::: In This Update

• New Details of Police Incidents at Covenant House
• Upcoming Calendar Dates
• Contact the Commissioners

::: New Details of Police Incidents at Covenant House

At the April 16 Oakland Park city commission meeting, a local resident gave the commission two reports by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department of incidents that took place at 733 Breakers Ave - the current location of the Covenant House shelter.

This is from the responding officer's narrative in an incident report from September 17, 2024:

"I responded to the listed location in reference to a subject causing disturbance at the facility; the staff members advised he can no longer stay at the Covenant House. Upon my arrival, I made contact with a faculty member outside of the building; she advised that he is being violent, shouting, and throwing furniture around. As I approached the building’s door, I heard him shouting homophobic slurs and the sound of what appeared to be a chair being slammed. This prompted me to immediately to in and physically restrain him up against a wall to place my handcuffs on him to further investigate. I then sat him down and began speaking to the staff, they advised they were trying to gather his belongings, and this made him get angry. While trying to further inquire on the incident, he began shout more which inhibited me from properly hearing the staff members. So, I then physically escorted him  to marked patrol unit and secured him inside."

Once the officer was able to calm down this individual, he was given his belongings and released into the community.

Another police report submitted to the commission details an October 27, 2024, incident of a resident who was caught storing - in his room at Covenant House - an AR-15 weapon with clips containing over 30 rounds of ammunition.
 
Imagine what might have happened if the subject in the September event had gained access to that weapon, especially given the close proximity of the proposed location to the adjacent preschool and temple as well as nearby homes, schools, and businesses?

With this ongoing pattern of dangerous behavior at the current Covenant House location and given the challenges we are already facing along the westside corridor, why is our city staff fighting so hard to bring this organization to west Oakland Park? Is it not the city's primary responsibility to protect and improve the quality of life for ALL residents, and wouldn't the shelter do the opposite?

If east Oakland Park was deemed to be an inappropriate location for this facility, why has the location at 2880 W Oakland Park Blvd "been well received by the city?"

::: Upcoming Calendar Dates

There have been no changes to the calendar since last week. The list of upcoming events has been moved to the top of the petition page. We will let you know in a future update when any of the dates change.

::: Contact the Commissioners

Please continue to let the commissioners know of your opposition to the proposed shelter. Details on how to send email with your concerns - including a template letter to get you started - are at the top of the petition page.