Latest news with #BrowardCountyCommission
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida city's Riverwalk still a homeless hot spot despite new anti-camping law, critics say
FORT LAUDERDALE — Riverwalk has lush greenery, luxury yachts and landscaped gardens. To the chagrin of critics, the charming promenade on the New River also has plenty of homeless people who come and go all hours of the day and night. On occasion, some of them doze on the benches and winding path along the Riverwalk, in violation of a statewide ban on camping and sleeping in public places. The new law went into effect Oct. 1. Frustrated neighborhood leaders shipped off a blistering letter of complaint in late June to several government officials, from Gov. Ron DeSantis to the entire Broward County commission and the entire Fort Lauderdale commission. The letter, signed by leaders of nine condos near Riverwalk and five civic associations, included eight photos of homeless people sleeping or camping downtown. A ninth photo showed a nude man in broad daylight soaking his feet in one of downtown's water fountains. Residents who live in the pricey condo towers lining Riverwalk think of the winding walkway as their front yard, said Melinda Bowker, president of the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association and one of the signers on the letter. 'People feel threatened,' Bowker told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. 'I don't want to demonize the homeless people. But residents on the Riverwalk don't feel safe anymore. People aren't comfortable walking by themselves at night. We just want to bring a light to it. And we want to get to the bottom of what can be done.' Here's how the letter began: 'Our downtown neighborhood is facing a crisis. The visibility and severity of homelessness in our area has reached an unsustainable level. The rise in vagrancy, open drug use, aggressive panhandling, indecent exposure and public health hazards have made downtown residents feel increasingly unsafe in their own city. 'We have documented incidents of residents being harassed, chased, mugged, and even physically threatened in broad daylight and during evening hours. These occurrences are not isolated — they are frequent and growing.' City Manager Rickelle Williams quickly responded to the letter with an email listing all the ways Fort Lauderdale is tackling the problem. According to Williams, the city's multi-faceted approach includes: Increasing police presence downtown: The police department's Homeless Outreach Team conducts daily rounds to connect homeless individuals with services and address criminal activity through Notices to Appear. The city has requested federal funding to expand police presence in hot-spot areas citywide, including downtown, and is awaiting the release of those funds. Enhancing outreach efforts: In conjunction with the TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness, two housing navigation teams are working daily to build trust and help individuals secure housing. Community Court has set up a downtown location to help people connect to critical services on a weekly basis. Enforcing existing ordinances: To help tackle unauthorized camping, the city launched a reporting tool last October through its FixIT FTL app and also added two police officers to its Homeless Outreach Team. The city so far has responded to more than 160 homeless-related inquiries about camping or sleeping on public property. Riverwalk signage and hours of operation: Signage will be installed along the entirety of Riverwalk by the end of August alerting the public that Riverwalk is closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to any activity other than pass-through pedestrian traffic. Electrical outlets throughout Riverwalk: In response to complaints about homeless people using electrical outlets on lamp posts to charge their cellphones, the city is considering sturdier covers for outlets that cannot be turned off. Several outlets are connected to lamp posts, so disconnecting the outlet will result in the light turning off. In the future, as light fixtures are replaced, the city might place electrical outlets higher up on lamp posts to curb unauthorized use. Police patrol of Riverwalk: The city currently deploys police and park rangers to Riverwalk. The Homeless Outreach Team regularly patrols the area with a focus on sections known to be routinely used by homeless individuals. Commissioner Steve Glassman, whose district includes the Riverwalk, said the city is doing all it can within the bounds of the law to tackle the issue. 'It's a tricky balance dealing with the homeless,' Glassman said. 'When you're walking along the Riverwalk, people don't like to see it. But it is a public space. You can't get too aggressive without violating people's rights. That said, any illegal behavior is not going to be tolerated. But again, Riverwalk is a public space and it is open to everyone.' Fans of the new state law had high hopes it would help get more homeless people off the streets in quick fashion. But so far, that has not happened, critics say. 'You can't just snatch people off of a bench on Riverwalk if they're not violating any laws,' Glassman said. 'What do you do? Do you just make people disappear? No one likes to see it, but (homeless individuals) do have rights. Should we be like ICE, popping out of a Penske truck and taking people away? It happened at a Home Depot in California. They called it the 'Trojan Horse' attack. It's always going to be a difficult balance. But I think we're going above and beyond in the city of Fort Lauderdale.' Brian Kavalsky, director of the WaterGarden condo board, said he'd like to see the city do more. Kavalsky walks his dogs along the Riverwalk before 4 a.m. and routinely encounters homeless people, many of them snoozing away. Kavalsky spotted a man sleeping on a bench before 3 a.m. Thursday. He snapped a photo and texted it to the Sun Sentinel. Kavalsky said he didn't report it to the city because he figured by the time the police showed up, the man would be gone. In Kavalsky's eyes, the homeless crisis has gotten worse in the past year. The Riverwalk is just one of the city's many homeless hot spots, he noted. 'Part of the problem is we have the jail right here downtown,' Kavalsky said. 'We're never going to get the homeless population down to zero. The key is enforcement. That will help the Riverwalk. If they have a cop walking that route every two hours and kicking everyone out, they'll be gone.' Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Help ICE or lose your job, Florida attorney general tells Broward sheriff
Last week Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said his department will not prioritize arresting undocumented immigrants who haven't committed crimes. On Monday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier warned the sheriff that could cost him his job. Uthmeier posted a strongly worded letter Monday morning addressed to Tony on X lambasting remarks the sheriff made during a June 3 Broward County Commission budget workshop meeting, in which he said that there are 'other priorities in this community that I'm focused on, and immigration is not one of them.' 'I don't care what country you're from. If you commit a crime in this county, I'm coming for you,' Tony said during the meeting. 'But what I refuse to do is take this notion that we need to be knocking on doors or arresting children or going into day care centers or restaurants and taking and snatching people off these streets who have been paying taxes and contributing to this society in some positive form regardless of if they are a U.S. citizen or not. It's not within our purview, it's not within our responsibility, and I won't participate in it.' Tony's June 3 comments appear to put him at odds with President Donald Trump's sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and Gov. Ron DeSantis' efforts to aid in the president's goals. In February, DeSantis touted that all 67 of the state's sheriffs signed a 'Task Force Model' agreement with ICE that gives deputies some immigration authority under the 287(g) program, including the Broward Sheriff's Office. 'Participation is not optional' Uthmeier's letter stated that Tony must comply with a Florida Statute that says 'state and local law enforcement agencies and any official responsible for directing or supervising such agency shall use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.' 'You are such an official, and therefore must use 'best efforts' to work with federal immigration authorities, including United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),' Uthmeier wrote in the letter. 'Your statements to the contrary suggest you misunderstand or intend to flout these requirements under Florida law.' Penalties for failing to adhere to the law, Uthmeier wrote, include 'declaratory and injunctive relief, being held in contempt, or removal from office by the Governor.' Uthmeier doubled down on the threat against Tony's job Monday afternoon with a video posted on X. 'The choice is simple and participation is not optional. State, county and local officials can support and defend the United States and Florida constitutions and the laws therein,' Uthmeier said in the video. 'Or, we will find someone who will.' Uthmeier wrote in his letter that he wanted Tony to 'clarify' his remarks. Tony responded with a letter of his own on Monday, reassuring the attorney general that the Broward Sheriff's Office works closely with ICE to arrest undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes and is in compliance with its agreements with the federal agency. 'It is BSO's priority to address criminal activity within our community, including crimes committed by unauthorized aliens, and to work with our federal partners in this endeavor,' Tony wrote. 'BSO is not only enforcing the law against unauthorized aliens who commit crimes in the community; it is a leader in this effort.' 'We're not ICE' In his letter, Tony told Uthmeier that BSO entered two agreements with ICE in 2019: a 287(g) Warrant Service Office Agreement that authorizes trained deputies to serve ICE warrants to people in jail and a Basic Ordering Agreement to keep federal immigration detainees in the county jail for up to 48 hours to allow ICE to take them into custody. This year, Tony wrote, BSO entered into the 287(g) Task Force Model agreement 'to assist ICE with federal immigration enforcement upon request.' While Tony's letter seems to try to allay the attorney general's concerns, it does not necessarily contradict the comments he made during the June 3 meeting when a county commissioner asked Tony about BSO's role in arresting undocumented immigrants. 'The patch on our sleeve says Broward County. We're not ICE. We're not immigration,' Tony responded. 'I don't work for the Department of Justice. I don't work for the president of the United States. I work for the people of this community.' Tony said in the meeting that BSO is in compliance with state law and the 287(g) agreement. However, he said, while other Florida sheriff's have 'increased the availability of manpower to execute some of these responsibilities that fall under immigration,' BSO has not. Earlier this year Tony told the Sun Sentinel that while BSO does comply with ICE, it does not deploy deputies to find and round up undocumented immigrants who have not committed any crimes. He echoed the same stance during the June 3 meeting. DeSantis appointed Tony, a Democrat, as Broward sheriff in 2019. He won both his bids to keep his job in the 2020 and 2024 elections. Broward is the only firm Democrat stronghold in South Florida. In March, Uthmeier sent a similar threatening message to the Fort Myers City Council after it voted against enrolling in the 287(g) program. 'Failure to correct the Council's actions will result in the enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including but not limited to being held in contempt, declaratory or injunctive relief, and removal from office by the Governor,' Uthmeier wrote in a letter. Days later, the city council unanimously reversed its decision.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Broward governments brace for Florida tax and spending cuts
The Florida Legislature's apparent commitment to statewide tax relief is going to leave local government scrambling to come up with cash to cover emergency, parks and health services for years to come — and it's not too soon to start bracing for that potential impact, officials said this week. Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero said during Tuesday's commission meeting that Tallahassee's priorities will leave county government and most cities looking for ways to make up for lost revenue. The unofficial estimate, she said, is a statewide loss of $2.8 billion in tax cuts, with at least $1.6 billion recurring. In terms of population, Broward is the second-largest county in the state, and Palm Beach County is third. Proposed reductions in sales and property taxes would have a profound effect on the ability of local governments to deliver services. 'So there are some pretty concerning things that we're following,' Cepero said. As an example, Cepero cited a plan to reduce the state sales tax from 6% to 5.25%. 'That would, of course, get trickled out to every county,' she said. The annual recurring impact to Broward would be an estimated $30 million: half to cities and the other half to the county, she said. A second proposal, according to County Commissioner Nan Rich, would have local governments forced to have a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homesteaded properties, a proposal that could prove challenging for voters to resist but would cost the county a thus-far uncalculated amount of annual revenue. Related Articles Commissioner Steven Geller said the proposed tax cuts and projected income reductions reflect a lack of understanding on the part of a state Legislature, of which he was once a member. 'The question is not how much they're going to do for us, but how badly they're going to hurt us,' Geller said. 'The governor seems to think we spend it all our funding one giant program called DEI.' DEI stands for 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,' a shorthand term for hiring policies that purportedly seek to correct for historical inequities surrounding race, ethnicity and gender. Conservative political figures have criticized DEI as an unacceptable alternative to hiring the most qualified person for a job regardless of race or gender. 'Most local governments spend more than half their funding on first responders,' Geller said. The Broward County Commission is scheduled to meet on Tuesday for a budget workshop, Cepero said. As of now, the potential budget shortfalls remain hypothetical. The Florida Legislature failed to pass a budget last week when its session was supposed to end, and it extended its deadline. The county has been keeping close watch. 'Obviously, these conversations are happening many times a day with all the stakeholders and our lobbyists,' Cepero told commissioners. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@ or 954-356-4457. Follow him on
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Broward readies for Sawgrass Expressway expansion to I-95
Vital steps are being taken this year in the eventual expansion of the Sawgrass Expressway from its current end at Florida's Turnpike to Interstate 95. The expansion would make trips easier for thousands of drivers who commute through the area in Deerfield Beach each day. The Spanish design and development firm OHLA recently announced it was starting the planning phase of the long-discussed project funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. And the Broward County Commission is scheduled next week to make some necessary decisions about the revamp, pertaining to canal improvements and drainage installation along Southwest 10th Street in Deerfield Beach. Talk about enhancing the connection between the Sawgrass and I-95 has long been circulating among local and state government officials. In 2018, then-Gov. Rick Scott backed the notion as a method of easing congestion. And in 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis pitched a multibillion-dollar proposal to speed the completion of 20 highway projects in Florida — including the Sawgrass Expressway expansion. Through the years, some Deerfield Beach neighbors raised concerns about the proposed changes. Still, the plan got a warmer reception several years ago during some transit-oriented presentations. Residents of Coral Springs and Parkland who work in Fort Lauderdale currently exit the Sawgrass and proceed along Southwest 10th Street, often being forced to stop at traffic lights on Powerline Road, Military Trail and the overpass at Interstate 95. The changes also would make evacuation easier for those leaving the area ahead of hurricanes. The state Department of Transportation published on its website a preliminary project schedule, which estimated a construction phase could start this year and potentially run through 2032. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@ or 954-356-4457. Follow him on
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More than 200 new apartments planned off Federal Highway in Deerfield Beach
Developers are planning to break ground later this year on a 237-unit apartment building in Deerfield Beach, bringing activity to a mostly vacant lot whose southern tip is home to a two-story office building on the northwest corner of Federal Highway and Northwest Second Street. The new housing, at 201 N. Federal Highway, would rise near a prominent stretch of the city, just north of East Hillsboro Boulevard and Federal Highway, also known as U.S. 1. The Axis project in Deerfield has been under consideration for years, passing through the application process in the city over the past five years, according to city records. Through the process, it also reportedly drew residents' concerns about traffic. Its most recent hurdle was a routine approval recently before the Broward County Commission. The plan, spearheaded by the Chicago-based Centrum Partners development group, calls for a five-story building with an internal parking garage accessible through Federal Highway, said Eric Power, director of planning and development services for the city. The apartments will be fair-market rentals, but the developers have committed to contributing $138,500 to the city's affordable housing trust fund as well as additional $100,000 contribution of the fire fund. Developers also have promised to pay for the repaving of Federal Highway to create a dedicated left-turn lane for access to the building. They also will be responsible for some nearby landscaping, public art and the removal of some above-ground power lines, Power said. Children whose families move into the development will be zoned to attend Deerfield Beach Elementary, Deerfield Beach Middle and Deerfield Beach High School. Plans anticipate the addition of just 14 additional school-age students. A building on the southern end of the land, known as the Eller Building, was set to be demolished. Groundbreaking on the project is expected to take place in late 2025. Calls to Centrum were not returned as of Friday afternoon. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@ or 954-356-4457. Follow him on
