WMG Volume 6 • Issue 12 June 19, 2019
Wilton Manors Gazette Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette
community
Former Mayor Blasts Pride Center Gary Resnick: “They think they’re above the law” By Sallie James Wilton Manors garnered national to vote for a community of inclusiveness, headlines last year when commissioners who voted in support for affordable senior unanimously approved construction of an housing,” Caputo said during public LGBT-friendly affordable housing project comments at the June 11 City Commission for seniors at the Pride Center at Equality meeting. “I recognize Justin Flippen, Julie Carson and Tom Green, who didn’t just Park. But the $15 million project at 2040 N. vote for affordable housing, because it’s Dixie Highway came with concerns about on Nan Rich’s agenda, as one of her most inadequate parking, stormwater overflow, critical items for our future.” Caputo said the three “yes” votes were code violations and a noisy, illegal gym. guided by their “strong Nearly a year later, the gym moral compass” and is still accused of being noisy that they understood and the Pride Center owes the a community designed city approximately $14,000 “solely for rich white in unpaid legal fees and costs. gay men is a community Neighbors hoped the nonwithout a future.” profit community center Roger Roa, the Pride would tighten up its act but Center’s director of according to them it hasn’t. development, wrote That’s why Commissioners in a Facebook post, Gary Resnick and Paul Rolli “Please help me by refused to vote for a plat letting everyone revision on May 28 that would know that these two pave the way for the gym to commissioners just legally obtain a business tax got elected and would receipt. Mayor Justin Flippen, rather squash the Vice Mayor Tom Green and - Gary Resnick project than doing what Commissioner Julie Carson City Commissioner they each stated they voted in favor of the measure. would do during the Now officials at the Pride Center have targeted Resnick and Rolli campaign … to further improve and better because they were critical of the Pride our city. SHAME ON YOU.” The post has since been removed. Center’s landlord practices. Resnick and Rolli said Caputo and Christopher Caputo, board chair for the Pride Center, accused Rolli and Resnick of Roa’s comments were inaccurate and misguided. voting against affordable housing. “[Caputo] got everything wrong. We “I’m here to express my appreciation for the three elected officials who were willing approved the apartment project. It’s been
“We hold all property owners to the code, and they are violating the code.”
Wilton Manors City Commission. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
approved several times so he is wrong about that, and we have all expressed our support for senior low income housing,” said an irritated Resnick. “The issue we had is the Pride Center violating the law, and that they have a business that is illegally operating on their property. We hold all property owners to the code, and they are violating the code. I think they think they are above the law.” Rolli was equally peeved. “The issue discussed at the City Commission meeting was about property owner responsibility and compliance with city codes, not about housing,” Rolli said. “The city supports the affordable housing as
we voted to approve the plat amendment for the Pride Center — the city also voted to pay up to $200,000 in housing construction costs and to approve flexibility units and also issued a building permit for construction.” Matt Dreger, a neighbor and president of the Riverside Homeowners Association, said he has fought with the Pride Center over illegal signs, illegal lighting, stormwater issues and code violations and isn’t hopeful things will easily improve. “They abuse the city, they abuse their neighbors and now they are abusing the elected officials,” Dreger said. “God only knows what they are going to do next.” WMG
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Opinion
Wilton Manors Pride WMG The city celebrated in style
June 19, 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 11 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre Submitted photo.
Perhaps there is some truth to the myths of the ancient Greek gods’ preference to homosexuality. Zeus’ choice of Ganymede to serve as his cupbearer on Mount Olympus might have been a sign for his current day blessings of a rain-free celebration of Stonewall Pride this past Saturday. Zeus, the ruler of the heavens, is the one who reins over the clouds, rain, thunder and lightning. So as I sit here on this very rainy Sunday writing my article, I send offerings of gratitude and thanks to Zeus for a rain-free celebration of Stonewall Pride 20/50 here in our weeklong-rain-soaked Island City. While I am in a congratulatory mood to the Greek gods, let me also thank Hephaestus and Athena for blessing us with Wilton Art and the many committed residents who are responsible for the wonderful work that is taking place in our Island City. The art installations at City Hall for Pride Month are spectacular. The photo of Wilton Manors City Hall at night all alight in rainbow colored lights should make all residents proud. Moving in for a closer look, one can appreciate the two fantastic art installations brought to us by Wilton Art. The front window panels are the canvas for three images commemorating the six days of the Stonewall riots 50 years ago. Inside is the Stonewall Ribbons installation, a kaleidoscope of color that blesses our City Hall with the wonderment, the power and the engagement of public art. Wilton Art has much to be proud of, and I am excited to know that these talented and committed individuals are just getting started. Other recent installations include the mural at the south gateway to our city on the side wall of The Grille, welcoming all to our wonderful city. At Jaycee Park, we finally have that photo spot, and coming up soon will be the utility wraps spread throughout our art-
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com News Editor • Sallie James
Correspondents
Sal Torre • James Oaksun
Staff Photographers
J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires
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Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Clark Rogers clark.rogers@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
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craving neighborhoods. Many thanks to the Island City Art Advisory Committee for all their dedication and hard work. And many thanks to Hephaestus and Athena for finally blessing our city with such dedicated art enthusiasts and art-craving residents who want more. Now to those who proclaim that our city is quickly becoming a retirement home for aging queens. Looking out at the participants of the Stonewall Pride parade and the crowds, many youthful participants were everywhere. Once again, the Greek gods are blessing our city. The goddess Hebe’s presence could be felt up and down the Drive this past Saturday with so many children and teenagers participating and marching in the parade.
Once again, the Greek gods are blessing our city.
Mayor Justin Flippen led the parade with a large contingent of young residents marching out in front. These same young ones take part in many city programs offered to our young residents. Children’s Story Time every Monday at our city’s municipal library is one of the hottest tickets in town. Leisure Services’ afterschool program and summer camp are sold-out events. Easter-time Eggstravaganza, Christmas Breakfast with Santa, the Annual Spooktacular event, and Music at Mickel are more prideful examples of our city’s diverse programs offered to our engaged community. As we celebrate Pride Month, our Island City has much to be proud of. We are an engaged community with much to offer all who call Wilton Manors home. The Rainbow Flag proudly flying throughout our Island City offers us the foundation and a representation of who we are — a community of many coming together seeking to make our city the best we all can be. That is why we celebrate Pride Month and that is what makes life just better here. WMG
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From now through September 30, 2019, there is free parking along Wilton Drive! Learn more about the parking guidelines at bit.ly/WMFreeParking Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
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June 19, 2019
Real Estate
A Better Rule By James Oaksun Last time, you’ll remember, I discussed the use of “price per square foot” as a “rule of thumb” in pricing real estate. I proved, using actual sales data, that as a standalone statistic price per foot was a fair predictor at best. I charted its substantial variability and calculated its statistical goodness of fit – I think I called it the “R-squared thingie” – as being 54 percent (100 percent is a perfect predictor). I said that if you were only going to use one measure, price per foot was best. But I asked whether we could construct something better. How much better a predictor can we get? Based on MLS data, county tax records, and a check of Google Maps, we know a great deal about properties even without stepping in the front door. (People actually use front doors here. Up north, practically no one does.) I made a database of all single family houses sold in Wilton Manors in the 12 months ending April 30, 2019, and included every variable easily accessible. So, things like square footage of house and lot; beds/baths; whether there was a garage, carport, or pool; was it a waterfront home; and its location within the Island City. I then put my data mining software to work, to find the most important factors, and reject
the rest. The results were astounding. That “R-squared thingie” increased from 54 percent to 80 percent! And again, this is without making any evaluation on condition or degree of updating. What were the key variables, and specifically how much did they matter? Well, I can tell you the three main drivers, but I’m not going to give you the specific dollar weights to apply to them. I reserve those for the benefit of my clients. Daddy doesn’t share the goodies for nothing. The biggest driver is location within WilMa. I divided the city into the three neighborhood associations (west, central, east), and then used 26th Street to halve those three segments horizontally. Homes east of the train tracks, and in central Wilton south of 26th Street, sold at a substantial premium to homes in West Wilton and in central Wilton north of 26th, all other things being equal. The second driver of note is whether it is a waterfront property. While buyers pay a significant premium for these WilMa properties, the premium is not as large as in other cities where waterfront properties might have Intracoastal access without contending
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with fixed bridges. “No fixed bridge” access can be worth several hundred thousand dollars, all other things being equal. But in Wilton, that premium is substantially less. The third major driver is the presence of a swimming pool. When people move to Wilton, they want to move in and jump in (to the pool). Most people don’t want to hear “room for pool;” they want to see the sparkling water. Again, this is all based on actual buyer behavior, as demonstrated through the prices buyers are willing to pay. There are a couple other factors, but I’ll save those for another time. And as I said,
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that’s all before you consider the home’s condition. For example, how much is an updated kitchen worth? Impact doors/ windows? Type of flooring? I wonder whether an enterprising real estate geek might be able to tease effects of those factors from the sales prices. Well, who can say really. WMG James Oaksun, Florida’s Real Estate Geek(SM), is Broker-Owner of New Realty Concepts in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).
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Publisher's Editorial
Convictions
Critiques and Criticisms have to Be Credible Worrying About the Pride Center’s Website is Not
x
Norm Kent
norm.kent@sfgn.com
S
o week after week we give Sal Torre, our blind eye to the concerns of their neighbors Wilton Manors Gazette columnist, an for years.” opportunity to communicate with you You were writing about the gym they rent about local issues of consequence. space to, I guess. But wait, it was the City Week after week, he finds a way to criticize Commission that voted 3 to 2 to allow the Pride the Pride Center at Equality Park. No one Center to grant exemptions to their tenant. expects everyone to agree with him, because Why not chastise the city commissioners? if you all did, he would not have finished about And the business is not “illegal,” per se. If 15th in the City Commission elections back in you want to say there are impermissible zoning 2014. violations that must and should be corrected, Nevertheless, our goal at SFGN is to give say that. Gee, it’s trafficking in weights and our bi-weekly curmudgeon a chance to paint a gym equipment, not heroine and ecstasy. portrait of our community. Unlike Voltaire, he We all have a writer’s license to embellish does not think all is right with the world. in order to make a point. I get it. What I don’t Wisely, sarcastically, but intelligently, Torre get is calling out the Pride Center for being a uses his pen with cutting precision to carve neighbor who has turned “a blind eye to the up, dice, and slice those he does not agree concerns of the community.” with. But in our last issue, so desperate for selfThey have openly gone before the City pleasure is he, that the best he Commission with their could do was take out the Pride plans and supporters Center because he did not like month after month. For We all have a the design of their website. better or for worse, they writer’s license to Give me a break. prevailed. That is not to say embellish in order If you want to dispute the they should have. But they Pride Center on its advocacy have argued their cause in to make a point. I of an affordable housing unit the light of day. This paper get it. I don’t ‘get’ on its campus, OK. If you has written about it. You calling out the want to argue they could do a have written about it. better job serving the needs of You may disagree with Pride Center for the LGBT community, go at it. the results, but the majority being a neighbor We are giving you the right to of the City Commission did write. not agree with you. They who has turned However, spending the first have allowed the very gym ‘a blind eye to the half of your column critiquing you are pissed off about to concerns of the the ephemeral visual design of expand. Last week, we did a the Center’s website is beyond story on that as well. community.’ crazy. I mean, Sal, they are Looking the story over, offering counseling sessions to it’s slanted towards the young drug abusers, meeting rooms for senior critics — your side. We used quotes from the citizens, delivering programs for community participants of that City Commission seven groups, hosting life memorials for those lost, times in that story, but five were from the aiding hundreds through HIV life initiatives, minority who lost the vote, instead of the and acting as a central train station for all majority that won. Maybe we gave the wrong impression to matters gay in South Florida, and the best you the readers. can do is take out their website? You can’t always blame a reporter for that. No, actually you did more, didn’t you? Laying sabotage to their website was not The squeakiest wheel sometimes gets the enough. You also wrote, “We have been press ink. The critics shout the loudest. For insulted and treated badly by the Pride Center. all I know, the majority of city residents are They have allowed an illegal business to happy with the outcome. I don’t know. As operate on their campus. They have turned a a lawyer, I have represented psychics, but I
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Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
don’t pretend to be one. Anyway, the world needs critics and curmudgeons. Keep on trucking. You have a voice here, but so do those who don’t see it your way. They are invited onto these pages as well. To our readers, let me say this. Not every story will be perfect, and not every ending will make you feel good. But if it makes you feel and think and want to make a difference, we will have done our job.
We are fortunate to have a community newspaper open and receptive to controversy and criticism, willing to tread in calm waters. We are lucky that we have columnists who are critical and editors that are thorough. We even have publishers that criticize our writers, and vice versa. It’s OK. Everyone has a place at the table. Opinions are not expressed for you to agree with. They are there for you to challenge. Feel free to at any time.
STONEWALL PRIDE Meanwhile, we just finished an awesome weekend in Wilton Manors, escaping a rainfall that could have been catastrophe for the parade. It was one of the largest ever, infusing our city with pride and revenues on a hot summer day. We also apparently paid for enough security to guard Fort Knox about ten times over. Was it organized chaotically or concretely? Was it run correctly or incompetently? Those are things for another day. Still, everything from the deployment of resources to the decorum of the day needs to be evaluated and reviewed to insure that the annual event is an accomplishment we praise, rather than an enterprise we regret. So Sal, go to work. But do me a favor. Look at what the Wilton Manors Entertainment Group actually did on this past Saturday, not at what their website said they might do.
June 19, 2019