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
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •2 5 6.19.2019 •