Police Chief Tours Riot Zone!
So many of you have been waiting for a real follow up to the
riot/rumble/disturbance
that occurred in the South Middle River neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale last month.
Today, I got a chance to give you a bit of that!
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I had decided to go look around South Middle River, to see for myself if the City had actually done anything about the problems there that led to last month's riot..... I had a new camera that my sweet wife Cindy had bought me for Christmas and was loaded for bear!
sweet wife ( on phone as usual)
Almost telepathically, the Chief of Police called me on some other matter, just as I was deciding to go on over to South Middle River.
Chief Frank Adderley said "Great, I'll meet you there"!
Chief pulls up, (not undercover!)
I hopped in to the souped up Dodge, and we took off to peruse the scene.
Welcome to the bad side of South Middle River
So, just a block into the Chief's tour, we ran into a staggering drunk in the middle of the road ( this was about 3:30).
staggering drunk
Adderley stopped his car and told the drunk to go home. He said OK and headed in the direction he was coming from. As he broke stride, he tossed his beer can on the side of the road.
It was then suggested to him, (rather strongly) that he pick up his can and some of the other garbage as well while scooting down the road.
drunk on garbage pick-up
We then headed off to the riot intersection to see if anyone was around to talk to the Chief about the incident last month. Luckily, there were numerous neighbors home that gladly talked to the Chief about the incident, and the constant burglaries and other problems affecting their neighborhood.
riot intersection neighbors chatting up the Chief
We trucked on to other parts of the neighborhood.
We came across this condemned house where the occupant, an old Haitian woman, was still living in her front yard with her meager belongings.
just a sad story
We had been out for a few hours, the Chief had been jotting down a lot of things, so we decided to end up the tour at a bright spot in the neighborhood's life, and brand new City park that just opened last month.
Chief in the new park
Unfortunately, ( though not unexpectedly) drug dealing has been already reported there.
The take away from today's tour is there is much that must be done. Much of it is a Police responsibility, but not all. The "broken window theory" is alive and well there - Garbage, condemned homes, code violations, massive foreclosures, poor street conditions, noise violations, lack of sidewalks, cultural issues - all will take many other departments in the City.
Will the City step up?
riot/rumble/disturbance
that occurred in the South Middle River neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale last month.
Today, I got a chance to give you a bit of that!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I had decided to go look around South Middle River, to see for myself if the City had actually done anything about the problems there that led to last month's riot..... I had a new camera that my sweet wife Cindy had bought me for Christmas and was loaded for bear!
sweet wife ( on phone as usual)
Almost telepathically, the Chief of Police called me on some other matter, just as I was deciding to go on over to South Middle River.
Chief Frank Adderley said "Great, I'll meet you there"!
Chief pulls up, (not undercover!)
I hopped in to the souped up Dodge, and we took off to peruse the scene.
Welcome to the bad side of South Middle River
So, just a block into the Chief's tour, we ran into a staggering drunk in the middle of the road ( this was about 3:30).
staggering drunk
Adderley stopped his car and told the drunk to go home. He said OK and headed in the direction he was coming from. As he broke stride, he tossed his beer can on the side of the road.
It was then suggested to him, (rather strongly) that he pick up his can and some of the other garbage as well while scooting down the road.
drunk on garbage pick-up
We then headed off to the riot intersection to see if anyone was around to talk to the Chief about the incident last month. Luckily, there were numerous neighbors home that gladly talked to the Chief about the incident, and the constant burglaries and other problems affecting their neighborhood.
riot intersection neighbors chatting up the Chief
We trucked on to other parts of the neighborhood.
We came across this condemned house where the occupant, an old Haitian woman, was still living in her front yard with her meager belongings.
just a sad story
We had been out for a few hours, the Chief had been jotting down a lot of things, so we decided to end up the tour at a bright spot in the neighborhood's life, and brand new City park that just opened last month.
Chief in the new park
Unfortunately, ( though not unexpectedly) drug dealing has been already reported there.
The take away from today's tour is there is much that must be done. Much of it is a Police responsibility, but not all. The "broken window theory" is alive and well there - Garbage, condemned homes, code violations, massive foreclosures, poor street conditions, noise violations, lack of sidewalks, cultural issues - all will take many other departments in the City.
Will the City step up?
Thanks for the photo tour, Tim. Very insightful. Let's hope for renewal and change.
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Thank You Chief Adderley Great Start to Community Policing
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Well Tim, It looks like you've got them listening, at least for the next 3 weeks. Code enforcement really needs to be let loose on that neighborhood with a mandate to end the accepted double standard in Fort Lauderdale. It is illegal and is turning the Northwest into a 3rd world enclave complete with lawlessness, crime, blight and riots that will spread if nor addressed. Property owners need to shape up or sell to those who can comply with an new common standard of acceptiblity across the city.
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Golly gee Tim, in one of your earlier blogs didn't you praise the current City Manager's selection by touting his dedication to the neighborhoods and their well-being. Since he assumed office, did the routine reorganization of the bureaucracy - a ritual of all new CMs --I've seen no evidence of his emphasis on neighborhoods or much of anything else. To coin a phrase, he has become the "invisible City Manager". So Tim...are you still pleased? If you are waiting for the City to "step up" I guess not! Gremlin
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This is a report from the Police Department on their progress so far in SMRCA since the police Action plan started in December.
Part 1 crimes are down -43% since started our Action Plan.
· There have been 32 arrests just in 203 zone (SMRCA)
· We have issued over 300 traffic citations in 203 zone (SMRCA)
· The Motors have logged 124 man hours just in SMRCA.
· We have confiscated 31 bicycles and issued 31 bicycle citations just in SMRCA.
· We have registered 29 bicycles.
· On days and evenings an “after-briefing” meeting occurs in SMRCA everyday. The plan for the day is discussed and any recent crime trends or offender information is given out / discussed at that time while in the field.
· All units are being dispatched out of the 203 zone (SMRCA) area to calls for service. Once their respective call for service has been completed they return back to 203 zone/ SMRCA for proactive patrol.
· Our code Officer (Maura) has been assigned exclusively to work in 203 zone / SMRCA for 30 days. He is investigating three properties (733-737 N Andrews) for code violations. He is also sweeping the neighborhood with the cities code enforcement officers.
· The Peacemaker has been deployed and moved around 203 zone / SMRCA.
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I expect stupidity from Rynerson when he calls this skirmish a "riot" but Tim you still continue to throw the term riot around. Really, riots are Watts, the McDuffie riots in miami, LA after Rodney King. Billions of dollars in damage, beatings and death. This was barely a blip on radar of the mainstream media. Every city has bad neighborhoods wherein skirmishes happen. Sad but true, I am glad the City is doing what they can but in the end there are no jobs around there except dealing drugs.
I know its campaign season but lets not exploit this situation to make the City look bad when in fact the police can do little more than keep the pot from boiling over.
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Come on, Come on! ... First, if 40 people were in the street in front of your house, screaming, fighting, throwing rocks at each other, girls pulling out other girls hair extensions and leaving them in the streets, knocking out headlights of cars that tried to get through the intersection, throwing rocks at passing cars - you might call that a riot also ....but whatever you want to call it, for one to say it's just the way it has to be is shameful ..... I think our current leaders have the capacity to fix this area, and I'm betting on them to do it! ... Tim
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FIX it Tim? FIX IT HOW? ya just wrote there was a new high dollar city park, and the drug dealers have taken it over. How much do you want to poor into a community that "looks the other way" due out of fear, hatred for police or any other thing you want to blame it on. How much more do you want the surrounding communities to dump into this one at the expense of their own? Ahh and the Haitian woman living in her yard. A sad story yes, but a dismal political policy that is importing 70,000 into South Florida? Jeez, Tim leave it to the genuius's like Alcee Hastings and Fredricka Wilson to stand on Podiums with welcome arms to appear as good compassionate "liberals" to any and every destitute culture while throwing their own under the bus.Face it Tim, Your not going to FIX anything without throwing good money after bad as long as higher more "idiot powers" than this city, keeps laying waste to anything it touches. And Jack Seiler, throwing his stats out there, thats just great, take a neighborhood that cant pay their electric bill on time and then throw fees, fines and every thing else they cant pay on top of it.. Jeez I feel like I am living in a cartoon sometimes in this city.. Tell Jack his time is better spent on those multi million dollar fire stations on the pricest real estate in Florida than dealing with the gritty issues of a city..
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to: are you kidding .... you certainly can't make this area the Las Olas Isles, but you can make it a safe productive area...we've proved that in my neighborhood that is just blocks east of SMRCA ...It doesn't take millions of dollars, just a great plan that addresses crime and all aspects of the neighborhood blight.... I've spent 20 years learning and studying how to FIX these problems, and have offered my help free of charge to the powers that be...the phone has not rung!
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Tim your efforts are to be commended, and certainly acknowledged by ALL who post here. And you have been doing this in your neighborhood for years. Perhaps the current commission is shamed and embarrassed by what has been accomplished - hence no phone call!! Stakeholders and Owner occupied properties can achieve what you have. Although you are on the vision committee, you are probably the only one who has the track record of neighborhood leadership and RESULTS to this degree in MRT. Sadly the commission voting 5-0 (??) thinks throwing $400k for a published Vision study can achieve the same results. No sense in concerning ourselves with goals 10, 20 or 30 years from now when the relevant and critical issues of the next month - 2 years are conveniently overlooked. Thank you again Tim for all you have accomplished with this effort!!
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Tim If I was directly involved with the problem you would be the First Volunteer I would Call for Help and Guidance and to read that you are not involved concerns Me of what the long term outcome will be !!!
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Thank you Tim for all your efforts. One major problem is the many rentals, individual and corporate absentee landlords that for years are not interested in what goes on here, (not all but many) and don't care about their properties or their tenants. Perhaps stepping up with the code will turn us around in the right direction.
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The FPL monthly franchise fee increase was discussed at this week's FLL CC mtg. It appears to be tabled or postponed, but it will be coming back (maybe after the elections). Franchise and user fees (FPL, water, sewer, stormwater, Fire) are not deducted off your Schedule A Federal income tax like a Property Tax. Those fees are just like a non-deductible condo or HOA monthly fee. As more valuable propertiless valuable areas in the city, the revenue will have to be found somewhere. And the more any of us conserve/consume less water, less electricity, etc., the further reductions in the City's "Revenue Stream". I have previously mentioned the "sales taxes" that we pay to businesses not in the city, depending where we shop. I believe there will be a real reckoning with the budget starting in June AFTER the elections. Till then mum's the word on the budget from those now on the dais.
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This comment is hauntingly familiar to that of the Mayor"s ghost writer that bashes Earl in the Sun-Sentinel blogs, and tries to say what a wonderful job the city "leaders" are supposedly doing....
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Thanks, Tim for shedding on the light on an awful situation. The problem is that if you watch the City Commission in action, you would never know that there are problems in theis City - they get glossed over or rarely discussed at length. All we hear is how great everything is, but the truth is that we have a large economic problem and a widening gap of have's and have not's. So, I'm wondering why the Commission is going to go on record as opposing a resort casino in Ft. Lauderdale. Couldn't we use the jobs and revenue that would come here. If someone is willing to invest $2 billion dollars in our city, why would the Commission not welcome that? Maybe we should tear down the ugly anad deserted downtown Riverfront Center and put a classy casino hotel there.
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Hey people: First you have to recognize there is a problem which Tim Smith aptly showed with his video that went 'viral'. It obviously got the attention of those who deploy resources, namely Jack Seiler who looks to be 'on the job'. A return visit from Tim shows progress but also direction for the next 'wave' of police work. Way to go Adderly for demonstrating the technique for 'zero tolerance for petty crime' by making that drunk pick up his beer can along with some other garbage. You got that Bill Bratton thing going on. Don't get discouraged just because there's more work to be done. Just look at some of the most dramatic changes in crime achieved elsewhere...it is possible with hard work and some more video!
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I appreciate that he gave you the time for a drive around, given your blog here was the only real press/publicity on the 'gathering' on Wed. Dec. 14. Nothing like major embarrassment to get some attention and response. But your drive around was Fri. Jan. 6, over 3 weeks later. If the elections weren't in 60 days, I do not believe the SNR would be getting this attention.
Also, the Sept. FLL CC mtg. had residents speak on unpaved/never paved roads. Do those same unpaved areas also have NO streetlights? You usually run all the underground (FPL, Water, sewer, etc.) before you pave the roads?
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I agree with you Mary, why did it take so long? I would of had those guys out there in force long ago. When I had control of the department and held the officers accountable the FOP gave me a vote of no confidence.
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You never had control of the department. You got a vote of no confidence because you were not a leader. You should be ashamed of the damage you caused.
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David I'm proud to say I voted for your no confidence.
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According to Raids Online, South Middle River had 32 robberies for the
> month of December. That's the highest rate in the entire city. While the
> kids are not running wild in the streets, they continue to play a cat and
> mouse game with us. With these stats it shows that after the riot in
> December, we are averaging to have one robbery at least every single damn
> day!!!!!As of the first week in January, we are right on track for
> keeping up with our high stats. Just shameful!!!!!
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Sal: Those are amazing statistics. I doubt if there has even been one robbery in my neighborhood last month. I am a bit ashamed that we let this fester. I think our great Mayor Seiler will get this under control soon.
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the mayor is ONE vote of Five. Try as he will we do Not have a strong mayor form of government. even if rynerson is elected he will learn the same. quit thinking a comm/mayor will solve this. and if no change on dais there are still FIVE votes.
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Sal, what you need is officers that can fight the fight. When I was on the job we didn't have people holding us back when it came to out of control Blacks. Carlton Moore caused a lot of our officers to not take action. Thank God we had Commissioners like Tim Smith that supported us. Is Rodstrom supporting our troops? I heard she voted against the union's contract.Not good.How do you vote against a man that is willing to die to save the people he is sworn to protect. She she was tuff on crime, she would support the cop.
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This is one of your best!!
How many people in the City know a)the name of this neighborhood; b) where it is located and c) who is their City Commissioner? Remember, folks, Fort Lauderdale is more than the beach and more than Las Olas.
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What this area needs is a strong collaboration between the PD and the residents to make a long term improvement,like you succeeded in doing in Middle River Terrace,Tim.
That being said, I also think the weakest link is the Commissioner for this area, and the code department.
I have to laugh every time I see Rodstrom's commercial about being tough on crime because she started monthly crime meetings-as a resident of South Middle River, I have attended those meetings-Charlotte is rarely there, and when she is, she usually carries on a loud conversation to anybody that will listen,as the police are trying to run the meeting!
Also, if her idea of being tough on crime is to put up some streetlights on 8th amid the trash and slums,she is sadly misguided.
I suppose it's kind of hard for her to relate to the problem when she gets to go home every night in a safe,posh neighborhood....
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Sam,
Charlotte "Tough On Crime" Rodstrom has attended 4 out of 12 of her District 2 Crime Meetings. She texted all during the first one she attended. The next she came only because she was at the CRA kickoff meeting across the street before. During the 3.5 hour crime meeting at the War Memorial she ducked out after she held LOUD side conversations. The December meeting renamed the Neighborhood Crime Meeting at the Iron Workers hall was filmed for her commercial. She held so many loud side conversations during that meeting she didn't even see that the room was about to abrupt in emotion overload.
Charlotte"Tough On Crime" Rodstrom has not attended one crime walk here in Lake Ridge in which she was invited to all.
Because of the lack of concern or leadership from our Tough On Crime Commissioner we, the concerned neighbors in my community, will build our own neighborhood. We will find our own resources to work for us.
So Sam you are 100% correct, she can't relate to the community she supposedly serves.
MPR
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I agree Mary Pat, let's support Lester, he would be a much better commissioner.
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For any who watched (or did not) this week's FLL CC mtg., the district 3 commission brought up that on one block in district 3 every home had been robbed. The discussion went on for some time, with the disclosures that the break-ins are by juveniles, there (appears to be) little legal recourse once apprehended, there is one school truancy officer for the whole area, and there is no real 'teeth' in addressing this matter. (Depressing to watch the exchange). I have no doubt the break-in crimes are up all over the city, with more in some neighborhoods than others. Now that the more affluent areas east of US 1 are experiencing what has gone on in other less desirable neighborhoods for years, and upcoming elections driving this "Response", will this enforcement stay front and center till March 2015 if the current commission is re-elected? The city manager purchased east of Federal so when most in high positions at city hall live in these isolated desirable areas, they will not comprehend the day in and day out issues that affect the rest of us. I did a quick search of some of these people on the bcpa.net and one city attorney lives in Coconut Creek, and several principal planners live in Lauderhill and Cooper City. How do these city employees understand what the citizens are talking about?
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Nice job on the Adderley package. You're telling a little photo
story ...
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Wow, now there's a clever way to hide your identity!
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Marge is too smart!
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Tim,
On your tour with the Chief how many police patrol units did you come across? How many officers on foot did you see?
Just wondering???? Thanks Tim for being the man on the scene.
MPR
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What a great Saturday(its like my birthday today just a little early.). Anyway good reporting Tim. One question where is Earl Rynerson??? What Earl to busy shitting all over the City employees or what. i mean I ask him on His blog what he would do if he was Mayor? And low and behold he omitted it from his blog. censure anyone? I mean what is the answers here. More police , hire more and pay them. And while they are at it raise that damn pay from 44thou to 5o grand-find the money Lee Feldman-They are worth it....
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I think it's commendable that the Chief of Police takes a personal interest. I have more hope now. Thanks You
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I think it's commendable that the Chief of Police takes a personal interest. I have more hope now. Thanks You
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If the City ever gets around to redistricting - which should have been done before THIS election, can someone explain the rationale for District 2? Aren't districts supposed to have something in common among the neighborhoods? That is why Charlotte Rodstrom doesn't really care about South Middle River, Middle River Terrace, Flagler Village and Progresso Village - her heart lies with the Las Olas Isles, Victoria Park, and the Beach.
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Interesting point on re-districting. To your point I believe the District Two commissioner wanted and tried for re-districting in Aug, Sept., and Oct. Her efforts were thwarted by district 4 commish (the most voter rich district per August 2011 SOE rolls). Ironic, because had Collee Hammock been re-districted from 4 to 2, the challenger in district 4 would NOT be in district 4to file. That said, the census is most telling on demographics in FLL (and Broward). Just look at county re-districting decided at Dec. 13 BCC mtg. As I have written before, it is easy to govern in good economic times, and representing affluent neighborhoods, where crime and blight is NOT an issue or even on the radar, and taxes levied are high and paid. Maybe that is why most FLL city commissioners in the past and now live east of US 1. How many even SEEK office that live west of US 1, or west of I-95? You could probably count them on one hand. Yet, how goes SMR and MRT goes the rest of the city, because the affluence on the eastside of town is NOT spreading westward. The 2010 census has confirmed the shift in demographics in all categories, including income. Couple that with rock bottom property VALUES (west of US 1), the taxes levied on them (lower and therefore less city revenue), and reduced demand for housing across the city, and we all see a city in transition. You cannot represent what you do not know and the current district representation makes for a myopic vision, because too often elected officials think "It's Not My District". Well apathy, blight, crime and neglect do not respect district boundaries. That is why I have taken the time to post and speak up in support for District Two SMR issues. What affects you all today could and likely will be an issue in west district one.
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Let me start off by saying that with all the crime stats, with all the blight, with all the infested code violators in South Middle River, we have one of the most passionate civic associations in the entire city.. I encourage everyone to get to know our community, drive trhough and see for your selves.. I have been working hard with the Mayor, Commissioner Rodstrom, and yesterday had a meeting with code...We will start of with cracking down on major code violators, traffic violations and an increased police presence... Now you all must know, I am not a happy camper with these crime stats.. Mayor Sieler is giving his stats, but everyday I come home from work and have another call of someone who just got robbed... The police and code are meeting with the transitional homes that have several youths causing major problems.. I have made contact with our religous leaders for them to address their congregation regarding the events that have been occuring.. I also am flamagasted that one remark stated what a riot was... Damn Dude, I drove directly into the intersecton and was surrounded by over 40 youths that threw rocks and stones at me, laughing and screaming deragatory words at me and wouldn't give up... This started at 7.00 am and didnt get under control until after 9.00 pm That to me is an all out RIOT... My thanks to Tim, Chief Adderly and the city officials, as for Earl, I commend him too for addressing this issue as he has a business in this community and should have a voice like everyone else.....What we need is action from a unified group, not to point fingers anymore but to start an action paln immediately.....President of South Middle Rivere 2012........
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Would a curfew be a benefit?
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/30/2567591/teen-curfew-takes-effect-at-miami.html
Miami Lakes now has one after the melee in their 'downtown'.
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Mary ... we already have a night time curfew..... as a matter of fact, we have a very creative daytime curfew .... that's needed, because some of the worse kids get kicked out of school, and then they could roam the streets during the day and break into houses (because they weren't truants)... the problem is....the Police often don't enforce either ....
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We sure do need a curfew and as a matter of fact we had another incident today.. At the same exact location at about 2:00 pm today we were casually rideing around the neighborhood on our bicycles and as we approached nw 2 ave and nw 11st, the exact same location, we witnessed bout 25 youths taking over the same street in another street fight...I called 911 and within minutes 4 police cars screached around the corners and went after some of the youths.. Lee Feldman the city manager was at the scene in less than 2 minutes of my email and the mayor called as well.. Police chief Frank Aderly also came by and stayed for a few hours.. OK so now we got the attention we have been waiting for, BUT how do we solve this problem with the youths...Thoughts, suggestions???? We have a serious problem in our society....
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In my opinion this needs to be, and should be, the response every time an assembly in the street becomes threatening. Relentless. Can parents be contacted, and the street addresses where they lived noted? Is it possible these individuals do not live in the immediate neighborhood? How would this type of assembly in daylight or after dark be handled on the street where the mayor lives? Or up in district one?
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Probably a lot of these kids parents should even be living in Fort Lauderdale. If you build low income government subsidized housing or directly pay people's rent through section 8 are you surprised when an underclass appears to take advantage. There are far less expensive places to live in Florida and across the country. Maybe it’s time for this underclass to do what Americans have always done, follow the opportunities wherever they might be. The problem is the opportunity right now is free or subsidized rent, food stamps the proximity to our houses for burglarizing. Only reason the payments never stop and buildings never stop getting built is because some politicians like the electorate they know, change even positive change can be threatening to them and their political future.
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Charles, we all know that you are a trust fund baby, but I didn’t know how much of a racist and hypocrite you are. Just because everyone doesn’t have their daddy sell them a million dollar house for ten dollars (all documented on the Broward property Appraisers website) doesn’t make them undesirables. Grow up and stop blaming everyone else.
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Dear Mr. Anonymous, Looks like you must really know me well. Racist and hypocrite are really not my strong suit. I try to give everybody a blank slate when it comes to race in my personal and business life as a realtor and landlord. I have and have had many black, hispanic, gay, lesbian and white tenants and customers. They were and are all individuals. Individuals looking for housing who fully understand that they have to pay the rent or sale price to live where they want. I have on occasion run up against a racist realtor/landlord who was doing more harm to himself than he was to my college educated middle class black customers. I urged them to press charges against this hillbilly resident of Davie, but alas they refused. I think the linking of black people to an underclass that lives by a different standard than the rest of us is wrong and racist in and of itself. The current system in Fort Lauderdale of two standards in regards to code violations, police protection and the permanent need for housing subsidies that will keep neighborhoods like South Middle River mired in blight forever needs to stop because it is wrong and illegal. If someone can't pay their bills here in Fort Lauderdale, there is a whole country out there with different opportunities for jobs and much cheaper places to live. Anonymous, if you don't see the link between our dismal Fort Lauderdale public schools and this growing underclass, the departure of the middle class both black and white, and now riots, then I don't know what to say to you. And as for this transaction you are talking about, sounds like a quick claim deed, they are really common. And as for me being a man of leisure as you are insinuating, that doesn't explain why I work 7 days a week, am in terrible shape and don't belong to a country club. My hobby aside from maybe watching some football would be trying to convince and cajole today’s politicians into making Fort Lauderdale a decent place to live 20 years from now.
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Tim - thank you for pointing out the lax enforcement. I think efforts and manpower have been misplaced in an effort to generate revenue. When redlight cameras did not become the revenue stream some promised, officers had to sit at intersections to get the revenue, and us taxpayers are still paying the monthly leases for the cameras. I see BSO and FLL regularly sitting at a FLL Cypress Creek intersection writing tickets (BSO can enforce county wide). BSO wants the revenue stream even if its FLL. Traffic infraction enforcement is important, but so is neighborhood patrols. If property vales stay flat or worse decline in more neighborhoods, there will be less revenue to run city hall and pay the salaries and benefits of the 2,400 or so FLL employees. And only 514 or so are police. The city mgr gives the marching orders to city employees, NOT the FLL CC. We do not have a strong mayor government in FLL. Will the city mgr address these issues and re-prioritize accordingly? We did not get to elect a city manager.
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tim,
with the economy in the dumper and the city of fort lauderdale always crying poor (especially in the policing of our city) why on earth do these commissioners and higher ups take the same amounts or better yet more than the economy should allow. i myself have had to change my business practices and charging rates. Lower of course!!! not higher! The city crys that they can no longer take care of our roads and sidewalks because it's too costly. i have seen some of the most WASTE on the city streets by city workers. sleeping, 4 men standing around watching ONE man work.....this is total CRAP!
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the Broken Windows concept is so true, there are too many sub par houses and yards. But Code Dept does what it can given the long and drawn-out process they must follow. This guarantees good people's home owner rights and lets bad people get away with murder. We need to update and streamline the process but we have to be careful.
Until this area looks good we are fighting a losing battle.
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You should be demanding one standard across the city for what constitutes a code violation. Allowing "property owners" in the northwest to maintain their properties to a second lower standard than the rest of the city is wrong and illegal. Bottom line is if something is a code violation in Rio Vista, it is just as much a code violation in South Middle River, if someone at the city decides to selectively not enforce code in certain parts of the city they should be immediately challenged, fired and prosecuted no matter the political fallout.
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Charles, what world do you live in? Seriously I am pondering how much of an eastside, wannabe blue blood, snob you are."demanding one standard across the city"?? umm Charles?? maybe we should "demand" every section of the city be under a "Homeowners Association" that way we can collect "dues" from homeowners, hire association brownshirts to fee and fine those who are barely keeping their heads above water out of existance and for sport, lets lien those homeowners who dont comply if we dont like the color paint they picked. Guys like you raise my blood pressure, Guys like Adderley fuel my disdain for LE and Seiler is better suited for ribbon cuttings or store openings, (if there were any) seriously what world does a guy like you advocate if they "dont work" they should move out of the neighborhood?? In case you havent noticed the unemployed or the long term blood suckers of social services dont have the first and last months rent to move next door, let alone move to a Opportunistic part of the country with "job opportunities" thats if you can find that area of the country, Your post scream of "kicking a guy when he is down" and then hold your foot on his neck so he cant get up. I have no use for those who refuse to help themselves but people like you who think they have the mayor, the commission, the police force and various other cocktail party influences had better think twice before you take a group of people or a certain community and beat it while its already down in efforts to make it more palatable to read about, with your morning Latte'.. what next Charles? ya wanna go after the senior citizens who dont refresh their mulch as often as you like?
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Well are you kidding 1, It sounds like you want to live in a hopeless ghetto where every lives by an informal set of ghetto rules instead of the rule of law. I am going to count you in the minority. I am guessing that most people in South Middle River who own their own homes, who are really the people that matter would like to see a common standard of rules and enforcement so their neighborhood can stop being a ghetto and start being a decent neighborhood that decent people are going to want to move to. I'm sure the slumlords that take their nice safe section 8 profit out of your neighborhood each month are in total agreement with you. I don't live in a gated community or a condo because I wouldn't want to live be all those ridiculous rules that defeat the purpose of homeownership, but there is definitely a place for code enforcement to set a standard to keep derelict properties from turning neighborhoods into ghettos. And as for your idea that housing is free and that people don't need to work to have a roof over their head, I don't know what to say to you other than grow up. South Middle River is going to change so the residents who moved there to live in a ghetto should start looking for a new neighborhood to blight.
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Charles, sounds like for a blue blood your reading comprehension didnt serve you so well in those high dollar schools you attended..um lets see (1)It sounds like you want to live in a hopeless ghetto where every lives by an informal set of ghetto rules instead of the rule of law. "be careful Charles, you do not know who you are speaking too. I live in one of those high-dollar neighborhoods that residents leer at you when walking your dog to make sure God forbid, a poodle doesnt pee on their grass. I pay plenty for that also. I doubt anyone is as much of a hard-azz when it comes a "no tolerance" stance for willfully blighting a neighborhood.But your genius ideas of forcing compliance thru fees and fines are moot.
(2) "And as for your idea that housing is free and that people don't need to work to have a roof over their head, I don't know what to say to you other than grow up." Umm where did I say that Charles? Where? Go back to my post and see if you can "find" where I said that. In fact for sport, see where I even inferred it? Nothin is free in this world Charles, but people like you want (first) to beat the neighborhood up with fees and fines and gestapo type enforcement and pay city employees to do it, do ya really think your gonna collect? Yes there is a place for code enforcement, I never even inferred there wasnt. But to strategically go after this neighborhood to force "compliance" on people who cant even pay their electic bill and then get them wrapped up in a system that will no doubt cost "US" more than it will ever cost them is self defeating and not only that, the ill-will that will be generated will be incalculable.
As far as section 8 housing goes? Then you had better start tweaking which neighborhoods your gonna allow or not allow for that..Good luck with that by the way, Your community leaders spend a great deal of time and effort mouthing off about "affordable Housing" when in reality it sounds "good on paper" and commission meeting soundbites, as long as it isnt next door to you. Right? By the way Charles, you ever make a phone call about that Haitian woman? I did. Ever drop off a couple of blankets? Its sunday, over your bloody Mary this am think about it.
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Look, I think you are barking up the wrong tree with this Blue Blood stuff. I would hazard to say that a town that was an uninhabitable swamp 100 years ago and who's closet thing to blue bloods are the descendants of spring break motel owners is just a bit much to swallow. And as for my high dollar education you are referring to, I went to the meritocracy of state universities. And as for enforcing code in South Middle River, I would start with multi-family units that are mostly owned by section 8 slumlords with loads of cash that live in places like Rio Vista. Believe me, they do not want liens on their properties and will comply. And as for the stuff you were spouting about "kicking someone when they are down" and "putting your foot on someone's neck", I would say more like "shape up or ship out". And as for the "affordable housing" nonsense that comes out of our politicians mouths. Your right about that, it is straight up hypocrisy from politicians who would never allow government subsidized low income housing anywhere near their homes. They do it because lobbyist come into their offices and ask them to. Lobbyists go into their offices to ask them to because their customers are trying to make millions in riskless real estate development bankrolled by the state government. There is virtually an epidemic of this going on right now. This city needs public transportation along the eastern FEC train lines linking 31 downtowns from Jupiter to Miami instead of low income government subsidized housing high rises in the center of our downtown.
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Nothin for nothing but I was curious? Any of you "neighborhood do-gooders" make a call to anyone about the Haitian woman living in her front yard? Anyone?
How about you "Crack down on code violators Sal" " what about you "raise that damn pay City Activist Walsh" what about you "Curfew Mary"? What about you Dettman? You seem to have your name on every vacant property in Fort Lauderdale, you offer her a place to live? " Any of you call one of your "city connections" to see if you could get a roof over that woman's head or drop off groceries to her? Or is it easier to just observe her as a blight to the city and forget about her? Hey for poops and giggles maybe we could fine her for each day she resides in that yard??
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Hey Jack, maybe with the money you saved on that new shiney peacemaker you can drop some groceries off for that Haitian woman living in her front yard?? Probably a couple of blankets would be helpful also, regardless of what was the cost, rather than paying for (which no doubt a 6 mile per gallon) ride and police officers salaries and pension cost to man it "to just look imposing" in the neighborhood try stocking it for some much needed items for this woman..and plus I would feel alot better knowing I am paying your boys hourly to drop them off.
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