Broward County Commission - REDBROWARD

Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller is not a fan of a Fort Lauderdale proposal to build one hundred pallet homes for the homeless in a neighborhood near the City of Plantation. On Tuesday, REDBROWARD reported the City of Fort Lauderdale sent its proposal to Broward County Mayor Nan Rich and the County Administrator. Under this proposal, up to one hundred small homes would be build on a parcel of land owned by the City in unincorporated Broward County.

The parcel is located in the middle of the Broadview Park neighborhood on Peters Road. This camp would sit across the street from the Country Club Estates neighborhood in Plantation as well as the Fort Lauderdale Country Club.

Broadview Park lies within Broward County District 5 which Commissioner Geller represents. Even though he is out of the country, Geller was quick to voice his displeasure with the plan.

In an emailed statement to REDBROWARD, Geller said:

“I’ve heard nothing about a proposal from the City of Fort Lauderdale to place Homeless Palette Shelters in Broadview Park. Broadview Park is entirely in my district. I do not support placing palette shelters in Broadview Park. I am out of town. When I get back into town, I’ll discuss this further. For now, I do not support placing the homeless palette shelters in Broadview Park and my office has not received any communications about this from the City of Fort Lauderdale or any Broward County Agency.”

The City Of Fort Lauderdale said Broward County has not responded to their proposal.

“I’ve heard nothing about a proposal from the City of Fort Lauderdale to place Homeless Palette Shelters in Broadview Park. Broadview Park is entirely in my district. I do not support placing palette shelters in Broadview Park. I am out of town. When I get back into town, I’ll discuss this further. For now, I do not support placing the homeless palette shelters in Broadview Park and my office has not received any communications about this from the City of Fort Lauderdale or any Broward County Agency.”
—Broward County Commissioner Steven Geller

Mayor Nick Sortal says there are “no plans” for a homeless camp in Plantation even as a homeless camp grows on Broward County property in the City. Last week, Sortal published his “Homeless Strategy for Plantation” on the City website. He said the Plantation Police Department hired two homeless outreach officers and encouraged businesses to sign up for a “trespass” program.

“But let’s not kid ourselves,” Sortal wrote. “This challenge is not going away.”

With a new anti-public camping law set to take effect on October 1st, local cities and the County must come up with plans to address homeless individuals living on our streets.

Sortal said the new law was discussed at a recent Florida League of Cities meeting where “best practices” were discussed. These “best practices” included the usual costly liberal solutions like public housing.

Sortal said he was “hoping for small wins” by working with Broward County government and other cities.

What is Broward County’s plan to deal with the new law?

A senior Broward County official told REDBROWARD the county is “still working on a plan.”

In Fort Lauderdale, Commissioner Warren Sturman wants to transform the tops of parking garages into homeless camps. A place where homeless can sleep in their cars. Commissioner John Herbst wants other cities to share the burden of housing the homeless.

Regarding the myraid of solutions, Sortal wrote, “No community so far has stepped up, and Plantation has no plans for such a setup.”

Some Plantation insiders suspect someone in Fort Lauderdale is encouraging homeless individuals to move west.

HOMELESS CAMP GROWS

Mayor Nick Sortal said Plantation must “balance compassion with public safety and a get-tough approach, lest we become one of those cities with tents everywhere. (Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.)”

But is it already too late for Plantation?

Since late August, REDBROWARD has documented the growing homeless encampment at the County-owned complex on West Broward Boulevard.

This complex includes the Broward County West Satellite Courthouse, the Broward Emergency Operations Center (EOC), a bus depot and the West Regional Library.

The homeless population is growing and spreading to locations across from the County complex.

A large gathering on tents and shopping carts is located in front of the main building of the bus depot.

Homeless individuals have set up tents and carts inside the two-story parking garage. One camp included chairs, a moped, a crock pot and even an air fryer. Last weekend, individuals slept on the floor in separate parking spaces. Other parking spots were home to people living in their cars.

On Sunday morning, several tents and carts blocked the main entrance of the library. Laundry was spread over numerous bushes while drying in the sun.

On Monday, at least 6 homeless individuals congregated in the courtyard between the courthouse and the library. On Wednesday, a disabled mininvan served as a makeshift sleeping space near the courtyard.

Now, homeless individuals have moved across Broward Boulevard. Several individuals have set up camps near J. Alexander, Einstein Bagels and TGIFriday’s.