THE
COMMUNITY
GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 25
DECEMBER 23, 2021
WILTON MANORS
Racism Rears Its Ugly Head at Wilton Area Clubs
By John Hayden
People living in and around Wilton Manors
like to believe that they live in a bubble of
acceptance and tolerance. That perceived
bubble has burst.
Racist attacks against performers at
local venues are serving notice that hate
isn’t confined by city boundaries or sexual
orientation. On Dec. 9, LeNora Jaye and
Antonio Edwards, both of whom are Black,
were finishing up their show at The Pub, when
a customer went on a vile
attack. Edwards described it
on his Facebook page.
Racist attacks
“[We] had a great show and
were finishing up with our last against
song which was a request from
a customer in the audience. performers at
It was ‘Fire And Desire’ by
local venues are
Rick James and Teena Marie.
A random patron walked up
serving notice
to the stage while we were
performing and said to LeNora that hate isn’t
and I quote: ‘We are NOT
N*gg*rs and we don’t like confined by
N*gg*r music!’”
LeNora tells SFGN she city boundaries
was taken aback by the sheer
aggressiveness of it.
or sexual
“The man comes to where orientation.
I’m at on stage and starts
screaming ‘Shut up! Shut up!’
He starts screaming ‘I am not an N, and I don’t
listen to N-music.’”
She said she went to confront him and get
him out, but The Pub’s night manager and
nearby patrons were already on it, escorting
him out while telling him that’s not acceptable.
The Pub’s Alex Sadeghi says the attacker was
given a lifetime ban.
“We don’t want anybody like [him] in The
Pub.”
A short distance away, LeBoy is cracking
down on verbal and demeaning behavior
toward dancers of color.
“It’s not just an incident here and there,”
new manager Giovani Milani said. “I’ve seen
customers make rude, racist remarks.”
New owners Anthony J.V. Rufolo and Charles
Horton took over this month and have a
zero-tolerance policy for bad behavior. They
are putting customers on notice: respect the
dancers or get a lifetime ban
from the club. Milani used to
dance at the club, and feels
empowered in his new role.
“I’ve witnessed horrible
things in the past, and never
had the authority to do anything
about them. Now that I do have
the authority to do something
about it, I’m not going to tolerate
it.”
MORE COMMON THAN
PEOPLE THINK
Many people are shocked
to hear about these attacks.
However, this type of behavior
is not new to the performers
themselves, although this is an
extreme example.
“There has never before been an overt
display of bigotry in this manner,” LeNora said.
“But there are microaggressions that occur at
every show.”
Microaggressions range from the type of
musical requests to racially-tinged comments
on her wardrobe.
“It can be something as simple as I might
wear a cap and someone says that looks
ghetto.”
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The Village Pub. Photo by Ed and Eddie, Flickr.
Edwards addressed this issue as well.
“When we as people of color say Black
Lives Matter, it is not some catch phrase. It
is to say that we deserve the same respect
and decent treatment as anyone else on the
planet. It is not to say that only Black Lives
Matter, it is to say that Black Lives Matter
as well. Where else would this behavior be
tolerated?”
“We’re already exhausted from the daily
microaggressions of racism that we have to
deal with as performers of color in Wilton
Manors,” LeNora said. “I’m tired. I’m tired of
ignorance in every capacity. I’m tired.”
NOT WELCOME
While Wilton Manors may be considered
“The Gayest Place On Earth,” people of
color, including LeNora, say it’s not the most
welcoming.
“I’ve had Black people tell me they didn’t
COMMUNITY
feel comfortable coming to any shows on
Wilton Drive until you and Antonio started
performing.”
She said friends have left the area because
they felt unwelcome and harassed. And it’s
not just patrons. LeNora said there is a club
(which she declined to name) that would play
country music some nights to discourage
people of color from coming in.
“My experience in Wilton Manors is very
unique. I am a straight woman of color. I am
an LGBTQIA ally to the death.”
But she said we can, and must do better.
“This dream of cultivating inclusivity
doesn’t match with the reality in Wilton
Manors,” LeNora said.
Edwards concurs.
“It would be great to think that we as a
gay community are so evolved, that racism
doesn’t exist, but unfortunately it is all too
common and prevalent to pretend it is not.”
12. 23. 2021 •
WILTON MANORS
Manors Commission Tackles Paid Parental Leave,
New Garbage Contract and Defunding Police Debate
By John McDonald
Wilton Manors is proceeding with a bold policy to offer
employees up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Commissioners approved the policy during
the unfinished business portion of Dec. 14’s
commission meeting. Employees will be
provided with 12 weeks of paid leave following
the birth or placement of a child.
“I think this is an opportunity where we
could really lead where our federal and state
policies have not,” said Commissioner Mike
Bracchi. “We learned from the pandemic
that cities are really the front lines to helping
people and I think this is a great
benefit.”
Employees must have at
least one year of service to be Employees
eligible for the new policy and
agree to work 12 weeks after the
must have at
leave expires. Presently, if an
employee gives birth, adopts a
least one year
child or participates in a foster of service to
home program, the employee
is eligible for up to 12 weeks of be eligible for
unpaid leave under the Family
and Medical Leave Act. the new policy
Other notes from the Dec. 14
meeting include:
and agree to
Ron Falk and Claudia Castillo
announced the winners of the
work 12 weeks
third annual Justin Flippen
Manatee Contest. The activity,
after the leave
dedicated to the memory of expires.
the late mayor, is for students
at Wilton Manors Elementary
School and Somerset Academy. This year’s
contest received 602 entries and raised more
than $10,000. The winning manatee cutouts
are on display at Castillo’s art gallery on
Wilton Drive.
The commission finalized amendments
to the unified land development regulations.
Community Development Services Director
Roberta Moore said the changes set height
limits for planned unit development at five
stories, not to exceed 60 feet.
A proposal to extend its contract with
Waste Management passed on first reading.
Rates under the contract’s new terms will
increase 3.6%, said City Manager Leigh
23 26 • 12. 23. 2021
Ann Henderson. Recycling pick-up will
consolidate into one day, on Wednesdays,
city-wide. Weekend garbage collection will
be eliminated, allowing for drivers to have
weekends off. Under the new contract, the
total residential monthly rate for solid waste
and recycling is $22.77 per unit.
Wicked Manors 2021 was a financial success,
said Roger Roa, Pride Center Development
director. Roa said his organization was very
happy with the results from
the Halloween-themed-
street festival and noted
the event recruited a new
sponsor, El Dorado Furniture,
which previously had never
sponsored an LGBT event in
its 24-year history. The Pride
Center and city split $5,268.20
in parking revenue from the
event. Overall, Wicked Manors
produced $179,862.60 in
total revenue. Roa said nine
organizations will share the
$12,823.68 collected for entry
fees. The Pride Center paid
Wilton Manors $28,719.74 to
Inside Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
host the event.
Commissioners approved resident of Wilton Manors. “That’s a very good year’s budget to remove funding from the
the adoption of a pilot program thing. The governor is trying to prevent them police department or otherwise reduce the
for resident parking. For a $60 from making law enforcement in the state of level of service for this community.”
annual fee, residents are given Florida weaker!”
City Attorney Kerry Ezrol said there are
Isaacs’ son, Jamian, accused Vice Mayor
Paul Rolli of plotting with “ill-intentioned,
parking privileges in any city lot after 6 p.m.
The pilot program generated $2,350 with 47 two technical reasons for the city joining in radical left-wing interest groups” to challenge
the lawsuit. The first reason is a technical DeSantis. Isaacs said he was “shocked and
permits sold.
During public comments, two people violation of the single subject rule under disgusted” by the commission’s actions,
complained about the city’s lawsuit against
the state of Florida regarding H.B. 1, dubbed
the Florida Constitution and the second
reason is a technical violation of the Florida
especially considering Mayor Scott Newton
has two sons who are law enforcement
the “anti-riot” law. Wilton Manors joined with Constitution Separation of Powers. officers.
several other South Florida municipalities to “Fundamentally, the biggest concern “You should know better,” Jamian chided
oppose the law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed by the city commission is the Newton from the podium.
in April. intrusion of the governor into the home rule “None one of us has said a word about
“Why would our city join up with cities authority of the city commission when it defunding the police,” Newton said after
like Lauderhill, Miramar and Tallahassee to comes to budgeting overall,” Ezrol said. “The hearing the father and son out.
name a few to fight Gov. Ron DeSantis who city has not removed any funding from the The meeting lasted one hour and eight
wants to prevent them from defunding the police department. There has not been any minutes. The next regular commission
police budget?” asked Julian Isaacs, a 36-year discussion that I’m aware of as far as the prior meeting is Jan. 11.
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4 • DECEMBER 23, 2021