Juneteenth is America’s true Independence Day. It celebrates the day that news of emancipation reached Texas, the last state to learn of liberation. Though this is only the fourth year it’s been recognized as a federal holiday, it’s long been celebrated as a true day of independence. This year the celebration expands.

With its big picture windows and prime location on Wilton Drive by The Manor Complex, the former Wilton Collective building has been eyed by a lot of businesses interested in grabbing the spot. However, it seems the owner is not in the mood for a long-term commitment.

Police are going to have a better idea of who’s coming and going through Wilton Manors. At their meeting on May 28, commissioners voted 4-0 (Mayor Newton was not in attendance) to approve license plate readers (LPR).

When Wilton Manors’ police chief, Gary Blocker, announced in April that there were seven out of 32 open officer positions, eyebrows were raised. During a meeting between the city and the department’s union, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), it was revealed the situation is much more dire than first believed. 

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.

Funding cost overruns, lowering expectations for Stonewall, and giving the community more input. Wilton Manors’ city commission met for less than an hour at the meeting on April 23, but they took care of a lot of business.