Listen to the people

On behalf of Lake Ridge Civic Association, we express our continued preference of a tunnel with robust greenspace at New River Crossing. This is the position our neighborhood expressed to the state and to city officials in 2022. Our neighborhood was not alone. More than 30 other letters of support for a tunnel were submitted from individuals and entities across the city.

As a member of the board of directors of the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations, I hear ongoing feedback from residents and neighborhood leaders. With deep respect and gratitude, I share the following. In January 2022, all five members of the Fort Lauderdale City Commission came together with a unified vision. They approved a unanimous resolution in support of the locally preferred alternative of a tunnel. Many residents perceive the current commission as one that cannot work together to carry out the will of the people, leaving many feeling ignored and others feeling further disenfranchised.

For the benefit of our city, I urge you to reiterate the commitments each of you made to the voters when you sought office. You each vowed to listen to all resident feedback and represent all residents to foster a Fort Lauderdale that is vibrant, sustainable and actively committed to building connections where historically there have been divisions.

Please maintain the New River Crossing locally preferred alternative of a tunnel for the city of Fort Lauderdale and do not support any resolution presented by any member of the Commission which will roll back any aspect of the resolution of Jan. 18, 2022.

Michael Albetta, Fort Lauderdale (Editor’s Note: Commissioners voted 3-2 on Dec. 19 to rescind the city’s 2022 pro-tunnel resolution. Commissioners Pamela Beasley-Pittman, John Herbst and Warren Sturman voted for a resolution that affirmed a tunnel as the preferred alternative, but endorsed a mid-level bridge “if it is determined that a tunnel is not a feasible option.”)