Wilton Manors Gazette October 31, 2018 by The Gazette

WMG Volume 5 • Issue 20 October 31, 2018

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Taste of the Island To Bring Flavor From Around The World to Wilton Manors By Sallie James Organizers are hoping that more Foodies, get ready! The 13th annual Wilton Manors Taste of the Island kicks regional advertising — made possible off on Nov. 5 with offerings from more by sponsorships from Greico Ford of than 35 local restaurants, breweries and Fort Lauderdale and Grieco Chevrolet of eateries from South Florida’s Tri-County Fort Lauderdale — will give the event an even broader reach, said Jeffrey Sterling, region. Festival-goers can sample everything president of Wilton Manors Taste of the from homemade fudge and spicy Indian Island. “Because of their curry to Peruvian ceviche support, the Taste of and Greek gyros in the the Island is able to charming Richardson Proceeds will increase the level of their Historic Park and Nature benefit the Wilton advertising to include Preserve. iHeart Radio. We are Proceeds will benefit the Manors Historical hoping this will promote Wilton Manors Historical Society, the the event to a larger Society, the Wilton audience and also attract Wilton Manors Manors Development new restaurants that Alliance, the Kiwanis Club Development have not previously even of Wilton Manors and Alliance, the involved so next year will the city’s Leisure Services be even bigger,” Sterling Department. Cost is $35 Kiwanis Club of said. per ticket. Wilton Manors Board member Mary Last year, the event Ulm predicts cooler raised about $12,000 and the city’s weather, a historic for the charities and Leisure Services location and a wide organizers are hoping to variety of food vendors exceed that amount this Department. will boost turnout this year. year. Ulm is also president The event has grown to 35+ vendors and will include numerous of the Wilton Manors Historical Society. “We certainly have an excellent lineup opportunities to sample beers and enjoy mixed drinks. Wilton Manors Taste of of restaurants and libations to offer,” the Island attracted about 500 people in Ulm said, said, noting that restaurants 2017 and has become a destination for will be serving food from eight different countries, the largest number since the many food lovers.

A previous gathering of Taste of the Island. Photo via Taste of the Island, Facebook.

event was started. The historic Richardson Park is a draw in itself, she added. “I think what I love about it most is seeing the park lit up at night, with lights strung throughout the park. We really use the outdoor space to good effect. We have a deejay there and it’s just good to see people

having a good time enjoying the music and enjoying the park under the trees.” Enjoy the food and drinks and soak up the beauty of Richardson Park, but also come to support the local charities, she said. “We depend on this event for a good boost Continued on page 5 

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October 31, 2018

10.31.2018 •

Opinion

Keeping Life Better Here By Sal Torre

WMG October 31, 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 20 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli

Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.

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 • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires

A milestone has just been passed here in Wilton Manors. This event snuck by us very quietly and without much fanfare. Dazed over by the daily onslaught of election news, most residents remain confused and unaware of this historic event here in our city. This past City Commission meeting was the last meeting before Election Day. Our present Mayor, Gary Resnick, has served this city as Mayor for the last 10 years but is not seeking reelection. After Election Day, the torch of new leadership will be passed to a new Mayor, a new leader, a new advocate and hopefully some much needed new direction. That is the only thing residents can be certain of when election results start rolling in. Our Mayor might not be going too far. Gary Resnick is stepping down as our Mayor but is in a tight race for one of the two City Commissioner seats up for election. So, residents of our Island City might just wake up Wednesday morning after Election Day with our own version of musical chairs. Same faces, just different positions, the status quo, nothing new, business as usual, dupes to a game of five-card monte reshuffled to yield the same result. Or, perhaps by the hard work of many mystical faeries rumored to be running amok here in our Island City, especially during this week celebrating All Hollow’s Eve, a magical spell hopefully has been cast to blast our city with a gust of change blowing in new leadership, not only for Mayor, but also for City Commission. The election of two city Commissioners offer us a very clear choice. Will it be more of the status quo or a new direction? Will our leadership continue replaying the same song and dance from the past ten years or develop new strategies to move our city forward into the next decade? I have some serious concerns over the possible results of this election, both locally and statewide. The races for our next Governor and our next United States Senator are also very tight. We must take responsibility for the radical shift right in this new world Reality TV show. We must stop confusing real issues with fake news, mudslinging, and pessimistic fantasies about going back in time. The reality of the future is here right now for us to decide which path to take. Within the borders of this special place we call the Island City, the best choice is one of new leadership, of a new voice, and for a fresh perspective over the business as usual government body we have had in place for over the last ten years.

Change is not the demon that the pessimists want us to believe. Change is what makes us a better society. Change brings about social justice, equality, and new technology that improves people’s lives. Change is not the scary monster lurking in the dark; rather, it is our only hope for a new tomorrow. Embracing that change and shaping it to fit our unique needs is what will define the Island City moving ahead. As we cruise around our city, we are reminded of a few failures from over the past ten years. One major example is the former church property on NE 26th Street. This could have been a fantastic new residential complex, but it remains a decaying vacant reminder of what could have been. Another is the longawaited changes in Land Use and Zoning along the Andrews Ave/ Oakland Park Corridor, stalled in city government because of lack of leadership on the dais. The outdated zoning in place along this corridor is why we see a continuation of empty buildings, religious writings on sides of buildings, tired old strip malls, and under-utilized properties. Some people want to keep it that way, but the future of our Island City depends on a vibrant mixed-use corridor along Andrews Avenue and Oakland Park Blvd. Much needed redevelopment will better serve the surrounding communities and bring an increased tax base to our city. As we welcome in our new Mayor after Election Day, hopefully we will get some relief from all the proclamations consuming so much time at the last few City Commission meetings. Understanding that the Mayor sets the Agenda and can offer proclamations honoring residents and organizations, one wonders whether Mayor Resnick was trying to squeeze in all the people he forgot over the last ten years. It is not my intent to belittle in any way the honors bestowed on selected residents by our Mayor. All are truly deserving and worthy, and we thank them for their continued service to our community. However, spending over an hour on proclamations might be just a bit too much, especially when official city business might be of slightly more importance during Commission meetings. For the next week, the one action that you can take to make life just better here in our Island City is to cast your ballot in this election. Get out and vote!! WMG

Change is not the demon that the pessimists want us to believe. Change is what makes us a better society.

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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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Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.

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October 31, 2018

On Broken Windows and Amendment Two

Real Estate

By James Oaksun Sometimes, it is amazing what you can learn by spending time on Facebook. Once you wade through pet photos, and the political ravings of that guy from high school who thinks Olive Garden is fine Italian dining, you find a discussion that helps solve a vexing riddle. It starts with a broken window. There was a 19th-century French lawyer and economist named Bastiat. He observed that when someone threw a rock and broke a window, the townspeople would rejoice because the person with the broken window would need to pay for a new pane of glass – thus putting money into the local economy. But Bastiat (rightly) asked, what happens if the person with the broken window, wanted to buy a new plow, or suit of clothes? They would not be able to do that, because they had to get a new window! In economic actions, there is an effect you can see, and an effect you do not see. Which brings us back to Amendment Two. I kept thinking to myself: Why is it that two powerful statewide lobbies – the Association

of Realtors, and the Chamber of Commerce – are spending untold millions of dollars to pass this amendment? Where is the largest benefit going to go? And I got my answer from Facebook – in a discussion thread with a couple people I know reasonably well, and a few I don’t. (The magic of social media, when it works right.) Amendment Two continues a 10-percent annual cap, forever, on increases in the assessed value of commercial and investment property, and on homes that do not have a homestead exemption. Thus it offers direct protection to those who currently own such properties (and, to a lesser extent, to renters). That’s the benefit we see.  However, per Bastiat, a new owner of such a property will be competitively disadvantaged in two ways. First, their property will be taxed immediately at essentially market (non-capped) value. Yes, this occurs currently on new purchases. But when current owners have their taxes capped, the gap between assessed value on currentlyowned versus newly-owned property will widen.

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And there is a second, perhaps more important, benefit to current owners regarding rents they can charge. New owners, who are taxed at a higher assessed value, will have to charge higher rents to cover their tax. Ultimately, current owners would be able easily to increase the rents they charge – to match market conditions, etc. But – and here’s the kicker – the current owners still will be paying a lower total tax than new owners, because their tax still will be based on the capped value. So their rent increase? Pure profit! In other words, for current owners of commercial and investment property, Amendment Two could create a financial

October 31, 2018

bonanza. Prospective future owners of such properties will bear the hidden future costs, and renters will also face future costs. The voters will decide whether this is an appropriate public policy position. Actions taken in haste – whether by powerful special interests, or voters – are usually repented at leisure. WMG James Oaksun, Florida’s Real Estate Geek(SM), is Broker-Owner of New Realty Concepts in Oakland Park. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).

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Three Years of Wellness By Carina Mask

Photos

David Douglas Spa's three-Year anniversary in Wilton Manors was celebrated on Oct. 22. The business is admired for their wellness solutions such as MASSAGEs, SKIN CARE and HAIR REMOVAL.

To see more photos and news from WMG, join us at Facebook.com/groups/ WMGazette

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BUSINESS

Taste of the Island (Continued)

TasTe of The Island 11

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for what we are able to do. It is hard for small charities to raise a lot of money,” Ulm said. Funds for the Leisure Services Department go towards children’s programs, Ulm added. “I have been involved for about five years now and I really enjoy it,” Sterling said. “We hope over next several years we will actually be able to double the number of restaurants.” Tickets are available at City Hall, 2020 Wilton Drive; the Richard C. Sullivan Public Library, 500 NE 26 St.; Sterling Accounting, 2435 N. Dixie Highway; and online, at http://bit.ly/TasteoftheIsland18. WMG

Presenting Sponsors

If You Go:

Taste of the Island When: Nov. 5, 6 p.m. Price: $35/ticket Information: 754.551.5611 tasteoftheisland.org

Where: Richardson Historic Park and Nature Preserve, 1937 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305

Monday, November 5, 2018 • 6pm Entry Gate Closes at 8pm

Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve 1937 Wilton Drive • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Limited FREE Parking & Shuttle at Hagen Park and Wilton Manors Library

Life’s Just Better Here

For Tickets Online: www.tasteoftheisland.org