner Chris Caputo Richardson Park, 1937 Wilton asked that no rate increases be Drive, City Hall/Hagen Park, written into the pilot program’s 2020 Wilton Dr., N.E. Eighth terms and conditions for 2021 Commissioner Terrace, corner N.E. 26th St. but was met with resistance & N.E. Eighth Terrace, Sushi from other commissioners. “It’s not unreasonable to ask us to support Rock, 2199 Wilton Dr., 23@23, N.E. 11th Ave. that we do not raise prices during this pilot at N.E. 23rd Dr. The residential parking permit is not valid program,” Caputo said at the commission during special events and overnight parking meeting March 2. Commissioner Mike Bracchi countered is prohibited. Permit operational hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Caputo’s position.
“It’s not unreasonable to ask us to support that we do not raise prices during this pilot program.” - Chris Caputo
Yariel Valdés González began his new life of freedom in this country a year ago today. Yariel, who asked for asylum in the U.S. because of the persecution he suffered in Cuba as a journalist, spent nearly a year in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody until his release from the River Correctional Center, a privately-run detention center in Louisiana’s rural Concordia Parish, on March 4, 2020. The details of that day remain vivid: The torrential downpour that drenched us as we ran to my car in the detention center’s parking lot, the Lady Gaga songs I played on my iPhone as we drove away, my left arm that I fractured a few hours earlier and dancing at Oz on Bourbon Street once we arrived in New Orleans. Yariel over the last year has proven that immigrants really make our country great. He lives here in Wilton Manors and works at a local restaurant. Yariel contributes to the Washington and Los Angeles Blades and is becoming an active member of the Wilton Manors community. Our country is far better off when people like Yariel have the opportunity to live their best lives in freedom and commit themselves to make it better for us all. One of the ways Yariel has chosen to make a positive contribution to his new country is to document his experiences in ICE custody. The Blades in the coming weeks will begin to publish what I have dubbed his “detention diaries” that detail the inhumane treatment he suffered at the hands of an agency in serious need of oversight and reform. One of the details how he spent upwards of 12 hours shackled and handcuffed as ICE transported him from the privately-run Imperial Regional Detention Facility in California’s Imperial Valley to another privately-run facility, the Tallahatchie County Correctional Center in Tutwiler, Mississippi, as though he was a dangerous criminal. Yariel in another diary entry details the desperation he felt during the five months he needlessly spent in ICE custody after the ruling that granted him asylum was appealed. He also discusses the xenophobia and racism that he and other detainees experienced from guards at the Bossier Parish Medium Security Facility in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. I arrived in South Florida on Tuesday, three
Yariel Valdés González on South Beach on March 6, 2020, a day after he reunited with his family in Miami. Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers.
days after I was on assignment in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, where asylum seekers who had been forced to pursue their cases in Mexico under the previous White House’s odious Migrant Protection Protocols program were finally able to enter the U.S. It will undoubtedly take time for the Biden administration to undo the policies that subjected Yariel and countless other asylum seekers to needless harm and abuse, but thank goodness this process has begun. Elections really do matter. It is also crucially important to hold the previous administration — and especially those within it who crafted and implemented these harmful policies that have done irrevocable damage to our country’s reputation around the world — accountable. ICE, the agency that mistreated Yariel and countless others while in their custody, must also be held to account. We remain committed to doing our part to support immigrants and asylum seekers through our work as journalists. It is also my fervent hope that Yariel’s decision to write about his experiences in ICE custody will spur some much-needed change. In the meantime, today is a day to celebrate my dear friend and everything he has accomplished since his release a year ago. Yariel continues to prove that immigrants make our country great, and I am proud to stand by his side. ¡Viva la Libertad!
Yariel over the last year has proven that immigrants really make our country great.
www.WMGAZETTE.com 5 •
MARCH 11, 2021
3.11. 20 21 •
21
COMMUNITY
WILTON MANORS
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
Pronouns Purged From Wilton Manors’ City Charter And other highlights from this week’s meeting By John McDonald In a unanimous decision, Wilton Manors commissioners voted to gender neutralize the city charter. There was no discussion as all five commissioners agreed to amend the city charter and remove gender markers. Wilton Manors joins cities such as Philadelphia, Portland, Oregon and Tulsa, Oklahoma which have gone gender-neutral in their charters. Elsewhere, many other issues were addressed at Tuesday night’s regular commission meeting, including a vote on home rule. Commissioner Mike Bracchi asked for a vote on home rule following confusion over vacation rentals at the last commission meeting. “I don’t want our municipality rights to be taken away,” Bracchi told the Gazette in a telephone call. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Gary Resnick warned Republicans in Tallahassee were advancing bills in both the House and Senate that would limit municipalities’ powers. The commission continued to support hosting a Stonewall Parade and Festival this summer provided organizers can get approval from Broward County. A decision from the county is expected next week, said Resnick.
Photo via Pixabay.
Man Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident in Oakland Park Police Working to Notify Next of Kin By Christiana Lilly
Photo credit: Carina Mask.
City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson reported 540 people had been vaccinated at the city’s COVID-19 vaccination site at Richardson Park and commended the work of Human Resources & Risk Management Director Dio Sanchez for overseeing the operation. Mayor Scott Newton pushed forward a new ordinance that would require landscapers to install technology in sprinkler systems so as to not overwater lawns. Newton is also scheduled to participate in a suicide prevention town hall on March 18 in partnership with the City of Oakland Park. Comments from the public ranged from the continual condemnation of short-term vacation rentals to a critique of the newly installed memorial to departed former Mayor Justin Flippen. “The city really missed the mark on that one,” said resident Michael Rajner, who referred to Flippen’s memorial as a “gravestone.”
Elsewhere, many other issues were addressed at Tuesday night’s regular commission meeting, including a vote on home rule.
Chris Caputo. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred Saturday night in Oakland Park. The man who was killed was not identified as law enforcement works to notify his next of kin. According to BSO, the incident occurred around 10:35 p.m. when the man was crossing Northwest Ninth Avenue at Oakland Park Boulevard; he was not walking in a crosswalk. A driver in what law enforcement believes is a white SUV was driving northbound when they hit the pedestrian. After the driver struck the man, they slowed down and then continued driving northbound. Oakland Park Fire Rescue responded to the incident and pronounced the man dead. Earlier that same day, BSO reported that a woman named Niohsha Drayton was killed in a hit-and-run in the 600 block of Northwest 31st Avenue in unincorporated central Broward County. She was hit not once, but twice by two vehicles. Neither driver stopped. These tragedies come weeks after a woman was killed in a hit-and-run in January, also in Oakland Park. The driver did not stop after
These tragedies come weeks after a woman was killed in a hit-and-run in January, also in Oakland Park.
If you have any information, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
www.WMGAZETTE.com 22
• 3.11.2021
6 •
MARCH 11, 2021
hitting Nancy Vazquez, 59, and left behind debris that led police to believe that the car was a 2013-2015 black four-door Honda Accord EX. “Although the crash was not the fault of the driver — the pedestrian did walk in the roadway where the driver would not expect to find a pedestrian — however the driver did flee the scene,” BSO Traffic Homicide Det. Sherry Slagle-Grant said during a press conference. Matthew Masters thought of this tragedy when he talked to SFGN about his own experience with a hit-and-run just days later. He was crossing the street in Fort Lauderdale with his bicycle when he was hit by a car, sending him flying into the air and landing by the sidewalk. About 10 minutes later, a waste management worker saw him and called for help. “I would like to see something done about pedestrian-friendly roads and cracking down on speeding so nobody else gets hurt,” he told SFGN. As for the man killed March 6, BSO has not released any of his identifying information as they look for his next of kin to notify of his death.
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
Oakland Park Has Distributed More Than 5,000 COVID Vaccines Since January By Christiana Lilly
Photo via Adobe.
“There’s a whole segment of our society Since the beginning of January, the city of Oakland Park has distributed more than that doesn’t have access to the internet or 5,000 coronavirus vaccines, particularly to transportation and they really need some help,” Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin told The vulnerable seniors. In a presentation to the city commission Gazette in an interview. “We’re just trying to on March 2, city manager David Hebert make it as easy as possible.” Since March 2020, 2,599 people have tested announced that 5,220 people have been positive for the coronavirus vaccinated at Collins in Oakland Park — not Community Center since Jan. counting anyone who may be 9. Over the last three months, Since March asymptomatic. The city has also the city has increased its 2020, tracked its own staff, with 57 daily vaccinations, now staff members testing positive distributing 144 vaccines a since the beginning of the day. pandemic and 145 isolating or “Our site is really unique being on the city’s “watch list.” because it’s targeted to a people have “More than 5% of individuals specific group of people,” tested positive for with our city alone have tested Hebert told the commission. the coronavirus positive for coronavirus that we From the beginning, the are aware of,” Hebert told the city has paid special attention in Oakland Park commission. to vulnerable populations, — not counting If you are 65 or older, you noting that there are people can make an appointment for without internet, don’t anyone who may a vaccine at 954-630-4335 or speak English, or don’t be asymptomatic. visit oaklandparkfl.gov/613/ have transportation to the Coronavirus. Appointments are vaccination site. Because of scheduled Monday to Saturday that, the city has provided a phone line with an actual person to answer from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and patients can expect questions as well as providing transportation to be there for up to an hour for a post-vaccine observation period. to residents who need it.
2,599
www.WMGAZETTE.com 7 •
MARCH 11, 2021
3.11. 20 21 •
23