Miami-Dade and Coral Gables Crack Down on Fraudulent Disability Parking Permits
Miami-Dade and Coral Gables are stepping up their efforts to combat the misuse of disability parking permits, a phenomenon that is on the rise. During a recent inspection, an officer discovered that a displayed permit belonged to a deceased person, illustrating the scale of the problem. According to Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, more than 11% of the 40,992 permits audited were revoked due to fraud, incomplete documentation, or deceased holders.
The stakes are high: in Florida, a valid permit entitles the holder to four hours of free parking in metered spaces, which encourages abuse. Coral Gables has found that up to 30% of vehicles parked on Miracle Mile use a disability permit, significantly reducing parking space turnover.
A new system, rolled out this month, will make it easier to verify and revoke fraudulent permits. Authorities say they want to protect access for those who truly need it, without penalizing people with invisible disabilities.
Rodeway Inn: A Dania Beach Hotelier Family at the Center of Sex Trafficking and Abuse Allegations
A woman identified as “S.W.” is suing Tropical Paradise Resorts, EZ Hospitality, and Choice Hotels, accusing the Rodeway Inn in Dania Beach of allowing a sex trafficking ring to operate on the premises. According to the plaintiff, she was exploited for a year by a former friend, Steven Charles Joseph, who allegedly beat her, threatened her, and forced her to have sex with “up to five men a night,” while “her screams […] were ignored by hotel staff,” according to court documents.
The manager at the time, Israel Fintz, denies any responsibility and calls the case a “bullshit lawsuit.” However, messages show that he had been alerted more than 120 times about online ads reporting sexual activity at the establishment.
The Fintz family, which owns several hotels, has a troubled history: two former employees accused Marcos Fintz of sexual harassment in the 2000s, and another lawsuit targeted a manager at one of their hotels for the rape of a disabled teenager.
Despite this history, their franchises with Choice Hotels have not been affected. The new complaint alleges that the hotels “failed in their duty to protect their guests” from sex trafficking.
Two orphaned black bear cubs find refuge at Flamingo Gardens
Flamingo Gardens in Davie is home to Bentley and Treena, two 14-month-old American black bear cubs, now settled into a permanent 10,000-square-foot enclosure. Orphaned after their mother’s death in Georgia, they were found starving and taken in before being transferred to the Broward sanctuary. Having been hand-raised, they can no longer be released into the wild.
Their new habitat includes trees, climbing structures, and a pond, which they are energetically exploring. Staff describe Treena as lively and dominant, while Bentley is calmer and more playful. “This is the first time they’ve touched grass in seven weeks,” the team notes.
Flamingo Gardens hopes that their presence will raise public awareness of the challenges faced by bears in Florida, which are often confined by urbanization.
The cubs will be on public view starting June 6, after their acclimation period.
To follow Bentley and Treena’s progress: https://flamingogardens.org/
Translated by Deepl
