By Rachel Galvin

Despite the city’s ongoing effort to educate the public about the correct way to recycle, the amount of contamination that continued to occur, as well as the increasing costs for processing and global low demand for materials led to them deciding to stop the program once again. The suspension is set to run from July 1st to Oct. 1st. If you put recyclables during this time in those blue cans as usual, they will still collect it, but they will just throw it in with the rest of the trash. The city asks people to refrain from using those buckets and only use them as a last resort.

Remember, you still can bring recyclables to the city’s Recycling Drop-Off Center, located at 401 SW 4 Street, in Deerfield. The city will also be placing two additional community recycling containers at these locations:

The City of Deerfield Beach Parks and Recreation Department is disappointed to have canceled their 2020 4^th of July Celebration that was to be held at the Main Beach Parking Lot. Though festival-goers will not be able to “physically” attend their 4^th of July Celebration, they will have a week of virtual programming every day from June 29 to July 4 for the whole family.

Be on the lookout for details on the city Facebook page and follow their 4^th of July event page for more details. For more information as to the full entertainment lineup and various information, visit: www.dfb.city/4thofjuly as they will keep the site updated as information is confirmed. Below is what is currently planned:

The above times and activities are subject to change without advance notice.

No fireworks permitted.

Questions? Visit www.dfb.city/4thofjuly or email the Community Events and Outreach Division at dfbspecialevents@dfb.city.

The sky over Pompano will be aglow with fireworks on 4th of July. The show starts at 9 p.m. from “an undisclosed location.” Look up in the sky or tune into Channel 78, the city’s website, to see the lights in the night sky. They also will be shown live on  www.pompanobeachfl.gov.

Open since June 3, the Boca Raton Museum has extended their hours and now is offering free entry through September! If you have not had a chance to take advantage of this, now is the time. Guests must wear masks. Other measures have been put into place to maintain safety and social distancing. For more information on the museum, visit https://www.bocamuseum.org.

They also have two new exhbitions that you may not have seen yet.

On view through September 20:
Eye to I: Self Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery
Phyllis Galembo: Maske

On view through January 3:
Edward Steichen: In Exaltation of Flowers
Works on Paper: Drawn from the Collection

(Above, from the exhibition “Eye to I: Self Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery.” Artwork by Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Untitled, from the series When I am not Here, Estoy alla. ©María M. Campos-Pons. Dye diffusion transfer print (1996). National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Julia P. and Horacio Herzberg.

(In Exaltation of Flowers: Petunia, Caladium, Budleya, by Edward Jean Steichen Tempera and gold leaf on canvas (c. 1910-1913).

Following the protests over the death of George Floyd and others, many law enforcement agencies are rethinking their policies. Broward Sheriff’s Office is among them.

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said, “The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) always strives to provide the highest quality public safety services to Broward County. This is the level of service the community expects and deserves from BSO. Since taking office, I have been committed to accountability and building trust with the community. Click here to watch an important video on BSO’s accountability and transparency.

“The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) is committed to increasing dialogue and transparency in order to have a better understanding of racial discrimination within the criminal justice system. It’s important to openly address these issues and look at how we can improve upon them. Part of that process has already begun with re-integrating a more comprehensive Early Warning System to detect potential behaviors that may cause harm to the public, establishing the first Use-of-Force Review Board in the agency’s history, restructuring the Professional Standards Committee and offering Racial Equity and Implicit Bias Training countywide.
 
“Every single day we are in contact with some resident in this community and have some form of dialogue. Broward County is one of the most diverse counties in the state of Florida. We need to understand the plights that truly exist that impact how we react with the people who we are supposed to serve.
 
“As part of BSO’s commitment to transparency, below are the department policies already in alignment with the #8CANTWAIT recommendations.

1.     Ban on chokeholds and strangleholds
BSO does not teach chokeholds. Deputies will not use chokeholds to restrain or secure any person except in situations where deadly force is justified. 
 
2.     Require de-escalation
De-escalation training is provided to all sworn law enforcement personnel as part of their annual use-of-force training.
 
3.     Require warning before shooting
Policy requires deputies to give some verbal warning, when feasible, before discharging a weapon. 
 
4.     Exhaust all other means before shooting
Under the totality of circumstances, deputies are trained to utilize alternative resources, such as de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention techniques and other less lethal options as long as its use does not compromise safety or law enforcement priorities. 
 
5.     Duty to intervene
BSO deputies are instructed on peer accountability and their legal obligation to intervene. Failure to intervene shall be treated the same as if the employee committed the violation.  
 
6.     Ban on shooting at moving vehicles
BSO policy prohibits shooting at or from moving vehicles unless life threatening exigent circumstances exist. We do not teach these techniques. 
 
7.     Require use of force continuum
BSO deputies are taught use-of-force guidelines and how to respond to the following types of resistance: passive resistance, active resistance, aggressive and deadly force. Deadly force is the last option.  
 
8.     Require all force be reported
Uniformed deputies have body-worn cameras and are required to activate them prior to taking any lawful action per policy. All use-of-force incidents are documented by both the patrol deputy and their immediate supervisors. All use-of-force reports are reviewed by the deputy’s command and forwarded to the Department of Professional Standards for review if issues are identified.
 
“As public safety professionals, we have a responsibility and duty to serve and protect – and part of service is listening. We want to hear from you. Share your experiences with us—good or bad. There are many ways to share your feedback:

“Click here to watch an important video on BSO’s accountability and transparency.

“We know we are stronger together, and I am confident that over the next few months and years, this organization will have a solid reputation with the community and they will trust us.”
 

 

As of today, June 8, summer camps are open and vacation rentals too; next will be other services, including bowling alleys, arcades, laser tag, concert and play houses, auditoriums and movie theaters–which will be open at 50% capacity next Monday, June 15 with sanitation and other safety procedures in place, just like restaurants and other businesses, which have already been open in this way, have put into place. Masks, hand washing, etc. will be at play. For a full list of details and requirements, see https://www.broward.org/CoronaVirus/Documents/Emergency%20Order%2020-15.pdf

As of June 3, County Administrator Bertha Henry has terminated the Emergency Curfew Order that was imposed on Broward County since May 31.

However, if required to protect Broward County residents and businesses, a curfew may be reimposed for part or all of the County, including incorporated and unincorporated areas, with as little as one (1) hour prior written notice designating the applicable area(s).

A curfew will be reimposed if there is evidence of possible civil unrest that threatens the health, safety, or welfare of the public. Broward County Code of Ordinances gives the County Administrator the authority to impose a general curfew applicable throughout the community while there is a State of Local Emergency in effect, issued on Sunday, May 31st.

Municipalities may have still have curfews in place. Residents are urged to check with their municipality for any stricter pronouncements.