

In This Weekly Update
- Upcoming public meeting schedule
- Template for sending a letter to the commissioners
Upcoming Public Meeting Schedule
If you have not previously spoken about this issue during public comments at one of the city commission meetings, we strongly encourage you to please do so. New voices in this conversation help carry the message that this issue affects everyone in the community.
Here is the list of the April commission meetings:
- Wed Apr 2 @ 6:30pm
- Wed Apr 16 @ 6:30pm
The commission meetings are held at City Hall, located at 3650 NE 12th Ave (just east of Dixie Hwy, and a bit north of Oakland Park Blvd).
The final vote will likely take place at one of the meetings in May, but the commissioners need to continuously hear from residents as often they are continuously hearing from the proposal's lobbyists.
Letter Template for the Commissioners
The best way to share your opinion about this proposal is to send email directly to the decision-makers: your city commissioners.
If you have not written to our elected officials before, here's a letter template to help get you started. Feel free to copy, paste, and edit it to be sure it expresses your concerns. Please be sure to send it to all five of the commissioners.
Dear Commissioner (Last Name):
My name is (your first and last name) and I am a (family member/service provider/advocate/community member) who (resides/works/conducts business) in Oakland Park. I have recently learned there is a proposal by Covenant House Florida to open a homeless shelter at 2880 W Oakland Park Blvd.
I am writing to you today to express my opposition to this project. While I support aiding the less fortunate, this project does not offer the right solution to the problem and would have a considerable negative impact upon the community.
(State personally why you oppose the project. Or choose up to three of the strongest points from the choices below that support your position (and delete the rest).)
- It would make the neighborhood less safe by bringing more crime and substance abuse to the area.
- It would encourage additional vagrancy and littering in the area.
- It puts the desires of an outside agency ahead of the needs of current residents and business owners.
- It would reduce the value of the properties in the area by making them less desirable places to live and work.
- It is not an appropriate use of this commercial and retail area.
- It would decrease the chances of bringing services that residents need to the area, such as better shopping and dining experiences.
- It poses a threat to the families and children that live and attend school in the area.
- The dangerous pedestrian environment and lack of emergency services would not be good for the shelter residents.
(Include a personal story. Tell your commissioner why the issue is important to you and how it affects you, your family, and your community.)
For these reasons, I hope that you vote to oppose approval of this proposal when it comes before you.
Thank you for your dedication to making Oakland Park a better place for everyone who lives and works in the city.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Commissioner Contact Info
- Mayor Tim Lonergan
954-683-2658 - timl@oaklandparkfl.gov - Vice Mayor Steve Arnst
954-943-2055 - stevena@oaklandparkfl.gov - Commissioner Aisha Gordon
954-397-1921 - aisha.gordon@oaklandparkfl.gov - Commissioner Letitia Newbold
954-605-4634 - letitia.newbold@oaklandparkfl.gov - Commissioner Fitz Budhoo
954-493-4013 - fitz.budhoo@oaklandparkfl.gov