Sun Times Issue 02 02 23

Rent Prices Are Finally Falling

But These 20 Cities Missed The Memo For Single-family Homes

Miami is rated in 6th most expensive big city for single family homes and the sunny weather and water location has much to do with it

In - demand single - family homes drove 2022’s rental-price roller coaster. Prices are finally settling down, but just in case you’re planning a move, new data from Dwellsy pinpoints the 20 American cities where it’s mostexpensivetorentahouse.

Picture it: You’re lounging in a cozy chair in your (rented) living room, watching snow drift gently down outside. If you want to get crazy, add a cup of hot cocoa, a fuzzy blanket and a few scented candles. If this winter fantasy is appealing, data-cruncher Jonas Bordo of Dwellsy has good news: Moving into a single-family home rental (SFR) just got a bit less pricey—so go ahead and spring for the fancy marshmallows.

Now, here’s the caveat you knew was coming: If you want to rent a sunny beach house, forget he said anything. You’ll still pay plenty for the privilege of not freezingyourbuttoff.

“From November to December 2022, asking rent for a threebedroom SFR went down $30, or 1.7 percent,” says Bordo, CEO and Co-Founder of Dwellsy. “This is extremely welcome news for renters, who saw prices for Finally Falling, Page 6A

Supercar Saturdays Debuts At Gulfstream Park Village

The Supercharged Event Rolls Into South Florida’s Favorite Entertainment Destination

New events and attractions are coming to Gulfstream Park!

South Florida’s favorite entertainment destination is excited to welcome Supercar Saturdays, The Hallandale Beach Food & Groove and Music in the Park concerts to its roster of can’tmiss events taking place this season. With a world-renowned racetrack, casino, live performance venue, countless dining options and plenty of shopping and entertainment, Gulfstream Park truly has something for everyone.

Debuting February 11, Supercar Saturdays will be on display at Gulfstream Park Village every second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Presented by Warren Henry Automotive Group, this carefully curated

showcase is the largest gathering of supercars, exotic cars, luxury cars, classic cars and race cars in South Florida. Featuring over 200 elite cars and their owners, auto enthusiasts and patrons, this monthly event is free and open to the public. Automotive fans can admire these luxury cars in a casual and friendly environment and learn more about the unique characteristics of each brand. Cars will be prominently displayed throughouttheVillage.

Car highlights, ranging in price from $1.5 million to over $6 million, include a 1967 Toyota 2000 GT; a Mansory Bugatti Veyron; a Bugatti Chiron; a 50th Anniversary Lamborghini Aventador;a Lamborghini Centenario; a Lamborghini SVJ with a match-

Reversing Osteoporosis

FIU Scientists Pinpoint

A New Method - With A Pill

FIU researchers know a new treatment could be life-changing for millions of people, and look forward to the next phase of research Reversing Osteoporosis could one day be as easy as taking a pill.

ing MTI Hyper Boat; a Ferrari LaFerrari; a Ferrari F60; a McLaren P1; a McLaren Senna; a Ford GT; a Porsche 918 Spyder; a Koenigsegg, and a Pagani amongmanyothers.

Each event will feature to-benamed special guests. Past guests include 2017 Pro Bowl Defensive End from the Miami Dolphins Cameron Wake; NFL greats Sam Madison and Nolan Carrol; “Foodgod” Jonathan Cheban, Indy and Cart Champ Helio Castroneves and many others.

Food lovers, get ready! The Hallandale Beach Food & Groove: A Wine, Food and Art Experience returns to Gulfstream Park as part of the 22nd annual

Gulfstream Park, Page 4A

A team of FIU Drug Development Scientists found a possible new way to counteract the effects of the disease that turns bones into honeycomb-like structures — so fragile even a cough can cause a fracture or break. The discovery, recently published in Communications Biology, is the first step toward cheaper, effective, easy-to-take treatments for Osteoporosis and other diseases associated with boneloss.

Currently available drugs only stop bone loss and require expensive daily injections. Researchers from FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine — along with a collaborative team from the National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes Of Health (NIH) and the University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences — identified a method that can be taken orally and helps boneproducingcellsmakemorebone.

“Our experiments in the lab showed small molecule acti-

Titan Restoration Inc. Is A Company That Cares

Titan Restoration Inc. is a trusted, licensed Cleaning, Water Damage Restoration, and Mold

Remediation Company proudly serving all of southern Florida

The only thing in life that is certain, is that anything can happen at any time. Such tragedies as; fire, hurricanes, and floods are real and do happen, bringing with them water damage and the potential for harmful mold and bacterial growth. Water damage can occur for several reasons, some you may not notice right away, such as sewer issues, a leaking roof, and clogged or leaking pipes, just to name a few.

During these times you need licensed professionals with a Titan Restortion, 9A

South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One. Taking place Saturday, February 25 from 7-11 p.m., the event invites food lovers for an immersive experience. Hosted by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Florida International University, the Festival benefits FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits BeverageManagementCenter.

The event features a variety of international cuisines that will get guests movin’ and groovin’ including Gulfstream Park Village’s Belly Fish and Ten Palms restaurants. Other participating restaurants include: El Tamarindo Coal Fired Pizza, Marash Turkish Cuisine, Moises Bakery, Dr. Limon Hallandale, CAO Bakery & Café, The Krazy Vegan, Il Mercato Café & Wine Shop, Matteo’s Trattoria, Dunn’s River Island Café, Holy Avocado, Ceviche Avenue, Chef Irie, See Thai & Japanese Cuisine, Nana’s Sapibon Haitian Restaurant, D’s Delights and Mable’s Island Kitchen.

Additional restaurants to be announced. General admission tickets are $75 and can be purchased by visiting: www. sobewff.org/groove/

Music in the Park, Gulfstream Park Village’s favorite live entertainment series, continues its weekly performances with the area’s favorite musical talent.

Taking place Wednesday through Sunday nights from 6:30-9:30 p.m., Music in the Park is sure to get audiences dancing. These open-air performances take place in the center stage and feature rotating bands on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights. Saturdays are DJ/Family Nights. Free to attend, Music in the Park has proven to be one of Gulfstream’s most popular ongoing events. For additional live music, the Casino Stage features a DJ on Friday nights from 7-11 p.m. and a live band on Saturday nights from 711 p.m. The Breezeway Stage features rotating DJs on Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. and the Carousel Club features live music Friday-Sunday during all open hours.

“Gulfstream Park Village is excited to welcome Supercar Saturdays to our diverse lineup of events,” said Alex Schreer, Director of Experiential Marketing for Gulfstream Park Village. “Automotive fans and their families can enjoy this one-of-a-kind

display of luxury and exotic cars while enjoying shopping, dining, racing and more in Gulfstream Park Village’s open-air environment.”

About Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park is South Florida’s premier entertainment,

dining and restaurant destination, located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, anchored by the legendary Gulfstream Park Racetrack. Gulfstream Park not only offers world-class Thoroughbred horse racing but is also home to

rants, outdoor cafes, art galleries, fashion retailers, state-ofthe-art bowling alley, and a renowned selection of signature home stores. Gulfstream Park, voted a 2020 Top Travelers’ Choice Winner by TripAdvisor, is

Florida, just two miles east of I95. Valet service and complimentary self-parking are available. Gulfstream Park is open seven days a week. For hours, schedules, upcoming events and additional information, visitwww.

It’s All About Water: Infrastructure Is The Lifeblood Of Every City

For many years cities around the country have been upgrading water meters to Advanced Metering Infrastructure. The old system required meter readers to physically go out and read each meter. While this worked the readings were delivered and processed by the billing department all manually. There was no real time information and bills were adjusted after reading. This created lags in the system and if there were any issues that customers needed addressed took much longer to address. The AMI was considered a true benefit and we decided to upgrade our systemmanyyearsago.

AMI provides a system where the meters are upgraded to electronic and then integrated into the billing system. The registers are like an odometer. The water flows through the register and a battery-operated radio transmitter creates a reading. It then electronically transmits the reading to the utility. This process has been working and created efficienciesonmanylevels.

In our case last year some of

the batteries began failing. When we were first briefed on this matter I had asked if we have any legal recourse since the meters are to have a much longer life than a couple of years. We were informed that we were not the only city that had the same problems and I wanted our attorney to research it. After researching our contract, we found they were still under warranty and the company was going to work with the impacted cities. This was good news until staff realized due to supply chain issues the company hadalargebacklog.

The register batteries were not the only problem. Many meters were placed on properties in a manor where they were not able to transmit to the utility. Some meters were under water or covered with dirt. City Manager Dr. Earle established a crossdepartmental team to address this issue. It included Public Works, Finance and Sensus - the tech vendor. The team reviewed all issues and presented a report tousinDecember.

It was confirmed that due to the magnitude of the failures we

were not billing for a large amount of consumption, that is due to system limitation. 1 out of 10 meters had to be manually read and 1 out of 4 bills are being estimated. In this case data is critical. Approximately 6,866 meters are being read. Unaccounted water creates multiple issues for the system and all users. Water loss is at 20%, doublethetargetrate.

Currently Staff have replaced 500 meters provided by Sensus and since have gone to another vendor Core and Main to address the inability to acquire replacements in a timely manner from Sensus. The Core plus and main meters are superior to the old meters and can be integrated into the system. The software upgrades will send real time alarms when meters are not reading or disconnected illegally. The working group has set out to complete the system over the courseof2023.

The other component of the system is billing systems. It was found that due to the current staffing level and utilization of finance personnel that mainly

Beach Restoration Underway in Hollywood

A federally funded beach restoration project is underway on Broward County beaches and Hollywood Beach is next in line to receive its share of 887,000 cubic yards of upland sand along the shoreline. Hollywood is included in Segment III of the Broward County Shore Protection Project to restore areas impacted by erosion and create a natural barrier against storm surge. which is currently ahead of schedule. Work is nearly complete at Von Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. After this, work will progress to the northern part of HollywoodBeachatNewHampshireSt.

Segment III includes the following shore length boundaries:

• Dr. Von Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park: from the Port Everglades south jetty to FDEP reference (R) monument R-92

• Dania Beach/Hollywood Beach: from Dania Beach Pier to Hollywood Beach, Lee St. (R-108)

• Hollywood Beach/Hallandale Beach: from Hollywood Beach, Iris Terrace (R-119) to the south county line (R-128)

Construction is during daylight hours, basically 7 am - 6 pm. The current schedule calls for work to be conducted Monday through Friday; however, weekend work may occur if required to stay on schedule. Beach construction access and/or staging will be, at the discretionary needs of the construction vendor, from the followingbeachaccesspoints:

• Approximately location of R-99, Dania Beach Public Parking Lot

• Cambridge Street, Dania Beach

• Balboa Street, Hollywood Beach

• Meade Street, Hollywood Beach

• Bougainvilla Terrace, Hollywood Beach

• Magnolia Terrace (Keating Park), Hollywood Beach

• South City Beach Park, Hallandale Beach?

For additional information, please visit: www.broward.org/Beaches/Pages/Segment3.aspx

To put Your Business in the Spot Light, call (954) 458-0635 and be Seen Now!

work with customers for meter and billing a reorganization was warranted. A meter maintenance coordinator was added and a specific utility billing supervisor. The cost of these added employees will be allocated to the Utility Fund. In addition there will be the addition of temporary staffing for the fiscal year to address customer demand while staff is implementing the remediation project. This remediation project is critical as it relates to our fee structures. Without true readings and use there will not be a fair allocation of costs for our Utility Bond. While the cost to perform these repairs and reorganization will run $689,100, $140,000 for field audits, $300,000 for temporary staffing, $276,000 in water meter purchases and $140,000 for staff reorganization and classifications, in the long run the recapture of unbilled water revenues will offset the costs. The long-term projected water revenues are projected to be $648,000. This does not include staff time and efficiencies created. There is an even larger picture

when it comes to every improvement we bring. As I have written recently about the cost of underground infrastructure we continue to work with our bond consultant. The more accurate accounting of water will help us evaluate a fair rate structure for our customers. Water is also tied to our wastewater. The more accurate our data, the more accurate we can evaluate our sewer costs to address infiltration and water losses throughout the system. It will also help us to budgetforsewerpayments.

As the City embarks on large scale Infrastructure Projects which will impact on everyone’s budgets, I want to let our residents and condo boards know that I am always available to come out and discuss this issue and other City Business with yourgrouporboard.

As always, I am available for your questions, concerns, and ideas to help make our city a better place. Please feel free to reach out to me at My Office: (954) 457-1318. On My Cell/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or email me at: jcooper@cohb.org

By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper

Water is the lifeblood of every city. In Hallandale Beach many of the upgraded water meters have been failing and not reporting proper consumption

Looking For A Job?

Hollywood’s Major Employers Are Hiring

Finding a job and recruitment for business owners is made easyinBrowardCounty.Whether you are relocating your company or expanding and are in need of qualified employees, the support andnetworktofindtherightcandidate are now within reach.

CareerSource Broward helps businesses find trained, qualified employees. Employer Services include local recruiting, prescreening services, customized training and more. Here are some of Hollywood’s larger employers that invite you to apply for a position.

HEICO HEICO Corporation is a successful and growing technologydriven aerospace, industrial, defense and electronics company. For over 60 years, HEICO has thrived by providing customers with innovative and costsaving products and services.

With Corporate Headquarters located in Hollywood, candidates interested in a career in the Aviation Industry can find oppor-

tunities on HEICO’s career portal: https://recruiting.adp.com/ srccar/public/RTI.home?c= 1215401&d=ExternalCareerSite

Memorial Healthcare

The Memorial Healthcare Talent Acquisition Center was created to provide a centralized source for all recruiting and hiring activities for the entire Healthcare System. Located at 4320 Sheridan Street in Hollywood and staffed by Talent Acquisition professionals who are dedicated to matching qualified candidates with available opportunities, this site provides full-service onboarding, including new hire physicals. Their goal is for each new employee to begin their career with the Memorial Healthcare System having an indepth understanding of the company culture; making the candidate experience second to none allows new hires to build upon that foundation with their Memorial Experience. For information, contact The Memorial Healthcare Talent Acquisition

Center: http://careers.mhs.net/ how-to-apply-faq/talentacquisition-center/

Quantum Marine Quantum provides employment opportunities as they arise to qualified individuals who can succeed in a challenging and rewarding environment. If you are interested in joining Quantum’s engineering, administrative, technical or production team, please direct your inquiry to: humanresources@quantumhydraulic.co m

City Of Hollywood, Florida

Considering a career in the public sector? Interested in serving the City where you live? Search and apply for employment opportunities online with the City Of Hollywood: https:// www.governmentjobs.com/ careers/hollywoodfl

A Place To Learn

My Americans find themselves out of a job from corporate downsizing and moderni-

zation, so many times you may have to go back to school to learnanewcareertogethired.

Hollywood is home to the Award-Winning Sheridan Technical Center and several post-secondary learning institutions, including Barry University’s College Of Health Sciences, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center and City College. With a convenient location and easy interstate access, companies are in close proximity to additional educational institutions including Broward College, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University and The University Of Miami.

Hollywood puts you at the

doorstep to a wealth of world class employment and educational opportunities as well as recent graduates in the professions and vocations needed to succeed.

Hollywood has a thriving education sector serving the educational needs of residents of all ages. More than a third of the Public and Charter K-12 Schools in Hollywood are “A” Rated with unique learning environments including the area’s only Public High School Military Magnet Program, a Hebrew Language Charter School, a K-8 Public Montessori Magnet School, an Intercultural Charter Academy and a Top-Rated Arts & Sciences Academy.

So if you are looking for a job or looking for employees for your company, Career Source Broward can guide you. For more information, visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hollywoodfl

Legendary Artist Takes The Stage

James Taylor Headlines The Broward Performing Arts Foundation Annual Celebration

1. Or at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office and be sure you know who you are buyingfromwhenyoupurchasetickets.

Songwriter James Taylor and his All-Star Band will fill the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, February 25th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. as part of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s 2023 Annual Celebration, presented by Dr. Lee and Brigitte Mandel, South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center. Proceeds from the evening benefit the education and enrichment programs at the Broward Center. While seating for the celebration dinner sold out quickly, a limited number of VIP Tickets which include valet

Finally Falling

From Page 1A

or a total of $128, from December 2021 to December 2022. That said, your rent might still cost quite a bit depending on your address—especially if you’re hoping to find a rental homeinawarm,sunnyspot.”

Bordo believes that providing accurate and timely rental data is a crucial service for renters, landlords, cities and organizations connected to the rental industry.

To that end, Dwellsy regularly mines its 13+ million residential rental listings for statistics and data. Because the rental platform allows landlords to post listings free of charge, it has a pool of data that’s more diverse—and more representative of the true rental landscape—than that of pay-to-play listing services. Each month, Dwellsy breaks down this

parking, a 90-minute cocktail reception, preferred seating for the performance and complimentary cocktails throughout the evening are available for $1,250 per person by calling: (954) 4683298. Or emailing: Foundation@BrowardCenter.org.

Tickets to the performance only start at $195. Please note that Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center, The Parker and affiliated venues. For tickets to the performance only, patrons may purchase online at: www.BrowardCenter.org Or at: www.Ticketmaster.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222 Option

data regionally across 250 U.S. markets.

“Without current data, it’s difficult for renters to accurately gauge developing trends, determine affordability in their area and plan for the future,” says Bordo. “In order to increase the specificity of what we’re pricing and reduce the risk of noise in the underlying data, Dwellsy has recently updated our methodology for analyzing rent data. In compiling this list of most expensive cities for single-family home rentals, we’ve focused on threebedroom homes because they are by far the most common rentalhometype.”

For a more detailed look at Dwellsy’s rent price analysis methodology, see this article: https://dwellsy.com/blog/rentanalysis-methodology/

Top Ten Most Expensive Big Cities for Single-Family Homes:

1. Los Angeles, California $3850,

2. San Francisco, California

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE!

James Taylor is the Archetypal Singer/Songwriter who helped create the template for the Troubadour Style that dominated the 1970’s. When he brings his blend of Folk, Pop, Rock and Soul influences to the Foundation’s Annual Celebration to benefit the Broward Center, it will be like a part of history is unfolding before the crowd, with enough tuneful energy to generate some major good-time vibes. The multiple Grammy Award-Winning, Multi-Platinum Songsmith offered up tracks like “Fire and Rain” and “Sweet Baby James” to the collective popcultural consciousness in the ‘70s and they’ve stayed there ever since. He’s continued to make compelling music for many decades and his shows are an eclectic mix of transfixing new tunesandbelovedclassics.

“This will be a very intimate evening with one of the icons in

$3700, 3. San Jose California $3600, 4. Honolulu, Hawaii $3500, 5. San Diego, California $3450 6. Miami, Florida $3200, 7. Boston, Massachusetts $3200, 8. Riverside - San Bernardino, California $2600, 9. Seattle, Oregon $2596 and 10. Denver,Colorado$2540.

Aglanceatthislistshowsthat a snowy winter is not in the forecast for the majority of cities with the most expensive SFR rent. Los Angeles claimed the top spot with a median December asking rent of $3,850 and Bay Area twins San Francisco and San José took the second and third spots with rents of $3,700 and$3,600,respectively.

“Renters in Miami, Honolulu and Boston might still be in mourning for their 2021 budgets, because prices in each of these cities have increased over 10 percent since December 2021,” says Bordo. “On the other hand, asking rents in San José,

music,” said Lisa Kitei, President of The Broward Performing Arts Foundation. “James Taylor has been on our wish list for the Annual Celebration since the beginning. We are ecstatic to welcome him to our stage and grateful to our generous sponsorsformakingitpossible.”

In addition to Presenting

Sponsors Dr. Lee and Brigitte Mandel, South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center, major sponsors of the Annual Celebration include:

“Fire and Rain” Gold Sponsors

AutoNation, Burdette Beckmann Inc., Ann M. Burris, Linda Haller, Michelle Howland and S. Donald Sussman, The Salah Foundation, Richard and Christine Welch and Deborah and Gary Wendt; “Sweet Baby James” Silver Sponsors BBX Capital, Jeannette and Marty Engelmann, Leo Goodwin Foundation, Gunster, Hudson Family Foundation, The Ingham Family, Northern Trust, Charlie and Laura Palmer, Lois and John Schmatz, Stiles, Linda and Douglas Von Allmen, Weston Volvo Cars and Weston Nissan and Mark and Linda Wilford;

Riverside-San Bernardino and Seattle have increased by 3 percent or less—well below the nationalaverageof8percent.”

Top Ten Most Expensive Small Cities for Single-Family Homes: 1. Naples-Marco Island, Florida $5000, 2. Salinas, California $3500, 3. OxnardThousand Oaks, California $3398, 4. San Luis Obispo, California $3200 5. Santa Rosa, California $3000, 6. Santa Barbara, California $2938, 7. Vallejo-Fairfield, California $2750 8. North Port-Bradenton, Florida $2650, 9. Hilton Head, South Carolina $2638 and 10. Boulder, Colorado$2595.

Thanks in part to the loosening of Pandemic restrictions and the rise of remote work, many renters chose to move to smaller cities with sought-after amenities and attractions in 2022. After all, if you can work from anywhere, why not do it by

Spirits Sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits; Program Sponsor Starmark and Invitation Sponsor Associated PrintingProductions,Inc.

For more than 30 years, The Broward Performing Arts Foundation has been instrumental in providing support for The Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The Foundation was established in 1985 to deliver the required private funding to build the Center and create an endowment to sustain its operations. Over the years, the Foundation has successfully raised funds to support the Broward Center’s innovative and diverse programming, arts-ineducation initiatives, community engagement activities and capital projects. In 2021, the Foundation completed a $30 Million Dollar Capital Campaign to renovate and restore the iconic Parker Playhouse. Prior to this, it raised $60 Million Dollars to complete the Encore! Capital Campaign to renovate, renew and revitalize The Broward Center.

that you can afford to pay for thatcovetedoceanview.

“Naples-Marco Island, Florida, gets the prize for ‘most expensive rental city’ across all property types and locations,” shares Bordo. “Median asking rent in December was $5,000 for a three-bedroom home. This is significantly higher than asking rent in second-place Salinas, California, which came in at $3,500.

“Hilton Head, South Carolina, also stands out for having this group’s highest overall rent growth in 2022: 23.4 percent,” he adds.

“No matter where you live, it looks like more stable rent prices will continue into 2023,” Bordo concludes. “Thanks to the Fed’s fight against inflation and an increased supply of new rentals entering the market, I expect moderate pricing to continue as theyearprogresses.”

James Taylor is the archetypal singer/songwriter who helped create the template for the troubadour style that dominated the 1970s

Evil Walks Among Us Child Trafficking Has Become Big Business In America

It takes a special kind of evil to prostitute and traffick a child for sex and yet this evil walks among us every minute of every day.

Consider this: every two minutes, a child is bought and sold forsex.

Hundreds of young girls and boys—some as young as 9 years old—are being bought and sold for sex, as many as 20 times per day.

Adults purchase children for sex at least 2.5 million times a yearintheUnitedStatesalone.

In Georgia alone, it is estimated that 7,200 men (half of them in their 30’s) seek to purchase sex with adolescent girls each month, averaging roughly 300aday.

On average, a child might be raped by 6,000 men during a five-yearperiod.

It is estimated that at least 100,000 to 500,000 children— girls and boys—are bought and sold for sex in the U.S. every year, with as many as 300,000 children in danger of being trafficked each year. Some of these children are forcefully abducted, others are runaways and still others are sold into the system by relativesandacquaintances.

Child rape has become Big BusinessinAmerica.

This is not a problem found onlyinbigcities.

It’s happening everywhere, right under our noses, in suburbs, cities and towns across the nation.

As Ernie Allen of the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children points out, “The only way not to find this in any American city is simply not tolookforit.”

Like so many of the evils in our midst, sex trafficking (and the sexualization of young people) is a cultural disease that is rooted in the American police state’s heart of darkness. It speaks to a sordid, far-reaching corruption that stretches from the highest seats of power (governmental and corporate) down to the most hidden corners and relies on our silence and our complicity to turn ablindeyetowrongdoing.

It is estimated that the number of children who are at risk of

being trafficked or have already been sold into the sex trade wouldfill1,300schoolbuses.

The internet has become the primary means of sexual predators targeting and selling young children for sex. “One in five kids online are sexually propositioned through gaming platforms and other social media and those, non-contact oriented forums of sexual exploitation are increasing,” said Researcher Brian Ulicny.

It’s not just young girls who arevulnerable,either.

According to a USA Today investigative report, “boys make up about 36% of children caught up in the U.S. Sex Industry (about 60% are female and less than 5% are transgender males andfemales).”

Every year, the ages of the girls and boys being bought and soldgetyoungerandyounger.

The average age of those being trafficked is 13. Yet as the head of a group that combats trafficking pointed out, “Let’s think about what average means. That means there are children younger than 13. That means 8, 9,10-year-olds.”

“They’re minors as young as 13 who are being trafficked,” noted a 25-year-old victim of trafficking.“They’relittlegirls.”

This is America’s dirty little secret.

But what or who is driving this evil appetite for young flesh? Whobuysachildforsex?

Otherwise ordinary men from all walks of life. “They could be your co-worker, doctor, pastor or spouse,” writes Journalist Tim Swarens, who spent more than a year investigating the sex trade inAmerica.

According to criminal investigator Marc Chadderdon, these “buyers”—the so-called “ordinary” men who drive the demand for sex with children—represent a cross-section of American society: every age, every race, every socio-economic background, cops, teachers, correctionsworkers,pastors,etc.

America’s police forces—riddled with corruption, brutality, sexual misconduct and drug abuse—represent another facet of the problem: police have become both predators and

pimps. As the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, “Hundreds of police officers across the country have turned from protectors to predators, using the power of theirbadgetoextortsex.”

Young girls are particularly vulnerable to these predators in blue.

Former Police Officer Phil Stinson estimates that half of the victims of police sex crimes are minors under the age of eighteen. According to The Washington Post, a national study found that 40 percent of reported cases of police sexual misconductinvolvedteens.

For example, in California, a police sergeant—a 16-year veteran of the police force—was arrested for raping a 16-year-old girl who was being held captive and sold for sex in a home in an upscaleneighborhood.

A Pennsylvania police chief and his friend were arrested for allegedly raping a young girl hundreds of times—orally, vaginally and anally several times a week—over the course of seven years, starting when she was 4 yearsold.

Two NYPD cops were accused of arresting a teenager, handcuffing her and driving her in an unmarked van to a nearby parking lot, where they raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on them, then dropped her offonanearbystreetcorner.

The New York Times reports that “a sheriff’s deputy in San Antonio was charged with sexually assaulting the 4-year-old daughter of an undocumented Guatemalan woman and threatening to have her deported if she reportedtheabuse.”

And then you have national sporting events such as the Super Bowl, where sex traffickers have been caught selling minors, some as young as 9 years old. Whether or not the Super Bowl is a “windfall” for sex traffickers as some claim, it remains a lucrative source of income for the child sex trafficking industry and a draw for those who are willing to pay to rape youngchildren.

Finally, as I documented in an earlier column, the culture is grooming these young people to be preyed upon by sexual preda-

tors. Social media makes it all too easy. As one news center reported, “Finding girls is easy for pimps. They look on … social networks. They and their assistants cruise malls, high schools and middle schools. They pick them up at bus stops. On the trolley. Girl-to-girl recruitment sometimes happens.” Foster homes and youth shelters have also become prime targets for traffickers.

Rarely do these children enter into prostitution voluntarily. Many start out as runaways or throwaways, only to be snatched up by pimps or larger sex rings. Others, persuaded to meet up with a stranger after interacting online through one of the many social networking sites, find themselves quickly initiated into theirnewlivesassexslaves.

According to the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children, nearly 800,000 children go missing every year (roughly 2,185 childrenaday).

For those trafficked, it’s a nightmarefrombeginningtoend.

Those being sold for sex have an average life expectancy of seven years and those years are a living nightmare of endless rape, forced drugging, humiliation, degradation, threats, disease, pregnancies, abortions, miscarriages, torture, pain and always the constant fear of being killed or, worse, having those you lovehurtorkilled.

A common thread woven through most survivors’ experiences is being forced to go without sleep or food until they have met their sex quota of at least40men.

As David McSwane recounts in a chilling piece for the HeraldTribune: “In Oakland Park, an industrial Fort Lauderdale suburb, federal agents in 2011 encountered a brothel operated by a married couple. Inside ‘The Boom Boom Room,’ as it was known, customers paid a fee and were given a condom and a timer and left alone with one of the brothel’s eight teenagers, children as young as 13. A 16-yearold foster child testified that he acted as security, while a 17year-old girl told a federal judge

she was forced to have sex with asmanyas20menanight.”

One particular sex trafficking ring catered specifically to migrant workers employed seasonally on farms throughout the southeastern states, especially the Carolinas and Georgia, although it’s a flourishing business in every state in the country. Traffickers transport the women from farm to farm, where migrant workers would line up outside shacks, as many as 30 at a time, to have sex with them before they were transported to yet another farm where the process wouldbeginalloveragain.

This growing evil is, for all intents and purposes, out in the open.

Unfortunately, as I document in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, the government’s war on sex trafficking, much like the government’s war on terrorism, drugs and crime, has become a perfect excuse for inflicting more police state tactics (police checkpoints, searches, surveillance, and heightened security) on a vulnerable public while doing little to actually protect our children from sexpredators.

That so many children continue to be victimized, brutalized and treated like human cargo is due to three things: one, a consumer demand that is increasingly lucrative for everyone involved—except the victims; two, a level of corruption so invasive on both a local and international scale that there is little hope of working through established channels for change; and three, an eerie silence from individuals who fail to speak out againstsuchatrocities.

Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an Attorney and Author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Popular Culture. John Whitehead’s Commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org.

Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org

Osteoporosis

From Page 1A atasteadypace.

vators delivered orally improve bone density, an exciting discovery that could lead to a new treatment for Osteoporosis,” said study Author Alexander Agoulnik, FIU Professor and Interim Chair Of The Department Of Human AndMolecularGenetics.

Bones are essentially always under renovation. Cells break down and reform bone around the clock. Bone-making cells build bone tissue, while boneeating ones reabsorb it to keep bones from getting too big or bulky. It’s a delicate dance and it goes awry during Osteoporosis when bone-making cells slow down and bone-eating cells keep

To help bone-producing cells keepup,theresearchersfocused on a specific target. A hormone receptor - Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 2 (RXFP2), known to play a role in the formation of reproductiveorgans.

“When we first screened patients with Cryptorchidism, or Undescended Testes, we found in some of them this receptor was mutated,” Agoulnik said. “Then, colleagues from the University Of Padova, Italy, surprisingly discovered that a significant portion of these men also happened to have Osteoporosis.”

The team suspected the receptor also had something to do with bone development.

The team first had to pinpoint the right chemical compound to activate the receptor. The NCATS Team used robots to screen for small molecules, among more than 80,000 different compounds. Chemists then tested hundreds more variations until they found the right match. It was like a key fitting a lock. When they tested it on mouse models in the lab, they saw an improvementinbonedensity.

“This opens up a new area of study to allow for clinical application to prevent or reverse Osteoporosis,” said Maria Esteban Lopez, who worked with Agoulnik on this research as an FIU Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Candidate. “This was an exciting opportunity. I was able to work with phenomenal scientists

across various institutions and see how the impact of our work could lead to meaningful therapeuticbreakthroughs.”

Researchers know a new treatment could be life-changing for millions of people and look forward to the next phase of research.

“Without collaboration, we would never have found the link between our genes and bone development. The collaboration with NIH was crucial because they are the best in the field to look for the right compounds,” Agoulnik said. “The main ingredient for success in science is collaboration.” This research was supported by the National Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases(NIAMS)attheNIH.

About FIU: Florida International University is a top Public University that drives real talent and innovation in Miami and globally. Very high research (R1) activity and high social mobility come together at FIU to uplift and accelerate learner success in a global city by focusing in the areas of environment, health, innovation and justice. Today, FIU has two campuses and multiple centers. FIU serves a diverse student body of more than 58,000 and 290,000 Panther Alumni. U.S. News and World Report places dozens of FIU Programs among the best in the nation, including international business at number 2. Washington Monthly Magazine ranks FIU among the top 20 Public Universities.

By John & Nisha Whitehead

Promotional Articles

Welcome To Paradise: MOCA North Miami Showcases Local Artists

The Museum Of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) invites the community to expe rience “Welcome To Paradise,” a dynamic new commissioning program featuring temporary public art projects by local South Florida artists. This program invites artists to create ambitious and experimental art installations to activate MOCA’s Paradise Courtyard. The first season cen ters on artists working at the intersection of ecology and tech nology.

On view from February 8th, 2023 through June 25th, 2023, visitors will be able to step into the Paradise Courtyard and dis cover “Victory Garden,” an inter active sculptural community gar den created by Miami-Based Artist Emmett Moore. Drawing inspiration from victory gardens of the past, which were planted during wartime to supplement rations and boost morale, Moore’s “Victory Garden” con nects the local community with contemporary art and encour ages visitors to reflect on their relationship with the built envi ronment.

Utilizing sustainable materials such as repurposed steel drums to form sculptural planters, “Victory Garden” will feature plants native to South Florida and the Caribbean such as Cuban Oregano, Collard Greens, Starfruit, Bee Balm and Everglades Cherry Tomatoes that will be harvested and shared. The exhibition will also include benches and solar-powered USB outletsforvisitorstouse.

The series will continue with “Into The Great Dying: Roles We

Play,” a thought-provoking, interactive ceramic sculpture by Miami-Based Artist Beatriz Chachamovits, that engages with the Marine Landscape, highlighting the decline of Coral Reef Ecosystems and the impact of human actions. This installation will be on view from July 5th, 2023 through November 21st, 2023.

“At MOCA, we are proud to develop programs like ‘Welcome to Paradise’ that not only reinforce our commitment to supporting local contemporary artists, but also enliven and opens up a space for shared, fee-free access to the museum for audiences of all ages to enjoy,” said Chana Sheldon, Executive DirectorofMOCA.

Complementary to “Welcome to Paradise,” MOCA will offer a diverse array of on-site events and programs, including a member’s event on February 24th, 2023andaworkshopcelebrating Earth Day on April 22nd, 2023.

“Victory Garden” will be open to the public during MOCA’s gallery closureforinstallation.

Welcome To Paradise is made

possible with major support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and additional support was provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation For The Visual Arts. General admission to the museum is $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, students and visitors with disabilities and FREE for MOCA Members, residents of the City of North Miami and children under 12. MOCA Dual/ Family level and above can preregister for programs and events scheduled around the exhibitions for “Welcome to Paradise.” To become a member today, visit: www.mocanomi.org/support

About The Museum Of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) MOCA North Miami is generously funded by the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami; The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; The Miami-Dade County Department Of Cultural Affairs. The Museum presents contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs and collections. Inspired by its surrounding communities, MOCA connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas, voices and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts. MOCA developed from The Center Of Contemporary Art which was inaugurated in 1981. The establishment of the permanent collection coincided with the institution’s move into their current building designed by Charles GwarthmeyofGSNYin1996.

=MOCA invites artists to create ambitious art installations to activate MOCA’s Paradise Courtyard

Modern Fine Jewelry Sale”

A-SECTION

Titan Restoration

From Page 1A

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To assess the situation Titan Restoration Inc. offers state-ofthe-art leak detection, using infra-red cameras. This allows for non-invasive, non-messy leak detection. No need to tear up dry wall or floors just to find the source of the leak. Once the leaks have been found, you will be referred to a trusted, licensed plumber.

After the repairs’, State-ofthe-art specialized equipment is used to detect moisture levels in the air, dehumidifiers are placed in the affected area, and a Florida-licensed Mold Inspector will be sent to do a mold inspection. Samples will be taken of the air and mold. The specimens will be sent to their private laboratory for testing. This will determine whichtypeofmoldtheyaredealing with. Some molds are more toxic than others such as black mold, knowing the type, allows for proper precautions to be taken to ensure effective treatment and removal of the mold. Depending on the severity of the damages, drywall and flooring may need to be replaced to effectively rid your home or business of mold. Titan Restoration Inc. is a full remodeling and restoration company, specializing in kitchen and bath remodels, as well as a wide variety of other services. Throughout this process, Titan Restoration Inc. will be working with your insurance companyeverystepoftheway.

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Titan Restoration Inc. is a customer-friendly company that also specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling.

To assess the situation Titan Restoration Inc. offers state-of-the-art leak detection, using infra-red cameras, no need to tear up dry walls or floors just to find the source of the leak. Whether the water damage in your home or business was caused by a leaking pipe, roof, or major flood.

(L) Once the mold has been identified, the mold remediation process begins. They will dry out the affected area using fans and dehumidifiers

(R) Since mold spores are airborne and invisible to the naked eye it is necessary to deep clean the air ducts, carpets, furnishings, and upholstery

Adopt A Lovebug & Walk With The Animals

Beautiful Harlow (ID 663650) is a fun-loving, 68-pound gal who is sweet, playful and loves to play with her friend Haywood who looks identical to her. While they don’t have to go home together, if you adopted the duo, you would have constant enter tainment. This two-year-old lovebug is social, likes to play in the baby pool and enjoys meet ing new people. She would love to be your sweetie for this Valentine’sdayandmanymore.

Five-year-old Rosie (ID 664166) was given up after hav ing a home her entire life because someone was allergic to her. Now Rosie is very nervous at the shelter, but we know if the right cat lover takes her home and gives her the TLC she needs, she will be fine. Her pre vious family said her nickname is “Nosy Rosie,” and she will check on everyone. She is a talker and if you’ve been away for a bit, she may tell you stories. Rosie will meow to tell you she is hungry or ready for you to wake up. Make sure you have a carpet scratcher for her, and she will use it. While she has not lived with other pets, sheisgoodwitholderkids.

To meet Harlow, Rosie or any other pet, complete the preadoption application at: www. humanebroward.com. The Humane Society of Broward County is located at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL and the adoption kennels open daily at 11 a.m. If you have questions call 954-989-3977 ext. 6 and if you can’t adopt, please share. The dogs are also in need of durable chew toys if you would like to dropsomeby.

VCA Walk for the Animals

The Walk will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park (80 Las Olas Cir, Fort

Lauderdale, FL 33316).

Registration begins at 8 am, and the optional Walk starts at 10:00 am. Visit over 30 booths offering games, exceptional products, and services, and more. If you are unable to attend, no worries! They still want YOU to walk in your own neighborhood on Walk Day or stay home (maybe in bed) - but still help gather donations tohelptheHSBC.

If you are participating virtually, they recommend mapping out 1 mile in your neighborhood, park, or wherever you’d like to participate. They will have virtual activities available as well. Stay updated by subscribing to Walk for the Animals emails and

checking back to www. Walk4theAnimals.com regularly.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for you can always email them at: info@walk4theanimals. com

There is no registration fee for the Walk, however, this is the shelter’s largest fundraising event of the year. They encourage all participants to register their team and fundraise with them. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals in their care, the educational programs they support and the services they extendtothecommunity. Walk for the Animals is a family-friendly event. Children are always welcome. They even

have a Kids Zone where they can do activities and crafts, making it a very memorable day for them. Leading up to the Walk, kids are very active in fundraising. They can collect coins from family and friends, and they ask for donations for the animals in lieu of gifts and more. Kids enjoy giving backtotheanimals.

They even have a Virtual Kids Zone. Children and families can participate in DIY dog and cat crafts that you can make for your ownanimalsathome!

Although they’d love to see everyone on Walk Day, attendance is not a requirement.

Animal lovers that want to help the homeless animals in our

community but cannot make it on March 4th can still register as a Walker. You will still have access to the website tools to raise funds and you can still have fun planning events, knowing you are helping the animals. Track your donations on your Personal Fundraising page: https ://secure.qgiv.com/event/ walk4theanimals/donate/ Donations that are not collected online can be sent to: Humane Society of Broward County, ATTN: Walk for the Animals, 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale,FL33312.

You can register today for the walk at: www.walk4theanimals.com

Harlow 663650

Rosie 664166