FOLLOW me on my popular Twitter feed. Just click this photo! @hbbtruth - David - Common sense on #Politics #PublicPolicy #Sports #PopCulture in USA, Great Britain, Sweden and France, via my life in #Texas #Memphis #Miami #IU #Chicago #DC #FL 🛫🌍📺📽️🏈. This photo of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock's 1955 classic "To Catch a Thief" is the large Twitter photo on my @hbbtruth account

Beautiful Strandvägen, the grand boulevard in Östermalm, in central Stockholm, Sweden, along Nybroviken. In my previous life, I was DEFINITELY born and raised there!

Looking north at Brickell Avenue skyline in downtown Miami, Florida
Showing posts with label Cat Uden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cat Uden. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Update re the incompatible 1301 S. Ocean Drive project for multimillionaires on Hollywood Beach that The Related Group and Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy have been trying to cram down the community's collective throat for YEARS now


This is what we want to keep, and not let it simply become a memory!
A small reminder of why I and all of my savvy, sensible friends -like Cat Uden- push back so hard versus the serial, nonsensical public policy and misanthropy emanating from #HollywoodFL City Hall the past few years, both the elected Mayor and City Commission, as well as the city's imperious, feckless, and thin-skinned highly-paid bureaucrats. ☀️🌴🏖️😎. 

Hollywood Beach, Florida photo by Catherine "Cat" Uden.


Below, an edited and expanded version of the email that I sent out this morning right around 1:00 am regarding the incompatible 1301 S. Ocean Drive 26-story project for multimillionaires on Hollywood Beach that The Related Group and Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy have been trying to cram down the community's collective throat for YEARS now, despite the vast majority of the community that actually knows the pertinent facts making clear throughout that time that they are firmly AGAINST it. 

Against it today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. NO means NO! 

-----

Just a short note before I go to sleep, having received Steve's email/Substack post, at bottom, late tonight and not immediately seeing it in my inbox because of my watching the Winter Olympics on TV: The current Hollywood City Manager, Mr. Keller, is someone whom I have never liked or supported -and who in any case is on his way to retirement in a few weeks.

IMO, he's already checked out and is biding his time. So all that said, he is NOT of a mind to actually do the right thing for the area's citizens re the incompatible 1301 project before he walks out the door, as far as saving THE most natural remaining part of Hollywood Beach for posterity.
Mr. Keller does not care about that part of Hollywood Beach's future, nor does he care about the past memories that so many of us have with it and why, even if we actually preferred using the beach area near what used to be the one-and-only garage off of Johnson Street, we DO want to see it preserved exactly AS IT IS.
So that said, there's no point in any Hollywood resident thinking even for a moment that he's suddenly -magically- going to see the light and change his spots when he's already more than halfway out the door for good right now.

In his letter below to the Broward Planning Council, which I hasten to remind you, also includes Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy, the individual who more than anyone else in Hollywood has tried to cram this Related Group project for multimillionaires -with its $4 million dollar starting prices- down the throats of the vast majority of the community who zealously opposes it, Keller rather conveniently forgets to mention several salient facts, only one of which I will share with you now, owing to the lateness of the hour, 12:55 am. Wednesday morning.

Among the most important of these facts is that Mr. Keller consciously neglects to mention in his recitation of the history of how the City of Hollywood first managed to obtain the 1301 S. Ocean Drive parcel in the first place from The Summit condominium is that there was a precondition/codicil in the contract that the City of Hollywood had to agree to, and then sign an acknowledgement of, in order to receive the parcel years ago.
That precondition was an important one: the property could ONLY be used for community/
recreation/educational purposes. 
Period.

I myself have personally attended several public meetings in Hollywood since this project came forward as a P3 project, replete with all the secrecy of The Manhattan Project -designed to keep residents and stakeholders in the dark- and heard people say they were on the Board of Directors of The Summit condominium -located across the street on the north of 1301- and publicly declare that they have copies of the germane docs that show that the clause was put in the deal to ensure that the City of Hollywood could never go back on the deal in the future. 

Their biggest fear?
A perfectly understandable one given where The Summit is located on State Road A1A and Hollywood Beach, and how the pay-for-play local government hereabouts is conducted: The City would sell the land to a developer that would build something there in the future.
Perhaps something that would tower over The Summit and ruin thereby ruin both its ambiance and the views that at least some residents there enjoy and were paying a premium for, both at the time, and in all of the ensuing years.

IMO, the City of Hollywood is breaking that original deal with The Summit and any halfway honest judge -even in Broward County- viewing the relevant docs would agree and rule that this project simply can not go forward.

And that, of course, would leave Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy with egg on his face, having to explain to the very people at The Related Group and its 1001 minions and the other developer friends of his who dumped close to $100k into his 2024 re-election campaign coffers in its closing weeks, why HE could not get it across the finish line.

But of course this is only one of the many things that is both completely unethical and wrong with the deal. My blog is full of fact and photo-filled posts making those points in ways that are easily understandable in making the case AGAINST it


Letter from Hollywood City Manager Sides with Private Developers on 1301 Project Land Use Designation.
Broward Planning Council Meeting Set for Feb. 26, at 10 am, Room 422, Broward County Government Center; Follow Up Article Coming
Steven Paul Schneider
February 17, 2026
Letter from Hollywood City Manager Sides with…
https://stevenpaulschneider.substack.com/p/letter-from-hollywood-city-manager/comments


See also the anti-1301 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080492761252 and Cat's campaign Instagram page at 


Dave


David Bruce Smith  

My blog, now eponymous, formerly called Hallandale Beach/Hollywood Blog: 
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Monday, October 21, 2024

Update on the VERY interesting thread on NextDoor re "A Bright Future For Hollywood PAC" that supports Josh Levy against my friend, Catherine "Cat" Uden

Tuesday October 21st, 2024

3:00 p.m.

Below, an update on the VERY interesting thread on NextDoor re "A Bright Future For Hollywood PAC" that supports Josh Levy's re-election against my friend, Catherine "Cat" Uden. 

But first...

Join #CatUden’s Canvassing Crew on Saturday Oct. 26th for a fun night @ Hollyweird Festival, Dwtn #HollywoodFL! 
Costume theme is... cats! 
Meet @ 7:30 PM, Anniversary Park, N. 20th Ave. & Hollywood Blvd., then we'll walk the festival @ 8 PM. 
Bring a reusable bottle of water!


Just to be clear, I was NOT involved in any way in putting this very interesting thread at bottom of post -on the VERY frustrating Next Door app!- by Hollywood resident Steve Schneider together.
Actually, I don't think I've ever met him or spoken to him, though I could be wrong, of course.

I did have a slightly similar thought a few weeks ago about doing a deep-dive via my blog regarding who was behind the campaign PAC that Josh Levy & Co. have created for his mayoral campaign.
And any future campaigns as well, since Beam Furr's County Commission seat becomes vacant in November 2026.

Frankly, I think one of the most-unasked public questions of the past 18 months is IF Josh Levy won for a third and final time, would he run for Beam's seat in 2 years? There seems to have been no discussion of it at the so-called candidate forum from a few weeks ago.

While some of you may've indeed thought about this already, or, perhaps even wandered up to him at some point after a Civic Association meeting he was at and asked him this important question directly, thus far, IF you have, you haven't shared that info -and his answer- with me. So far!
Just saying...

Also, I'd actually planned on posting something next week along the lines of a database on all the campaign contributions in Hollywood from 2012, 2016, 2020 and this year, with totals by campaign, contributor and industry.
As many of you already know, the latter is very often a fudge, since for years, as an example, the state's #1 lobbyist, Ron Book, who repped Hallandale Beach for years even as he had other clients whose interests were contrary to HB's, had his daughter Lauren also make political contributions around the state once she turned 18.
That was done using his Aventura office as her "home," since Aventura was usually listed on the filed docs I pored through years ago, not one in Broward, despite nearly all the local TV and print reporters insisting that the Books lived in Broward.

I'd originally checked them thinking that I wanted to have the information stored up so that at some point, IF those docs might... disappear -you know, by accident!- the way that "inconvenient" govt. docs often do, I'd be fine and have the information to be able to use going forward.

I don't care how much you love politics, using a child as a separate political campaign contribution conduit was always an ethical stretch.
Even if you end up hiring her to work at your lobbying shop, and she follows her father into the lobbying trade, and thus gets a leg-up for her later runs for political office.
Yes, years and years of her father and her saying and doing things that lead to LOTS of the state's savviest, well-connected and deep-pocketed people and organizations owing her favors, even as she is having them giving her non-profit LOTS of taxpayer money, including a very nice salary for a non-profit named after herself. 

In case you forgot about that situation, well-described here at a once-favorite website of mine, the Florida Bulldog, which has become so biased the past few years...

FireShot Capture 004 - New Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book has conflict of interest_ - www.floridabulldog.org.png
New Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book has conflict of interest as Republicans quietly shower taxpayer millions on her charity  
https://www.floridabulldog.org/2021/05/new-senate-democratic-leader-lauren-book-conflict-of-interest/

But things being the way they are here in South Florida, the local news media has largely ignored the issue of Lauren Book's precocious political contributions for years, and treated that particular parenting behavior of her father's -to get more $ to his faves- as NORMAL, which is why you now can't find any stories online with complete information about Lauren Books' political contributions since she turned 18 years old, just 22 years ago.

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Tuesday, May 12, 2020

"Hello Broadwalk my old friend. I've come to talk to you again..." - #HollywoodBeach's #Broadwalk to reopen with limited hours tomorrow, and I'll be there. Will you? 🏖️🌴🌊 But the beach remains CLOSED for now! :-(

Image

Above, my September 2019 photo of Hollywood Beach, looking east on Johnson Street towards the Bandshell, the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, and, on the right, the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Looking at it now, it seems like 100 years ago, not 7-8 months ago.

now,
NBC6 South Florida You Tube Channel
The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is expected to open with limited hours for exercise only starting Wednesday. NBC 6’s Amanda Plasencia reports.
Uploaded May 7th, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrUNTxqS7eM&t=7s


 "Hello Broadwalk my old friend. I've come to talk to you again..." -  #HollywoodBeach's #Broadwalk to reopen with limited hours tomorrow, and I'll be there. Will you? 🏖️🌴🌊  
But the beach remains CLOSED for now! :-(





•⁣ You’re convinced you’re in a dream⁣ ...for this reality could not be true...⁣ The sky above in watercolors,⁣ of orange, pinks and blues. ⁣ •⁣ Feel the sand beneath your feet, ⁣ the morning sounds that sing of new...⁣ And know this day as a gift from God;⁣ a dream only dreamt up⁣ FOR YOU. ⁣ 💖⁣ ⁣ ✨Make it a good day my friends.✨ ⁣ #TuesdayMood #PoetAndSheDidntKnowIt⁣ •••••••••••⁣ 📍Hollywood Beach, Florida⁣ 📸 iPhone8+⁣ 📲 @adventure.seeker.archives ⁣ ⁣ •⁣ •⁣ •⁣ ⁣ #latergrams #hollywoodbeach #beautifulsunrise #morningpoetry #poetryporn #watercolorsky #palmtreesfordays #beachlovers #hollywoodbeachflorida #beautifulbeaches #hollywoodbeachfl #mybackyardview #floridabeaches #exploreflorida #roamflorida #floridablogger #flogrown #staysalty #floridagirl #sunshinestateofmind #sunrises #girlswithsleeves #sunrisesofinstagram #beachsunrise #beachesofinstagram #southflorida #floridagirls #sunrisechaser ⁣
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"No one goes there nowadays, it's too crowded" 
-Yogi Berra.


I miss the beach! 
Some people you run into at the beach are friendly, nice, and Kara cute.
Some are not, of course, but in South Florida, the odds are that occasionally you can run into someone who is nice and Kara cute and prefers Chicago Deep Dish-style pizza, Ibsen and Strindberg, and peace, like me!
So why would you want to to be in the desert or in a canyon when you could be with someone like Kara at the beach?
The question answers itself.
End of lesson.

Now that I have your attention, in case you didn't know -and not many do- the City of Hollywood is interested in extending the city's iconic Broadwalk south to city line with Hallandale Beach.
(Or, should I say, pre-COVID19 they did.)
Hardly anyone in HB seems to know anything about it.

So far, despite hearing about everyone's general sense of malaise and boredom, alternating between simmering and overdrive, whether in my own neighborhood in Hollywood Hills or via local, national or British TV newscasts, I have not yet personally seen anyone walking around South Florida with shrubbery to hide behind in order to get somewhat closer to some area that's currently prohibited.

As is ACTUALLY happening in the UK -like something out of "Gilligan's Island"- as you can see from my tweet Saturday night to the ever-adorable Amy Kaufman, film and entertainment reporter at the LA Times, long one of our personal favorites, and best-selling author of "Bachelor Nation."



Which of these Beach personalities are you, via Cameron Dallas and his girlfriend Madisyn Nenchaca.




Last Friday, this was the not-so-happy state of affairs a week ago when my friends and I turned on local South Florida TV newscasts and saw something that lots of people in Hollywood, whether civic activists or regular citizens alike, were NOT at all happy about.
Correct, having to wait for Hollywood parks and recreational areas to reopen this past Wednesday when Hollywood re-acted AFTER many other local cities had given the okay for similar facilities under on their turf. 

Trust me, I've received LOTS more angry and negative emails and phone calls from people I know and even from some new readers of the blog or my Twitter feed, than you'd know from what I've been tweeting about recently, including the bad, near-Ghost Town situation in Downtown Hollywood, sometimes even at 6:30 pm. 
D-E-A-D.

 "Why wasn't the City of Hollywood ready to go?," I keep getting asked over-and over.
But then I remind them that's more of a question for the Hollywood City Commission to explain and rationalize, no?
Image

Because I have a very good knowledge of how so many of the decisions and judgments around here are usually made, who and what gets considered, early on, I gave the benefit of the doubt to Hollywood city employees being extra... something. 
What, dutiful?
Paying more attention to detail to make sure everything was as clean as could be before opening up?

But in this particular case, thus far, I have yet to hear any elected Hollywood official or anyone in the City Manager's office give a credible explanation for why it's taken Hollywood so much longer to get going on recreational sites.
And for those of you who don't live in the area, the context for all of the discontent here in Hollywood is that it opened some of its most popular parks on Wednesday MANY days after other nearby cities like Aventura and Fort Lauderdale did.
Class-conscious Aventura, typically, made people show ID, and only allowed Aventura residents into its parks, while Hollywood is not requiring IDs.

I'll be posting something here on the blog in the near-future based on those emails, phone calls I referenced earlier, plus many face-to-face talks with Downtown Hollywood stakeholders who, in some cases, feel like they've been abandoned and left to fend for their own, given how little they have seen from the Hollywood CRA and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce that was anything more than fluff and dross.

 No, clearly not everyone is as calm and measured about this matter as my friend, Cat Uden, celebrated Stand Up Paddle Board aficionado and Hollywood civic activist for increased recreational activity along Hollywood Beach, and, not least, the South Florida Campaign Organizer for Oceana, focusing on ocean and coastal conservation.
And as you regular readers of the blog would know, articulate and enthusiastic Cat has been a subject of several fact and photo-filled blog posts the past two years, starting here:
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/so-proud-of-two-of-my-newer-friends.html

Here's an excerpt from Cat's interesting April 1st Instagram post that I thought of a lot the past 5 weeks, as one person in Hollywood after another told me of their personal displeasure with what was going on here, whether about the lack of access to the Broadwalk for exercise purposes, the closed parks, or what they feel is the city's short-sighted ideas/plans for rejuvenating Downtown Hollywood.

(I will be blogging about that subject later this week, as businesses in that part of the city have literally fallen off a cliff, with many concerned stakeholders I've spoken to the past two months saying that, even more than usual, they believe the Hollywood CRA and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has behaved more like incurious spectators than active participants.
Lots of people are angry and not afraid to point fingers at the people they hold responsible.
And in an election year, that can have tangible consequences.)

Cat's full Instagram post is below this excerpt.
"I miss going to the beach in the mornings. I had accepted that it was necessary to close the beaches (because people were idiots and took advantage). Last week, I made the mistake of looking at the beach webcam, and when I saw the ocean was blue and flat and glassy and beautiful, I admit I cried for a good half hour. But I’m not going to sit around and whine about my beach closure on social media or bug my elected officials. They have much bigger problems right now...."










I miss going to the beach in the mornings. I had accepted that it was necessary to close the beaches (because people were idiots and took advantage). Last week, I made the mistake of looking at the beach webcam, and when I saw the ocean was blue and flat and glassy and beautiful, I admit I cried for a good half hour. But I’m not going to sit around and whine about my beach closure on social media or bug my elected officials. They have much bigger problems right now. Have you seen the number of projected infections, hospitalizations, and deaths? As much as I love my mornings at the beach, it would be horrible to complain about beach access when hundreds of thousands of people in my country could die very soon. At least we’re still allowed to have outdoor exercise. (Some nations have banned that already). We can walk and bike in the sunshine. I can still get on the water, I just can’t go to the beach. None of my friends or family have died. My husband and I are still employed. My kids are safe. We have food. I should really be extremely thankful. There is no immunization or cure for this virus, there is only change of behavior. I can only avoid trips to indoor spaces, avoid stores, and keep my family away from others. We’re all experiencing some sort of disruption in our lives. Let’s hope we flatten the curve sooner rather than later. This photo popped up on my Facebook memories the other day. I always appreciated my morning paddles and never took them for granted. I felt so lucky every time. I hope that you all are staying safe and finding things to be thankful for. ✌🏾❤️ #Aloha #flattenthecurve #weareallinthistogether #perspective #thankful #smile #breathe #thankyounurses #thankyoudoctors
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WPLG Local 10 News You Tube Channel 
Beach-side cycling access differs from Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood. 
Reporter: Hatzel Vela. Uploaded May 1st, 2020. 
https://youtu.be/6AUgzSLXMTc

 On Friday the City of Hollywood posted information to their website regarding recreational activities, i.e. what's opening and what -besides the public beach- is STILL closed. Here is the updated info as of today, Monday the 11th.
Like it or not, it's what's permissible, even if not optimal for keeping residents content, if not happy.
My emphasis below in red.

Limited Reopening of Broadwalk and Additional City Parks and Recreational Facilities Wednesday, May 13th
Select City Parks and Recreational Facilities Now Open

In the continuing effort to protect the safety and well-being of our community, those visiting parks and recreational facilities must follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Florida Department of Health, including wearing facial covering and social distancing. Detailed information on those restrictions can be found here. 
City-operated parks and recreational facilities will remain open contingent upon visitors’ compliance with these recommended guidelines. 
Provided the data continues with a downward trend, and we have compliance with social distancing and capacity restrictions related to existing park/recreational facility re-openings that started on Wednesday, May 6th, another phase is set for Wednesday, May 13th that may include the Broadwalk.

Parks Currently Open for Passive Activities

The following parks are open for passive activities only. Passive activities include walking, biking, running and individual enjoyment of the natural surroundings. No courts or playgrounds are open at this time.

ArtsPark at Young Circle - 1 Young Circle
Charles Vollman Park - 2933 Taft Street
Jefferson Park - 1501 Jefferson Street
Joe DiMaggio Park - 1001 Three Island Boulevard
John Williams Park - 6101 Sheridan Street
Oakridge Park - 5200 SW 35th Avenue
Zinkil Park - 5451 Washington Street

Park hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Boat Ramps

Hollywood Marina - 700 Polk Street
Boat Ramps open to motor-powered craft only. (One boat on a ramp at a time)

Holland Park - 801 Johnson Street
Boat ramps open for rowing boats, canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards only.

Ramp hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(If the parking areas reach capacity, the ramps may be closed.)

(Note: No other areas of Holland Park will be open on Wednesday the 13th, like the Observation Tower, one of my favorite places in all of South Florida. 
It's a great place for taking photos that capture the wide variety of people, Stand Up Paddle Boards, kayaks, boats and yachts that one can see, to say nothing of the beautiful variety of shades of blue and green water under sunny skies on the Intracoastal and North Lake.

Without getting too far ahead of my story, with more details to come in the coming weeks, once that Observation Tower opens again, don't be surprised to see me over there a lot more frequently than I've been the past year. And this time with some... yes, models. 
Hmmm... a mystery! 
Stay tuned!!!)

Golf Courses:
Golf courses at Hollywood Beach Golf Club, Eco Golf Club and Orangebrook Golf Club are open for play with restrictions. View restrictions by clicking here.

Planning for the Next Phase on Wednesday, May 13th

Providing that the numbers continue to trend downward and compliance with social distancing and capacity restrictions are observed at current park/recreational facility re-openings, the City has another phase set for Wednesday, May 13th with restrictions. 
Compliance with the restrictions is critical to keeping these facilities open.

Parks:
Bob Butterworth                  
Earl Crofford
Emerald Hills Lakes                          
Lions Park      
Oak Street                            
Sailors Point
Three Islands            
Harry Berry                          
Keating
Water View

Open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for passive use only. 
No use of restrooms or water fountains. 
Social distancing of at least 6 feet between individuals. 
No groups larger than 10 people. 
No active organized team sports allowed. 
Facial coverings must be worn at all times. 

The Community Garden at Oak Lake will require anyone working in garden to wear a mask. Allow Artist in residence return to work at ArtsPark. Artist studio work only. 
No tours, lessons or private engagements.

Hollywood Broadwalk

6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for exercising only including walking, jogging and bike riding
No rollerblading, skating or skateboarding
No loitering
Social distancing of at least 6 feet between individuals
No groups larger than 10 people
Facial coverings recommended when social distancing is difficult to maintain
Beach remains closed

Skate Parks:
Hollywood West
Stan Goldman

Will require social distancing of at least six feet. Everyone in a skate park must be wearing a mask. One person per element. No more than 10 people in skate park at a time.

Tennis Courts:
Jefferson Park
Driftwood Community Center

Singles play only. Only two players per court inside court area. Must adhere to social distancing of at least six feet.

Pavilion Rentals:
Cathy and Bob Anderson Park    
Eppleman Park              
Holland Park
Jefferson Park                                                      
Oak Lake Park
Poinciana Park  

Only parties less than 10. Must adhere to physical distancing and all parties must wear facial covering. Venues times will be limited 1 per day to allow for cleaning.

Limited Restrooms Available:
Jefferson Park                  
Sailors Point              
Stan Goldman Park
Zinkil Park
Holland Park                    
Charnow Park                    
Johnson Street on Hollywood Beach
Harry Berry Park    
Keating Park

Open facilities will be cleaned and sanitized twice daily, seven days a week per CDC guidelines. Please, only one customer at a time in the restroom facility.

 Do you remember that time I was at the beach 🌴☀️, either down here in South Florida or out in California, and a drop-dead beautiful woman in a bikini was there but I didn't see her because her bikini was camouflage?
Nope! 
Me either.









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FYI: So, if you STILL haven't figured out the meaning of the headline of today's blog post, it's a riff on Simon & Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence, which became a breakout hit in part because it was used extensively throughout one of the most iconic films ever, The Graduate.


Dave
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