18 • 5.23.2024 SERVING WILTON MANORS AND OAKLAND PARK MAY 23, 2024 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 6 FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM BSO STING OPERATION SHUTS DOWN WILTON SOCIAL CLUB IN OAKLAND PARK OAKLAND PARK Condoms and douches and swings, oh my! These are just some of the things found in a report that tries to justify the abrupt closing of Wilton Social Club. OutSFL has the Reporting Officer Narrative, which describes what an undercover Broward Sheriff’s Office Oakland Park officer says he saw. Excerpts include: “While checking me in, I observed a large quantity of protective sexual condoms in the rear staff room behind him.” “I was then showed [sic] many of the ‘play room’ for sexual activity and the areas that have a hand held douche for cleaning the internal area of the anus prior to sexual activity.” Another line: “One play room had equipment to be strapped to swing apparatus or wooden boards.” Nowhere in the report does he say he saw anyone having sex on the premises. Condoms on site? Before PrEP & PEP, bars and restaurants had bowls of them sitting out to promote public health. Douches can be found in nearly any drug store, and having swings/slings and other accouterments is far from illegal. The report does say he was there after midnight and there was pornography on TVs, both of which are part of the citations issued. Owner Dominic Santarelli says he was applying for a 24-hour license and a Sexually Oriented Business license and had restricted hours in an attempt to comply. This report was, apparently, turned over to Oakland Park’s code compliance officers, who issued formal citations. Oakland Park is staying silent and letting the documents talk for them. OutSFL has asked to speak with the head of Code or the officer who issued the citations. All requests for in-person interviews have been denied. “I think we’ve said everything we have to say at this point,” a spokesperson said. “We would be happy to provide any other documentation that might be helpful.” To that extent, OutSFL has requested all city emails related to Wilton Social Club from this year, as well as a transcript of the hearing. While Santarelli has admitted to some violations, he says he corrected them. Other accusations, he outright denies. What makes this case standout is the level of urgency Oakland Park devoted to shutting them down. WSC was forced to stop operations immediately, which isn’t uncommon. What is uncommon is that they were forced to clear out the space ASAP before any appeals process. Additionally, Santarelli says they were told to take down all social media accounts. Even if you disregard any First Amendment issues, that seems outside the jurisdiction of the proceeding. By John Hayden Photos courtesy of Wilton Social Club/Dominic A. Santarelli III. POLICE OFFICERS FOUND ‘HAND HELD DOUCHE FOR CLEANING THE INTERNAL AREA OF THE ANUS PRIOR TO SEXUAL ACTIVITY.’
2 • MAY 23, 2024 • WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM 5.23.2024 • 19 2520 N. Dixie Highway Wilton Manors, FL 33305 WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM HAVE YOU JOINED THE GAZETTE’S FACEBOOK GROUP? Come join the discussion. The Gazette welcomes feedback. Email [email protected] with comments, suggestions, etc. Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette Assistant to the Editor Kimberly Swan Graphic Designers Julie Palmer Kyle Willis Craig Tuggle Graphic Design Consultant Brendon Lies Wilton Manors Editor John Hayden Correspondents John McDonald • Rick Karlin • Aaron Kinchen Staff Photographers J.R. Davis • Carina Mask Sales & Marketing For ad placement in The Gazette, contact 954-514-7095 Publisher/Editor Jason Parsley CEO Justin Wyse Spot an error? Let us know at [email protected] The proposed Wilton Hotel & Pool Club has taken a key step to becoming reality. During the city commission meeting on May 14, the panel voted unanimously to approve final changes to the plans and cleared the way for developers to proceed. However, this is far from the end of the story. Now the developers will go before the county and apply for permits. While not a pro forma action, it is unusual for permits to derail a project at this point in the process. From the Development Review Committee to the Planning and Zoning Board to the city commission, Wilton Manors officials have spent more than a year scrutinizing everything from height (eight floors) to parking (100% valet) and everything in between. The hotel will be on Dixie Highway by Five Points, where the mortuary sits. Some worry about backups on the road. In the middle of an average workday, it only takes seven cars to back up to the site during a light cycle. When long, slow moving freight trains roll through, it could take several cycles before traffic clears, impeding ingress to the hotel. Commissioners have been generally positive of the project throughout the process, and their constituents have mirrored their optimism. An online poll conducted by OutSFL in December showed 63% in favor. If all goes as smoothly, it’s possible there could be a groundbreaking sometime this autumn. Each stage of construction will require inspections, and any adjustments would take time. Experts on these matters say a grand opening in 2027 is a reasonable expectation. WILTON HOTEL WINS KEY VOTE WILTON MANORS Rendering courtesy Wilton Hotel & Pool Club. By John Hayden outsfl.com/newsletter WILTON MANORS NEWS... RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX. THE ISLANDER A WILTON MANORS NEWSLETTER