Why is downtown hollywood soo skeevy? (Miami, Margate: spring break, neighborhoods, theater)

[fauve]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

Yes I am working on a photography series, specifically about the affects of this economic storm we are in. I have taken two pictures in Hollywood and I am taking others around fort lauderdale. I don't want the series to be Hollywood specific, but about south Florida in particular. So i am traveling around taking pictures which shed light on the devastation that is being caused right now.

As for that area north of young circle. Yeah, there was a article in the sun sentinel about what you are saying. They said the residents in that area are really upset about it and they have been complaining about it to the city.

I couldn't find the news article about it but here is the Hollywood Lakes Section Civic Association website saying basically what the Sun Sentinel said




link

Great post.

[TerriW58]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

Yes I am working on a photography series, specifically about the affects of this economic storm we are in. I have taken two pictures in Hollywood and I am taking others around fort lauderdale. I don't want the series to be Hollywood specific, but about south Florida in particular. So i am traveling around taking pictures which shed light on the devastation that is being caused right now.

As for that area north of young circle. Yeah, there was a article in the sun sentinel about what you are saying. They said the residents in that area are really upset about it and they have been complaining about it to the city.

I couldn't find the news article about it but here is the Hollywood Lakes Section Civic Association website saying basically what the Sun Sentinel said




link

Yes, I read that article. Cameron Benson, the City Manager, wanted to impose the moratorium, but I believe it didn't pass. Some commissioners claimed it was too "vague".
The Mayor actually moved his law office in the downtown area because his wife was mugged in the parking lot a few years ago and his office was recently ransacked. So, if even HE is having problems like that, you know just how wide-spread it is. My husband, who works for the city, deals with all of this on a regular basis so what I don't see with my own eyes or read in the newspaper, I hear about from him.
What they should do is start promoting the city to the gay community. They are the ones responsible for turning Wilton Manors and South Beach around, cities which suffered from many of the same problems as Hollywood---slum-like neighborhoods, high crime rates, large vagrant population, etc. Those communities are feeling the effects of the economy, too---it's that way all over---but it's nowhere near to the same degree.
I wish you much luck and success with your project and hopefully, you will post a web site where we can find more information on viewing the final product.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by TerriW58

Yes, I read that article. Cameron Benson, the City Manager, wanted to impose the moratorium, but I believe it didn't pass. Some commissioners claimed it was too "vague".
The Mayor actually moved his law office in the downtown area because his wife was mugged in the parking lot a few years ago and his office was recently ransacked. So, if even HE is having problems like that, you know just how wide-spread it is. My husband, who works for the city, deals with all of this on a regular basis so what I don't see with my own eyes or read in the newspaper, I hear about from him.
What they should do is start promoting the city to the gay community. They are the ones responsible for turning Wilton Manors and South Beach around, cities which suffered from many of the same problems as Hollywood---slum-like neighborhoods, high crime rates, large vagrant population, etc. Those communities are feeling the effects of the economy, too---it's that way all over---but it's nowhere near to the same degree.
I wish you much luck and success with your project and hopefully, you will post a web site where we can find more information on viewing the final product.

I actually posted a news paper article earlier in this thread about that Mayor incident. Wilton Manor reminds me of hollywood a bit. Some parts are really nice and others are really suspect. The closer you get to Sunrise Blvd the worse it seems to get over there. Good thing with Hollywood is, the residents are not taking any of this sitting down so if they are progressive enough and persistent/savvy enough they could possibly get someone in office who will do the right thing.

[TerriW58]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

I actually posted a news paper article earlier in this thread about that Mayor incident. Wilton Manor reminds me of hollywood a bit. Some parts are really nice and others are really suspect. The closer you get to Sunrise Blvd the worse it seems to get over there. Good thing with Hollywood is, the residents are not taking any of this sitting down so if they are progressive enough and persistent/savvy enough they could possibly get someone in office who will do the right thing.

We're trying to not take it sitting down, but when some of your neighbors are the ones you need protection from and the police are limited in what actions they can take, it can make it pretty difficult at times. I hear people say that you can't be negative and you have to look through rose-colored glasses, but it isn't the rose-colored glasses people who instigate change. You NEED the realists to point out that putting a band-aid on your gangrenous leg and pretending it's a pimple isn't going to fix your problem and ultimately, will only worsen it until you lose your leg. Honestly, to each his own, but I've seen Hollywood at its best and at its worst and it's very disappointing to me to see how much money has been squandered with nothing to show for it. Are there positive changes? Of course, in a few, select areas. They have that Arts Park, but frankly, all they really needed to spend money on there was refurbishing the bandshell where they held the concerts. The huge, old trees and walkways were beautiful and very natural. They just needed to crack down on the vagrants that would use the place as their public toilet. Everything always seems to come down to the public safety issues again, doesn't it?

[TerriW58]

Oh, Wild Style, I meant to also ask----did you finally find a decent city to rent a place?

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by TerriW58

Oh, Wild Style, I meant to also ask----did you finally find a decent city to rent a place?

Lease is up in November so we have some time. We are currrently looking at downtown Fort Lauderdale and North Miami beach. downtown fort lauderdale is my first choice as I work in Fort Lauderdale (until I get my business fully functioning). But I would prefer to live in Miami, closer to the downtown the better. My wife starts her pre med courses at FIU this fall and another family member (in the same household as me) will be going to school in miami so it is a no brainer for us. Plus I like that Miami is a bigger city which I prefer to live in than suburbia.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by TerriW58

We're trying to not take it sitting down, but when some of your neighbors are the ones you need protection from and the police are limited in what actions they can take, it can make it pretty difficult at times. I hear people say that you can't be negative and you have to look through rose-colored glasses, but it isn't the rose-colored glasses people who instigate change. You NEED the realists to point out that putting a band-aid on your gangrenous leg and pretending it's a pimple isn't going to fix your problem and ultimately, will only worsen it until you lose your leg. Honestly, to each his own, but I've seen Hollywood at its best and at its worst and it's very disappointing to me to see how much money has been squandered with nothing to show for it. Are there positive changes? Of course, in a few, select areas. They have that Arts Park, but frankly, all they really needed to spend money on there was refurbishing the bandshell where they held the concerts. The huge, old trees and walkways were beautiful and very natural. They just needed to crack down on the vagrants that would use the place as their public toilet. Everything always seems to come down to the public safety issues again, doesn't it?

If more people are taking your approach and have your outlook on the area it can and will change. You guys just seem to have the worst look with the people you have in office.

[Rosemary67]

My son lives in Hollywood and my family owns a condo on the beach that we vacation at regularly. Hollywood is not a city of degenerates (as portrayed here by some people). I have never seen degenerates loitering around downtown, and I was just there in June. The downtown is clean, attractive and lined with wonderful ethnic restaurants, outdoor dining and a definitely middle class, safe and pleasant environment. I know there are neighborhoods that are less than safe, but does not every city have that? Yes, the poor and disheveled grocery shop in Publix alongside me, but they are harmless and if you cannot abide the sight of the poor, go and live elsewhere. Hollywood is a diverse community and that is fine with a lot of people who love living there.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by TerriW58

I don't know why you're confused. Hollywood WAS all that at one time. How long have you lived here in this city? I've lived here for 48 years. Like I said, Hollywood is MUCH larger than just the Broadwalk or the little Downtown enclave, yet it was always able to maintain the quirky, small town feel. We could hang out at the Broadwalk or the Intracoastal (where you could park for FREE with nothing blocking your view) all day, then go skating, bowling or BACK to the beach to jump on the trampolines or play mini-golf at night.

That is EXACTLY how I grew up on the Jersey shore, Longport/Margate/Ventnor until the casinos took over. OMG riding our bikes to the trampolines I haven't thought of that in so many years. It cost about a quarter for a good hour or two....if that. I seem to remember FLL being not all that different except there was less to do growing up there in the 60's outside of the center of town.

[TerriW58]

Originally Posted by Rosemary67

My son lives in Hollywood and my family owns a condo on the beach that we vacation at regularly. Hollywood is not a city of degenerates (as portrayed here by some people). I have never seen degenerates loitering around downtown, and I was just there in June. The downtown is clean, attractive and lined with wonderful ethnic restaurants, outdoor dining and a definitely middle class, safe and pleasant environment. I know there are neighborhoods that are less than safe, but does not every city have that? Yes, the poor and disheveled grocery shop in Publix alongside me, but they are harmless and if you cannot abide the sight of the poor, go and live elsewhere. Hollywood is a diverse community and that is fine with a lot of people who love living there.

My husband and I own a home in Hollywood and we also own a condo on the beach. Driving to the condo every other day, we take Federal and cut through the Downtown area. The scary looking people we see EVERY time make me glad I'm not outside the car walking on foot. You say you NEVER see degenerates? We aren't talking about the "poor and disheveled" either. Even the Mayor and the city commission talk all the time during commission meetings about how thoroughly that area needs to be cleaned up and how that Publix and Walgreens need to be overhauled so we can push out the vermin (they use the word "riff-raff", of course, but that's what they mean) and bring in more desirable residents.
I have a feeling the poor citizens in the crime-ridden Royal Poinciana neighborhood (right off the Downtown area) would take issue with your assessment, as well. They have to repeatedly deal with degenerates and the resulting criminal activity all the time---that's been well-documented. They're afraid to even allow their children to play out in their own front yards.
A community being "diverse" is one thing, but to ignore the problems that have spread into other surrounding areas from the Federal Highway/Downtown nucleus will not make everything "okay". There is still enough good things about Hollywood to make it worth saving, but they need to do something quickly.
There's an example in today's newspaper about another thing Hollywood keeps dong WRONG. They're allowing Hispanic Unity to use the old Fire Station 5, but they don't expect them to pay any RENT. All they have to do is "maintain the building". The city is desperate for funds, but they keep allowing people to defer payments on taxes and loans and use public buildings rent FREE. In turn, they keep talking potential layoffs of Hollywood employees. Something is seriously amiss here. And just who is responsible now for ensuring that the Hispanic Unity organization IS maintaining that building properly? There are so many of these organizations or developers who OWE the city money, but are not paying them back. And of course, having to go to court to get this money means spending MORE of the tax payers' dollars. Hollywood has the highest taxes in Broward County. I think we SHOULD expect more from every aspect of our city, from public safety to the aesthetic qualities of our neighborhoods. I worked for a propane gas company once where the owner kept feeling bad for the people who would call and claim they were in the "poorhouse". He would go back out and turn their gas on when it had been shut off for non-payment, against all of the employees protestations. His theory was, "If they aren't using gas then I'm not making any money". Well, if they aren't PAYING for the gas, but the business IS having to pay THEIR supplier, well, guess what happens? Yes, the business shut down because, of course, its expenditures exceeded the profits it was pulling in. This sounds like Hollywood in a nutshell.