Magnificent Mangroves
Nature's Coastal Guardians
🌿 MANGROVES VS. WAREHOUSE:
COMMUNITY VOICES WERE HEARD. THE DECISION IS STILL PENDING.
On the evening of October 13, residents, scientists, advocates and neighbors filled
Dania Beach City Hall with one message: these mangroves matter.
For more than an hour, speaker after speaker stood up for one of the last remaining pockets of natural mangrove forest in Dania Beach. When the discussion ended, the City Commission voted 4–1 to defer its decision on the proposed warehouse until it can review Broward County’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
It wasn’t the final answer, but it was an important step. And it happened because people showed up.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Port 1850 LLC has applied for plat and site plan approval to build a 62,340-square-foot warehouse
at 1850 NE 7th Avenue in Dania Beach. The property is privately owned mangrove forest, about
3 to 5 acres according to Broward County, located near Port Everglades and
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport and close to the area’s vervet monkey sanctuary.
This small forest does a big job. It shelters wildlife, including federally protected birds,
filters our water, absorbs floodwaters and helps buffer our shoreline from storms.
HOW WE GOT HERE
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March 3, 2026: The Broward County Commission voted 8–0 to keep the parcel on the County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands map.
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May 2026: The scheduled City hearing was postponed after the property was posted incorrectly.
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August 25, 2026: At the rescheduled hearing, a motion to approve the plat and site plan died for lack of a second. Because this is a quasi-judicial matter, the Commission still needs to take a formal vote, so the item came back.
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October 13, 2026: After extensive public comment, the Commission voted 4–1 to defer its decision until it can review the County’s EIR.
WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 13
A representative for the property owner told the Commission the warehouse was needed for
the owner’s fashion business. Dania Beach resident Brenda Lee Chalifour then presented a
document obtained through a public records request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which
indicated the warehouse was intended for commercial purposes connected to Port Everglades. That
raised a question many in the room were asking: what is this warehouse really for?
Commissioners weighed concerns about the property owner’s rights and possible legal challenges
against the environmental value of the site and the questions still unanswered. Commissioner Luis
Rimoli made the motion to defer, saying the Commission couldn’t make a responsible decision
until it understood the environmental impacts. The motion passed 4–1.
WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID
Suzee Bailey, Founder/CEO, Residents for Resilience:
“When it comes to so many of the water challenges facing South Florida,
mangroves come to the rescue!”
Jessica Basi, Mangrove Keepers:
“Our magical mangroves are sponges, as someone noted. Not only do they sequester 10 times
the amount of carbon from the atmosphere and store it for us, they also store water.”
Brenda Lee Chalifour, Environmental and Land Use Attorney (retired):
“Questions need to be answered — What is your association with Port Everglades?
Information has not been provided.”
Dr. Missy Williams, Founder/Director, Dania Beach Vervet Project:
“We’ve documented five different bird species using this mangrove habitat, including two state
threatened species, the little blue heron and the tricolored heron. All five species are federally
protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.”
Aaron Hollis, Community Advocate:
“Respectfully, I’m asking that you vote no — respect these people speaking, man.
We are voters. We do care about our city.”
Dr. Hans Gonzek, Behavioral Ecologist and Ornithologist:
“I am confirming that the species documented are under protection under the Migratory Bird Act.
The mangrove forest also provides breeding habitat, including for the mangrove cuckoo, a species
that only breeds in Florida and cannot breed in any other habitat.”
Laura Mickelson, Community Member:
“A developer can build a warehouse anywhere. But a 100-year-old natural
defense system can never be replaced.”
A special thank you to Mayor Joyce Davis for leading a long and passionate meeting with patience
and respect, and for making sure everyone who came to speak had the chance to be heard. Your
leadership and willingness to listen to the community mean so much.
Thank you also to everyone who spoke, sent emails, signed the petition or simply showed up.
Your voices made a difference.
WHY MANGROVES MATTER
Mangroves are some of the hardest-working ecosystems in South Florida. They:
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Protect shorelines from erosion and storm surge
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Help slow floodwaters and store water
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Filter pollutants before they reach our waterways
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Store carbon in their roots and soils
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Provide habitat for fish, birds, marine life and even monkeys
And they do all of this naturally, without pumps, pipes or electricity.
As I shared with the Commission:
“Millions are spent trying to manage flooding, improve water quality, and restore our waterways.
Shouldn’t we be doing everything we can to protect the natural systems already doing that work for us?”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The Commission is waiting for Broward County’s Environmental Impact Report. The item is
expected to return on December 8, 2026.
A deferral is not a decision. The landowner still has rights, and the Commission will still need to vote.
That’s why the long-term goal is a permanent solution that protects this forest for good, such
as a public purchase, land swap, conservation agreement or mitigation bank.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
📅 Mark your calendar for December 8. Attend the meeting and speak, or simply be there to show support.
✉️ Email the Dania Beach City Commission.
Respectfully share why these mangroves matter to you.
City of Dania Beach Commission contact information:
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Mayor Joyce Davis jdavis@daniabeachfl.gov
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Vice Mayor Marco Salvino msalvino@daniabeachfl.gov
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Commissioner Lori Lewellen llewellen@daniabeachfl.gov
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Commissioner Luis Rimoli lrimoli@daniabeachfl.gov
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Commissioner AJ Ryan ajryan@daniabeachfl.gov
🏛️ Email the Broward County Commissioners.
Thank them for keeping this parcel on the Environmentally Sensitive Lands map,
and ask them to help find a permanent solution -
Broward County Commission contact information:
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District 1: Nan H. Rich - nrich@broward.org
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District 2 (Mayor): Mark D. Bogen - mbogen@broward.org
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District 3: Michael Udine - mudine@broward.org
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District 4: Lamar P. Fisher - lfisher@broward.org
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District 5: Steve Geller - sgeller@broward.org
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District 6: Beam Furr - bfurr@broward.org
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District 7: Alexandra P. Davis - adavis@broward.org
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District 8 (Vice Mayor): Robert McKinzie - rmckinzie@broward.org
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District 9: Hazelle P. Rogers - hrogers@broward.org
If you aren't one of the over 7,500 people that have signed our petition, please do so now!
✍️ Sign and share the petition here!
📣 Spread the word. Share this post and our flyer with friends and neighbors.
🎥 Watch the meeting. Public comment on this item begins at 57:00 in the October 13 Dania Beach City Commission meeting.
“It’s hard to care about what you don’t know about.”
Now you know, and together we can make sure these mangroves are still here for generations to come. 🌿💙
Mangroves versus Warehouse Update -
(8/29/2026)
YOUR VOICE/EMAIL/TEXT ARE NEEDED!
🌿💚 MANGROVES VS. WAREHOUSE —
MANGROVES PREVAIL! 💚🌿 WOW!
Dania Beach has some remarkable elected officials.
They listened.
They asked the hard questions.
They demanded clarity.
They expected answers.
And when it mattered, they stood up for what they believed was right.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, a motion was made to approve the proposed warehouse plat and site plan — but the motion failed for lack of a second.
👏 Thank you Mayor Joyce Davis, Commissioner Lori Lewellen, Commissioner Luis Rimoli, and Commissioner A.J. Ryan for listening to your community and for your actions to protect these important
Dania Beach mangroves.
And thank you to EVERYONE who showed up, spoke up, wrote emails, made phone calls, signed petitions, shared information, and refused to let this issue quietly disappear. Your voices mattered. 🌿💚
Now let’s make sure our elected officials hear from us when they do something RIGHT! Please take a minute to email these four Dania Beach leaders and simply say THANK YOU. Elected officials hear plenty from us when we’re unhappy — they deserve to hear from us
when we’re grateful, too.
EMAILS/CALLS/TEXT NOTES OF THANKS TO THE FANTASTIC FOUR:
Mayor Davis: jdavis@daniabeachfl.gov 219-670-1066
Commissioner Lewellen: llewellen@daniabeachfl.gov 954-224-2290
Commissioner Ryan: ajryan@daniabeachfl.gov 305-985-9802
Commissioner Rimoli: lrimoli@daniabeachfl.gov 954-478-0653
Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they sit on the dais. 🌿💚
But there is another important chapter to this story.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
The privately owned property — and these mangroves — are still there. This vote stopped this proposed warehouse approval, but how do we ensure these mangroves — and this remarkable pocket of natural South Florida that provides habitat and refuge for so much wildlife —
are protected permanently?
Broward County — what is the long-term plan for this environmentally sensitive property? Could the County pursue acquisition? A land swap? A conservation agreement or another form of permanent protection?
What can be done now to ensure we are not back here fighting another development proposal in the future?
Our hope is that this important property can ultimately become a permanently protected preserve — safeguarding the mangroves, wildlife habitat, natural flood protection, water quality benefits,
and coastal resilience they provide.
📣 WE NEED YOUR VOICE AGAIN.
Please contact the Broward County Commission and ask our County leaders to work toward a permanent solution to protect this environmentally sensitive property. Ask them one simple question:
🌿 WHAT IS THE PLAN TO PROTECT THESE MANGROVES FOR GOOD? 🌿
Commissioner emails:
mbogen@broward.org
rmckinzie@broward.org
nrich@broward.org
bfurr@broward.org
sgeller@broward.org
lfisher@broward.org
mudine@broward.org
hazellerogers@broward.org
alexandradavis@broward.org
So yes — TODAY WE CELEBRATE - But tomorrow, the conversation continues, because protecting something for today is important - Protecting it for generations is the goal. 💚🌿
MANGROVES 1 — WAREHOUSE 0. Now let’s finish the job!
Mangroves versus Warehouse Update -
(7/11/2026)
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED!
- an update from our Friend Brenda Lee Chalifour of Dania Beach,
a very active member of Residents for Resilience. Brenda is a retired land
use attorney, and also previously worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
giving her a unique perspective on many of the coastal, environmental,
and land use issues affecting South Florida.
Please, we want to be wrong, but we see what is coming. A monster warehouse will rise on the mangroves in Dania Beach! The City of Dania Beach was scheduled to decide on the plat and site plan applications to build a warehouse on the mangroves on May 26th. However, since the developer posted the wrong property, the issues were postponed to Tuesday, August 25 at 7 pm at Dania Beach City Hall.
We have obtained staff reports recommending APPROVAL of both the plat and site plan. We can predict that we will hear the all too familiar "our hands are tied" when the City Commission votes to approve this development of a warehouse in the mangroves.
Please take a look at City staff APPROVAL memos. Let elected officials know this is unacceptable.
Plat Approval: Link https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gd96bz7ftodd29b708bcg/PlatApproval.pdf?rlkey=h2ehi871jx90p34yhz5pfltxq&st=sb6go534&dl=0
Site Plan Approval Link
Actions to take:
(1) Pass this information along to everyone on all your social media sites
(2) Save the date to be at Dania Beach City Hall on Tuesday, August 25 at 7 pm
(3) Contact Dania Beach elected officials and voice your concerns
(4) Remind Broward County that we are waiting for a solution to this issue (They need to save these mangroves with a land swap, a purchase, a taking by eminent domain, a mitigation bank -- whatever it takes to save the mangroves.)
Dania Beach Elected Officials:
Mayor Davis: jdavis@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 219-670-1066
Vice Mayor Salvino: msalvino@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 954-914-5416
Commissioner Lewellen: llewellen@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 954-224-2290
Commissioner Ryan: ajryan@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 305-985-9802
Commissioner Rimoli: lrimoli@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 954-478-0653
Broward County Elected Officials: bfurr@broward.org, mbogen@broward.org, rmckinzie@broward.org, nrich@broward.org, sgeller@broward.org, mudine@broward.org, lfisher@broward.org, alexandradavis@broward.org, hazellerogers@broward.org
Oh, and if you aren't one of the over 7,375 who have signed our petition, please do so now - https://c.org/fjWGwvHhvH
Mangroves vs. Warehouse?
Update 5/29/2026
Since our last communication - the developer was headed to Dania Beach for plat and site plan approval on May 26, 2026. However, since the developer posted the wrong property - we asked the City to reschedule the hearing. They did. Now, the applications for plat and site plan are scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 7 pm which we will need you to plan to attend to help us SAVE THE MANGROVES.
Mark your calendars please.
Between now and 8/25/26, you can contact the Broward County Commission asking them to come up with a solution (be it a purchase, a land swap, a taking by eminent domain, or any combination thereof). Commissioner Beam Furr has been helpful keeping this need for a solution on their radar but we need to let the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Commissioners know we are counting on all of them to solve this problem.
You can also communicate with the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Commissioners of Dania Beach asking them to deny the plat and site plan. We have to continue to remind them that this problem is not going to go away without their help.
If a warehouse goes up on these mangroves, it won't be because we didn't stand up and speak loudly and clearly. This result will be on our elected representatives.
Thank you all so much for helping with this issue. Please feel free to pass this along to your peeps and beyond!!! United we have made a difference and can continue to do so -- remaining vigilant and resolute in our pursuit.
City of Dania Beach Commission contact information:
Mayor Joyce Davis jdavis@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 219-670-1066
Vice Mayor Marco Salvino msalvino@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 954-914-5416
Commissioner Lori Lewellen llewellen@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 954-224-2290
Commissioner Luis Rimoli lrimoli@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 954-686-7340
Commissioner AJ Ryan ajryan@daniabeachfl.gov Phone 305-985-9802
Broward County Commission contact information: mbogen@broward.org, rmckinzie@broward.org, nrich@broward.org, bfurr@broward.org, sgeller@broward.org, lfisher@broward.org, mudine@broward.org, hazellerogers@broward.org, alexandradavis@broward.org
If you aren't one of the over 7,250 people that have signed our petition, please do so now! https://c.org/fjWGwvHhvH
🙌🌿 MANGROVES vs. WAREHOUSE UPDATE! 🌿🙌
👏 YOU DID IT AGAIN — BRAVO! 👏
Your emails, calls, and outreach to Broward County Commissioners made a difference - Thank YOU!
At yesterday’s County Commission meeting, Beam Furr reminded the Commission that they already voted to keep the mangroves on the Environmentally Sensitive Land (ESL) map — an important first step in protecting this critical area.
But now comes the next challenge: finding a real solution.
To help move that process forward, Commissioner Furr placed the Mangroves vs. Warehouse issue on the County Commission “Dashboard.”
What does that mean?
The Dashboard is essentially a public project-tracking and accountability tool used to:
✔ Track major County initiatives and projects
✔ Monitor progress, timelines, and milestones
✔ Identify delays or implementation concerns
✔ Provide transparency to both Commissioners and the public
🌿 Bottom line:
This gives the public greater visibility into what Broward County is actively doing to work toward a solution for this environmentally sensitive property.
Bravo — this happened because residents spoke up. Thank you for continuing to show that community voices matter.
⚠️ NOW THE NEXT IMPORTANT STEP:
📍 Tuesday, May 26 at 7:00 PM
📍 Dania Beach City Hall
The developer is asking the City of Dania Beach to approve the Port 1850 plat and site plan applications that would allow a warehouse to be built on this mangrove site.
As many of you know, mangroves are not just trees — they are natural infrastructure that help:
🌊 Reduce flooding
🐟 Protect marine ecosystems
🌀 Buffer storm impacts
💧 Filter pollutants
🦩 Support wildlife and biodiversity
We need your voices again.
Please respectfully contact the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioners and ask them to DENY the plat and site plan applications for this project.
📧 Mayor Joyce Davis — jdavis@daniabeachfl.gov
📧 Vice Mayor Marco Salvino — msalvino@daniabeachfl.gov
📧 Commissioner Lori Lewellen — llewellen@daniabeachfl.gov
📧 Commissioner Luis Rimoli — lrimoli@daniabeachfl.gov
📧 Commissioner AJ Ryan — ajryan@daniabeachfl.gov
Together, we can continue advocating for smarter, more resilient solutions that protect both our environment and our communities.
🌿 Nature is infrastructure. 🌿
SAMPLE LETTER YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE IF YOU'D LIKE -
Feel free to personalize this message and respectfully share your concerns with the Dania Beach Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioners.
Subject: Please Deny the Port 1850 Plat and Site Plan Applications
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioners,
I am respectfully asking you to deny the Port 1850 plat and site plan applications currently being considered for the environmentally sensitive mangrove property in Dania Beach.
Mangroves are not simply trees — they are critical natural infrastructure that help reduce flooding, buffer storm impacts, filter pollutants, protect water quality, and support marine ecosystems and wildlife.
As South Florida faces increasing flooding challenges, stronger storms, sea level rise, and infrastructure strain, preserving natural systems like mangroves is more important than ever.
I encourage the City to pursue smarter, more resilient solutions that prioritize long-term environmental protection, community resiliency, and sustainable planning.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and service to our community.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[City/Neighborhood]
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The March 3rd Broward County Commission meeting was a powerful reminder that community voices matter!
✅ Close to 7,000 residents signed the petition
✅ More than 40 speakers showed up in person
✅ Hundreds wrote letters and emails
And Broward County Commission voted 8–0 to preserve the mangroves in Dania Beach and keep this parcel on the Environmentally Sensitive Lands map.
This is a major victory for nature — and for resilience.
But while we won an important battle, the long-term future of this mangrove parcel is not yet fully secured. Continued public support will still matter as
Broward County works toward a permanent solution.
🙏 Thank You to Everyone Who Spoke Up!
Thank you to every single person who:
✔ Wrote a letter
✔ Signed the petition
✔ Showed up to speak
✔ Shared information
✔ Stood up for something bigger than themselves
Your voice spoke for nature- For wildlife -For future generations -
For ecosystems that cannot speak for themselves.
Many of us shortened our prepared remarks once the Commission’s position became clear, but one simple truth remained important to say:
Nature Is Infrastructure - this issue was never about choosing nature over progress - it was about recognizing that in Broward County:
Nature is infrastructure.
Mangroves are not vacant land. They are working systems that:
• buffer storms
• mitigate flooding
• filter pollutants
• protect property
• support biodiversity and marine ecosystems
• provide enormous economic value to coastal communities
Resilience is not built after the fact — it is preserved before it is lost.
The County Commission’s decision strengthened our natural defenses
instead of weakening them.
On behalf of Residents for Resilience and our many concerned members, we thank Broward County Commission — and Dania Beach Mayor Joyce Davis — for helping protect these mangroves as part of Broward County’s
essential resilience infrastructure.
We also respectfully encourage that this beautiful area — home to nearby wildlife habitat, including the monkey sanctuary — remain permanently protected through a thoughtful long-term solution.
When we stand together, our voices are louder.
And this time, Broward stood for resilience.
___________________
📩 Sample Letter Provided Below
We won an important vote — but continued public support still matters.
For those who would still like to respectfully support long-term protection of this important mangrove parcel, a sample letter is provided below for you to copy, personalize, and send to Broward County Commissioners.
Even a short personal message helps remind decision-makers that continued public support for nature-based resilience remains strong.
🌿🌊💚
Residents for Resilience (R4R)
“It’s hard to care about what you don’t know about.”
_____________________
📩 Sample Letter to Broward County Commissioners
(Feel free to copy, personalize, and send your own message of support.)
Dear Broward County Commissioner,
First, thank you for your unanimous vote at the March 3rd meeting to keep the environmentally sensitive 3- to 5-acre mangrove parcel in Dania Beach on the Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) map — an important and encouraging first step that many residents deeply appreciate.
As discussed during the meeting, this remains a matter in need of a thoughtful long-term solution, and we respectfully encourage Broward County to continue leading that effort. We believe that if all parties come together with a shared commitment to preserving this mangrove parcel, a workable path forward can be found.
Several constructive ideas were raised, including land purchase, land swap, and the possible establishment of a mitigation bank. There may also be other creative approaches worth exploring. Given the ecological importance of this parcel and its location within Broward’s “mega zone,” we hope every reasonable option remains on the table.
With flooding concerns increasingly discussed across Broward County — including long-term resilience costs and changing flood projections — protecting natural flood-mitigation assets such as this mangrove parcel becomes even more important. Areas like this provide natural water storage, shoreline buffering, and resilience value that should not be underestimated.
This area also appears to serve an important natural flood-mitigation role for the surrounding region, including nearby critical infrastructure such as Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, while contributing to a broader ecological corridor near important wildlife habitat, including the nearby monkey sanctuary.
At a time when Broward is already confronting difficult resilience challenges — including concerns involving coral habitat and other natural protective systems — preserving remaining mangroves becomes even more important as part of a broader resilience strategy.
Protecting natural systems today helps reduce the cost and complexity of resilience challenges tomorrow.
Please know there are many residents ready, willing, and eager to support efforts that help protect this important mangrove habitat.
Thank you again for your leadership thus far. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to a thoughtful long-term solution.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your City or Neighborhood]
📧 Broward County Commissioner Email Addresses
Please feel free to copy the sample letter above, personalize it if you wish,
and send your message of support directly to Broward County Commissioners.
A short personal note about why protecting mangroves matters
to you can make your message even more meaningful.
Broward County Board of County Commissioners
(As of March 2026)
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District 1: Nan H. Rich - nrich@broward.org
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District 2 (Mayor): Mark D. Bogen - mbogen@broward.org
(See also Board Contact List - Broward County)
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District 3: Michael Udine - mudine@broward.org
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District 4: Lamar P. Fisher - lfisher@broward.org
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District 5: Steve Geller - sgeller@broward.org
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District 6: Beam Furr - bfurr@broward.org
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District 7: Alexandra P. Davis - adavis@broward.org
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District 8 (Vice Mayor): Robert McKinzie - rmckinzie@broward.org
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District 9: Hazelle P. Rogers - hrogers@broward.org
For legislative staff, you can also contact
the Legislative Counsel - Broward County or use the general format,
but specific, direct staff emails are preferred for urgent matters.
Broward County Commission link
🌿 Your voice still matters — especially now, while long-term solutions are being considered.
DANIA MANGROVE vs WAREHOUSE CHALLENGE UPDATE:
The Mangrove versus Warehouse Challenge continues -- get commitment from Broward County Commissioners to keep the parcel on the ESL map. The only changes/updates are that the County Commission will vote on the matter on March 3, 2026 at County Chambers, 115 S. Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, meeting starts at 10:00 am, should be concluded by 12:30 pm. We are asking everyone to communicate with the Broward County Commissioners before the meeting and to attend the meeting. We need all hands on deck at the meeting!
Contact the Board of County Commissioners at:
https://www.broward.org/commission/pages/default.aspx
SAVE OUR MANGROVES!V
DID YOU KNOW...
Mangrove forests capture massive amounts of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and then trap and store them in their carbon-rich flooded soils for millennia. This is an important ecosystem service as we face climate change.
Tricia Halliday and I had a great time joining Coastal Conservation Association’s
Mike Lambrechts, CPFA, Fort Lauderdale’s City Staff including Assistant City Manager Anthony Fajardo, Urban Forester Laura Tooley, and Todd Hiteshew -for a walk through George English Park. Together, we identified key areas for planting mangroves provided by CCA, to enhance water quality and create vital habitat for marine life. It was a productive discussion, and R4R is excited to work with this group on this much needed project in collaboration with the City of Fort Lauderdale! We also look forward to collaborating on future waterway remediation projects too!
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