WMG Volume 4 • Issue 10 June 7, 2017
Wilton Manors Gazette
Community
Crime Increasing in Wilton Manors Police Chief says “first four months have not been pretty” By Michael d’Oliveira In early May, the Wilton Manors Police from 14 to 8, vehicle burglaries were down Department arrested a man fleeing a crime from 15 to 13, vehicle theft was down from scene who jumped the fence into the police 9 to 3, and robberies were up from 0 to 4. compound at city hall. It was an easy arrest The total number of arrests in CANA was of a man Chief Paul O’Connell described as 116. In the Westside Association of Wilton “not the brightest bulb.” Unfortunately, the chief also said it was part of an increase in Manors [WAWM], residential burglaries were up from 10 to 11, vehicular burglaries certain types of crimes in the city. “Unfortunately, the first four months were up from 4 to 5, vehicle theft was up from 1 to 4, and robberies have not been pretty,” were up from 2 to 3. The total O’Connell told attendees number of arrests in WAWM of a Central Area was 68. Neighborhood Association Sal Torre, president [CANA] meeting in May. He of WAWM, said he’s not was referring to statistics surprised by the increase. the police department “Here in Broward County, released of reported seeing an increase in drugcrimes – vehicle burglaries related crimes due to the and theft, robberies, and growing opioid epidemic, residential burglaries. along with growing homeless In the statistics, which population and stagnant low cover Jan. 1 to March 31 wages, there should be no and broken down by the surprise that we are seeing a geographical area of each slight increase in the crime neighborhood association, stats for our neighborhoods crime rates varied. Total here in Wilton Manors. Our arrests in the entire city - Sal Torre WMPD has done a great job in were up from 139 to 209. reaching out to neighborhood In the East Neighborhood Association [ENA], associations and residents warning to residential burglaries were up from 2 to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious 3 from 2016 to 2017. Vehicular burglaries activity. Recent arrests around the city were down from 6 to 5, vehicle theft was show the rewards of residents working up from 0 to 1, and robberies were up from together with the WMPD.” To help combat crime, police are urging 0 to 3. The total number of arrests in ENA residents to communicate more with police was 25. CANA residential burglaries were down and report suspicious behavior.
“Recent arrests around the city show the rewards of residents working together with the WMPD.”
“Let us know,” said Commander Gary Blocker. On May 31, according to police, one resident responded to that request and called to report two suspicious subjects in Manor Grove Village, located at Andrews Avenue and Northeast 21 Court. The two men were burglarizing a vehicle and were eventually arrested. The police department touted the arrests as a successful example of “See Something – Say Something.”
Police also want residents to be more cautious by locking their cars. Blocker said that 85 percent vehicles of that are burglarized are left unlocked. WMG
To remind residents to lock their vehicles, the police department has initiated its “Lock It. Or Lose It.” campaign and is encouraging motorists to lock their cars, hide their valuables or take them with you.
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Opinion
2017: Already One Hell of A Ride By Sal Torre
WMG June 7, 2017 • Volume 4 • Issue 10 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 Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Associate Editor • Jillian Melero JillianMelero@gmail.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington
2017
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Designer • Charles Pratt Digital Content Director • Brittany Ferrendi Webmaster@sfgn.com News Editor • Michael d’Oliveira
Correspondents
Natalya Jones • John McDonald • James Oaksun
So far, 2017 has been one hell of a ride. June is already here, which means that it is time to get moving on my “To Do List” for 2017. Almost half a year is gone, and the second half has a habit of going by at a much faster pace. The arrival of June also reminds me to take some time out to celebrate the Summer Solstice later this month, making a Midsummer Night’s Dream by stirring up some merriment and awakening the spirit of mirth. There are a couple items swirling around my head this week that I want to mention. The first is the May 10 “SFGN” issue, reporting on the Diversity Honors Award Ceremony, specifically the comment by Stuart Milk, Executive Chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation. “We made a statement this year that LGBT is not just a liberal issue. We set the tone with some conservative speakers.” Wow, really? No longer just a liberal issue? Pretty easy for the conservatives and the rest of the closeted queens of years gone by to claim the spotlight now that all the fighting, sacrificing, and dirty work has been done. By mere definition of the word “liberal,” LGBT issues can be nothing but liberal. Where were these Conservatives in the early days of the movement? Where were they when LGBT lives were being ruined, attacked, and arrested for speaking out for equality, justice, funding for HIV/AIDS research? Disgraced Congressmen like Mark Foley and Dennis Hastert, apparently felt a need to play with underaged boys instead, while the “liberals” were marching for equality in San Francisco, New York, and other urban centers where the LGBT movement took hold and blossomed into a national movement. No problem for Stuart Milk though. “I prefer to think about the 99.5 percent of the people who enjoyed the event and don’t even know who Mark Foley is.” That deserves another Wow! Really? I can guarantee that most of the attendees at the Diversity Honors know exactly who Mark Foley is. Looking past the controversy of the awards ceremony, the Harvey Milk Foundation and Stuart Milk have done tremendous work in the worldwide fight for LGBT equality. Hopefully next year’s event will honor regional leaders and leave the divisive speakers, such as Nancy Brinker and her guest Mark Foley, off the speaker list.
Another topic on my mind is a “Tale of Two Islands.” As someone who grew up during the aftermath of the Cuban missile crisis, the Cold War, and the Mariel Boatlift that overtook Miami, I am somewhat amazed at the comparisons of two islands very close to one another--Cuba and Puerto Rico. When 125,000 Cuban refugees where flooding into South Florida in 1980, the national news outlets covered it around the clock. However, there was little media coverage when in 2014, more than 140,000 people left Puerto Rico for the mainland, followed in 2015 by even greater numbers, with the exodus continuing as their economy falters. Fellow citizens forced to leave family and their homes in search of jobs, education for their children and economic security. Little or no media coverage on what might be one of the largest population displacements ever seen outside of a war. One would think that it should be the other way around. Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the richest nation in the world, should not be bankrupt, should not have such a high poverty rate, should not have so many citizens fleeing its shores. Cuba, an island that has endured a trade embargo for 60 years and imposed Communist rule, should be the one suffering such a fate. Perhaps the lesson to be learned here is that both systems have their faults when left unchecked. A totalitarian regime that limits the freedoms ztof its people and an unchecked free market system that saddles its people with huge debt burdens, both leave a lot to be desired. Returning to the shores of our own island, Wilton Manors, the summer heat is rising, the humidity is rising, and so are my FPL bills. The 2017 Hurricane Season has begun, so take some time to make a plan of action, bulk up on supplies, and get acquainted with the helpful information on the Wilton Manors and Broward County websites. It’s always best to heed the Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared” so we can get over whatever hurdles we may face this Hurricane Season. Being ready for what might head our way will make it easier to say afterwards, “Life is just better here….” WMG
By mere definition of the word “liberal,” LGBT issues can be nothing but liberal.
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J.R. Davis • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires
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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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Business Owners Glad to Finally Have Parking Lot Improved By Michael d’Oliveira After years of potholes, cracked asphalt, and faded parking stripes, the parking lot of the shopping center where Old Florida Seafood was located has been resealed, restriped, and landscaped. Located on Northeast 26 Street, the once-dilapidated parking lot was considered an eyesore by city officials, and business owners felt it was hurting their bottom line. “It’s 100 percent better,” said John Yang, owner of Lotus Chinese Kitchen. Yang said business has increased since the improvements because he said some people thought the parking lot’s condition meant the shopping center was about to be demolished or redeveloped. “Any improvement is better than no improvement,” Yang added. “It’s a major improvement. It’s about time,” said Richard Stetler, owner of The Best Cellar. Lori Cobb, property manager for the shopping plaza, said that signage will be
added and additional painting will be done. She said the owners are also trying to get tenants to fill Old Florida Seafood and the other empty storefronts, such as where Jimmie’s Chocolates and J M Designs was located. “We’re open to any type of business, from art to retail to restaurant,” said Cobb. Commissioner Julie Carson and Commissioner Tom Green also praised the improvements. “It certainly looks a lot better,” said Carson, who called the parking lot “horrible” before. “This is an example of improvement in the city,” said Green. In April of 2015, Mayor Gary Resnick called the parking lot an eyesore which was discouraging businesses from coming into the city. Commissioner Scott Newton disagreed on the impact the parking lot was having but agreed it needed to be fixed. At a recent commission meeting, the mayor spoke about another unsightly property at the corner of Andrews Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard and the
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Business importance of code enforcement as a tool to get property owners to maintain their properties. “Strong code enforcement is the greatest contributor to [high] property values.” Despite the improvements to the shopping center on Northeast 26 Street, itts days may be numbered. At least in its current form. In October of last year, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner and Wilton Manors attorney Dean Trantalis, who represents the owner of the plaza, which is located at Northeast 15
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Street and Northeast 26 Street, said his client plans on demolishing the existing structures and building a mixed-use development that would include condos, retail space, and possibly a boutique hotel and parking garage. In October, he also said his client is working to attract joint venture partners for the project. An application for development could be submitted within the next 24 to 36 months. Any proposed development would have to be approved by the city commission. WMG Submitted photo.
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City
16 Townhomes Planned for Northeast 21 Court By Michael d’Oliveira Developer New Urban Communities wants to build 16 townhomes at 549 NE 21 Court, across from Hagen Park and behind Gables Wilton Park. Tim Hernandez, co-founder of New Urban Communities, which built the Bell Isle development on Wilton Drive, said he would put the application together in the next 30 days and hopes to get city approval sometime this year. If approved, he estimated it would take about 18 months to build the units. Currently, there are singlefamily homes on the site. “We haven’t figured out the exact architecture yet,” said Hernandez. But, he added, it will look similar to the Coda development that New Urban Communities built in Delray Beach. The units will feature two-car garages and a small pool and courtyard will be built in the center of the development. Hernandez estimated they would sell
If approved, the new development in Wilton Manors on Northeast 21 Court will look similar to New Urban Communities’ Coda development (pictured above) in Delray Beach.
in the $400,000 and $500,000 range. Hernandez said his company takes “great pride” in its projects and wants to be an asset to the city. WMG
Community
Manners Chosen as Town Manager of Biscayne Park By Michael d’Oliveira Krishan Manners, the former president of the Wilton Manors Development Alliance, has been chosen as village manager of the Village of Biscayne Park. Manners, who served as the interim village manager before being given the permanent position in May, joked that his hiring was like auditioning for a part in a movie or television show that he was already in. “I ran five departments . . . it gave me a leg up [in the hiring process].” After getting the job, he said his first challenge was to “staff up,” including the hiring of a new police chief and finance director. Located 25 miles south of Wilton Manors and incorporated in 1931, Biscayne Park is located in Miami-Dade County. One of the smallest municipalities in Florida, it has a population of 3,055 and is 0.6 square miles in size. Manners said Biscayne Park is similar to Wilton Manors in a lot of ways, such as being a small town with its own police department. The main difference though is that there are no businesses in Biscayne Park and there’s no
main street similar to Wilton Drive. “It’s a small, entirely residential community . . . middle class homes, lovely trees.” Before becoming village manager, Manners worked for Anthony LoGrande, owner of the Zig Zag Building in Wilton Manors. “I’m so sorry to have lost him. He worked for me for over a year. He was very instrumental in helping me rebrand the building, finding clients. [Becoming village manager] really matches his skill set,” LoGrande said. WMG
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Community
New Crosswalk Expected to be Finished by August By Michael d’Oliveira
Multiple residents and business owners have long demanded that Wilton Manors install a stop light and cross walk at Wilton Drive and Northeast 20 Street. In 2015, one man even threatened to block Wilton Drive if it wasn’t installed. Now, he and others have gotten their wish. The Florida Department of Transportation [FDOT], which owns Wilton Drive, will install a stop light and crosswalk at the intersection. The current stop light and crosswalk in front of city hall will remain in place and functional. It’s estimated that the new stoplight will be operational in August. Its instillation was announced in July of 2015, one day after Wilton Manors resident Greg Futchi, 68, a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, was killed crossing Wilton Drive near Northeast 20 Street. According to police, Futchi was not using a crosswalk when he was hit by a driver going southbound. Other accidents on Wilton Drive also involved pedestrians not using crosswalks.
Futchi’s death sparked a rally outside city hall organized by people who demanded that state and city officials make Wilton Drive safer. “We need the State to intervene,” Bill Spinosa, a Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida member, told SFGN at the rally. “Too many people are dying. Something must be done to protect them.” “It should significantly increase pedestrian safety there at that intersection,” said Finance Director Bob Mays about the planned stop light. Wilton Drive and Northeast 20 Street is where commissioners wanted the current stop light located but FDOT officials placed it in front of city hall, they said, because they thought it would be the spot where a crosswalk would be most used by pedestrians. Asked if the second stop light would negatively impact traffic flow, Mays said “my understanding is there will be coordination between the two lights.” WMG
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Community
News
Check out what’s happening
Around Town
Officials Will address Fort Lauderdale Water Infrastructure Concerns By Michael d’Oliveira Photo Credit: City of Fort Lauderdale.
By Michael d’Oliveira
Water Chlorination The City of Fort Lauderdale will begin chlorinating the water system starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20 and will continue through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25. The chlorination will impact residents in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and Oakland Park. WMG
Shred-A-Thon and Medication Disposal The Broward Sheriff’s Office will hold its monthly Shred-A-Thon and Operation Medicine Cabinet events on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oakland Park City Hall, 3650 NE 12 Ave. People who donate unused prescription medication will receive a $5 gift card. Sensitive documents can also be droppedoff and will be shredded for free. Call 954-831-8902 for more information. WMG
REACTION Exhibit Opens The opening reception of the exhibit REACTION will be Saturday, June 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the da Fonseca Contemporanea Gallery, 2201 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. The exhibit will feature photographs by Angelika Rinnhofer and Michael Gellatly. Visit dafonsecacontemporanea.com for more information. WMG
Kiwanis Safety Night The Kiwanis Club of Wilton Manors will hold its Safety Night event on Thursday, June 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at its clubhouse, 2749 NE 14 Ave., Wilton Manors. The free event will include the “State of the City,” cyber safety tips presented by the Wilton Manors Police Department, zika prevention tips by Turner & Taylor Pest Control, and information on Sal’s Towing Save A Life program. Those who would like to attend are asked to RSVP by emailing kiwaniswm@gmail.com or call 954-2609797 or 954-729-0837. WMG
In response to concerns about Fort has been waiting for the report in order Lauderdale’s drinking water and sewage to prioritize repairs and come up with a pipe infrastructure, Wilton Manors plan. He said he’ll work with a new city officials said they would address them infrastructure board, then recommend a way forward. City commissioners with Fort Lauderdale officials. will decide how quickly, At the May 23 and at what cost, the commission meeting, Sal improvements will be Torre, president of the made.” Westside Association of “The city’s water and Wilton Manors, said he sewer customers have was concerned about seen their bills rise each a May 14 Sun Sentinel year. But money that article which stated that could have been spent of “The city’s system to repairs has been removed deliver drinking water from the system and from the tap, and to carry spent on other things like away what’s flushed, parks, public safety and has aging parts that other general expenses. could fail at any time, an The city is redirecting independent study of the approximately $20 million water and sewer system a year collected from . . . found.” water and sewer bills to The system serves - Sal Torre cover other city expenses,” hundreds of thousands President of Westisde reads the Sun Sentinel of residents, including Association of Wilton article. people who live in Manors “This should be Wilton Manors and frightening to everyone,” Oakland Park. Detailed in the article were incidents of burst Torre said. Mayor Gary Resnick said Wilton water mains and pools of raw sewage flooding various neighborhoods in Fort Manors officials are aware of the problem Lauderdale. According to the report, $1.4 and that they’ve already met with officials billion is needed over 20 years to fully from other cities which get their water from Fort Lauderdale. Their concerns, address the problem. “I think in the long run we’ll probably he said, would be addressed to Fort end up with a fairly large bond issue,” said Lauderdale. “There’s got to be a plan,” said Resnick. Fort Lauderdale Public Works Director Paul Berg in the article. “Berg said the city WMG
“The city’s system... has aging parts that could fail at any time, an independent study of the water and sewer system found.”
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