WMG Volume 7 • Issue 15 July 30, 2020
Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE
COVID-19
New Cases of COVID-19 Remain Steady in Wilton Manors By Jason Parsley The total number of cases in Wilton has paused much of its reopening plans Manors as of Tuesday now stands at 231, while Broward County has implemented a up from 206 a week ago, according to data nightly curfew and new restrictions have obtained from the Florida Department been placed on certain businesses. “The City of Wilton Manors continues to of Health. That’s a 12% increase over the prior week — slightly more than the 10% ‘think outside the box’ to see how we can deliver services and provide relief to our rise two weeks ago. Meanwhile Oakland Park experienced stakeholders. We have assisted Restaurant Owners by providing a 17% increase in the last outdoor dining spaces for week — down from 33% patrons,” Wilton Manors the week before. City Commissioner Julie Over the past 30 days Carson previously told there’s been a 72% rise in SFGN. “The City’s Code confirmed cases in Wilton Enforcement Department Manors. But those numbers is responding to numerous pale in comparison to violations of the County’s Oakland Park whose most recent Emergency numbers have almost Order. Code Officers are quadrupled in that same working additional hours to time period. educate, assist and compel At the end of May new compliance. Violations of weekly cases in Wilton safety protocols in Broward Manors had dropped to County can be reported by just 1. In May there were - Julie Carson WILTON MANORS CITY dialing 311.” 30 new cases. In June, 22. COMMISSIONER According to FDOH as of Meanwhile in this month, Tuesday, 51,657 people have there have already been 87 tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward new cases. The total cases in Wilton Manors comes County — that’s more than 3 times the to about 1.8% of the population. In Oakland number from 30 days ago. So far 607 have Park it’s about 1.8%. For comparison the died in the county. In Fort Lauderdale there have been percentage of positive tests in Florida 11,758 cases, up from 3,182, 30 days ago. comes to about 2% of the population. As Broward County and the rest of the Next door in Oakland Park the number is state has reopened, Florida has set multiple up to 829. There are 436,867 confirmed cases in records for the number of daily coronavirus cases in the last 30 days. South Florida Florida, more than 4.4 million in the U.S.,
“WE HAVE ASSISTED RESTAURANT OWNERS BY PROVIDING OUTDOOR DINING SPACES FOR PATRONS.”
A mask and gloves. Photo via Pixabay.
and globally more than 16.7 million. So far there have been 6,117 deaths in Florida, 151,000 in the U.S. and globally more than 660,000. More than 900 Floridians have died in the last week.
“In all events, acting responsibly by wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands often are the only solutions to mitigating this pandemic,” Carson previously said. WMG
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OPINION
Portland Manors When the police come knocking…
July 30, 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 15 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre Photo via Pixabay.
In the early morning hours one day last week, I was roused from a sound sleep by someone pounding on my front door. At first, I thought it was part of a dream. Why would someone be pounding my front door at 5 a.m.? Then it happened again, loud, harsh, bam, bam, bam. The noise was aggressive, made with some type of instrument, meant to be loud, meant to be ominous, and meant to demand immediate attention. In my early-morning haze, still attempting to rationalize what was happening, my mind went off on a few quick tangents. Were we under siege by President Trump’s DHS Stormtroopers, did our police department become the latest arm of the far right insurgency, was there confusion with some other residence housing illegal aliens or political dissidents that needed rounding up, families separated and deported? Approaching the door cautiously and ready to dial 911 on my cell phone, I looked to see the familiar face of a Wilton Manors Police officer standing at my door, backed up by the canine officer and their dog. Deciding to unlock the door and engage our two officers as to what was happening, I was quickly informed that a neighbor had been burglarized and that they wanted to search our yard for one of the suspects. Needing a key to unlock the gates was the reason for this early morning rousing, and I immediately stepped outside to unlock the gate. Once again, my mind went off to a different place. I chuckled at the thought of being thankful that our city did not purchase body cams for our police officers. No proof of what one looks like at 5 a.m. What a relief! No back-office laughter from the ranks running the video clip of me in boxer shorts with my belly sticking out from under an old t-shirt. Not ready for close-ups at that hour, Mr. DeMille. As the sounds of the approaching police helicopter snapped my attention back to the matters at hand, I retreated back into the house as instructed. By now, the rest of the house was awake, including our two vicious and ready to attack guard dogs, who just minutes ago did not make a sound or move from under the covers when I was answering the pounding on the door. Hmmm, thanks you two. No need to bark and look to see what was going on now, but off they went making lots of noise. Since getting back to sleep was no longer an option, the coffee started to brew.
WMG Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kimberly Swan
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com News Editor • Sallie James
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
Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com
Wondering and concerned about an early morning break-in of one of our neighbors, we did what all concerned residents do at the sound of a police helicopter overhead: We turned to social media. To our surprise, the answer was actually there. Our neighbor had already posted that her car that was burglarized, that one suspect was caught by our police department, and the other was on the run. Later that day, thinking about my initial reactions, one has many reasons to be fearful of the sound of authorities pounding on your door in the early morning hours. This is the world Trump has created as he dispatches troops throughout our cities. Fear is a tool successfully being used to manipulate and divert our attention away from the unlawful practices of those in power today. Not the America I want to see, but unfortunately the one many others want as they chant, “Let’s make America great again.” Scary times ahead as we get closer to Election Day. Many frightening scenarios should have everyone on edge. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, our Island City, like many local governments, look to our nation’s capital for relief. Unfortunately, many in Washington see no need to help local municipalities deal with the downturn of the economy brought on
by the pandemic. So, our city keeps their fingers crossed, hopeful for the best-case scenario in regards to this upcoming fiscal year’s budget, while planning for difficult times ahead. Recent budget hearings and city workshops offer a sobering reality of what lies ahead for our Island City. Tough choices will have to be made by our elected officials and city management. At last night’s Budget Workshop, our City Commission heard from Michael Bracchi, Chair of the city’s Budget Review Advisory Committee, who along with fellow committee members offered their budget recommendations. Comments from Commissioner Julie Carson raised some eyebrows when she talked about lowering the vacation rental fee. Just a reminder to those running in the upcoming city election, resident homeowners and full-time renters vote in our municipal elections, vacation rental business owners usually do not. Having strong neighborhoods protected by a wonderful police department, with robust code enforcement, and requesting those business owners who operate vacation rentals in our single-family neighborhoods be properly licensed and to pay appropriate fees are part of what makes life just better here… WMG
Sal Torre has been a columnist for the Wilton Manors Gazette since its inception. Sal has served on the Wilton Drive Task Force, Budget Review Advisory Board, and Charter Review Board, among others. Sal is currently President of the Westside Association of Wilton Manors and Secretary for the Friend of the Wilton Manors Library. He is employed with Broward County in the Human Services Division.
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
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Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
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July 30, 2020
POLITICS
Tom Green Named Acting Mayor of Wilton Manors By Sallie James
Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green, pictured next to Wilton Manors City Hall. Photos via Facebook.
Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green will become “Acting Mayor” later this month when he is officially named by resolution to the post. The city has been without a mayor since Justin Flippen died suddenly of a brain aneurysm Feb. 25. His colleagues on the City Commission agreed by consensus July 14 that Green should have the title to eliminate some of the confusion Green has encountered because he still goes by the title “Vice Mayor.” “It’s very nice. There won’t be any difference in what I have been doing. There has been a lot of confusion on what my title is,” Green said. Employees at Wilton Manors City Hall refer to Green as “Vice Mayor.” The mayors who attend Broward County’s weekly mayor calls to discuss COVID-19 updates refer to him as “Mayor,” even though he’s not; and the National League of Cities has been
NEWS
Victory Fund Endorses Carson’s Campaign For Wilton Manors Mayor By John McDonald In a new round of endorsements, the LGBTQ Victory Fund announced its support of Julie Carson’s bid to become Mayor of Wilton Manors. A triathlete, foster mother and sitting Commissioner, Carson is seeking to fill the vacant mayorship left by the sudden death of Justin Flippen in February. Carson told SFGN she feels her campaign is in good shape. “I’m out on the streets, doing social distancing but making sure I’m present and accountable,” Carson said. “I hope for the opportunity to continue in service and also push forward some of Justin’s legacies.” The mayoral election is November 3. Elsewhere, Florida House candidates Javier Estevez (District 105) and Ricky Junquera (District 118) were upgraded to spotlight endorsements. “Both candidates are critical to ending the anti-LGBTQ majority in the Florida state
Julie Carson. Photo via Facebook.
House,” reads a Victory Fund press release. The Victory Fund has endorsed 240 candidates thus far with 14 coming from Florida. WMG
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calling Green “Acting Mayor” since Flippen’s death. The mayor’s slot has been empty since Flippen died. The Supervisor of Elections told the city in March a special election couldn’t be held until the Aug. 18 primary. “We only have four commission meetings between that time and the November election, it didn’t make sense,” Commissioner Paul Rolli previously said. Because of ambiguity in the language of the City Charter, City Attorney Kerry Ezrol told commissioners they could use their own discretion as to whether or not to fill the slot. They left it vacant, to be filled during the November election. “[Green] really felt this would allow his work to be a little easier,” said Commissioner Julie Carson. “He said it has become very difficult to be the vice mayor at the meetings of the mayors.” WMG
THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TOLD THE CITY IN MARCH A SPECIAL ELECTION COULDN’T BE HELD UNTIL THE AUG. 18 PRIMARY.
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PHOTOS
Fresh Food Giveaway ON TUESDAY, JULY 28, LOCAL VOLUNTEERS HOWARD ANDREW AND DAWN HOLLOWAY SPENT THE AFTERNOON OUTSIDE OF HUNTERS, WHERE THEY DISTRIBUTED FREE VEGETABLES AND FRUIT TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE STRUGGLING DUE TO COVID-19.
Photos By Stephen Lang
Joel Slotnik (left), Howard Andrew, Dawn Holloway, and Kevin Clevenger.
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Jamie Forsythe stands with a box of donations.
Recipients were encouraged to practice social distancing during pick-up.
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• 7. 30.2020
COMMUNITY
‘Parade of Orchids’ Spruces Up Park in Oakland Park By Christiana Lilly With the “Parade of Orchids” set to Singapore Botanic Gardens’ initiative to plant take place in July, Rich Ackerman walked orchids to urban spaces. After propagating through Oakland Park’s Stunson Park. He local orchid breeds in the lab, they were was impressed with the park’s bevy of native planted around the island and have added a plants, and all it needed next was native welcome addition to the Asian island. With Fairchild’s new micropropagation orchids climbing from the trees. Ackerman, the president of the Fort laboratory, scientists are able to specifically Lauderdale Orchid Society, visited the park identify if a plant hails from Miami or Palm alongside Dr. Jason Downing of Fairchild Beach by examining its DNA sequencing. Tropical Botanic Garden. Together with their With this information, it helps staff know groups, along with the Equality Garden Club where the plant will best thrive. When he heard about the initiative, in Wilton Manors, they have been working to make the Million Orchid Project a reality, and Ackerman was eager for his club to expand the project into Broward County. After signing Oakland Park was next. With speakers from the city and members a contract with the garden two years ago, the of both botanical groups present, 100 orchids club’s volunteers have been on the move ever were planted at the park in an event dubbed since, collecting native seeds, propagating the “Parade of Orchids.” The park was named roots, and planting them. “The original population of these plants for the late Oakland Park City Manager John kind of got wiped out. But if Stunson, a fitting move as he they’re reintroduced, they will loved nature. WITH THE 100 thrive,” Ackerman said. “We’re “Our family is pleased that putting them back into the the trail named in his honor PLANTS TIED TO environment where they were will be enhanced with so many TREES — THEIR originally found.” beautiful orchids,” his wife, ROOTS WILL And the Million Orchid Shelley, said in a press release. Project has not only been a work “We hope people of all ages EVENTUALLY BOND of science, but a community. will visit and appreciate how TO THE TREE, AS Fairchild has worked with something so breathtaking was IT IS A PARASITIC schoolchildren, municipalities, made possible by the kindness of so many.” PLANT — IN ABOUT and public parks to spread the beauty of orchids. With the 100 plants tied A YEAR THE PARK Oakland Park’s “Parade of to trees — their roots will WILL BE BLOOMING Orchids” is one of the county’s eventually bond to the tree, as major plantings. Flowers have it is a parasitic plant — in about WITH ORCHIDS. also been planted at Broward a year the park will be blooming College-South Campus, with orchids. “This project will create a beautiful and Riverland Manors and Colee Hammock in harmonious space of reflection,” Oakland Fort Lauderdale. Boy Scouts in Davie have Park Mayor Matthew Sparks said in a also participated in the project. Boasting 300 members, the Fort press release. “We envision the orchids as a stunning tribute to the first responders, Lauderdale Orchid Club is an award-winning medical professionals, and Oakland Park group, being the only group to win the employees whose commitment to serving our American Orchid Society’s Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award twice. community has never wavered.” “Our orchid society would love to make These plants are a part of a larger goal, the One Million Orchids Project, spearheaded by relationships with garden clubs all over Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Broward County to act as an agent to get these Gables. With native orchids wiped out of plants out to the clubs for their members and their habitats, the scientists at the facility for retirement homes and their community, are trying to bring the unique flowers back to for the city or the town park,” Ackerman said. “We’re going to have tens of thousands of South Florida. The staff at Fairchild were inspired by orchids next year.” WMG
Onlookers watch as an orchid is carefully installed. Photo credit: Michael Murphy.
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Guests were treated with demonstrations. Photo credit: Michael Murphy.
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PHOTOS
Getting Wet For A Photos By J.R. Davis
Good Cause
ON SUNDAY, JULY 26 AT JOHNSONS FORT LAUDERDALE, THE DANCERS OF JOHNSONS HANDED OUT MASKS — AND A FEW GOOD LOOKS — WHILE CLEANING VEHICLES TO RAISE MONEY.
Johnsons owner Matt Colunga with his team.
From left to right: Johnsons stars Angelo and Brian, Casey of The Grand Resort and Spa, and Omar, star barman at Johnsons.
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• 7. 30.2020
COVID-19
NEWS
135 New Cases of COVID-19 These Upcoming Projects in Oakland Park Last Week; in Wilton Manors Are Worth Total Stands at 829 Every Penny – Literally By Jason Parsley
By Sallie James July has seen a dramatic rise in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oakland Park compared to the previous two months with 587 new cases so far this month, compared to 159 in total for May and June. As of Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Health, the total number of cases in Oakland Park now stands at 829, up from 694 a week ago — a 19% increase. That’s a sharp decline from two weeks ago when the cases rose 33% and the week before that 52%. At the end of May new weekly cases in Oakland Park had slowed to a trickle. In May there were 30 new cases. In June, 129. “It has been reported that approximately 80% of new cases are family or household related,” Oakland Park City Commissioner Tim Lonergan previously told SFGN. “Kids and young adults are socializing with their friends and bringing the virus home and infecting other members of the household.” The total cases in Oakland Park come to about 1.8% of the population. Next door in Wilton Manors it’s also about 1.8%. For comparison the percentage of positive tests in Florida amounts to 2% of the population. The Mayor of Oakland Park, Matthew Sparks noted last week that the positivity rate has also been increasing since early June – from 2% on June 2 to 22% on July 22. “So clearly we have a problem,” Sparks previously told SFGN. Sparks reiterates everyone needs to mask up in order to get the virus under control. As Broward County and the rest of the state has reopened, Florida has set multiple records for the number of daily coronavirus cases in the last 30 days. South Florida has paused much of its reopening plans while Broward County has implemented a nightly curfew and new restrictions have been placed on certain businesses. According to FDOH as of Tuesday, 51,657 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward County — that’s more than 3 times the number from 30 days ago. So far 607 have died in the county. In Fort Lauderdale there have been 11,758
A woman wearing a mask. Photo via Pxhere.
cases, up from 3,182, 30 days ago. Next door in Oakland Park the number is up to 829. There are 436,867 confirmed cases in Florida, more than 4.4 million in the U.S., and globally more than 16.7 million. So far there have been 6,117 deaths in Florida, 151,000 in the U.S. and globally more than 660,000. More than 900 Floridians have died in the last week. For more local information Lonergan pointed to the Oakland Park Coronavirus Call Center Hotline the city set up at the beginning of the pandemic. It’s available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “to answer questions and redirect residents to the resources they may find helpful.” He also directed residents to this webpage on the city’s website for “a wealth of knowledge, resources and links related to the pandemic.” Last month the City launched a campaign to encourage residents to shop local with the “Find it in Oakland Park” campaign. Find more information at www.bit.ly/3f5oW3D (casesensitive). WMG
THE TOTAL CASES IN OAKLAND PARK COME TO ABOUT 1.8% OF THE POPULATION.
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New bus shelters; resurfaced roads; and new landscaping and irrigation along Wilton Drive are among several city projects that will be funded by money from a penny sales tax that voters approved back in 2018. The Broward County Commission approved the 30-year, one percent surtax for transportation in November 2018, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2019. The County Commission then approved several transportation surtaxfunded projects for the City of Wilton Manors. “The projects went through a lengthy ranking and approval process in June,” according to Wilton Manors City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson. An interlocal agreement has to be negotiated with the county for each project, she noted. Funding will be available sometime in October or shortly thereafter, she said. At that time, each project will have to be put out to bid. The county also wants to review all the bids, she added. Here’s a list of the approved projects:
WILTON DRIVE LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION The county allocated $287,532 for this project, which will beautify the ongoing improvements to Wilton Drive in the city’s downtown. Irrigation and additional landscaping will be installed within the existing right of way. Work will take place in roadway “bump outs” and also in sidewalk areas. WAYFINDING PROGRAM The county allocated $639,650 for this project, which consists of various directional and informational signs to be placed throughout the city. The signs will be designed to help people navigate their way around Wilton Manors and improve commutes by providing consistent information. BUS SHELTERS The county allocated $180,000 to construct and redesign bus shelters throughout Wilton Manors, as well as build a new bus shelter on NE 16th Avenue.
Photo edited by Brendon Lies.
NE 15TH AVE./NE 24TH ST. ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND SIDEWALKS The county allocated $629,804 for this traffic-calming project, which will provide raised intersections and new crosswalks. Five foot-wide sidewalks will be installed on the south side of NE 24th Street between NE 15th Avenue and Metropolitan. STREET IMPROVEMENTS ON NE 26TH STREET FROM FIVE POINTS TO MIDDLE RIVER The county allocated $240,000 for this project to widen the sidewalks on both sides of the road so they are ADA compliant. STREET RESURFACING THROUGHOUT THE CITY The county allocated $4,410,734 for this project, which includes resurfacing three sections of city roads in the center part of Wilton Manors. WMG
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