The Gazette 5/06/21 V8iss9

THE

GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 9 MAY 6, 2021

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WILTON MANORS

Family, Friends Searching for Answers After Hit and Run Near Wilton Manors

By Christiana Lilly It’s been one month since a gay Minnesota man was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Fort Lauderdale, and his friends and family are still searching for answers about his final hours.

Glen Flaherty, 55, of Minneapolis was enjoying his time in Wilton Manors, his second home, when the trip was cut short by the tragedy.

“The world is a little darker today, a little less funny, a lot more boring with Glen not in it,” said his nephew, Patrick Haus.

Flaherty was a realtor and owned properties in Minneapolis and Florida, traveling to Wilton Manors a few times a year. On April 8 shortly after midnight, police believe that Flaherty was crossing Northeast Fourth Avenue at the intersection of Northeast 16th Street, near Fort Lauderdale High School, when he was hit by a driver. The driver did not stop.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to the scene, taking Flaherty to Broward Health Medical Center, where he died hours later.

Tim Jordan, who was vacationing in Florida with him, got the call from police and almost didn’t answer because it was from a restricted number. He was told that his friend, who he’d known since grade school, was in critical condition.

“After two years, we finally got to have a vacation and this is how it ended. It’s just tragic on all points,” Jordan said. “He was very, very happy and really enjoying himself during our time there.”

Jordan met Flaherty in grade school in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they attended

Catholic school together and grew up playing hockey. The youngest of nine children, Flaherty was proud of his Irish heritage and loved to celebrate holidays — he had a 10-by16-foot storage container filled with holiday decorations. He also attended pride parades every year in his hometown. Still a practicing Catholic, he attended church regularly with an LGBT-affirming congregation. He also volunteered with the Listening House of St. Paul, where he collected clothes and coats for the homeless during the winter months.

After partnering with Jordan to run a property in Melbourne, Flaherty started visiting friends in the Fort Lauderdale area and fell in love with Wilton Manors. For the last 10 years, he has been staying at Ed Lugo Resort — he wrote a review on Trip Advisor that his only issue is that he can’t live there.

Ed Lugo remembers his friend as a kind man. Whenever someone was down on their luck, he would hire them for plumbing, electrical work or housekeeping. The day he died, Lugo remembers sitting in his kitchen and talking about what Flaherty wanted to do with his life, since he had just turned 55 weeks before.

“We were there for four hours, five hours in my dining room talking,” Lugo said. “He was so excited about being here in town. He loved it here, in Wilton Manors, and he was talking about ‘I want to go and see my friends at Ramrod.’”

The accident site is a few blocks north of the bar, although friends and family aren’t sure why he was there. Lugo said he got a call

the next day that he had left his credit card at Ramrod. Flaherty also apparently did not have his phone or his driver’s license on him, so Jordan wonders how police identified him.

Haus, Flaherty’s nephew, has looked at the area on Google Maps to try and make sense of his uncle’s last hours.

“I need answers to my questions to get closure, to put things to rest,” he said. “It’s silly but I want to know everything. The person who hit him is now a part of my life.”

With a large age difference between his mother and his uncle, Haus is only 12 years younger than his uncle, who was more of a big brother figure to him. He joked that he had his first beer with him and that because he loved “Cat Fancy” magazine so much as a kid, Flaherty was sure that he would be gay.

“Glen was sure I was going to be gay because he saw these pictures of cats all over this room,” he laughed. “So he was highly disappointed I was straight.”

A general contractor, Haus partnered with Flaherty on a number of projects and the two were in touch constantly. He even recorded a voicemail message for his uncle, who didn’t like the sound of his voice on the recording.

And after being diagnosed with AIDS almost three decades ago and participating in some of the original drug trials, Haus said that his uncle truly treasured every day he had.

“He kind of lived his life like he could die tomorrow,” he said. “People say that, but to him it wasn’t a cliché; he definitely always had it in his mind’s eye, ‘Hey man, I could go at any time and every day is a blessing.’”

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Glen Flaherty. Courtesy of Tim Jordan.

And while Flaherty was a practicing Catholic, Haus said he leans more agnostic — growing up, he remembers not wanting to be part of a religion that said his uncle was evil.

The family is planning his funeral, a Catholic one, for May 1. They are also organizing a get together at his favorite gay bar in town, eagleBOLTbar.

“We wish we had him back,” Jordan said.

“We wish we had more answers of what went on. But I suppose we’ll find that out as time goes on.”

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WILTON MANORS

OPINION

Short-Term Rentals Must Go The Island City’s way of life is under is threat

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

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Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald

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Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun

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City Commissioner Caputo stated a while back that our city has a code enforcement issue, not a short-term rental issue. Perhaps Commissioner Caputo is correct. Since our state legislators continue to remove local jurisdiction and home rule ability to control or prohibit short-term rentals, having a strong, pro-active and fully staffed code enforcement force is ever more important for our city. The five-year rosy outlook for strong growth in demand for short-term rentals must be met with an equally strong commitment by local governments to control, regulate, and enforce ordinances through firm code enforcement.

Now it’s time for our elected officials to put their money where their mouth is. Our city’s code enforcement division is greatly under-staffed and currently operating with just one person.

As great of a job this one code enforcement officer is doing with juggling standing in as temporary supervisor, working the street, answering complaints and being ready for magistrate hearings, our neighborhoods are still left under-served, and unable to deal with the growing problem of illegal short-term rentals along with other detrimental code violations taking place daily in our Island City.

While our city’s Human Resource

Department continues with their efforts to fully staff our code enforcement division, and while some advocate for additional funding in the upcoming budget for a possible additional code officer, much still should have been done to alleviate the current deficiency of code enforcement in our city.

Many city departments utilize outside entities to supplement needed services that current staffing cannot handle. Why has this not been done for Code Enforcement?

CAP Government provides necessary services for our Community Services Department to handle building inspections and other as-needed building department services. This same company also offers full and comprehensive code enforcement services.

These services are offered on a supplemental level to aid in staffing, field enforcement, transitional planning and all other aspects of the department’s needs. Perhaps city leaders need to have a discussion on how best to expedite getting the needed services we are in present drastic need of.

We must become ever more vocal in our complaints to local and state officials. We must become ever more involved with neighborhood associations. We must demand city leaders’ deal with this challenge by allocating adequate resources and we must fight to protect our neighborhoods, our community and our quality of life we cherish here in Wilton Manors.

Only by preserving and protecting residential neighborhoods throughout our Island City will residents continue to take pride in the claim that life is just better here….

www.WMGAZETTE.com • 5. 6.2021

May 6, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 9

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

The exodus of resident homeowners from our city will not be a good situation and I fear the tipping point is very near.

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By Sal Torre There is a dangerous and growing threat to our quality of life here in our Island City.

This problem has plagued many in our fair city for some time now, and as this threat continues to spread throughout our residential neighborhoods many more are now waking up to this menacing peril called short-term rentals.

Quality of life is the foundation of why life is just better here in Wilton Manors.

Unfortunately that foundation is being eroded day by day as another household is sold and turned into a short-term vacation rental.

Illegal or not, short-term vacation rentals have no place in residential neighborhoods.

We have special zoning districts where such lodging and hotel establishments are allowed to operate. Citizens in our residential zoned areas look to know their neighbors and do not want a rotating cast of unknown characters disturbing them on a daily basis.

Now let’s not be confused here. We are not talking about a property owner having the right to rent out their property on a yearly or even monthly basis. We are talking about business owners who buy up single-family homes to operate a motel, renting out on a daily or weekly basis, to make hefty profits. Many of these new owners have done illegal renovations to maximize rental income, some choose not to register with the city, and others do not pay any fees or taxes and don’t give a damn about your quality of life.

Residential neighborhoods are suffering from the everincreasing threat of unchecked vacation rentals and our city’s inability to handle the crisis. Complaints of noise, load parties, illegally parked cars up and down the street, garbage left piled up at the end of the driveway, late night disturbances now leave many in our community very concerned about the unpredictability of this new way of life spreading throughout our wonderful neighborhoods.

Neighbors are beginning to question their quality of life here in our Island City. Some are looking for communities that prohibit or greatly restrict the operations of short-term rentals in residential communities. The exodus of resident homeowners from our city will not be a good situation and I fear the tipping point is very near.

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MAY 6, 2021

Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com.

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Oakland Park City Hall.

Photo via the City of Oakland Park website.

NEWS

OAKLAND PARK

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

WMPD to Use Smart Home Technology to Keep Residents Safe

By John McDonald

Oakland Park Vice Mayor Michael Carn. Photo via Facebook.

Oakland Park Vice Mayor to Run for Florida House

By Christiana Lilly “This is my community — it’s my dirt, is After decades of public service to his community, Oakland Park Vice Mayor Michael what I called it,” he said. “Born here, came up Carn is setting his sights on the Florida House here, have always been trained, in fact, by my father to serve. That’s the cost of being here. of Representatives.

He filed for the District 94 position in That’s my rent payment, is to serve. I can’t January, which is currently occupied by help it, it’s a habit.”

A father of three, Carn then went into term-limited Rep. Bobby DuBose, and he public service in a more will be running against fellow official setting. An electrical Democrats Elijah Manley and engineer, he was elected as Roderick Kemp.

Oakland Park commissioner “It’s the next phase of my in 2016, vice mayor in 2020, service,” he told the Gazette. and will be rotating into the “I didn’t at first believe that I mayor’s seat this November. was going to pursue it, but it’s He has also served on just the natural evolution of a number of boards, such things.” as CareerSource Broward, Carn’s family has lived in Greater Fort Lauderdale District 94 since his father, a Alliance, the Broward longshoreman, came to Florida Metropolitan Planning in the 1930s. His mother died Organization, Broward Early when he was a toddler, but his Learning Coalition Board, father raised him, his brother Broward Juvenile Justice Board, and sister to serve the people in Broward Sheriff’s Foundation their community. Living in what Board and more. was then an unincorporated “I’ve been doing legislative part of Broward County, Carn Vice Mayor of Oakland Park advocacy for a number said they became the public of years,” Carn said. “I work department — when neighbors needed help with tree trimming understand the systems, I’ve helped write or other tasks, he and his siblings went to go some legislation.”

The election for Florida District 94 is help. As he got older, he would also check in on elderly neighbors to see if there was November 2022. Carn’s campaign website is michaelecarn.com. anything they needed assistance with.

“It’s the next phase of my service. I didn’t at first believe that I was going to pursue it, but it’s just the natural evolution of things.”

- Michael Carn

To fight crime Wilton Manors is turning to smart home technology.

At the April 14 commission meeting, Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker announced the department had struck a deal with Ring, a home security company.

“This partnership looks to assist our public safety efforts in making our community safer,” Blocker told the commissioners.

Ring was invented by Jamie Siminoff, who first pitched the idea of a video doorbell to investors on the ABC entrepreneurial reality show “Shark Tank.” In 2018, Amazon acquired Ring for an estimated value between $1.2 to $1.8 billion. It was Amazon’s second-biggest acquisition behind Whole Foods.

The idea is a simple one to follow. With cameras connected to doorbells, lights and other exterior fixtures on homes, operators can remotely use surveillance to detect and deter crime. If an incident occurs, Ring users can then turn over footage to the cops.

“Our police department can monitor posts of suspicious or criminal activity posted by Ring. Credit: Amazon.

Ring users on Ring’s neighbors portal,” Blocker said. “This will assist us in our search for “It’s proven successful in other investigative leads as well as monitoring and jurisdictions,” Blocker said. “We’re quite assessing neighborhood safety measures.”

The new partnership provides an open confident it will be proven a success here.”

No commissioner questioned Blocker after channel of communication between residents his announcement. Mayor Scott Newton and investigators, Blocker said. offered a short and positive “Our police department remark. can also message Ring users “I think it will help the regarding incidents that community be safer and if we we are investigating and have criminals here get them these users are provided an quicker,” Newton said. opportunity to work with us In a March 2021 report, the to provide information or New York Times noted that when video footage related to those someone signs up with Ring incidents that are occurring in they are automatically enrolled our community,” Blocker said. in the Neighbors program.

There are, however, In the article Ring defended stipulations in the contract, its right to share customer Blocker said. footage, “to prevent physical or “It does not provide WMPD other harm or financial loss,” real-time access or ability or when “in connection with to obtain recorded video an investigation of suspected without owner’s consent,” he or actual illegal activity,” the said. company told The Times.

Partnerships between Ring Wilton Manors Police Chief The article quoted the ACLU and law enforcement agencies of Southern California stating are nothing new. More than 200 law enforcement agencies had signed there are no federal privacy regulations to up with Ring, according to a 2019 report by cover the use of home security cameras.

Vice. The article revealed the Lakeland Police However, San Francisco, Oakland and Department received 15 free doorbell cameras Somerville, Massachusetts have banned the from Ring and was offered incentives to get use of facial recognition technology by police and city governments. residents to download Ring’s Neighbors app.

“It’s proven successful in other jurisdictions.

We’re quite confident it will be proven a success here.”

- Gary Blocker

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MAY 6, 2021

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NEWS

OAKLAND PARK

No Good Solutions for Oakland Park Blvd. Congestion Says FDOT

By John McDonald Traffic congestion along Oakland Park Blvd. is chronic with solutions few and far between.

A traffic engineer for the Florida Department of Transportation delivered an operational evaluation to Wilton Manors Commissioners during the April 13 regular commission meeting. Mark Plass, a 30year FDOT veteran, gave a presentation on the corridor of Oakland Park Blvd. between Interstate 95 and U.S. 1.

Almost 52,000 vehicles use the heavily congested arterial road each day, Plass said. It is also home to the second most used bus route in Broward County. The No. 72 bus transports 3,233 riders per day.

There are eight traffic signals along the corridor. Safely and efficiently monitoring and coordinating those signals are vital to

traffic flow, Plass said.

“The department is becoming much more active in working with Broward County in how we manage traffic signal controls on this particular corridor,” Plass said.

The corridor’s average travel time is 7:17. Peak traffic flow is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. east bound and 4 to 6:30 p.m. west bound. The majority of crashes occur in the vicinity of Andrews Ave., said Plass.

Having two railroad lines cross the corridor further complicates traffic flow. Plass said FDOT is using optical emitters on traffic signals that communicate with emergency response vehicles, buses and trains. This technology is an important tool for a situation that is unlikely to change anytime soon, Plass said.

“I fully expect the number of incident

Having two railroad lines cross the corridor further complicates traffic flow.

Oakland Park Blvd. Photo credit: John McDonald.

responses and timing changes is going to go up over time because we want to leverage our investment in monitoring and we want to get better and better at these sorts of things to keep traffic moving as best we can,” Plass said.

Following Plass’ presentation, which was transmitted over his telephone to the virtual Zoom meeting, Mayor Scott Newton acknowledged traffic engineers have a difficult task.

“Until we do something with transportation more than just using cars … I wouldn’t want your job,” Newton told Plass.

Commissioner Gary Resnick peppered Plass with a series of questions ranging from congestion near I-95 to driveways accessing the Publix shopping center.

“Basically I think what you said is yeah

traffic sucks on Oakland Park Blvd. and we don’t really have any great ways to make it better,” said Resnick, who proposed adding pull-out lanes for buses near I-95.

Near the end of his presentation, Plass revealed FDOT is conducting a road safety audit on Powerline Road from Sunrise Blvd. north to Oakland Park Blvd. A field team is being assembled and the audit is expected to last two months. The audit, Plass said, is in response to concerns from residents of vehicles traveling at high rates of speed, running red lights and using the bicycle lane.

“We try to make sure that team that’s in the field is going to reflect as many different perspectives as possible,” Plass said. “We don’t want to be in an echo chamber on this kind of thing.”

NEWS

WILTON MANORS

Wilton Manors Appoints 3 To Planning & Zoning Board; Reduces Density Proposal

By John McDonald Wilton Manors Commissioners filled three positions on the Planning & Zoning Board at the April 13 regular commission meeting.

Tim Theisen, Jeffrey Ferraro and Tim Moses were selected from a field of six applicants.

Theisen, a senior instructor in the Florida Atlantic University Biological Sciences Department, was re-appointed to his third consecutive term on the board.

“I have used my experience as a resident, homeowner, business owner, scientist and member of numerous other committees to cast votes that are based on fact, and are consistent with our code,” Theisen wrote in

Tim Theisen, Jeffrey Ferraro and Tim Moses were selected from a field of six applicants.

his application. “Importantly, I listen to, and consider, the views of both the business and residential members of our community. Most of us volunteer because we want to serve our community, but we also can’t help but bring our own views and opinions. It takes effort and practice to not weigh one’s own views any more than those of another resident, and I believe I have succeeded in this.”

Ferraro, a contract administer for the Florida Department of Children and Families, returns to the P&Z board where he served from 2012 to 2018.

“We haven’t progressed far enough and now is the time to make a move,” Ferraro told commissioners at the virtual Zoom meeting.

“With Fort Lauderdale closer to our borders than ever before and Oakland Park with a new development on Sixth Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard at our doorstep we can no longer afford to debate the city’s future.

Action is needed to move forward and that’s

why I want to return to the Planning & Zoning Board.”

Moses is a neurology consultant and realtor with a finance degree from Florida State University. He has worked for the Republican National Committee and moved to Wilton Manors in 2016 with his boyfriend, attracted to the Island City by the renovation of Wilton Drive.

“I’ve been in recruiting my entire life,” Moses told the commission. “It’s something where I’ve developed a lot of skills that I do believe could be implemented in the growth of this city.”

Meanwhile, commissioners further discussed the pending Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) application. Consensus among the commission was to proceed with a maximum density of 60 dwelling units per acre, a decrease from the previous limit of 100. The commission also agreed to remove a 2-for-1 density calculation for micro units

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• 5. 6.2021

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MAY 6, 2021

Vice Mayor Paul Rolli.

Photo by Carina Mask.

from the LUPA application.

“Taking time to carefully consider redevelopment issues is critical before regulations are finalized,” said Vice Mayor Paul Rolli. “There are still unknowns about the demand, economy, and benefits of micro units.”

The reworded ordinance will now go back to the Planning & Zoning Board for its approval.

NEWS

WILTON MANORS

NEWS

WILTON MANORS

Commissioner Objects to Hybrid Meetings Over Safety Concerns

By John McDonald

Wilton Manors Police Officers pose next to the new memorial site. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.

Friends and Family Honor Justin Flippen at Memorial Dedication

By Christiana Lilly In a flurry of black fabric, the memorial announcing to visitors that they have arrived at Justin Flippen Park was revealed. A silvergrey tree bent over black stone, the piece includes a quote from the late Wilton Manors Mayor, who died unexpectedly at 41.

“I just get chills looking at the dates,” said Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton. “So young.”

The city hosted the memorial unveiling and park dedication on April 25, where those who loved and admired him attended. Remarks were made by Jim and Greg Flippen, his father and brother, as well as members of the commission.

Those in attendance included Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Oakland Park Vice Mayor Michael Carn.

Flippen died of a brain aneurysm on his way to a Wilton Manors City Commission meeting on February 25, 2020.

Those who knew him felt that not only was his life cut short, but his potential for public service.

“I think he was Wilton Manors,” said Randy Bitton, who donned a blue sweater with Flippen’s photo. “He was just a person who was proud of his city and had great things planned, and I really think that if he had lived he would have gone farther than Wilton Manors. He might have been a senator, he might have been the president one day.”

Bitton and her daughter, Brooke, teamed up with Flippen as they worked on a murder-

mystery novel based in Wilton Manors. He was the keynote speaker at the book’s launch party, and the two have since created a booklet of his photos and quotes as a fundraiser.

After the memorial was unveiled, Jim told the crowd how his son loved his country and had visited almost 400 national parks in the United States and in territories abroad.

“Wilton Manors of course was his favorite city in the whole United States. He could be who he wanted to be and not pretend that he wasn’t, here in this city. I admired him for that,” Jim said. “He cared about every one of you.”

Greg recounted how his brother always took photos with a thumbs up in front of park signs — the whole group who attended the dedication got together to take a photo by the memorial, smiling with their thumbs up.

Beyond the park, his memory has not been forgotten. The Our Fund Foundation created a scholarship in his honor. Prior to his death, he was also open about his experience of conversion therapy and helped ban the practice in Wilton Manors.

“We weren’t just comrades on the dais up there, we were friends,” Newton said. “He was a strong man. A big man. A big heart. All he wanted to do was help people. I never heard him say one bad thing about anyone, ever.

That’s the kind of person Justin was.”

“He might have been a senator, he might have been the president one day.”

- Randy Bitton

Wilton Manors is opening its commission meetings to the general public again.

Details of future “hybrid” meetings were discussed during a regularly scheduled city commission meeting. City Clerk Faith Lombardo explained the COVID-19 protocols which limit meetings to 19 people in the commission chamber, per CDC guidelines.

Attendees are required to wear masks and maintain social distance, Lombardo said.

Entrance will be granted on a first-come, firstserved basis and attendees may be required to submit to temperature checks.

A podium will be placed near the dias for public comments. There will be an outside overflow area with seating for 20 people who can watch the proceedings via Zoom on a television.

On the dais are seats for the five-elected commissioners, city manager, city attorney and city clerk.

Commissioner Gary Resnick objected to the number of people seated on the dais, calling into question social distancing guidelines.

“We have plexiglass dividers between every seat,” Lombardo said before Resnick interrupted.

“It’s an airborne virus, Faith, that’s not a CDC

Gary Resnick. Photo via Facebook.

guideline,” he said.

Mayor Scott Newton said everyone on the dais will be masked and has been vaccinated.

He referenced President Joe Biden’s recent remarks that fully vaccinated people can gather together and not have to wear masks.

“Outside,” Resnick countered.

“Gary, if you don’t want to be here then don’t be here that’s totally up to you,” Newton responded. “I’m going by the news, Broward County and the president of the United States.”

Resnick did not indicate if he would attend the meeting in person. Since the onset of the pandemic he has attended all meetings virtually.

Commission meetings will remain available virtually via Zoom, Lombardo said. The hybrid commission meeting is scheduled for May 11 at 7 p.m.

NEWS

WILTON MANORS

Stonewall Pride Proceeding As Planned in Wilton Manors

By John McDonald Broward County has signed off on the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, organizers announced.

Wilton Manors, host of the annual LGBTthemed event, was waiting for Florida Department of Health in Broward County officials to give the go-ahead. Word spread that the county had signed off on the event.

“The annual parade and street festival — canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic — has been given the green light by city and county officials to take place as planned on Saturday, June 19,” read a press release by Wilton Manors Entertainment Group.

Officials are preparing for a twilight parade along Wilton Drive beginning at 7 p.m. Hours for the one-day event are 3 to 11 p.m.

Jeff Sterling, WMEG chief executive officer, is touting the event as the first post-pandemic

Photo via Facebook.

Pride event in South Florida. Stonewall Pride is a celebration of the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City which sparked the modern-day gay rights movement. The Greenwich Village gay bar is now a National Monument.

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MAY 6, 2021

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WILTON MANORS

Cars Are Not Our Future

By Chris Caputo

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At a recent commission meeting, a resident in our community referred to me as “living in the world of the Jetsons” because I expressed a desire for our city to focus on other modes of transportation in addition to cars. As an elder member of our community, his perception of cars as the only transportation option is not unusual. Around half of all car owners in the U.S. are over age of 60 years old according to Statista Research Department’s October 2020 report. On the other hand, younger generations are increasingly opting out of automobile ownership, especially in cities that are pedestrian and mass transit friendly.

This past weekend, I met a 20-something who recently relocated from New York City to South Beach. His story is a case study on his generations’ attitude about getting around.

He chose South Beach over Wilton Manors because he thought it would be a more walkable community. I’m happy to share that he will be moving up to Wilton Manors, sans car, as he has recognized that our great city is more pedestrian friendly and offers a better quality of life for a young, single male then South Beach! In Wilton Manors, you can enjoy life without a car.

Our city has a Walk Score of 74, putting it in the highly sought after Very Walkable class.

For comparison, NYC which is ranked #1 has a walk score of just 88. Having a walkable city isn’t just good for residents who prefer to ditch the auto addiction, it’s great for property values too.

According to an analysis by Redfin, every point increase in a property’s walkability score is associated with a $3,000 increase in property value. (You can get your home’s score at WalkScore.com.)

With over 60% of all trips in the U.S. being less than 5 miles, getting around by bicycle or scooter is a great way to reduce the impact of automobiles on our small city and our environment.

My personal Bird scooter is right at home next to two bikes at Rosie’s Bar and Grill. Scooters and Bicycles are a smart way to get around the city! Photo via Facebook.

Focusing on improving our city for residents who prefer to walk, scooter or bicycle to their destination makes sense. With over 60% of all trips in the U.S. being less than 5 miles, getting around by bicycle or scooter is a great way to reduce the impact of automobiles on our small city and our environment. I can also share, from personal experience, taking a scooter or bike to just about any destination in Wilton Manors is faster than driving and finding a parking spot!

Plus, with the abundance of bike racks we have in our city, you’re almost guaranteed a spot close to your destination to secure your bike or scooter. (You can view a map of bike racks at https://bit.ly/WMBikeRacks.)

I look forward to turning in my current car when the lease is over. My partner and I will get by just fine with one car, a bike, a scooter, and our own two feet! I hope you’ll consider joining me in improving your health, reducing the impact of automobiles on traffic and the environment, and enjoy some fresh air by foregoing your car next time to head to the drive. May is National Bike Month after all!

WMG

— Chris Caputo

WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER

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MAY 6, 2021