WMG Volume 7 • Issue 19 October 1, 2020
Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE
ELECTION
Wilton Manors Candidates Share Future Plans With Residents in Zoom Forum By Sallie James It was a candidates’ night like no other, with mayoral and commission hopefuls weighing in via Zoom from the comfort of their homes as they answered questions about their plans for the city’s future. Thanks to COVID-19, voters with an interest in how candidates for Wilton Manors mayor and city commission had to log into a Zoom meeting earlier this month to find out how the competitors measured up. As many as 145 people in addition to the nine candidates joined the event, which took the place of traditional doorknocking and face-to-face fundraisers. Organizers said the participation level was almost the same as in person. “A lot of residents have expressed deep appreciation for doing the Zoom meeting. A lot of the people know nothing or very little about the candidates running,” said Jon O’Connor, vice president of the Westside Association of Wilton Manors. “We always do it for every election and we normally do it so residents can make an informed decision on candidates because they may not meet them.” Meeting candidates in the best of times is often hard for the general public. The pandemic has made it even trickier.
Three candidates are running for mayor: Julie Carson, an incumbent city commissioner; Scott Newton, a former longtime mayor and city commissioner who lost his bid for re-election in 2018; and political newcomer Josie SmithMalave, a chef and owner of Bubbles & Pearls restaurant in Wilton Manors. In addition, six people are vying for two open commission seats: Chris Caputo, board chair for the Pride Center at Equality Park; Mike Bracchi, who manages a pharmacy consulting business; Doug Blevins, vice-chair of the Wilton Manors Improvement District; Joseph Sansone, a licensed realtor; Jason Basilico, owner of Matty’s at Wilton Park; and Juan Melecio, who has managed a barbershop and has acted in porn films. The candidates all logged into Zoom and answered questions from three neighborhood association leaders during the event. Former Wilton Manors Mayor John Fiore, president of the East Neighborhood Association, explained that Zoom was the only way they could give residents a chance to “meet the candidates.” “All in all it worked out well. There were some technical glitches,” Fiore said, noting that the sound cut out a few times
AS MANY AS 145 PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THE NINE CANDIDATES JOINED THE EVENT.
The three candidates running for mayor were among those who attended, including Julie Carson (left), Scott Newton (center) and Josie Smith-Malave. Photos via Facebook.
when Sansone and Melecio tried to speak. Those listening in couldn’t ask questions; one of the down sides, Fiore said. “We had to do it ourselves, which made it different. The people I talked to thought it went well,” Fiore said. Candidates answered questions on everything from development and density to taxes, vacation rentals and whether or not a hotel should be built in downtown Wilton Manors. HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS: Newton, who is straight, said he would bring balance and experience to the city.
Everyone on the current Wilton Manors Commission is gay. He portrayed himself as a defender of the city’s neighborhoods in the face of development and voiced disapproval for vacation rentals, which are sometimes disruptive and noisy. “We need to hammer on those people who just don’t care about our communities,” Newson said. When it comes to development, Carson said elected officials must be mindful not to “deteriorate” the quality of life in the city. She said she invites conversation and open dialogue to find out what residents want. Asked if she would approve an eight-story building, she said it would depend on where it would be located.
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17
OPINION
RIP RBG By Sal Torre
Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Photo credit: Wake Forest University School of Law, via Flickr.
As the news of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death hit the media outlets, I wondered how long it would take the Republican wolves to start reacting to the scent of blood. Before flags were placed at half mask, before one 24-hour news cycle, before RBG was even laid to rest, good ole Rich Mitch was salivating over the opportunity to name a conservative successor to the high court bench. Closer to home, our former Governor, now Senator, Rick Scott was quick to stand right behind good ole Rich Mitch in calling for quick approval of President Trump’s nominee. They say that American voters have a very short-term memory when it comes to politicians and their actions in office. Amazing how quick these Republican wolves, reacting to a whiff of blood, have so quickly cast aside their own statements of just four years ago when faced with a similar situation. This band of charlatans successfully halted former President Obama from having the opportunity to name a successor to the court following the sudden death of Justice Scalia. Their moral outrage back then was that the vacancy on the high court so close to an election should not be filled until we have a new president. How quickly to be singing a different tune, exposing themselves as hucksters instead of men of their word. Four years ago there were 11 long months before the end of former President Obama’s second term when Justice Scalia passed away. Eleven months was too short of a time for Mitch McConnell four years ago, but now he stands ready to approve a nominee in just 45 days before an election. Shame, shame, shame. Hopefully RBG has the last laugh as these band of charlatans get defeated at the Ballot Box comes November. Speaking of elections, here in our Island City the race for mayor and two city commission seats has entered the final
WMG October 1, 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 19 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kimberly Swan
Editorial
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Correspondents
Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun
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stretch and things are heating up. Candidates have a rough time this election season reaching out to residents due to COVIDrelated issues. We don’t have the usual campaign parties and events at local establishments to meet the candidates and enjoy socializing with neighbors. Residents should do their part and reach out to candidates and get to know more about them before placing their vote. If you are choosing to vote by mail this election, you will be receiving your ballot in just a week or so here in Broward County. Early voting will be another good option and then if you’re like me, you can wait till Election Day to cast your vote in this very important election. Hopefully our municipal candidates in the last few weeks before the election will behave like leaders of our community and not like a band of school yard brats. Recent neighborhood chatter has been about stolen yard signs, confiscated door
HOPEFULLY RBG HAS THE LAST LAUGH AS THESE BAND OF CHARLATANS GET DEFEATED AT THE BALLOT BOX COMES NOVEMBER.
hangers and similar childish antics. If you think you stand a better chance of winning your election by stealing some else’s yard signs, or knocking down larger signs, or removing other candidates’ door hangers as you replace them with your own, then maybe you need to take a step back and really question your motives to serve our community. I do miss the usual fall season campaign events at local watering holes. A small donation would get you a free drink and some good nibbles while socializing with friends and neighbors. However, 2020 has been a very different reality with no signs of normalcy returning anytime soon. I am ready for the election to be over yesterday and hope that we can leave the last four years of insanity behind as we move ahead to better days. Hope and optimism for a better tomorrow has always been a driving force behind the American spirit. One day we will move beyond the fear and danger of the COVID pandemic, beyond the divisiveness and fearmongering of Donald Trump, and wake up to a better tomorrow. That hope and optimism are what makes life just better here… WMG
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in ballots are a more popular option than ever. If you ordered a mail-in ballot and haven’t received it yet, it should be arriving soon. Don’t forget to send it in!
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October 1, 2020
ELECTION
NEWS
Wilton Manors Candidates Share Future Plans With Residents in Zoom Forum Continued from page 1
Smith-Malave hyped her experience as a Wilton Manors business owner, saying she has her “finger on the pulse” of what is going on in the business community. She said neighborhoods needed to be unified and called for controlled development, adding that she would bring the city a “fresh perspective on old projects” that have stopped moving forward. But when Fiore asked her to describe the city’s borders, she gave a long, rambling description that included portions of Fort Lauderdale. Bracchi, who is chair of the city’s Budget Committee, highlighted his familiarity with the city’s finances, noting that the COVID-19 recovery will pose a challenge. Bracchi said he didn’t support free parking along Wilton Drive, noting that business employees will Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo via the City of park there and take up spots for customers. Wilton Manors, Facebook. Buffering and thoughtful development will help maintain Wilton Manors small-town Wilton Manors in five years. The city must charm. Caputo said he would step down from incentivize smart growth and focus on the his position as chair of the Pride Center at type of development it approves in the future. Sansone said the city must loosen its Equality Park if elected and emphasized the many steps the Pride Center has done to be a parking restrictions in order to grow and better neighbor in the light of past complaints. voiced support for extending free daytime He called for the “right development in the parking. He agreed the city needs a clear right places” to maintain the city’s small-town plan in regard to development to maintain its appeal and still move forward. He voiced small-town feel and still grow. He said the city needs more daytime businesses. support for short term leases He acknowledged the to help address the vacancies residency issues that have downtown. plagued his candidacy and said Basilico said the city needs he would step down if they create to put more emphasis on a problem. Sansone owns a house environmental policies, and find in Wilton Manors but doesn’t out more about what is going live in it because it’s under on with King Tides. He supports construction. a “common sense approach” “I think it was great everybody to development that includes had the opportunity to hear listening to residents’ concerns. from the candidates,” said Sal Melecio said he is running - Sal Torre Torre, president of the West for office because he thinks the PRESIDENT OF THE Neighborhood Association. Torre city has been mismanaged and WEST NEIGHBORHOOD is also a Wilton Manors Gazette makes it too difficult for business ASSOCIATION columnist. owners to open their businesses. Ray Carrier, president of the He supported more business development along the Dixie Highway and Central Neighborhood Association, was Oakland Park corridors as a way for the city to pleased with the participation. “It was very positive to have the three increase its daytime tourism appeal. He said neighborhood associations work so closely the city needs more density and growth. Blevins expressed support for a downtown together on a project,” Carrier said. “To do hotel as well as vacation rentals, but said anything different or not to do this would they must be properly regulated. He said have been wrong — this is one of the services a city study said a hotel would be viable in that residents expect.” WMG
“I THINK IT WAS GREAT EVERYBODY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES.”
A concept for the new location of Sprouts. Photo courtesy of Ram Realty.
Sprouts and Residential Dog Park Given Greenlight in Oakland Park By Christiana Lilly After a second hearing on building a room, dog park, swimming pool and outdoor mixed-use land development in Oakland recreation area. There will also be 403 parking Park, the city commission has officially given spaces, green space, a ride-share pickup zone, the developer the go-ahead to build a Sprouts a multi-use path from Oakland Park Blvd. to grocery store, residential space, a restaurant, the riverfront, and a promenade. “I’m glad that it’s out of the hands of and green space. The virtual meeting was hosted on Sept. Walmart and now in the hands of RAM [Realty 16 and the applications were approved Services],” Mayor Matthew Sparks previously unanimously by the commission, except for told the Wilton Manors Gazette. “They’re Commissioner Sara Guevrekian, who has turning this from a basic big box store with a parking lot to a lot of greenery.” not been present at commission RAM had a traffic study done, meetings for almost a year. THE CITY which was then reviewed by the “I very much approve this city’s own traffic consultant, who project,” said Vice Mayor Jane COMMISSION HAS agreed with the conclusion that Bolin. “When you look at where OFFICIALLY GIVEN development would have lower it started and where we are now, projected traffic in the area than this is pretty phenomenal and THE DEVELOPER if Walmart were on the property. will really change the feel of THE GO-AHEAD TO However, some residents who Oakland Park and will give us, all BUILD A SPROUTS would be living in the area are of us as residents of OP, access we not convinced and spoke during didn’t have before.” GROCERY STORE, public comments. The property, located at RESIDENTIAL SPACE, “It’s a mess already,” resident the southeast intersection of Oakland Park Boulevard and A RESTAURANT, AND Harry Redlich said of waiting at the light on Northwest Sixth Ave. Northeast Sixth Avenue, was GREEN SPACE. “The backup is 20 or 30 cars long originally a Kmart then closed in waiting at the light … you’re kind 2014. The land was purchased by of taking your life into your hands when you Walmart, then by Ram Realty. The lot is split into two areas. The northern make the turn.” Robert B. Lochrie III, who represents RAM, lot will have 7,800 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 124 parking spots. To the assured the commission that the development south, there will be 288 residential units in a “should not add much to that queue.” “One car at most and that’s because of the five-story building, as well as 12 townhomes with private garages. Residents will be able way that rolls over,” he said. “Cars do back up, to access a fitness center, indoor community really only during peak hours.” WMG
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