WMG 10/29/20 V7iss18 by The Gazette

WMG Volume 7 • Issue 21 October 29, 2020

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COMMUNITY

Wilton Manors Stakeholders Discuss Height and Density Regulations By John McDonald Community development firm Calvin, Height and density regulations in Giordano & Associates put together an Wilton Manors attract a lot of interest. A broad group of city officials, urban form and density report, which contractors, land use attorneys, realtors, planning consultant James Hickey investors, and developers participated summarized during the meeting. The in an Oct. 15 virtual road table meeting report examined ways the city could appropriately increase to discuss how to build density. and design in the Island HICKEY SAID In mixed-use areas, City. Roberta Moore, the report recommends director of the Community PLANNERS HAD increasing density from Development Services HEARD “LOUD AND the current 25 units to Department, moderated 75 units per gross acre. the meeting. CLEAR” FROM THE Hickey said planners had “Wilton Manors is at a COMMUNITY THAT heard “loud and clear” major turning point for its from the community that future,” said Commissioner ADDITIONAL DENSITY additional density would Paul Rolli, noting two new WOULD RESULT IN A result in a deterioration commissioners and a new DETERIORATION OF of the city’s single-family mayor would soon take residential district. office. The round table, THE CITY’S SINGLELandscaping and masonry Rolli said, was important FAMILY RESIDENTIAL walls are possible for stakeholders to make buffering solutions to informed decisions on DISTRICT. noise and screening a path toward future complaints, Hickey said. sustainability while Height limits are set at six stories keeping intact the city’s small-town feel with the possibility of adding two more and friendliness. The discussion centered around how stories if certain caveats are met. Those height and density regulations impacting caveats include building frontage, street the transit corridors of Andrews Ave., activation, open space dedication, Dixie Hwy., NE 26th St., Wilton Dr. and enhanced landscaping and LEED Gold or equivalent certification. Height limits in Oakland Park Blvd.

Wilton Drive earlier this year. Photo credit: Carina Mask.

the city’s western boundaries are proposed for four stories with the possibility of adding another level. Adding affordable housing units and reducing retail percentages and parking space requirements in development projects were also brought up by stakeholders. “In this day and age, retail continues to die,” said Peter LaPointe, president of Grass River Property which owns the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. Larry Baum, managing partner at Stellar

Communities, echoed LaPointe’s remarks. “It’s not easy to lease commercial in Wilton Manors,” Baum said. “What we need is residential — more rooftops.” Moore said Wilton Manors’ code requires builders to pay into an affordable housing trust fund in the form of impact fees to obtain proper permitting. For comparison, Robert Lochrie, a land use attorney, said successful affordable housing projects in Fort Lauderdale, usually start at 140 units per acre. WMG

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OPINION

Goodbye Mr. Green…

WMG October 29, 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 21 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

By Sal Torre  Left: Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green. Photo via Wilton Manors’ website. Right: Wilton Manors, photo via Facebook.

This article started out as a tribute to our long serving City Commissioner Tom Green. Unfortunately, I cannot help myself from last minute changes after Tuesday night’s City Commission meeting. Let us first start off with my original thoughts and then move on to address what took place at the meeting. There is no shortage of anxiety and uncertainty looming over this Election Day. One bit of certainty comes the morning of Nov. 4th is that Wilton Manors will have a new mayor and two new city commissioners. Unfortunately for Wilton Manors our Acting Mayor and long-serving City Commissioner Tom Green will no longer be sitting up on the dais. Tom Green decided to retire and his seat will be one of two being filled this Election Day by a crowded field of six candidates. Tom ends an amazing 12-year run on our City Commission and leaves behind much to be proud of in our Island City. A champion of the environment, of protecting our residential neighborhoods, of LGBT rights, workers’ rights and so much more, his shoes will be hard to fill. Tom Green’s activism for LGBT rights mirrors that movement’s history here in Broward County. An early member of the Tuesday Evening Group, which played a pivotal role of political activism here in Broward back when being out and gay was just a bit different than today. The early days of LGBT activism were a handful of people meeting at a member’s condo near the beach. The cast of players grew into what we all know as the Dolphin Democratic Club with trailblazers such as Tom Green, Dean Trantalis, and Jim Stork along with so many more people throughout the years who continue to carry the banner of equality and justice for all members of our society. Tom can teach some of the newcomers to city politics a few good lessons. First lesson to our slate of candidates, before running for office, join as many of our city’s associations and non-profits as you can. Tom continues to support our area neighborhood associations, the Friends of the Library, the Kiwanis Club,

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 • John McDonald

Correspondents

Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun

Staff Photographers

J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires

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the Historical Society and many others. Taking part in your community is a good first step in winning over resident voters. Now on to Tuesday’s events at our City Commission meeting. The discussion of more diversity on City boards and committees has been a topic of discussion for some time now. Both Commissioners Rolli and Resnick made a point of bringing this topic up while voting to fill vacancies on the Wilton Drive Improvement District. First of all, this board is restricted to property owners, business owners and one resident within the Wilton Drive business district. Out of the three applicants who applied for the three positions of this limited pool of possible applicants, two were white males and one Hispanic female. Not sure why these two commissioners choose this time to make such a statement over diversity when there was really some diversity in the applicants. Commissioner Resnick crossed the line of decency when publicly chastising Commissioner Julie Carson for not appointing someone to the Charter Review Committee more than a year ago that was someone other than a white male. In all fairness not one of the five commissioners back then, including Gary Resnick, appointed anyone other than a white male. So why is it Julie’s fault? Does she shoulder more

TOM CAN TEACH SOME OF THE NEWCOMERS TO CITY POLITICS A FEW GOOD LESSONS.

responsibility and blame because she is a woman? Gary, why did you not appoint someone other than a white male? There is an old saying that “People in glass houses should not throw stones.” If Commissioner Resnick is so ready to throw stones, then its fair game to question his appointee as well. Where were Commissioner Resnick’s concerns about diversity when he appointed his friend, a white male, to the same board that he attacked Julie Carson for? Double standard perhaps? The discussion on achieving more diversity on our city boards and committees is a good one for us to have. Finding new ways to reach out and bringa more diverse group of residents into the process is a worthy endeavor. However, we cannot ignore the demographics of our small city nor should we look to appoint just anyone who might step forward because they satisfy some concept of diversity in the mind of a white male commissioner. True diversity isn’t just about gender, or race. It requires diversity of thought, and creating room for opposing and varied views. This is something, I believe, Commissioner Resnick is not truly ready to deal with, since he is so quick to lash out at those who choose to have a difference of opinion. This will certainly be a topic of further discussion as we move past Election Day and on to our new mayor and city commission. So for now, cheers to you Tom Green! Your commitment, involvement and lasting achievements to our Island City have much to do with why we can say, “Life is just better here!” WMG

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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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It’s almost spooky time! If you have any plans on October 31, be sure to check for local health regulations and do your part to protect our city. Photo via PxHere.

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October 29, 2020

POLITICS

NEWS

Political Newcomer Leads Wilton Manors Candidates In Fundraising By John McDonald

From left to right: Mayor Matt Sparks, Army veteran Scott Herman, Barry University professor Mitch Rosenwald and former firefighter Robert B. Thompson. Photos via Facebook.

Four Gay Candidates Seek Oakland Park Commission Seats By John McDonald In Oakland Park, four gay candidates are vying for three commission seats. In total, seven candidates are running for the commission. They are Mayor Matt Sparks, former Mayor Steve Arnst, businesswoman Aisha Gordon, Army veteran Scott Herman, Barry University professor Mitch Rosenwald, mental health counselor Grecia Rivas-Smith and former firefighter Robert B. Thompson. Sparks, Herman, Rosenwald and Thompson are all gay men. Sparks, a flight attendant, is endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund, Equality Florida, SAVE and Dolphin Democrats. As the only incumbent running in Oakland Park, Sparks has “a unique bank of knowledge,” said the Victory Fund. “He is committed to representing both the diverse residents of Oakland Park as well as the LGBTQ community,” the organization stated in its endorsement issued Oct. 11. “As an openly gay and HIV+ Mayor, he is proud to lead visibly from the dais, breaking stigmas through action and education.” Herman and Thompson have been elected to public office in other states. Herman was elected vice-chairman of the Cabarrus County Soil and Water Conservation District in North Carolina, becoming the first gay Republican elected to public office in the Tar

Heel state. He later switched to Democrat, he said, when the party’s platform changed to be accepting of same-sex families. A disabled Army combat veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Herman and is vice president of Broward Veterans Coalition. Thompson is a former two-term New Hampshire state representative and activist in the marriage equality movement. He has been endorsed by SAVE Action PAC and Equality Florida Action PAC. In addition to Sparks, The Dolphin Democrats have endorsed Rosenwald. He’s also been endorsed by the Victory Fund and Equality Florida. According to the most recent campaign finance reports for the period ending Aug. 31, Rosenwald led all candidates in fundraising with $20,063.78, followed by Sparks $13,775, Gordon $6,718, Rivas-Smith $4,897.20 and Thompson $2,436.33. Arnst and Herman filed waivers and did not report any contributions. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms with the highest voter getter assuming mayoral duties. The mayor serves for one year. In 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Oakland Park to have a population of 44,339. The city was incorporated in 1929 on land north of Fort Lauderdale. WMG

COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS WITH THE HIGHEST VOTER GETTER ASSUMING MAYORAL DUTIES. THE MAYOR SERVES FOR ONE YEAR.

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Mike Bracchi, in his first political campaign, leads all Wilton Manors candidates in fundraising. Bracchi, a licensed pharmacist, attorney and hospital executive, has raised $34,251.30. He is one of six people seeking two open seats on the city commission this election cycle. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms. Following Bracchi in fundraising are Realtor Doug Blevins, $16,127.20, Tech Entrepreneur Chris Caputo, $14,611.20, Navy Veteran Jason Basilico, $9,632, Realtor Joseph Sansone, $2,880 and businessman Juan Melecio $60. The commissioner’s salary is $9,750 annually. Three candidates are running for mayor. Commissioner Julie Carson leads in fundraising with $27,384, followed by longtime public servant Scott Newton $23,615 and celebrity Chef Josie Smith-Malave $13,385. The mayor’s annual salary is $11,250. There are five elected members of the commission — the mayor and four commissioners. Current commissioners Tom

Mike Bracchi. Photo via Facebook.

Green, Gary Resnick and Paul Rolli are not up for re-election. Green has served as “acting mayor” since July and is retiring. The mayor’s position became open due to the sudden death of Justin Flippen in February. Fundraising totals are from the most recent campaign filings ending Oct. 2. Early voting began Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 1. Ballots may be delivered to the Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors, 600 NE 21st Court. WMG

COMMUNITY

Wilton Manors Acting Mayor Takes Final Bow By John McDonald In a four-hour meeting, Wilton Manors Commissioners addressed a multitude of issues and said goodbye to one of their own. Acting Mayor Tom Green retired at the conclusion of Tuesday evening’s marathon meeting, but not before he was praised for his leadership and steady service. Green has served on the Wilton Manors Commission for 12 years. “Evidently, people are nicer to you when you’re leaving,” Green quipped after watching a video featuring residents and officials from across Broward County offering best wishes on a well-earned retirement. Commissioner Paul Rolli recited a proclamation of Oct. 27 as Tom Green Day in the city. Rolli thanked Green for his sarcastic wit and gifted the outgoing mayor with a box of compostable, plant-based straws. A former high school geography teacher, Green has long advocated for environmentally friendly solutions to the ever-growing issue of climate change. His final bow came as the lone no vote on reinstating paid parking meter enforcement in the city.

October 29, 2020

Acting Mayor Tom Green. Photo via Facebook.

“You have led with integrity, purpose and intention,” Wilton Manors resident and Commission candidate Chris Caputo told Green during the virtual meeting’s public comments portion. Green assumed acting mayoral duties in July following the sudden death of Mayor Justin Flippen. This is his third retirement from government service, he noted. Commissioner Julie Carson summed up Green’s commitment to Wilton Manors with a quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” WMG 10 . 29. 20 20 •