January 2017 CPCA Neighborhood Meeting

Happy New Year, Croissant Park Neighbors!

Our annual January Pot Luck Supper ushered in 2017 with 30 neighbors sharing a meal and conversation, greeting old friends and meeting new ones.  Thank you to all who showed up and shared favorite dishes.

Our meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and was followed up by our very own FLPD Neighborhood Action Team: Officers Fernandez, Rodrigues and Pekrol.  These gentlemen know our ‘hood, patrol it and report to us in detail at every meeting.  For the two months of December and January we had 5 residential burglaries, one business burglary and six auto break-ins.  No robberies were reported; a robbery is defined as a break-in when someone is at home.  

Drug sales are still prevalent on SR 84 and in the Davie Blvd/I-95 area, mostly around rehab facilities. The FLPD drug unit was dramatically downsized, creating an opening for dealers from Dania and elsewhere.  Heroin is the drug of choice these days; flakka is virtually gone from the streets.The “buddy effect” is in play, where the users get high on heroin then call 911, who arrive with Narcan, a drug that counteracts the heroin overdose.  Heroin overdoses are on the increase and the hope is that judges will toughen their rulings in order to prevent the revolving door that is happening with the users. 

Commissioner Romney Rogers joined us for a Pot luck dinner and a few questions and answers. 

—He addressed our infrastructure that is a big concern to many of us after seeing the sewer break in Tarpon River neighborhood last month.  We have aging pipes, seawater rising in some neighborhoods, flooding, etc.  There has been a “blue ribbon” committee appointed who will prioritize these issues.  There will be an opportunity  to sign up for this Task Force committee in the future. 

—Comm. Rogers reminded us that we now have new FLPD Chief of Police Rick Maglione, who replaced Frank Adderly., who is now working for Broward Sheriff Office.  

—Someone asked about the decorative pavers that line some of the intersections around the City.  Rogers agreed that they are in bad shape and would eventually be replaced. 

—Regarding sewer infrastructure, some but not all sewer mains will be replaced.  The infrastructure is sound but could blow at any time. 

—The City’s philosophy regarding  traffic is to put the density Downtown and to stay away from the residential neighborhoods.  There is a demand for rental housing and high rise development will be the answer to those needs.

 After chowing down on all the Pot Luck goodies, we got back to a little business. 

— Rhonda Kramer told us about the Neighborhood Support Night on February 8th, from 5:30-8pm in the City Hall Garage at 100 N.Andrews Ave.  It’s a block party featuring interactive displays, jazzy music, lots of give-aways and food trucks.  

—Beth Falkenhagen made a call for volunteers to man a booth at the Neighborhood Support Night to give away trees for GreenYourRoutine, and Jodi and Russell Perraud volunteered to work the booth. Beth works tirelessly for GYR, a volunteer organization that teaches us about sustainability and environmental responsibility. Joe Russell and Beth built bat houses and are now working on where to locate them.  Next project will be to build owl houses. Stay tuned for that—you may be a lucky raffle winner of an owl house.

--Joe Russell reminded us about the importance of supporting Croissant Park Civic Association by attending meetings and becoming dues-paying members.  “More members, more clout” sez Joe.  The issue of sober homes in our neighborhood fell on deaf ears for several years, but Croissant Park and other neighborhoods kept it as a main topic, and now finally they are listening at City Hall and  in Tallahassee.

Thanks to all the neighbors who decorated their homes for the holidays. Congratulations to the Arcieri family who won the popular vote on Nextdoor.com.  They were awarded a $50 check and certificate from the Croissant Park Civic Association.

We hope everyone received the 2017 CPCA newsletter.  Rhonda was at the helm and managed to pull it all together and get us to the printer on time.  

John McNamera won the 50/50 raffle and donated his winnings back to the Association.  Thanks, John.

Minutes by Virginia