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Mayor’s Message continued

Well, instead of raising your taxes to
cover these expenses, the commission
raised your water and sewer rates. Kind
of sneaky, huh? And paying more for
utilities is almost like a tax, and it is
especially hurtful for people with lower
incomes because they pay the same for
water that wealthier people pay.

When the commission first asked the city
manager to phase out the utility raids, he
basically said he couldn’t. One reason for
his difficulty is because the previous
commission locked us into employment
agreements for the next three years that it
turns out were too rich for the city to pay.
“Neighbors” app
The city manager proposed we cut
popular programs such as street paving, aims to reduce crime in
park improvements, new playgrounds
and support for the Winterfest Boat neighborhoods by
Parade and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Or, he said we could raise tax rates. connecting people, security
Either option would have been a bitter
pill for our community to swallow. cameras and law
People would have been rightfully angry.
I’m glad the City Commission found enforcement.
another way.
VCPA knows that the best way to keep our neighborhood safe is to
Sincerely, stay connected and communicate! In partnership with FLPD, we are
participating in a new Neighborhood Watch program which uses
Dean Trantalis
the Neighbors app to allow everyone to “see something and say
Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale
something.”
The Neighbors app on iOS and Android to provide every neighbor
Helpful Hints for Staying Informed on what’s going
on in Fort Lauderdale: with real-time, local crime and safety information. For easy access,
use the following link: https://go.onelink.me/v1xd/victoria
To sign up to receive city news and updates from
Mayor Trantalis, please email: Scott Wyman,
Assistant to the Mayor About Neighbors
SWyman@fortlauderdale.gov
Neighbors is a neighborhood watch app that provides real-time,
To sign up for City News & manage subscriptions: local crime and safety information. Download the free Neighbors
www.fortlauderdale.gov/departments/city-
manager-s-office/strategic-communications/ app on iOS or Android, join your neighborhood, and use the app
e-news-sign-up to: monitor neighborhood activity; share crime and safety-related
For Commission Meeting Agendas & Materials: videos, photos and text-based posts; and receive real-time safety
fortlauderdale.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx alerts from your neighbors, local law enforcement and the Ring
Use LauderStreet to View Current & Upcoming team. Download Neighbors from the App Store or Google Play
Road Closures: gis.fortlauderdale.gov/LauderStreet Store today to join your digital neighborhood watch. For more
information visit www.ring.com/neighbors.

10 The Landings & Bay Colony