poop - REDBROWARD

First, the good news. It appears Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis did not spend the long MLK holiday weekend soaking up the sun on some distant beach. Nope, Mayor Dean Trantalis spent his Saturday morning working on City business. And now the bad news, City records show Trantalis enjoyed a fancy lunch discussing AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) housing with its lawyer and its executive director.

City of Fort Lauderdale lobbyist contact logs show Trantalis had a noon lunch meeting with lawyer Debbie Orshefsky and AHF employee Michael Kahane at the Capital Grille in The Galleria Mall. The Capital Grille is no mall food court restaurant. It’s lunch menu is foodie’s delight.

Diners can start with a variety of appetizers including New England clam chowder, French onion soup or Tuna Tartare with avocado, mango and sriracha (only $19). If you’re watching your calories, you might enjoy burrata with heirloom tomatoes ($15), Maine lobster salad with citrus vinaigrette ($27) or seared salmon with avocado, mango, tomato salad in a champagne vinaigrette (a bargain at $22).

At lunch, The Capital Grille offers several burger options for the sophisticated palate. You can pick from a $26 lobster and crab burger with housemade tartar sauce. Meat lovers can choose the “Grille’s Signature Cheeseburger” which is a “A blend of short rib, chuck and brisket by Pat LaFrieda, with candied applewood smoked bacon and Vermont cheddar” for a mere $19 plus tax. If you want fancier, you might want to try the ribeye burger “Cooked to your wishes and served on a grilled French loaf” for only $27 bucks.

If you want a full meal at lunch, The Capital Grille does not disappoint. Customers can enjoy, Filet Mignon ($32), bone-in dry-aged NY strip steak ($30), sushi grade seasame seared tuna with gingered rice ($32), or sliced filet mignon with cipollini onions, wild mushrooms and fig essence, “A rich twist on our popular, classic Filet Mignon” for just $35 smackers.

If dining on a budget, diners could try the $22 plates. First, pick one starter (Porcini mushroom bisque, clam chowder or field of greens salad), then pick from the following:

Mini Tenderloin Sandwiches (2) with Parmesan Truffle Fries

Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Hot Honey and Chili Mayo with Parmesan Truffle Fries

Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp with Mushrooms and Parmesan Risotto

Parmesan Crusted Salmon with Roasted Garlic, Heirloom Tomato and White Wine Lemon Butter

No wonder lobbyists and the Mayor love The Capital Grille.

Why did Team AHF take Mayor Dean Trantalis out for a fancy lunch?

As REDBROWARD previously reported, just ten days earlier, the City of Fort Lauderdale Board of Adjustment voted 4-3 to deny the AHF’s appeal of ruling which stopped its building of the fifteen-story “Trantalis Tower” near downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Was Team AHF presenting a new plan to Trantalis? Why the need to discuss the matter on the weekend, away from City Hall? Did anyone else happen to stop by the lunch meeting? Why was Dean Trantalis focused on a private development instead of the sewer breaks and polluted waterways?

Fort Lauderdale needs leadership, not politicos wining and dining with developers and donors, no?

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Steve Glassman

Facebook post by Steve Glassman

While Fort Lauderdale faced an enormous environmental disaster after 127 million gallons of raw sewage (i.e. poop) were pumped into local waterways, Commissioner Steve Glassman took to Facebook to address the top issue on his mind–David Beckham’s appearance on Modern Family. A former Manchester United great, Beckham is owner of the MLS Inter Miami CF franchise which will play its games on a new stadium built in Fort Lauderdale. Last week, Beckham made a Speedo-clad cameo appearance on the hit ABC television comedy.

Days later, Glassman wrote, “So proud of my BFF David Beckham’s excellent performance on Modern Family this week. I see a future for this young man. Congrats and all the best.” Glassman posted six photographs of Beckham including two pics of the men at local events. The post garnered twenty-one comments including one Facebook user asking Commissioner Glassman the status on “complimentary opening match tickets.”

The comments were not as friendly on Glassman’s Twitter post. Glassman did not appreciate a comment by user @BecauseFlorida1 who wrote, “You are an elected official, working for the city. Not a celebrity. Get to work.” Instead of ignoring the comment, Glassman attacked:

Oh, please Mr. or Ms. hide behind some name. I work hard, I play hard, and I like to joke and laugh. Get over it and get a life – maybe even get a sense of humor. Enjoy this beautiful day in the greatest city.

In response, @BecauseFlorida1 wrote, “I laugh loud and I laugh often, just not when thousands of residents are depending on me to fight for them and keep their city safe and clean. We will see you at the protest tomorrow right?”

The comments referenced the Sunday protest at Colee Hammock Park featuring dozens of boats and residents upset with the sewage crisis. Even though even major media outlet covered the protest, Glassman and the rest of the City Commission failed to appear.

So much for the sewer issue being number one on the minds of Mayor Dean Trantalis and the City Commission.

A review of Steve Glassman’s official and personal Facebook accounts fail to show a focus on City infrastructure. In nearly 500 posts since his election in March 2018, Glassman never mentioned the sewer issue until the December 2019 break in Rio Vista. Glassman failed to mention water system issues until the City lost water in July 2018. During both emergencies, Glassman simply reposted information gleaned from the City website. There were no posts of Glassman on the scene of any emergency until this week when a water line broke in Victoria Park.

Did he post pictures of himself with a safety vest, hard hat and rubber boots as repairs were made? Nope. Glassman posted pics of his chat with a camera crew.

Most of Glassman’s social posts mentioned public art, parks, scooters, “selfie days,” plastic straws and MLS/David Beckham. Maybe Glassman, a close supporter of Mayor Dean Trantalis, does not want to address real issues in his city. Perhaps Glassman needs new advisers?

Fort Lauderdale residents deserve real leadership, right?