It’s one of the most recognizable boats in the Winterfest Boat Parade.

Mr. Bobb has been lighting up the New River in the Fort Lauderdale parade for the past 40 years.

Peggy Messingschlager: “It doesn’t feel like it. The kids keep me young.”

Eighty-eight-year-old Peggy Messingschlager still gets up on the bow and shakes her pom-poms — rain or shine.

Peggy Messingschlager: “My daughter is saying, ‘Come down, Mom, it’s raining!’ I’m like, ‘No, we haven’t passed the judge’s stand yet.'”

Mr. Bobb is an award winner and fan favorite.

It has captivated crowds for decades, and even caught the attention of entertainer Bob Hope, who hopped aboard to take his Christmas picture in 1987 when he was the parade’s grand marshal.

Peggy Messingschlager: “The parade was over. It’s like 11 o’clock at night, and I’m looking up at my husband, and we’re circling them, and I’m like, ‘Why aren’t we going home?’ He’s just, ‘Mrs. Hope would like to have her picture taken on the boat.'”

So, how did this tradition begin? In 1985, Peggy’s son Mark told her he wanted to be in the boat parade, and like any good mother, she supported his grand idea.

Peggy Messingschlager: “Went to the wholesale house, bought 2,000 lights, and two days later, ‘Mom, we need more lights,’ and I’m like, ‘You couldn’t have gone through those already.’ Now, we gave up counting.”

Mr. Bobb was named after Peggy’s husband and Mark’s dad. Forty years later, Mark is still decorating it.

They start in October — untangling the countless cords that make Mr. Bobb light up.

Mark Messingschlager: “It’s a nightmare. Spaghetti ball, we call it.”

And his kids and their friends pitch in, too.

Amanda Messingschlager: “The boys do all the manual labor.”

Rita Messingschlager: “The boys definitely do the manual labor.”

Mark Messingschlager: “My son’s best friend right here, Oliver, he’s the one who’s the engineer. He’s our electrical engineer.”

For them, the boat parade is more exciting than Christmas. We asked Peggy, her granddaughter, and daughter-in-law to pick their holiday highlight.

All three: “This, this, this!”

Peggy’s granddaughter, Amanda, says even more important than the dazzling lights is the family tradition.

Amanda Messingschlager: “It’s pretty cool to see, like, my memories from when I was 4 to 32 [years old] in the same place and always the most fun. It’s honestly awesome to have a hobby passed down to you, that I am excited to bring my kids into.”

Peggy Messingschlager: “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

And hopefully, Mr. Bobb’s legacy will carry on for generations to come.

You can see Mr. Bobb and the 99 other boats in this year’s parade in our Winterfest special. It airs Friday at 7 p.m. on WSVN.

Courtney Allen, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

The trucks drive through our neighborhoods picking up items for recycling.

Angela Munez: “Plastics, cans and any paper goods, which would be like pizza boxes or anything else that goes into that blue huge bin I have at my house.”

But are those things actually being recycled? 7Investigates wanted to find out.

We put an AirTag on a plastic milk bottle in Coconut Grove. Another AirTag on a metal can in Country Walk. A third one on a soda can in North Miami and a fourth on a plastic bottle at Miami International Airport.

A City of Miami recycling truck picked up the milk bottle.

Four days later, it pinged at the Miami-Dade County central transfer station.

The plastic bottle thrown away at MIA showed up a day later at the Miami-Dade County west transfer station.

Waste taken to both of these transfer stations goes to a landfill and is not recycled.

The AirTag on the metal can of dog food in Country Walk and the one on the soda can we recycled in North Miami Beach stopped transmitting after being picked up.

They might have been smashed in the truck so we have no way of knowing if these items were recycled or not.

But two of our four items were not recycled and that frustrates some residents

Jacob Fleishman: “We’re paying to recycle. So might as well make sure it happens.”

But the reality is a lot of our recyclables end up in this long line of trucks at landfills

Kari: “Very mad, very upset. We’ve been recycling for a long time.”

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection wanted to find out why. So it commissioned this study, which found contamination is a big issue

Operators said “they could process more if incoming materials were cleaner.”

Dr. Yalan Liu: “A lot of them find diapers and all kinds of stuff in their recycling.”

Researcher Dr. Yalan Liu says as much as 50% of recyclable material is contaminated, something city officials say they deal with every day.

Russell Ketchem: “Contamination is by far the killer to a recycling program or to your commodity that you’re trying to recycle.”

So what can we do?

Start at home. Make sure your recyclable items are clean, so the load doesn’t get rejected and sent to a landfill.

Miami-Dade County is actually working on app-based tools to help residents identify what can and cannot be recycled.

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Week after week, we place our boxes and bottles, cans and plastic in our recycling bins. We hope it will help save the planet.

Angela Munez: “I hope it is, I pray it is. That’s why I do it every two weeks. I take it out, it’s always full to the top.”

But 7 Investigates wanted to find out what really happens to the items we recycle.

We glued Apple AirTags to bottles, cans, plastic, milk cartons and boxes to see where they would end up.

We started in Broward County, with a cardboard box in Dania Beach and a wine bottle in Hollywood, a paper cup at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and a cardboard tube in Pompano Beach.

All of the items were tossed into recycling bins with an AirTag attached.

Heather Walker: “Do you think your recycling gets recycled?”

Susan Akhtarkhavari: “Honestly, I’m doing my part, and I’m hoping it does.”

Here’s what happened. The cardboard tube first went to a Waste Management transfer station in Deerfield Beach. It was sent from there to Waste Management’s large recycling center in Pembroke Pines.

City officials say this is how recycling is supposed to work.

Russell Ketchem, Director of Environmental Services: “So it will go from the truck that picks it up off the street to a transfer station, and then transferred to a recycling processing facility out in Pembroke Pines.”

Our box in Dania Beach was tracked to this Waste Management transfer station in Davie, where we lost the signal. Though we don’t know exactly what happened, an AirTag that is crushed into a recycling bale would be destroyed.

The wine bottle was picked up in Hollywood and also sent to a transfer station.

Less than 12 hours later, it pinged 178 miles away in Central Florida at the JED Landfill, where there is no recycling.

The airtag from FLL ended up at the South Broward Waste-to-Energy Plant. It was burned and turned into power, which is sold to Florida Power & Light.

Heather Walker: “Do you think your recycling is being recycled?”

Steven Price: “Uh, I have no idea. The cans and glass, I assume are; the plastic, I doubt it. But we do the best we can.”

Airport authorities in a statement said, “Unfortunately, recyclables typically end up being mixed by airport users with non-recycled waste like food, liquids, plastic bags, etc…” which means they have to go out with the trash to be burned.

Hollywood city officials also blame contamination for the wine bottle being sent to the dump. If collection workers believe the load is too contaminated, they send the load out as trash.

In Pompano Beach, collection workers don’t have to pick up a bin that has the wrong items inside it.

Russell Ketchem: “He has the last look to say, ‘This is a go, no-go.’ And if he looks in the bin, and it is full of contamination, then it’s a no-go. Because it’s remarkable how little contamination and the type can mess up a whole truck.”

The end result for Broward County? Three out of four of our test items appeared to have been recycled.

On Wednesday, we test Miami-Dade County and look deeper into why so much of what we recycle ends up in landfills.

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Monday, October 24th. Hurricane Wilma struck Southwest Florida with 120 mile-per-hour winds.

The monster Category 3 storm covered most of Florida as it headed east toward Miami-Dade and Broward counties, hitting here as a strong Category 1, with some areas experiencing Category 2 force winds.

Woman: “It took our hurricane shutters right off the window.”

Wilma’s eyewall was between 55 and 65 miles wide. It covered all of South Florida.

The storm’s winds left a path of destruction from Miami to Fort Lauderdale.

The Broward County School Board headquarters suffered extensive damage, as did the Broward County Courthouse.

Woman: “Broward County, the district. Basically, it’s destroyed — it’s glass everywhere, it’s debris everywhere, papers everywhere.”

In North Bay Village, a man was rescued from a houseboat.

First responder: “We put the gentleman on a lounge chair and a backboard and pulled him off to safety.”

Other nearby boats were sunk from Wilma’s winds.

Man: “We’re watching docks ripped out, we’re watching boats sinking. This is our community, our friends, and we’ve lost it all. It’s all gone.”

Also gone: electricity. Ninety-eight percent of customers in South Florida lost power, primarily due to downed trees.

Woman: “They’re estimating us to be maybe another teo to three weeks before we get power back.”

Grocery stores had no power. Gas stations had no power. People waited hours in long lines for fuel.

Woman at gas station: “I’ve been here all morning!”

It wasn’t long before tempers flared.

Man at gas station: “Before you know it, everyone was out of their cars. Thank God the police came to squash the problem, but people’s tempers are high.”

Police had to be called to the few stations that had generators.

Gas station employee: “They were pushing towards the pumps. We had to shut the pumps down. They lined up, the police [were] in front of them, and even then, they were pushing against the police. It was pretty scary.”

With grocery stores closed, families became desperate to find ice and food for their families.

Reporter: “Did you eat anything?”

Girl: “Cereals.”

Reporter: “You had some cereals?”

[The girl nods.]

Reporter: “Anything else?”

Girl’s father: “Did you have milk?”

[The girl shakes her head.]

Girl’s father: “No?”

People who had gas could drive to government distribution sites. Others had to improvise.

For many it was a daily struggle.

Woman: “We eat what we can. Just ends and odds. It’s hard, it’s really hard, it’s hard “

Weeks after the storm, the hardships weren’t over.

Woman: “Water was everywhere. I was wondering where the water was coming from.”

Buildings damaged by the storm became unlivable.

Man: “They never told us that we had to move out or anything. I get here, and they told us, ‘This building has been condemned.'”

Hundreds of people were given hours to leave their homes, taking only what they could carry.

Woman: “I don’t know where we’re going to go. I don’t know.”

Wilma caused more than $20 billion worth of damage in Florida, and as a result of the storm’s impact, gas stations and grocery stores were mandated by law to have backup generators.

Brickell is busy with lots of people and pets, but one thing the area is lacking, is parks.

Isabel Quintero, Brickell resident: “It’s so sad.”

Which is why when the Southside Park closed, residents like Isabel Quinetro were angry.

Isabel Quintero: “I was extremely upset when I found out because this is the only park that we have in this area of Brickell.”

The park is located near The Underline off of Southwest 11th Street. But as you can see, the playground, basketball courts and the rest of the park is fenced off.

A developer has put a sales office for a new high-rise here

Isabel Quintero: “No park for the dogs, my poor baby. So many people have dogs and so many kids also. That was a park that belonged to the community. Who gave them the right to take it?”

7Investigates went to the city for answers.

City of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo: “We have not given the park to a private developer. That park will be developed by the private developer.”

Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo represents this area. He said the park closure is temporary. It is part of an agreement between the developer and the City of Miami.

Joe Carollo: “They have the right to be upset and be angry because they don’t have the use and haven’t had the full use of that park for some time.”

But he says the deal was made with residents in mind.

In order to build here, the developer agreed to put millions of dollars into park renovations, including a new playground, dog runs and basketball courts.

For residents like Isabel, that will be nice. But the developer says it won’t be done until 2027.

Isabel Quintero: “So now, what do we do?”

Heather Walker: “Is there any way for a portion of the park to be open during this process?”

Joe Carollo: “I have been looking at that, and I hope that in the next several weeks I’ll have an answer for you.”

7Investigates will be following up. Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Money is tight for so many people right now — and having a pet can be an extra burden.

Denise Payne: “He loves people.”

Denise has cerebral palsy and said her dog, Oscar, is the best medicine.

She rescued him after Hurricane Irma.

Denise Payne: “He’s loved us ever since. He’s got quite the personality.”

He’s loving and sweet. But after surviving the hurricane, he almost died when another dog attacked him.

Denise Payne: “He was nearly murdered, brutally mauled.”

He was alive, but in bad shape.

Denise Payne: “I couldn’t let him die. He was like, ‘Mommy, I love you. Mommy, save me,’ and that’s what I did, because how can you put a price tag on life?”

The cost for care was thousands of dollars, which Denise couldn’t afford. Luckily, she found out about a group called The Pet Project.

Sue Martino: “We don’t say no, we have to do what we have to do. My job is to make sure we make the money to do it.”

Sue Martino is the executive director of The Pet Project. A nonprofit that works to keep pets with their owners during tough times.

The groups cares for about 3,000 pets by supplying vet care and in-home assistance for people like Denise.

Heather Walker: “All of this food is given out for free?”

Sue Martino: “Yes. Our clients don’t pay one penny for this service.”

Along with providing food, volunteers will also walk dogs for people.

All of the services are free thanks to donations, grants and money raised from their thrift store, Hidden Treasures, in Wilton Manors.

Sue Martino: “It’s 100% volunteer. All the stuff in here is donated. We will do everything in the world that we can to keep pets in their homes to save the animal and to save the person.”

Denise said The Pet Project has done just that by keeping Oscar alive.

Denise Payne: “They made it happen.”

She is happy to have him back home with his sister.

Heather Walker, 7News.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Pet Project
2200 NW Ninth Avenue
Wilton Manors, FL 33311
Website

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Asha Walker, founder of Health in the Hood: “How about some tomatoes? Let’s do it.”

To grow a garden, you need some dirt…

Asha Walker: “Let’s crack open those seeds.”

Sunshine and…

Asha Walker: “What do you think the last thing we need to do is?”

Genesis: “Watering.”

Asha Walker: “Girl, you are a pro.”

This community garden in Pinewood, near Miami’s West Little River neighborhood, is a place where people can learn to plant, pick and enjoy food — fresh from the garden.

[Genesis pulls a sweet potato from the ground.]

Asha Walker: “Woo! That’s a big one. We had to work for that guy.”

Heather Walker: “What do you think about this?”

Jennifer Richards, Genesis’ mom: “Honestly, I love it, I love it.”

Jennifer Richards and her daughter Genesis recently moved to Pinewood and just happened to stumble upon the garden.

Genesis: “It’s very fun, and it’s very cool.”

Jennifer Richards: “I really like this aspect, the fact that this is an open garden in the neighborhood for kids to just stop by, learn certain things and just to have fun in it. Especially for her, since she loves to garden, so I love the aspect of having something so close for her.”

That was the goal when Asha Walker started these gardens with her nonprofit, called Health in the Hood.

Asha Walker: “Our mission is equal food access for all.”

Many inner city areas in South Florida are in what the Food and Drug Administration calls “food deserts,” which is any area more than a mile away from a grocery store.

Asha Walker: “If you are living in a community that’s more than a mile away from a grocery store, you don’t have a car, you don’t have extra disposable income, but if you have it growing in your backyard, it’s a totally different scenario.”

Which is what prompted Asha to bring fresh grown vegetables to the neighborhood through urban farming.

Asha Walker: “Urban gardens are really the heart of our model. We go into a neighborhood that you wouldn’t typically think of seeing a garden in, and we transform what was a vacant lot into a vibrant vegetable garden, and it truly transforms the neighborhood.”

Nikki Fowles has been working for Health in the Hood from the beginning.

Asha Walker: “She is totally the heart and soul of this program.”

She has seen the changes these gardens create in the community.

Nicole Fowles: “We have had a large impact. We’ve had a lot of the elder people that doesn’t drive anymore and doesn’t work.”

Along with planting gardens, Health in the Hood leads community nutrition education programs and holds food distribution events.

The food in the gardens is open to anyone in the neighborhood. They can pick what they need and take it home to enjoy with their family.

Nicole Fowles: “To grow your own food, and to actually be able to share it with others, it’s a wonderful feeling, Mama. It’s a beautiful feeling to give back.”

Heather Walker: “What was your favorite part?”

Genesis: “Planting the green beans.”

Asha Walker: “A little bit of love, a little creativity and some healthy soil, and you can truly transform a neighborhood.”

Genesis: “I want to come tomorrow.”

Jennifer Richards: “We’re going to come back later.”

Asha Walker: “Bye, thank you guys.”

Genesis: “Bye.”

These gardens are growing happier, healthier futures one row at a time.

Heather Walker, 7News.

For more information about Health in the Hood, click here.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Perfectly good tomatoes are being plowed over — instead of picked. It’s a sad scene happening in South Florida.

Heather Moehling, President, Miami-Dade County Farm Bureau: “You can’t even afford to pick them right now. Between the cost of the labor and the inputs that goes in, it’s more cost-effective for the farmers to just plow them right now.”

Heather Moehling understands the struggles that farmers are facing right now. She is part of the family that runs the Homestead produce stand, “Robert Is Here.”

She says farmers used to get $16 for a box of tomatoes. It’s now down to $3-or-$4.

Heather Moehling: “Just a horrible price and some of that has been from what Mexico is bringing into the country and some of that has been just from the threat of the tariffs.”

Farmers say President Trump’s tariffs and the threat of tariffs have caused thousands of acres of tomatoes to go to waste because the price to pick and pack them costs more than what the tomatoes are selling for this year.

Tony Dimare, President Dimare Homestead: “It costs you close to over $10, close to $11 a box to break even, so if you are selling tomatoes for $3, $4. $5 dollars, you can figure out the losses.”

Tony Dimare with Dimare Homestead says his company has experienced huge losses. He won’t disclose how much, but says South Florida farmers are hurting.

Tony Dimare: “The Mexican industry exported, in some cases, double and triple the daily volumes to beat being subject to the 25 percent tariff in February and March and the 10 percent tariffs in April. That just devastated our markets in the U.S.”

Those tariffs never went into effect. But the damage was done. When Mexico flooded the market with cheap tomatoes, local farmers couldn’t compete and didn’t even bother picking their fields.

Now the U.S. government has plans to put an anti-dumping duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes starting in July to try and prevent that from happening again.

And it’s not just tomatoes from Mexico that’s hurting our farmers. South Florida sends a lot of different produce to Canada, which puts a 25 percent tariff on our crops.

Tony Dimare: “Another watermelon grower in the state called me about concern and question on the tariff. His customers in Canada, which for the Florida watermelon growers in the spring time is a big market, had told him that they, because of the tariff and the added cost to Florida watermelons, they wanted to bypass sourcing Florida watermelons for this spring as long as the 25 percent tariff was in place. In fact, they were going to source their watermelon needs from Mexico.”

Immigration changes are also taking a toll. Many pickers are afraid to go to work.

Homestead farm worker: “Many workers have left, others are leaving now.”

This man agreed to talk to us if we agreed to hide his identity. He’s worried about being deported.

Homestead farm worker: “A lot of people are really afraid and sometimes they come, sometimes they don’t come and the harvest is lost because it cannot be harvested, so that’s why so much produce is lost.”

Heather Walker: “What’s the feeling from farmers right now? How are you feeling?”

Tony Dimare: “Not very good, to be honest with you.”

And with the current policies on tariffs and immigration, Florida farmers are not planting a secure future.

Heather Walker, 7 News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

From mission impossible to possible — getting a driver’s license in Miami-Dade County is getting easier.

Worker on speaker: “Please proceed to number 28.”

Heather Walker: “I’m looking here and normally we would see just people sitting here for long hours, no movement, long line outside. But this morning we saw people being ushered in, moving.

Dariel Fernandez, Miami-Dade Tax Collector: “Yes every day, we attend more or less between 700 to 800 people.”

Miami-Dade Tax Collector, Dariel Fernandez, says that’s a new record. It’s almost double the number of people who where being served here — when the state was running the DMVs.

Dariel Fernandez: “This is the Miami Central Office. It’s the second one, largest office that we have here in Miami-Dade County.”

And the second location that the county has taken over since the switch about four months ago.

Dariel Fernandez: “So as you see, all the windows are full.”

There are 33 windows fully staffed. That is up from around 20 (windows).

Heather Walker: “I was just wondering how the process was for you.”

Kimberly, Miami-Dade DMV customer: “Super fast. I got here at 11:05 (a.m.) and, let’s see what time it is now, 11:25 (a.m.), so 20 minutes in and out.”

Heather Walker: “Wow!”

Kimberly: “Yeah. But I did have an appointment.”

But the county says – it is still playing catch-up – cleaning the mess left behind from the state and the old system that allowed people to book multiple appointments and post them for sale.

Dariel Fernandez: “It’s already stopped. If you do that, you are going to have consequences.”

Last week, Miami-Dade County put in place a $500 civil penalty and possible time behind bars for anyone caught selling appointments.

Fernandez tells us the new system won’t allow it to happen anymore.

Heather Walker: “So your message is you are watching everything?”

Dariel Fernandez: “Yes, we are watching everything.”

Fernandez says come summer time – these lines should start to disappear – and appointments should open back up. Making it a much smoother ride for drivers to get on the road.

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Life can be difficult sometimes. Charista feels it’s like that all the time.

Charista Mitchell: “A little tired. I’ve been up all night crying.”

At one point, she says she had a nice life with her husband, Vilmar, and their six children.

Charista Mitchell: “He was a great father. He liked to play. He was hands-on.”

But one day, everything changed.

Charista Mitchell: “Because of October 20, 2020. He was murdered, and my nightmare came true.”

Charista was told her husband was shot while sitting in a car she had rented. She has no idea why.

Charista Mitchell: “I think we will never know the full details, because the person who murdered him has not given any type of statement.”

As the years passed, Charista felt she had gotten her life back on track.

Then she got an email.

Charista Mitchell: “I received a final bill from Enterprise.”

The police kept the car for four and a half years as evidence. When Enterprise got it back, they wanted Charista to pay $5,047 for damage to the vehicle.

As Charista scrolled down the email, she saw what they had provided as proof of the damage.

Charista Mitchell: “Not realizing what I was looking at was not something I ever wanted to see.”

Pictures of the damaged car, the seat where her husband was sitting when he was murdered, the cup he was drinking from, and an airbag that Charista believes has his blood on it.

Charista Mitchell: “It’s horrible. Disturbing.”

She was shocked and angry.

Charista Mitchell: “To have pictures of my husband’s crime scene that I’ve never seen before just be sent over to me because they want money? I think that’s, like, very traumatizing to go through.”

Not just for her. The children as well.

Charista Mitchell: “And once they see me crying about this bill in the pictures, it took everyone back through the grieving process again.”

It’s why Charista feels like she does about her life.

Charista Mitchell: “Life hates me. Life doesn’t want me to move on. Every time I try to move forward in the future, life brings me back to October 20, 2020.”

Well, Howard, this seems terrible to do to a widow, but is it legal?

Howard Finkelstein: “Yes and no. Yes, you can send the pictures, because it’s proof of the damage to the vehicle, but since it was where her husband was murdered, they should not have sent those pictures. As for the $5,000 repair bill, the rental company waited too long to file the claim, so Ms. Mitchell does not have to pay anything.”

You can tell how good a company is by how quickly they respond to a problem.

After I contacted Enterprise, a spokesperson wrote:

“Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Upon deeper review, we made the decision to close the claim. We have reached out to Ms. Mitchell to sincerely apologize to her for any hardship this has caused.”

Charista Mitchell: “I’m happy. I’m amazed.”

When we met with Charista again, she felt better about her life and herself, and it all began with a call to Help Me Howard.

Charista Mitchell: “I’m very glad I called Help me Howard, Patrick. It’s a huge relief. I can move on. I don’t have to constantly think of it right now. At least I don’t have that hanging over my head.”

Glad we could help you, Charista. Hopefully your bad days are behind you, and your dream of opening a nail salon can now come true.

By the way, the woman who killed Charista’s husband was convicted and got 25 years in prison.

Life unfair to you? Ready for some good luck? Get that break by calling us, to get you on a roll.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

If you Google “animated,” don’t be surprised if Shavonne pops up.

Shavonne Anderson: “My mom’s house is literally down the street. An auntie’s house is down the street. Auntie’s house down the street.”

Shavonne grew up in this neighborhood and wouldn’t leave it.

Shavonne Anderson: “Nice neighborhood. No crime. I can sleep with my window open, if the light wasn’t coming through the window.”

Yes, the bright personality has a light problem.

Shavonne Anderson: “I have been hit with lights, constantly. Big lights, small lights. Light, light, light, light, light, light, light.”

This is her next-door neighbor’s house at night.

Shavonne Anderson: “So I have literally seven lights coming from the back to the side of my home, from coming through my bathroom, master bedroom to another bedroom.”

The lights are so bright, Shavonne can’t sleep in the master bedroom facing her neighbor.

Shavonne Anderson: “So now when I pull it up, you see her camera sits there. She got lights there, lights there, the lights up there.”

She wanted to move to the bedroom in front of the house, but look across the street at that neighbor’s lights.

Shavonne Anderson: “They got like four, five, six lights that are just as big as her lights.”

A total of 15 lights from two houses pouring into her home. That began when Shavonne notified FPL a neighbor had put a floodlight on their pole, shining into Shavonne’s rooms. Her neighbor took a dim view of being told on.

Shavonne Anderson: “She looks at me with that – and I’m like, ‘Mmmmm…'”

That’s a good way of explaining it, but the results are bad as Shavonne tries to block the light.

Shavonne Anderson: “So I have to come and do this to block out light in the front, and then I have to do the same for this window, so that I can sleep at night.”

It doesn’t work.

Shavonne Anderson: “It was to the point where I was up at night, I couldn’t sleep.”

The neighborhood she grew up in is so bright, it’s darkening Miss Personality’s mood.

Shavonne Anderson: “I feel like, you know, my home is my castle. Just like her home is her castle. I don’t want her to stop enjoying her home, but why do I have to stop enjoying mine?”

Everyone knows there’s a noise ordinance, but Howard, is there a bright light ordinance?

Howard Finkelstein: “Most cities have a law that regulates lighting to protect adjacent property owners from the spillover glare of the lights. How do you know when one is too bright, if they do not have a measurement standard? It’s like what the judge said about pornography. You’ll know it’s too bright when you see it.”

I wanted to know why the two homeowners had so many bright lights. They didn’t want to talk to me.

I contacted Miami Gardens. They were great. They gave the homeowners 30 days to take the lights down or turn them off.

The person in the blue house took all their lights down, and Shavonne’s next-door neighbor turned off some, dimmed the rest, and life returned to normal for Shavonne.

Shavonne Anderson: “I mean, I’m happy I’m living in my master bedroom. I’m serious. I’m living in my master bedroom.”

So, so happy, after her call to Help Me Howard.

Shavonne Anderson: “You don’t know how much you helped me. You don’t know, I’m telling you.”

What a personality! Now, if you have a neighbor whose lights are too bright, first talk to them. They might not know it’s bothering you. If they do and don’t care, contact code enforcement, and remember, you cannot do it anonymously anymore.

A problem darkening your mood? Ready to shine a light on it? Flip the switch to us. We may not be the brightest bulbs, but we flash a little intelligence once in a while.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

In the condo world, Bonaire at Woodmont is a nice place. Quiet, not too costly and conveniently located.

Gary Perlman: “We’re central to I-95, the Turnpike, the shopping, the restaurants.”

Another plus: the Perlmans feel safe here.

Gary Perlman: “There’s a guardhouse there. You have to have either a pass key to get in or you have to call somebody in the unit to open the gate for you.”

But of course, it’s South Florida and no security is perfect.

Gary Perlman: “And he followed through on the owner’s side and piggybacked on it.”

It was Nov. 22, 2023, when the driver and two people, who were secretly following him, snuck into the complex.

Gary Perlman: “Two kids came up to his window and shot him in the car.”

The driver didn’t live here. Neither did the people accused of murdering him.

Gary Perlman: “We were shaken up by the murder.”

As the months passed, calm returned. But then Gary’s irritation grew when he saw their liability insurance company was not renewing the association.

Gary Perlman: “The remaining companies that we had to choose from increased our rates $60,000.”

Gary concluded it was the murder that sent their proposed liability rates from $21,000 a year to $81,000, hitting each condo owner.

Gary Perlman: “From just over $600 to over $700 and I think it’s $740 a month now.”

In every complex there are lawsuits. A slip and fall at the pool, a trip over a tree root or a murder. Gary says its not fair the residents have to pay the price.

Gary Perlman: “Where do they have the right to jack up our rates that way and say ‘You know, the community has to pay for negligence.’ Is it negligence? No, it’s not.”

I am afraid I know the answer, Howard, but can condo owners be forced to pay for something they didn’t do?

Howard Finkelstein: “Indirectly, yes. The good news: if someone sues the association, the insurance company has to pay if the association is found liable. The bad news: they will pass whatever increases there are on to the condo owners. The bottom line is insurance companies always make their money and you end up paying.”

I spoke to the property manager who was very knowledgeable about the insurance hike. She said the dead man’s family had not sued the complex but have required the association to preserve all camera footage and documents from that night.

In our opinion, that means they are probably hoping to sue. The property manager did say the murder isn’t why their liability rates went up. It’s because claims for one year on the property surpassed premiums for the last 10 years. She added they shopped around for liability insurance and got a lower rate, now costing each owner around $124 more per year.

But Gary says it’s just one thing after another for owners.

Gary Perlman: “It’s just almost prohibitive to the average consumer.”

And Gary says as the price of everything rises, its pretty clear what the people who used to want to move to South Florida will probably think.

Gary Perlman: “I think what it’s going to do is affect prospective buyers looking at a place to live.”

As condo living goes, Bonaire is reasonable. Imagine other places that are more expensive with their rate hikes and special assessments. In this day and age good luck to the property managers and boards trying to keep costs down as rates soar.

A problem become a liability to you? Wanna insure your aggravation level doesn’t soar? Contact us! Because our rates never go up. We are free. With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Moving from a four-bedroom house to a one-bedroom apartment would be a pain for most people. Not Kimberly.

Kimberly Cooper: “I like it because I’m a minimalist. I like it.”

Kimberly and her husband weren’t planning on downsizing till the property manager stopped by.

Kimberly Cooper: “He looked around and you noticed there was the dog.”

The lease did say no pets. Kimberly has a puppy.

And that day her husband was taking care of his brother’s dog. The landlord said ‘Hit the road.’

Kimberly Cooper: “A notice on the door, saying, that you have a 30-day notice.”

Their lease had expired so they were on a month-to-month deal. Instead of the normal $3,000 rent, they paid $1,500 for part of the month and started packing up.

Kimberly Cooper: “There was no damages.”

Kimberly took pictures before they left.

Kimberly Cooper: “Everything was pristine.”

She even shot a video to make sure they got their $6,000 deposit back.

Kimberly Cooper: “The place was left in immaculate way.”

Kimberly says the landlord also checked out the house.

Kimberly Cooper: “So the guy just did the walkthrough and he said everything was good.”

That was in December. Kimberly then waited for the landlord to send a letter regarding their deposit.

Kimberly Cooper: “There’s no correspondence regarding the security deposit.”

One month went by. Two, three months and no response from the landlord to their emails, texts and phone calls.

Kimberly Cooper: “It’s like he just disappeared off the face of the earth.”

A $6,000 security deposit. A lot of money to everyone.

Kimberly Cooper: “I don’t think anybody go around just like take people’s hard earned money and just pocket it or whatever.”

Well Howard, is Kimberly entitled to her security deposit back?

Howard Finkelstein: “Yes, because if a landlord is going to keep some or all of your security deposit, by law they must notify you by certified mail within 30 days of you vacating the property. If they don’t, they must return your security deposit and by the way, leave a forwarding address to your landlord electronically so you get any notifications.”

I tried to contact the property manager. He didn’t respond to many calls and emails.

I contacted his boss. He then called me back. He said the owner was keeping the deposit because of the dogs, a fence Kimberly’s husband put up without a permit and a leaky roof that the landlord wasn’t told about.

I told the property manager, even if all those things were true, some were not the tenants’ responsibility and the landlord still didn’t contact Kimberly about any problems within the 30-day period .

I noticed Kimberly hadn’t paid enough for December, meaning they were owed $5,250. The landlord said he would tell the owner of the house to return that money and he did.

Kimberly Cooper: “It means that things can be taken care of, bills, and money is the answer to all of that.”

Their $5,250 security deposit back in their pockets after that call to Help Me Howard.

Kimberly Cooper: “I knew that Help Me Howard was going to get the job done. Thank you, Patrick. You are greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. God bless you.”

Glad we could help get those thousands back, Kimberly.

Now before you move out of a rental, you know you have to clean it up and do a walkthrough to get your security deposit back. But there are things you are responsible for and things that are not your problem.

The link to see those is below this article.

Housing a problem? Tired of it dwelling in your life? Deposit it with us to provide the security of a solution. With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.

FOR MORE INFO:
LANLORD TENANT LAW IN FLORIDA

Rights and Duties of Tenants and Landlords

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Forty-five-years-ago, this became the dream home for Marianne and Larry.

Mariane Schmandt: “We’ve had great neighbors. We’ve made friends, and we’ve just enjoyed living here.”

Enjoyed living here because behind them is an eight-acre stretch of property under the Florida Power & Light power lines. Land that was once owned by a nursery.

Mariane Schmandt: “John’s Plants, and he was wonderful.”

Today, none of the homeowners on either side of the land call it wonderful.

Mariane Schmandt: “A truck yard, is what we call it.”

When the nursery closed, the new property owner at 5050 Peters Road rented out space to three landscaping companies to park their trucks.

Mariane Schmandt: “Noisy trucks and Bobcats and 18-wheelers.”

We were there at 6:30 in the morning as about 40 cars with the company’s employees arrived, cranked up dozens and dozens of trucks and drove off.

Mariane Schmandt: “And our bedroom’s right out back, and you hear the truck’s backing up. The ‘beep, beep, beep’ of the trucks.”

Trucks driving through the dirt, kicking up dust, spreading it on neighbor’s cars, homes and backyards.

Mariane Schmandt: “I used to sit out there all evening. I can’t even do it anymore. At times, I can’t even breathe out there. I have [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], and the dust is every day.”

Dumpsters with trash and piles of debris unloaded every day.

Mariane Schmandt: “They said the nursery is all right. This is not a nursery.”

Mariane has a stack of emails and the names of county officials she’s complained to.

Mariane Schmandt: “I have written to the mayor, I have written to the deputy mayor, and I’ve heard back from no one.”

And the dust and the noise continue.

Mariane Schmandt: “You hear them out there with the jackhammer, cutting up concrete.”

That day, Mariane asked the men busting the concrete to stop.

Mariane Schmandt: “‘Leave us alone. We know where you live.’ So that kind of scared me.”

For 43 years, a nice, quiet neighborhood. For the past two years, it’s a nightmare for homeowners.

Mariane Schmandt: “Now it’s frustrating. It’s sad.”

But is a dusty truck storage lot legal with homes on both sides of the property, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein: “I don’t think this is legal. You have dozens of homeowners who are suffering with noise and dirt, depriving them of the full enjoyment of their home. I think the county needs to take another look at this property. If they won’t, the homeowners can band together and sue to stop the nuisances. Not only will the trucks have to move on, but the homeowners can get money for the lost enjoyment of their lives.”

We communicated with Broward County officials over the course of several months. The short summary: The property is zoned for “agriculture and utilities.”

The property owner, Raul Torres, was given a warning about outdoor vehicle storage. He then signed an affidavit that the “vehicles on the property are owned by the nursery or the approved tenants” that have obtained “Certificates of Use from Broward County.”

The county also took the case before a special magistrate who concluded: “The use of the property is in compliance with the issued Certificate of Use.”

Now the gate to the nursery is locked. A “No Trespassing sign” on the fence. The only people allowed in: the truckers who, the county says, can rent space here.

Mariane Schmandt: “They have allowed this commercial truck yard to be put in a residential area, sandwiched between two rows of houses, and they don’t care.”

Broward County says they’ll continue to monitor the situation and respond to any complaints.

I tried to contact the owner of the property. I couldn’t find a number for him or the nursery.

Finally, we will let you know if anything changes in that neighborhood.

Got the dirt on a problem? Feel like a solution is dust in the wind? Dump it on us to see if we can truck in a solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Barbara is 85—full of thoughts and wisdom and not afraid to share them.

Barbara Rado: “What are they gonna do? Put me in jail? Go for it. Put an 85-year-old in jail, go right ahead.”

For example, Barbara gets government food assistance–through her EBT card. But that’s not what Barbara calls it.

Barbara Rado: “i don’t care. It’s food stamps. That’s what i use it for, for food.”

But after Barbara’s daughter helped her make a grocery list, a trip to the store revealed her EBT card was worthless.

Barbara Rado: “How can I not have anything in there but $.93?”

Barbara was hospitalized and didn’t use her EBT card in November.

On December 3, someone in Brighton, Colorado stole the $275 that had accumulated on the card.

Barbara Rado: “They took money. How can they take money?”

At the time, Barbara thought the state didn’t deposit any money into her account. Then the crooks hacked her card and stole $100 in January.

Barbara Rado: “How the hell they did it? Excuse my French, but how the heck could they do it? I have the card with me.”

Terri Rosenberg: “It’s obnoxious! You know you’re basically stealing from a woman who’s just trying to survive.”

Barbara contacted the police, the social services group where she signed up for her food assistance and tried to block the hackers

Barbara Rado: “They canceled my card. He said, we’ll have another one to you.”

She has a new card, but the state wouldn’t return her stolen money.

Barbara Rado: “And I’m just sitting here with no money to buy food.”

Terri Rosenberg: “I think it’s atrocious, honestly.”

Barbara Rado: “And the state couldn’t care less.”

But does DCF have to return money stolen from people’s cards who need it for food, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein: “As of today, no. Congress allowed the law that required reimbursement of funds stolen from the food program to expire on Dec. 20. That means Barbara doesn’t get the money stolen from her EBT card in January, but she does get the $275 stolen in early December. The only catch is she has to report it within 90 days.”

Dealing with Florida Department of Children and Families was not easy.

After several back and forth communications, they said they were not returning the $275 stolen in December because Barbara didn’t notify them within 90 days.

I replied she notified them when she got a new card and she also spoke to their investigator.

DCF’s reply: She talked about the January theft and not the December theft.

I then sent a letter from the social services agency Barbara reported the theft to and reminded them I sent the state the proof of the December 3 theft within the 90-day window.

They said they would look into it again. Then they emailed me “We are unable to discuss an individual’s government assistance case.”

Barbara says that’s because they didn’t want to explain why they refused to restore the $275 to her EBT card.

Barbara Rado: “Oh I think the state is…”

Better left unsaid Barbara. But she isn’t going to focus on her lost food.

With the law changed, she worries what will happen when a parent with children gets hacked.

Barbara Rado: “I feel bad for them. I wish I could give them and help them out and how can you do this to people? You are starving people.”

I am stunned by the state. $275 they legally had to return. Like Barbara, best if I bite my tongue.

Now, both times Barbara was hacked, it was from out of state. There are ways to block that and other tips to protect your EBT card. Click here for more information on those tips.

A problem left you feeling cooked? Starving to find a solution? Let us bite into it and see if we can provide some food for thought.

With this help me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.

FOR MORE INFO:
Ways to Protect Your EBT Benefits.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

A pool in the backyard. Great for the dog.

A lake behind the house. Not a bad view for Norman and his family.

Norman Crews: “You get the birds flying in, the fish all jumping in the lake, feeding. Kids love to get out and do a little fishing.”

Norman loves to drink it all in. And then water became an unexpected problem.

Norman Crews: “Had a water bill come in, and I made an error using my online bill pay.”

Norman paid the $222.47 bill, but a decimal point got left out.

Norman Crews: “And so my $222.47 water bill, I sent out a check for $22,247.”

Norman didn’t notice till his credit union notified him his payment was way above the normal water bill.

Norman Crews: “I panicked. I got on the phone immediately with my credit union, and they told me there was nothing they could do for that check. It was already sent out.”

Norman thought he solved his problem by stopping payment on the check.

Norman Crews: “Absolutely. No worries at all.”

Oh, no. Stick with us on this. It gets worse.

Norman Crews: “I got a letter from City of Sunrise that said I needed to provide them with a full payment of the check, as well as a fee for $1,112.35.”

Norman couldn’t believe he was told to pay the $22,247 for water.

Norman Crews: “I can’t understand it. It was just a mistake.”

And the utility said he had to pay $1,112 for stopping payment on the water bill.

Norman Crews: “And for them to charge me $1,100 for a stopped check seemed ridiculous to me.”

Norman called the Sunrise utility department about the overpayment and the $1,112 charge for stopping that payment.

Norman Crews: “They told me that it was a fee that their bank charges them, and that they were going to charge me that fee, and there was nothing I can do about it.”

Talk about feeling swamped.

Norman Crews: “It’s hard to sleep. It’s hard to think straight, because it just doesn’t make sense.”

Well, Howard, obviously Norman doesn’t have to pay the $22,000 water bill plus the $1,100 stop payment fee. Or does he?

Howard Finkelstein: “No and no. There is no $22,000 water bill, so that is null and void. As for the stop payment, the city does have a right to charge a reasonable fee, meaning $20 or $30, not $1,100. In this case, it appears someone was not watching the computer-generated letter.”

The Sunrise Water Department broke a Help Me Howard record. I emailed them at 11:26. Thirty-eight minutes later, at 12:04, they responded, writing, “Our team was able to track down the letter to this customer, and we see the error that was made. Mr. Crews only has to pay his original bill.”

Norman Crews: “I was very surprised that it turned around so quickly once Patrick reached out to them.”

Norman had already paid the regular water bill, and the city isn’t going to charge him a stop payment fee, leaving a happy customer.

Norman Crews: “I am totally glad I called Help Me Howard. This just lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”

Thank you, Norman, for calling us, and I am also impressed with Sunrise. They made a mistake like we all do. They admitted it and fixed it, which some people don’t do.

If you have a problem with a government agency, and can’t solve it at customer support, start calling the people at the top, or call us.

Soaked by problems? Don’t want a watered-down solution? Go online and contact us. We will help you tell them to go jump in the lake.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

There are spas where you can just get a massage and then there is ‘Just Me.’

Arleta Nykolyk: “So it’s kind of like a workout while you’re laying down. It’s time to try the secret and effortless body sculpting. Now in Weston.”

At ‘Just Me’ med spa in Weston, Arleta’s options to improve your body are endless.

Arleta Nykolyk: “We do everything from muscle toning, tightening, sculpting, inch loss, cellulite reduction, skin tightening, as well as wellness treatments like red light therapy.”

Seven months ago, Aleta and her partner were creating ‘Just Me,’ they had an idea for signs for the spa.

Arleta Nykolyk: “We want it to be cozy and as soon as people walk by our corridor, we want that sign to kind of pop out and attract attention.”

A designer referred them to a sign company that wanted $2,600 up front to create what they wanted. They paid for the signs and they got excuses.

Arleta Nykolyk: “The signs weren’t going to be ready on time. Needed a few, two, three weeks more to do so.”

And then…

Arleta Nykolyk: “One of their machines broke down and it will take a few days to get it repaired.”

And then…nothing.

Arleta Nykolyk: “Phone calls, text messages, no answer, no show, no sign.”

You or I might have been steaming. Arleta thinks the best of people.

Arleta Nykolyk: “I also wanted to be hopeful and give the benefit of the doubt that we were going to get those signs.”

But now as her doors are getting ready to open, the window on getting the signs is closing.

Arleta Nykolyk: “And whether it is a small hit or a big hit, it’s still a hit on us, especially that we are just opening.”

Well Howard, legally how do you get out of this mess

Howard finkelstein: “this is sad and legally its simple. Its a breach of contract and they owe you the signs or your money back. If they do neither, you have to sue and even if you win, you are throwing good money after lost money. In most cases, they will go out of business and you will get nothing.”

We contacted Miami Signs. They quickly delivered two of the 3 signs to Arleta.

Patrick Fraser: “How did the signs look?”

Arleta Nykolyk: “Not what we ordered exactly.”

In fact, Arleta isn’t going to use the signs and hired another company to make three signs she likes.

We went back to miami signs..

They have now shut down.

The owner told me the reason he had trouble delivering signs to Arleta: “We subcontracted a third party and they did a ghosting on us.”

He did offer to return $2,000 to Arleta in monthly payments. So far he has given her $200.

Arleta Nykolyk: “So you come here and it’s all about you. ‘Just Me.'”

But more importantly for Arleta, ‘Just Me’ med spa is open. The Google reviews are all 5-star. A great sign for Arleta

Arleta Nykolyk: “We can’t complain. We’ve been open for just a little bit and our schedules are filling up, so we’re very happy about that.”

Good luck Arleta.

If you are going to hire a company, just give them a deposit when they place the order. If they say they want it all up front, find another company. And check recent reviews, they may point out some red flags like late deliveries.

Somebody giving you the business? Tired of getting that treatment? Sign up with us. So we can use our body of work to sculpt a solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

One fence. Seven palm trees. And 24 months of chaos

Tanya Kraus: “Absurd, absurd.”

It began in 2023, when Tanya and her husband wanted to replace their old wooden fence with a new fence.

Tanya Kraus: “And the property survey shows that our fence is two and a half feet on the association property.”

The developer apparently put the fence here back in 1989 and planted seven palm trees. The L’Etoile at Emerald Point Homeowners Association in Hollywood wanted the fence moved onto Tanya’s property, where the trees are.

Tanya Kraus: “The trees would have to be removed. I do not want to remove the trees.”

Tanya can’t believe the association wants her to chop down seven palm trees.

Tanya Kraus: “We love our trees. We have beautiful palm trees.”

Tanya had a suggestion: let the fence stay in the same spot where it’s been.

Tanya Kraus: “I’d be willing to pay for it. I’ll pay for the fence. Just leave me alone, leave the trees alone.”

The L’Etoile board said no.

Tanya had another idea.

Tanya Kraus: “And I’ve asked, ‘Could I purchase ithe land?’ [They said] no. They want their two feet of land back.”

A tiny strip of property the association never knew they owned … and seven trees cut down to get what the board wants. Yep, it’s chaotic.

Tanya Kraus: “And I think they’re just trying to be a bully. I mean, it’s just really ridiculous.”

Since property disputes are so complicated, we asked Kevin Kennedy, a well-respected attorney who normally represents associations, to help Tanya. He agreed to do it for a small fee.

Kevin Kennedy, KSN Law: “We actually worked out almost everything with the association.”

Kevin and the association’s attorney worked out a deal where Tanya would pay for the new fence and leave it where it is.

Kevin Kennedy: “The board decided, ‘We’re going to renege on this,’ and we’re going to say, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Kraus, unless you pay us our $1,500 in legal fees that we’ve now incurred…'”

Kevin pointed out page 23 in homeowners documents, where he says the documents reveal the association has to pay to replace the fence and cannot move it onto Tanya’s property.

Kevin Kennedy: “This is how it was developed by the developer, and based on the language in the deck, that they’re going to have to repair it or replace it where it’s currently situated. I don’t think that they even understand that this is their maintenance responsibility at this point.”

The board then hired a new attorney.

Greg Eisenger disagrees with Kevin. He reads the same documents and believes Tanya has to replace the fence and put it on her property.

Howard, play the judge. Who’s right if this goes to court?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “After reading the association’s documents, I think Tanya wins. If the board doesn’t agree, they have to go mediation. If nothing can be worked out there, a court trial could be expensive, and if Tanya wins, the homeowners association has to pay their lawyer and Tanya’s legal fees as well. So they need to work this out.”

Tanya Kraus: “It’s two years, too ridiculous.”

Now we wait to see who pays for the fence, if the palm trees survive, and the chaos ends.

Tanya Kraus: “I wish I could tell you they would be reasonable, but I really don’t have any high hopes for that.”

Whether it’s in mediation or in trial, we’ll let you know what happens in this unusual battle.

A problem uprooting your life? Feeling fenced in? Put it in the palm of our hand, so we can survey the situation for you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

I truly believe everyone has an interesting story to tell. Sarah is proof.

Sarah Cooper: “I picked cotton.”

Sarah grew up in a very big family.

Sarah Cooper: “Nine boys and eight girls. Born in Mississippi.”

To make ends meet, Sarah and her 16 brothers and sisters headed to the Mississippi cotton fields.

Sarah Cooper: “like, my dad, he could pick the thousand pounds a day. Well, i couldn’t pick it good because i used to count all the birds going around.”

Sarah’s stories belong in a history book, but we met with her to talk about her cotton picking problem.

Sarah Cooper: “He just told me that they had a very good plan.”

In November, Sarah got a random call offering to sell her a warranty on her 10-year-old car.

Sarah thought it was the dealership. It turned out to be a company in Missouri.

Sarah Cooper: “I said ‘Oh, I’ve got it made. I got the warranty.'”

Three months later, Sarah had an oil leak. She handed the repair shop her warranty to cover the $1,600 bill.

Sarah Cooper: “And he called me and said ‘Ms. Cooper, the warranty will not cover anything.'”

Sarah called the warranty company.

Sarah Cooper: “The lady told me that it didn’t cover because I hadn’t gone a thousand miles, and that I had 800 more miles to go.”

The company had sold Sarah the warranty over the phone. She said she didn’t know about the 1,000-mile requirement.

Sarah Cooper: “I explained to the man when I first got it that I just go to church, grocery store, and the doctor.”

In three months, Sarah has driven 200 miles. At that rate the warranty won’t begin for another year, but Sarah will have to keep paying $229 a month till she pays the $4,307 for the full cost of the warranty.

Sarah Cooper: “You know, to take advantage of the elderly. It’s something.”

Patrick Fraser: “So you didn’t even know what you were getting into?”

Sarah Cooper: “No, I didn’t.”

Sarah now knows what she got into and wants out of it.

Sarah Cooper: “I want to cancel it. Why should I pay that they’re not doing me any good.”

Good question Sarah. Got an answer, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein: “an extended warranty is basically insurance and in this case there is good news and bad news for Sarah. To protect themselves from customers who have a problem then buy a warranty, they require a minimum number of miles and months. The good news, this warranty has a cancellation clause, which Sarah qualifies for, and because the warranty never kicked in, she should get her monthly payments back.”

I contacted the warranty company. They said they needed to have sarah tell them to cancel the contract. We did a three way call and i got an email confirming it was cancelled.

Patrick Fraser: “This acknowledges that they canceled.”

Sarah Cooper: “OK.”

Since Sarah had already paid three monthly payments totaling $687, I asked for that money back.

I got an email asking Sarah to write a letter to them explaining why she wanted to get her money back. She wrote it and mailed it.

Patrick Fraser: “How’s the car running?”

Sarah Cooper: “It runs good.”

Sarah paid for the repairs with the money she would have paid the warranty company. She is happy now after her call to Help Me Howard.

Sarah Cooper: “You all have been very great. I really enjoyed talking to you guys and you know, i appreciate it so much.”

And thank you for talking with us and letting us help you, Sarah. Now if you have a used vehicle, you might want to think about just saving a couple of hundred dollars a month, instead of sending it to an extended warranty company. Then if you have a problem, you have the money to decide whether to repair the vehicle or make a down payment on another one.

A problem got you ready to blow a gasket? Think it warrants our help? Crank up the phone and let us repair things for you. With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When you see people using metal detectors on South Florida beaches, you can’t help but wonder if they are finding trash.

Rebecca Hussle: “I think it’s a bullet. Yep, that was it.”

Or treasures.

Rebecca Hussle: “I found a couple of really great rings.”

Rebecca Hussle grew up looking for seashells on the beach. Now she looks for other things.

Rebecca Hussle: “My mom always taught me at a very young age, 4 or 5 years old, if you find something on the beach, to make sure to put it back in its place, especially if it’s any type of litter or debris that doesn’t belong on the beach.”

Rebecca began using a metal detector five years ago to get some exercise and to enjoy the beach, but now she uses it to clean up the mess that others leave behind.

Rebecca Hussle: “Yes, I found quite a few vapes, actually, so some of had product in it. I’m not sure if it’s tobacco or something else. However, if I was a kid, I would think this was a toy, and it’s not. So this is something that I’m very grateful to find this to get this off the beach.”

Campers might take down their tents, but they’re leaving these stakes behind. Rebecca showed us a whole bag of them she has found in just the last few months.

Rebecca Hussle: “I have found a ton of tent spikes, which usually each tent comes with four, so if I find one, I usually try to source the area, search the area, I should say, and try to find all four of them.”

She also finds toys, like Matchbox cars, coins, even a rusty old pair of tweezers. Her strangest discovery was a full six-pack of beer buried in the sand.

Rebecca Hussle: “It was about this deep, and it was literally a full six-pack of beer, and I’m like, ‘Why would somebody bring a six-pack of beer to the beach, not even drink it, leave it behind, walk past these garbage cans that are scattered across the beach, and then just leave it there?'”

Rebecca never leaves anything. At the end of each tripm she recycles what she can and disposes of the rest.

Rebecca Hussle: “I want to preserve this beach. I grew up on this beach, and I hope it’s here for many, many years and generations.”

She also hopes that one day, she won’t find as much trash, and her search will lead her to some real treasures.

Rebecca Hussle: “You find rings and things sometimes, like earrings, gold and silver earrings. You do find gold necklaces.”

If she does find something valuable, Rebecca always tries to get it back to the rightful owners.

Rebecca Hussle: “One was a ring [from] a young lady, from her grandmother, and they were here visiting, so it was a little bit harder to track that person, but when that happens, it was just so spontaneous and beautiful to see the look on her face and the hug that she gave me.”

So her message to beachgoers? Keep track of what you bring and leave nothing behind but sand.

Nicole Linsalata, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

The wedding for Paola and Javier was great, and the honeymoon was one of a kind.

Javier Servigna: “We didn’t do anything, because we wanted to build a pool.”

It seemed like a great idea to spend their honeymoon money on a pool for their backyard.

But now…

Javier Servigna: “We’re still building a pool a year after, and it doesn’t seem that he’s going to get done anytime soon.”

Javier and his wife did their homework, met with four pool contractors and thought they hired the right one.

Javier Servigna: “So, the initial contact was $68,000.”

The headaches began right away.

Javier Servigna: “They tore down the fence. Then, when they put it back, they put it the wrong way.”

Then the digging began. Problems piled up.

Javier Servigna: “They started doing the the metal mesh; that didn’t get approved. They did the piping and the plumbing; that didn’t get approved.”

Of course, that’s when work was being done.

Javier Servigna: “So he shows up every 45 days, every 60 days, and there’s always an excuse. He moves some dirt around, and then he goes away.”

Javier contacted the pool company in texts and phone calls asking them to do their job. The contractor replied.

Javier Servigna: “‘I’m going to charge you. Every time you text and email, I’m going to charge you.'”

When Javier kept complaining about the slow work, he says the pool company owner said he would cancel their contract.

Javier Servigna: “That he cannot work like this, that we’re pushy. So, I’m not sure what he expects us to do is just stay quiet. We just want the pool to be done.”

When no progress was made, Javier emailed Help Me Howard. Didn’t go over well with the pool company.

Javier Servigna: “He threatened to sue just because we added you to the email thread, and he stated that we were violating privacy. I was just looking for help.”

As Javier walks around the pool, he has to wonder if a trip to a romantic getaway would have made a better honeymoon.

Javier Servigna: “This is our honeymoon, steeped in dirty water. It’s a mess, it’s a mess.”

Well, Howard, let’s do two questions. Can you be sued for talking to Help Me Howard and charged a fee to text or talk to a contractor that’s working for you?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “No and no. You can call Help Me Howard, and as long as you tell the truth, no problem. You can even post the truth on social media. And you cannot be charged for calling and texting the contractor for not doing their job. There is no law against being the squeaky wheel.”

I contacted the owner of the pool company. He was very open and honest.

He said Javier and his wife were contacting him four or five times a day. He explained the reasons for the delays: bad weather, inspection problems. He then promised me the pool would be done within a month.

Javier Servigna: “It was 180 degree from when we started. He did everything on point. He even apologized to us. He went above and beyond to make sure that we were happy.”

The contractor gave them $8,000 worth of tile and a pool chiller to go with their pool heater — leaving the newly married couple a beautiful new pool.

Javier Servigna: “It wouldn’t have happened without you guys from Help Me Howard.”

Patrick Fraser: “So, did you make the right decision spending the money from the honeymoon on the pool?”

Javier Servigna: “Absolutely, but we made the better decision calling you, to throw us a lifeline, to get us out of the deep end of an empty pool.”

Good line, Javier, and glad you are happy with that nice pool. Also, the contractor didn’t try to bill Javier for texting him and didn’t sue for calling Help Me Howard. Now, Javier was also smart. He paid as the work was done, so if the contractor didn’t finish, he had money to pay another company.

A problem soaking you? Can’t construct a solution? Pool your thoughts and call us to dive in and make a splash.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Watching Heather walk is painful. Hearing the reason why is heartbreaking

Heather Glassman: “I’m suffering from the complications from the three surgeries that I’ve had in the four years plus the 20 rounds of chemo.”

And yet most of the time she is upbeat because of her friends.

Heather Glassman: It’s a really nice feeling to feel love and to know that everybody wants to be with you all the time.”

Cancer is slowing her down but to distract from her pain, Heather does something she loves: rescuing and finding homes for dogs on the streets.

Heather Glassman: “Because they’re almost better than people. They love unconditionally.”

And the dogs are why she bought a shed.

Heather Glassman: “So being that I’m heavily involved in dog rescue, I have crates, I have kennels.”

Heather paid $800 for the shed, $700 to pour a concrete slab and bolt it down. Miami-Dade County came along and said ‘Take it down.’

Heather Glassman: “I get this notice that the shed is no longer, is not permitted in Dade County at all.”

Heather was surprised because as we drove around a similar county neighborhood within a few blocks, we saw a dozen sheds in backyards.

Here they have two in the front yard. This is Heather’s shed. The property behind her has a shed. But Heather’s has to go.

Heather Glassman: “And this just does not make sense and it just doesn’t seem fair.”

Heather says she contacted the county from her hospital room after a surgery.

Heather Glassman: “The county is not easy. They don’t work with you. They don’t really help you.”

She also contacted Home Depot where she bought the shed.

Heather Glassman: “Why would you not disclose your customers that you’re selling a product that is not permissible in the county at all?”

Battling the effects of cancer, unable to work and struggling to pay her bills. Now dealing with this shed.

Heather Glassman: “Draining, saddening, burdening.”

Howard, is there a legal way out of this?

Howard Finkelstein: “In this case, no. The county has their rules and can enforce them and a store doesn’t have to tell you if a shed is legal in your city or county. But ask them. If they mislead you, you can get your money back.”

After we contacted Miami-Dade County, they were nice enough to give Heather a two-month extension to resolve the shed issue, but the county told us the shed still has to be removed.

A spokesperson wrote: “Since Miami-Dade is considered a high-velocity hurricane zone, the building code requires that building materials undergo an approval process —- to avoid these structures from becoming harmful flying debris and projectiles.”

I contacted Home Depot.

A spokesperson wrote: “I’m sorry she’s having this issue. It’s advised customers check local city or county permits and zoning requirements before buying a shed.”

Heather Glassman: “In the perfect world, I’d have somebody that wants to buy it.”

If Heather can’t sell it, a friend just told her he would pay his workers to take it away and store it. One less burden—but as she recovers from cancer—another big problem remains: just getting by.

Heather Glassman: “Because I have cancer and I’m not being able to work a regular job. It’s put me out. So the GoFundMe is helping to subsidize my living right now.”

And Heather just found out the chemo has weakened her bones. She said she now has four fractures.

If you can help Heather a little bit, the link to her GoFundMe page is here.

Also there, Miami-Dade County sent us links to show the products approved in the county and a link for you to get help with the permitting process. Check it out before you spend your hard-earned money.

Battling a problem that’s sickened you? Ready to shed it? Permit us to help you build a solution. With this help me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

CLICK HERE TO HELP HEATHER AS SHE BATTLES CANCER

From Miami-Dade County:
Product Approval Database Search

Permitting Assistance Page

It’s a word so far in the future most people don’t even talk about it, but the Horwitzes are living it.

Leonard Horwitz: “You don’t want to retire from something. You want to retire to something.”

Horwitz’s spouse: “Oh, it’s amazing. I recommend it.”

They stay busy — walking, swimming and sharpening their minds.

Horwitz’s spouse: “We love doing the crossword puzzles, especially the Sunday paper.”

Leonard Horwitz: “These are like words with dashes in them.”

Then Leonard got hit with a real-life puzzle.

Leonard Horwitz: “I figured it was a scam.”

It was a letter from the Treasury Department that they were garnishing his pension and Social Security for not repaying a government loan.

Leonard Horwitz: “‘You have the Payment Protection Plan loan from the Small Business Association, and you never paid it back.’ I said, ‘I never took the loan out.'”

The small business loan was taken out during COVID by people claiming to be with his Leonard’s medical practice. But he closed that office — back in 2007.

Leonard Horwitz: “I called the Small Business Association. They say, ‘Well, you need to call the Treasury.’ They give me a number, I call them, and they say, ‘Well, no, we’re not the ones.'”

The government started taking Leonard’s retirement.

Leonard Horwitz: “So you take out 15%. It’s a noticeable chunk.”

Leonard then tried to find out how much they planned to take and for how long.

Leonard Horwitz: “They wouldn’t tell me how much the loan was. They wouldn’t tell me the bank that did it. Basically, it wasn’t my business.”

Finally, Leonard convinced the Treasury Department that he was the victim of a crime. They stopped garnishing his retirement … but a new problem.

Leonard Horwitz: “I still want my money back. It’s my money.”

He was told the SBA would return his $1,150 in 60 days. They didn’t, and his battle with the bureaucracy went on.

Leonard Horwitz: “And get bounced around from one place to another that, even if people who are on the other end of the phone want to be helpful, they don’t know how to be helpful.”

Well, Howard, I assume Leonard is entitled to his money, but how do you get it back from the enormous government bureaucracy?

Howard Finkelstein: “Since the government took his money by mistake, they have to return it, but to get them to listen to you can be enormously difficult. My suggestion: contact your congressperson, because they can get the Feds to respond.”

Or contact Help Me Howard.

We emailed the Treasury Department, and things moved quickly. Ten days after we met with Leonard, his $1,150 was returned. He won.

Leonard Horwitz: “Patience. Perseverance.”

Patience and a push from Help Me Howard.

Leonard Horwitz: “I don’t know if it’s a patented process that you guys have, but you knew exactly what button to push or who to call.”

I wish it was a brilliant patent, Leonard. We just work hard for you and sometimes get lucky. Now, Howard mentioned contacting your congressperson. If it’s the city or county you are having trouble with, contact the mayor or council member, the city manager, the people at the top, because they can make things happen.

Someone garnishing your time? Don’t be puzzled. Check with us to retire the problem.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

On a sunny July afternoon, travelers are checking into this Miami hotel and so are patients.

Labresha Green/recovery patient: “In the hotel, there’s a lot of girls in there in different rooms, on different floors.”

This woman who spoke to 7 Investigates was once one of them. We set up a camera to see for ourselves. 7Investigates watched the hotel for two months.

Our camera captured patients being picked up and dropped off. Many still in surgical gowns and bathrobes. Others with extensive bandages. Some with medical drainage bags filled with fluid.

Labresha Green: “They’re doing a lot of stuff at the hotel is booked, but they don’t have any space left and it’s probably because most of them are girls coming for plastic surgery.”

Labresha Green came to Miami for a Brazilian butt lift and tummy tuck last summer. The surgical coordinator at her doctor’s office told her she had to book her post-surgical care with a specific company at a local hotel and it wasn’t cheap.

Labresha green: “$200 per day. They want you to go to that hotel. So. Yeah, a lot of money.”

Money Labresha knew she had to pay because she would not be able to take care of herself for several days.

Labresha Green: “I can’t do anything but lay on my stomach like helpless when you can’t, like, pull your pants up or, like, wash your body.”

Labresha says despite a promise for 24-hour care, getting help from her caretakers was difficult.

Labresha Green: “I was asking she could take my blood pressure or if she had like a thermometer or something and they said ‘No.’ Every time I asked it was like ‘No, we don’t have it.'”

We found hotels also being used as recovery centers in Broward County.

A New Jersey woman sued her plastic surgeon after being “diagnosed with life-threatening sepsis and impending multisystem collapse”.

The lawsuit claims the doctor failed “to recognize a serious infection brewing inside her body” even though she had paid the doctor for an “upcharge premium package” in a Fort Lauderdale hotel.

Chris Russomanno / attorney: “She thinks this is the best care you can possibly get. She has a 24/7 alleged registered nurse that’s sleeping with you, that’s taking vitals and supposedly giving the vitals back to the doctor.”

Her attorney Chris Russomanno says the woman settled her case. But he fears most patients don’t understand the risks of these post-operative hotel stays.

Chris Russomanno: “It’s just a constant turnover and turnover of different women coming in with open wounds, JP drains. It’s a dangerous situation in my eyes.”

It is perfectly legal for a hotel to rent rooms to people recovering from plastic surgery, but a company like the one Labresha was told to hire that has several patients at the same hotel could be a problem.

Chris Nuland: Lawyer/lobbyist Florida Association of Plastic Surgeons: “They are at the very edge and may be in fact skirting the law because home health agencies are designed to do just that. They are to take care of you in your home.”

The lawyer for the Florida Association of Plastic Surgeons says facilities caring for multiple patients should be licensed and inspected.

Chris Nuland: “These patients are not fully healed. They have drains and they can get infected. A hotel is no place for a patient who cannot take care of themselves and may have medical needs.”

Labresha says she needed to be hospitalized for blood loss after she was kicked out of the hotel for questioning her care.

Labresha Green: “She just left me basically naked in the bathroom.”

She says she should have checked out her caregivers before she checked in.

Heather Walker 7News

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Some people are allergic to wheat, barley and other grains that have gluten.

Ana Crolla: “So they cannot eat bread, they cannot eat pizza or anything that has gluten.”

Imagine that! Never get to taste anything with flour. No cookies, no croquetas, no pasta — unless you come to Dora’s Bakery in Coral Gables.

Ana Crolla: “We bake without gluten. We make pizza, sandwiches, even croquetas. Everything that people are craving to eat.”

Ana named Dora’s after a family member, and she says it’s the only place in South Florida where everything in the store is 100% gluten-free.

Ana Crolla: “Everything is great. You wouldn’t notice that it’s gluten-free.”

I bought a hamburger on a freshly baked gluten-free bun. Incredible!

But we weren’t there to make our mouths water. It’s because of what a company called Dr. Smood is doing to Dora’s.

Ana Crolla: “So we started supplying them for five or six stores that they had at that time with several products, and we did cookies and brownies, and we were supplying them twice a week.”

Dr. Smood, also known as Cafe Smood, is a health food chain that bought Dora’s baked goods for two years.

Ana Crolla: “They were always a little late, but we would call them, and they would pay. But the last time they didn’t pay anymore. They owe us $4,500.”

Forty-five hundred dollars is a lot of money for a small business. Dr. Smood told Ana they were shutting down. Her reply?

Ana Crolla: “I said that if they couldn’t pay us with money, that we would take some equipment. I’m sure they do have a lot of ovens, mixers, whatever.”

Again, they refused.

A big business going under, burning a small bakery at the same time.

Ana Crolla: “It’s very tough. It’s very niche, so it’s been very tough.”

Tough, but is Ana out of luck, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein: “Probably yes, because Florida law allows companies to go out of business and stiff their creditors or pay some of them pennies on the dollar. The reality: The big companies are first in line to get paid. The small businesses, who can’t afford attorneys, go to the back of the line. Meaning Dora’s won’t get the $4,500 from Dr. Smood.”

I contacted Oliver Sindlev from Dr. Smood. He said the company lost tens of millions before shutting down. When I asked them to at least pay Dora’s Bakery some of the money they owed, he said, “There’s no money in any of the companies.”

When I said, ‘Give her equipment to help her,’ he said: “We can’t make special arrangements with any creditors and offer physical assets as payment.”

He added maybe, as they sell off the assets, they could pay her some money, but they had other creditors wanting to get paid as well.

Ana Crolla: “I am sorry that happened to them, but here we are all in the same boat.”

As Ana spoke, you could smell the fresh bread coming out of the oven, which reminded her the bakery is not just for people who can’t eat gluten. It’s delicious for everyone.

Ana Crolla: “We are a great food that happens to be gluten-free. So if you’re gluten-free, everybody can come here and eat because you can’t tell the difference that the food is gluten-free.”

You just hate to see small businesses get taken. Dora’s Bakery is off Eighth Street in Coral Gables. They deliver, they ship, and most importantly, the food tastes great. Give them a try to help them out. And if you are a small business, the first time someone is late paying, it’s a red flag. Cut them off.

Someone coming at you half-baked? Don’t want a cookie-cutter solution? Sweeten things by calling us, to let us separate the wheat from the chaff.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Dora’s Bakery and Bistro
3822 SW Eighth Street
305-665-7818
doraglutenfree.com

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

A nice house across from a nice park.

Stephen Hearn: “That’s a kid’s park. That’s one of the reasons I purchased the house. Because of my son.”

And now go from the front yard to Stephen’s backyard.

Stephen Hearn: “A nightmare. The trees, the pools. The mosquitoes. The wild animals, the rats.”

Take a look at the neighbor’s property. You have to move around to see through the growth. Overgrown is an understatement. A jungle is more accurate.

Stephen Hearn: “You wouldn’t know there’s a house there. If you didn’t know it was there. You cannot physically see the house.”

From Stephen’s backyard, you can see the pool. I know—it looks like a lawn.

Stephen Hearn: “There’s grass and trees growing out of the pool. It’s so green, it just blends right in.”

Stephen says the property has been like this for at least 15 years.

Stephen Hearn: “We’ve all complained. And every time we get a new city guy, they come in, they jump on it, and then it just dies out.”

One time we were there, code enforcement was citing the property owner again. Stephen has spoken to the owner of the property.

Stephen Hearn: “And he always says, ‘I’m going to fix it. I’m going to do the roof. I want to fill in the place.’ And for 15 years, nothing’s happened.”

This affects every neighbor near the property. Stephen has a pool in his backyard. But he can’t sit by it.

Stephen Hearn: “We’re trying to enjoy the pool in the afternoons. It’s just a mental battle with the mosquito bites. They’re all over me. They’re all my legs. They’re everywhere.”

For 15 years, Stephen has watched the house fall apart. 15 years of not being able to get it cleared out. 15 years of frustration.

Stephen Hearn: “I don’t even know what to say. Words don’t even put it into perspective. If you don’t come and see it for yourself.”

I can see it, Stephen. I don’t believe it is in the middle of Fort Lauderdale, but legally can a property owner just let it go, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein: “No. When your property gets to this condition, it is a threat to your neighbor’s health and well-being. The city has the right to fine the owner and condemn and destroy the property, and this should have been done years ago.”

We contacted the City of Fort Lauderdale, where we were told the fines on the property were now over $1,000,000 and that the city was going to send the case to a magistrate.

The owner, Scott Bryan, didn’t show up to hear the magistrate’s decision.

Judge: “I’ve got a note for the record that this property is really, really bad. And its overgrowth is an understatement for it, and I declare it a public nuisance.”

If the owner didn’t clear up the list of violations, the city would begin the legal process of demolishing the property.

I found Scott Bryan in a warehouse area. He asked us not to show his face.

When I asked why he let the property get in this condition, he teared up and said when his daughter died of brain cancer, he abandoned the house.

He added the city was now coming after him for the $1,000,000 fine, so he was selling the house.

Finally, finally, something is happening.

The new owners moved quickly and began to strip the house. They drained the pool to end the mosquito mess, put on a new roof, and started removing the years of growth. What Stephen and his neighbors had waited 15 years to see.

Stephen Hearn: “I honestly think it’s you guys that went to the city and pushed the issue, because we have been complaining for years.”

Maybe it was just a coincidence that things happened after we started poking around, Stephen. Who knows? Now the $1,000,000 fine still stands. It will be settled after the new owner finishes cleaning up the property and correcting all the violations. This is a reminder: government agencies have a lot of power—they can issue fines and liens. But if a homeowner ignores them, a lot of times nothing happens.

A problem becomes an overgrown eyesore for you? Can’t hack away at it? Pool your thoughts and let us leave you feeling like a million bucks. With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Now a major change is promising to speed things up. 7’s Heather Walker investigates.

Any day of the week, it is chaos outside of South Florida’s DMV offices. There are long lines, and at times, short tempers.

Bianca Gonzalez, driver: “It’s a lot, it’s a lot.”

Some people have resorted to camping out overnight just to get in. Others wake up early.

Bianca Gonzalez: “We had to get up at like 4 in the morning to go there.”

Bianca Gonzalez is a Miami Dade public schoolteacher, just trying to get her driver’s license.

Bianca Gonzalez: “Today I had to miss a day of work.”

But the waiting and the aggravation could be coming to an end.

Dariel Fernandez, Miami-Dade Tax Collector: “We are here to help.”

In November, Miami-Dade County voters elected Dariel Fernandez as tax collector.

Dariel Fernandez: “I am here to support my community.”

It is now his responsibility to oversee DMVs in Miami-Dade, which will no longer be under control of the state.

Dariel Fernandez: “It’s insane that you need to wait at least three months to get an appointment. And after that, you need to spend the whole night and part of the day to just, for example, change the address or get a new ID.”

In his first interview, Fernandez tells 7 Investigates he already has plans for improvements.

Dariel Fernandez: “We are going to cut the lines, the waiting time in lines.”

Fernandez says he will start by adding more service windows and staff at the North Miami office and then focus on other offices in the county.

But he says the biggest change is happening online.

Dariel Fernandez: “We started creating a customer service center that the people, before they go to the office, they are going to communicate with some of our customer service reps, and they are going to explain to them what they need.”

The representative will give you a list of documents you need for your appointment and let you know if you can take care of your issue online.

To help cut down on lines, some DMV locations will be adding kiosks where you can renew your vehicle registration.

Dariel Fernandez: “One of the main problems that we have now is technology, so we need to invest in technology.”

Technology that will prohibit people from booking multiple appointments and selling them online.

Dariel Fernandez: “With our new software, we are going to restrict all of that.”

Broward County also elected a new tax collector and will be implementing similar changes, but don’t expect to see any improvements just yet. Fernandez says it will take about six months to get up and running.

Dariel Fernandez: “We are in the best country in the world. We cannot allow people that start, you know, doing this to our residents. Because a person is going to get a driver’s license because they need them.”

People like Bianca are excited to see things being kicked into drive.

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

We want to warn you, some of the pictures you’re about to see might be disturbing.

The ads made them seem warm and cozy. The tabletop fire pits were sold online.

Kayla Hominski said, for her, the flames sparked pain and suffering.

Kayla Hominski, fire pit burn victim: “It’s life-altering, but my life is forever altered — physically, mentally, emotionally, in many ways.”

Kayla was burned on more than 40% of her body.

Kayla Hominski: “It just happened so quick.”

She was using her Colsen Fire Pit while entertaining friends one night.

When the flames appeared to go out, she asked her husband to re-light it.

Kayla Hominski: “He went to pour the liquid in. As soon as that liquid was in the fire pit, it just was kind of like a fire ball, kind of an explosion.”

That explosion is called flame jetting. It occurs when someone pours a flammable liquid over an exposed fire. The flames can shoot out as far as 15 feet or more, burning people nearby.

Stuart Ratzan, attorney: “Flame jetting is not something people are familiar with. It’s an absolutely horrific situation, because it can burn somebody to death in a matter of seconds.”

Stuart Ratzan is representing Kayla in a federal lawsuit against Colsen Fire Pits LLC and two other companies.

According to the lawsuit, the product “produces flames that may not be readily visible,” “which increases the risk of flame jetting.”

Kayla Hominski: “I just remember hearing screams and saying ‘You’re on fire!’ And I just remember kind of trying to slap off the fire, if you will. In those types of moments, you are in so much shock that you’re just kind of working to stay alive.”

Kayla was badly burned from head to toe. She spent weeks in the hospital enduring two skin graft surgeries and daily bandage changes.

Kayla Hominski: “I had to learn how to re-walk again. I basically had to relearn how to do most physical, everyday, day-to-day things that you don’t really think about.”

Even now, she still struggles with everyday life.

Kayla Hominski: “My children want to go to, like, a haunted house, and there’s a line that’s an hour long. I can’t stand in that line with them.”

A total of 19 people claim the Colsen Fire Pit caused burn injuries.

We went to the Miami manufacturer, but no one answered the door or our phone calls.

Their website is shut down. The home page now has the recall notice urging customers to “stop using” the fire pit and “throw it in the trash.”

Kayla Hominsko: “I can proudly say I was part of that.”

Kayla is proud she helped bring about the recall, but now, she’s hoping her lawsuit will get her back on her feet financially.

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Katie Hendrickson, Wahoo Bay by Shipwreck Park: “They use the Sea Hive as a protective nursery.”

These kids are learning all about the fish that live in the ocean around South Florida.

Katie Hendrickson: “See if you can match it to your ID card.”

They’re on their way to Wahoo Bay by Shipwreck Park in Pompano Beach.

It’s an artificial reef installed in the Lighthouse Point Inlet, designed not only to protect the shore, but also to learn about life below the surface.

Katie Hendrickson: “It’s really been a beautiful living laboratory and a hub for education, conservation and innovation.”

Now, this summer, it’s also being used to educate kids about their local environment.

Since Wahoo Bay is in shallow water, it’s the perfect place to take first-time snorkelers.

Katie Hendrickson: “Over 70% of our students live or go to school within a couple of miles of the beach and don’t have any access. Nor do they have the confidence to jump in the water.”

On the boat to Wahoo Bay, they learn how to identify the fish they’ll see, and once they get there…

Katie Hendrickson: “Then you put this in your mouth, and you can breathe through there.”

They are taught how to snorkel.

Katie Hendrickson: “She did her mask on and off. She blew her bubbles. She got used to having her face in the water, and immediately she was able to take the next step off the stairs.”

This is only the first summer. More than 100 kids have already taken part.

Katie Hendrickson: “We give kids the tools to actually be the change makers for tomorrow.”

For Katie, it’s a joy every time she sees these young faces light up as they see fish and other sea life for the first time.

Child: “There’s a turtle under here.”

Katie hopes one of these trips might be the spark to inspire a future marine biologist.

Katie Hendrickson: “He asked me how many more times he could go and when he could come back, if he could come back tomorrow or next week. So that’s the goal.”

Right now, Wahoo Bay is only accepting school or sponsored trips, but they hope to change that.

Katie Hendrickson: “We’re partnering with our parks department here in Pompano, so that they can open for public access, so we can provide more trips for these students to come on out.”

And these kids will be the first to tell you there’s plenty to see.

Child: “A lot of fish.”

Each trip to Wahoo Bay is opening a whole new world to these young minds.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Thoroughbred horses are bred for racing. But their careers on the track are typically very short, which is why one woman has dedicated herself to finding these horses new homes once their racing days are over.

Raina Gunderson: “They just live a long time, and they’ve got a lot to give.”

Raina Gunderson has been working with horses for 30 years and knows just how special these animals are.

Raina Gunderson: “They can do anything. There are no limitations for a thoroughbred racehorse, none. They’re amazing, and they have so much heart.”

Racehorses can’t just go from the track to someone’s barn. They need retraining.

Raina Gunderson: “So they’re already trained. They just have to retrain their brain to be different to a calmer setting, to just be a horse and do other things.”

So far, some 300 horses have been trained to move on to other jobs.

Raina Gunderson: “They could be a polo pony. They can do police. We have hunter, jumpers, barrel racers, everything. They can do anything.”

This former racehorse is now a valued member of the Coral Gables Police force.

Ashley Sheran, Coral Gables Police: “A lot of what he does is community-oriented policing, so he’s a conversation starter. He’s a little bit easier to come up to and ask questions than, say, a motorcycle officer.”

He started in 2017 and underwent extensive training before being put on active duty.

Ashley Sheran: “Exposure training. We show them a little bit of everything. So we try to find out what bothers them and see if it’s something that they can overcome through working and just giving them an opportunity to see it more often.”

His partner, Officer Ashley Sheran, says in a way, racehorses are a perfect fit for policing because they are trained to ignore noise and focus on their job.

Ashley Sheran: “These guys are bred for that, so they’re exposed to a lot of people at the racetrack, loud crowds. It’s just a great opportunity for them to do something after the track that isn’t really out of the norm.”

It’s success stories like this that give Raina the greatest joy.

Raina Gunderson: “The racetrack is its own little world, and they all love horses, so, you know, it’s a love job.”

And transitioning these racehorses to a slower pace of life gets them to the ultimate finish line.

Heather Walker, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Hope Estrada: “I have bruises here, I have bruises on my back.”

Hope Estrada says she still has nightmares about her time at an unlicensed recovery house. She says her surgeon’s nurse recommended the place.

Hope Estrada, patient: “You think whatever they refer is going to be the best.”

Hope paid $5,000 to stay in the house for nine days, because like other cosmetic surgery patients, she was unable to take care of her most basic needs.

Hope Estrada: “I cannot get up by myself cause my whole back is cut, my inner thighs are cut, under my breast is cut. I can’t put pressure on anything to lift myself up.”

Hope said caretakers at the recovery house were supposed to bathe her, feed her, and help her use the bathroom. But that’s not what happened.

Hope Estrada: “I was put straight into a shower, as I recall, and pills were being pumped into me.”

She took this selfie when she woke up to find an IV in her arm.

Hope Estrada: “I have bruises all over from from IV because they couldn’t find my vein.”

Hope says she hit rock bottom when a caretaker refused to take her to the bathroom.

Hope Estrada: “She left me in my own fecal matter and my own urine overnight.”

That’s when, out of fear, she started recording what was going on inside the recovery home.

Hope Estrada: “There’s like, beach chairs, rows and rows of beach chairs.”

Hope says patients, like her, spend most of their time in these chairs and cannot get in or out of them without help. Then she overheard the caretakers talking about moving the patients.

Hope Estrada: “They’re speaking in Spanish on how the city was going to come and raid them.”

Patients were taken to another location. While she was being driven there, she recorded and she called her family to let them know what was happening.

Hope Estrada: “One of the ladies that you sent money to is driving us. The other one is in the white car in front of us.”

Once in the new house, Hope asked the worker if she was a licensed caretaker. She says the lady told her to keep her mouth shut.

Hope Estrada: “I was so weak. I was being drugged up.”

So Hope called a friend to come get her. But when the caretaker refused to open the door, her friend called Miami Police and put an officer on the phone with Hope.

Hope Estrada: “I said, ‘Officer, I need help. I’m being held hostage right now. This woman is not letting me out of this house. I cannot, I’m in a position where I cannot move. I can’t get up out of the chair.'”

Heather Walker: “Police told Hope they couldn’t force the woman to let them in. But eventually, they convinced the caretaker to open the door.”

Michael Vega, Miami Police: “And they observed four women who had just had surgery sitting in some sort of recliners.”

Officers called for the Special Investigations Unit. The other patients were relocated and one of the caretakers was arrested.

53-year-old Yohandra Ramos-Gonzalez is charged with four felonies, [including] conspiracy to practice medicine without a license.

Michael Vega: “She did not have the credentials of a registered nurse or someone authorized to issue IVs.”

The Miami Police Department is now working with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, which licenses these facilities, and says more arrests could be made.

Michael Vega / Miami Police: “It’s an ongoing investigation and we are taking this seriously. We take it seriously because people come from all over the United States here to Miami to have these types of special procedures done.”

And these patients need help during their recuperation. Unfortunately, Hope did not get the care she expected.

Hope Estrada: “I was in fear for my life and that I wasn’t going to make it out of there.”

Thankfully she did.

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

James Garcon grew up wanting to be a chef. He started watching cooking shows when he was a kid.

James Garcon, sous-chef: “I used to always, like, see how they would make certain foods and certain things, and it and inspired me to have that, alongside my mother, cooking.”

But it wasn’t until he discovered The de Moya Foundation that he was finally able to realize his dreams.

Jorge de Moya, The de Moya Foundation. “James feels like right now, he is a career-driven chef. You know, he’s thrilled.”

Jorge de Moya says his mother created the foundation after watching his brother struggle to find work because of his developmental disabilities.

The idea is to help special needs adults find careers and companies learn what these employees need.

Jorge de Moya: “We discovered as he was working, that the education and the training for the employers was lacking. And there were all of these gaps, so my mom came up with the program and a very unique model that bridges those gaps.”

The foundation works with local companies to find jobs that will match a person’s special skill set.

James was a perfect fit for a position in a kitchen.

Jorge de Moya: “He’s always, you know, sticking to the recipe. He’s a creature of habit, and he, you know, never likes to deviate too much from the recipe.”

But finding the right workers for the job is only part of the program.

Jorge de Moya: “We come in and we provide disability sensitivity training. Our model is also very intense. Our job coaches are there every day for the first three to four weeks, to really lay down a groundwork and a foundation.”

James has been cooking at Tank Brewing in Doral for five years.

He’s moved up the ladder and is now the sous-chef. His success here has inspired him to have even bigger dreams.

James Garcon: “It’s felt pretty exciting, because I have a dream of mine to have a personal food truck of my own.”

And that’s the ultimate dream for the de Moya family: seeing a young worker not just find a job but thrive.

The de Moya foundation is always looking for companies to hire their workers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
demoyafoundation

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

A celebration. Smiles and happy tears after these residents were rescued. They were stuck in a hot elevator for more than an hour in Sunny Isles Beach last week.

Dr. Darren Joseph lives in at the Intracoastal Yacht Club apartments and recorded the moment.

Dr. Darren Joseph, stuck in elevator: “It was just a relief, you know? I was so happy to see my buddy Chip, you know, that saved us all that day.”

Darren says a childhood friend, who works for the fire department, answered the call for help, which he says was very comforting after the tense moments inside.

Dr. Darren Joseph: “I’m just thinking ‘I’m not gonna be able to survive.'”

Darren said he was going to take his dog, Max, for a walk.

When the elevator dropped, it got stuck between two floors. They weren’t sure anyone could hear their calls for help.

Dr. Darren Joseph: “There were some people that were panicking in the elevator.”

Thankfully, they all got out safely.

But Darren isn’t taking chances. He now takes the stairs.

Dr. Darren Joseph: “I mean, it’s good exercise, but what about the people that live on the 25th floor? You know, we feel like we’re trapped.”

In Broward, these senior citizens are trapped.

Leonard Hornsby: “We can’t get down. Some of us walk with walkers, some of us in wheelchairs.”

Both elevators have been out of service for more than a month at this affordable housing complex in Fort Lauderdale, leaving elderly residents trapped.

Leonard Hornsby: “I need to go out and get the sun. I can’t go out.”

This photo shows what happened the last time Leonard tried to use the stairs. He collapsed halfway up.

Leonard Hornsby: “I blanked out trying to get upstairs, and my son came along and got me up.”

Another neighbor’s wife is bed-bound and has to have the fire department carry her up and down the stairs in order to make medical appointments.

John Dorsey: “Fire rescue has to come get my wife Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and sometimes on Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays, when she has doctor’s appointments. It’s been very stressful for her.”

Unfortunately, other buildings are experiencing the same thing.

7 Investigates has received emails and calls about broken elevators from as far north as Boynton Beach. One said their elevator has been out of service for more than three years.

Leonard Hornsby: “There has got to be something done.”

Both Miami-Dade and Broward counties have elevator safety divisions.

All elevators are required to be inspected at least once a year, but, unless they receive a complaint from a resident, they are not aware of a broken elevator.

Dr. Darren Joseph: “And, as you can see, there’s always people here that appear to be working on it, but it still appears to be the same problem, and the problem is never solved. You know.”

We spoke with a number of elevator repair companies. They tell us part of the problem is finding parts to repair old elevators and getting old elevators to comply with new building codes.

Marshall Aldridge: “They need to do something about it. They should have put another elevator in here in the beginning instead of piecing this one.”

Because for residents trapped in their home, a broken elevator leaves them without peace of mind.

Jack Royer, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

7’s Heather Walker investigates.

More than 5 million boaters head to the Keys every year for a fun day on the water.

But if an accident happens here, you might not get the help you need.

Earlier this month, a boat hit a bridge in Big Pine Key.

Body cameras showed rescuers scrambling to help from land.

Victim: “We need a rescue boat.”

They tried to use a ladder to bring up the eight passengers.

Rescuers: “We are going to do everything we can and it’s probably going to be one by one.”

But some were too injured.

Again, someone called for a boat.

Victim: “I need a rescue boat.”

A young boy with a broken leg and a man with a nearly severed foot were trapped on the sinking boat.

Rescuer: “We only got five to 10 minutes before this thing goes down.”

When a boat finally arrived, it wasn’t a fire rescue boat, It was a towboat.

The TowBoatUS crew was able to rescue the injured right before the boat sank. But the crash is a stark reminder for rescuers about the equipment they desperately need.

R.L. Colina/ Monroe County Fire Deputy Fire Chief: “The need for a fire boat, for a rescue boat, for a boat that can provide aid. For one of these types of responses, it’s known. It’s known and it’s something that, we have been working now for, you know, probably about two years.”

That’s right. In the 120-mile island chain known for boating and water sports, the Monroe County Fire Department has no fire rescue boats.

R.L. Colina: “It’s where we’re situated. It is very different. We don’t have waterways. We don’t have an intercoastal. We have open ocean.”

Monroe County leads the state in boating accidents. Despite that, there are only two fire rescue boats; One in the city of Key West, the other in Ocean Reef; a private community.

Compare that to Miami-Dade, which has six fire rescue boats for about 55 miles of coastline, and Broward, which has four rescue boats for 23 miles.

Those numbers don’t seem right to some families.

June Smith/Heart like Harlie founder: “We’ve spent many years down in the Keys and that day, when I needed help, I didn’t realize you are helpless.”

June Smith lost her 13-year-old daughter, Harlie, in a boating accident off Cudjoe Key in 2017.

June Smith: “If you met her, you were going to love her right away. Very outgoing, super happy, loved the ocean.”

Harlie was in the water when she was hit by a boat. Her mom called 911.

June Smith: “I need help, I need a helicopter, we need medic help, we need it now and all his answer was, ‘Come to shore.'”

Another boater got Harlie to shore but it was too late.

June Smith: “You just know that’s where it’s ending. I don’t want people to be helpless.”

And her efforts are working. The legislature approved $900,000 for three new rescue boats in Key Largo, Marathon and Cudjoe Key.

June says it’s a start.

June Smith: “It’s just, every time I hear an accident, I’m like ‘Ugh. They are fighting. They are fighting to get to shore.”

Which is why June plans to keep fighting to shore up the help needed to save lives on the water.

June started a nonprofit in her daughter’s memory called Heart Like Harlie. All the money goes to funding rescue boats in the Florida Keys.”

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

For people who love the water, this is a heartbreaking sight to see: a critically endangered sawfish swimming in circles.

A few days later, it washed up on shore, dead.

Tonya Wiley: “This is the singular most devastating event that’s happened to them, this mass mortality that we’re seeing down there.”

Tonya Wiley is the president of the U.S. Sawfish Recovery Team.

She says this sawfish was found in the Tampa Bay area last month.

It’s the farthest north she’s seen this strange behavior, and believes the fish swam up from the Keys.

Tonya Wiley: “We’re really concerned about what this is going to mean for this population of this endangered species.”

Sawfish have been listed as endangered since 2003. In the last six months, 55 have died.

If this decline continues, it could wipe them out.

But it’s not just sawfish that are in trouble. Fifty fish species have been seen spinning like this in the Keys, and while a lot of fish are getting sick, only the sawfish are dying.

Tonya Wiley: “It is a mystery.”

A mystery frustrating the scientists trying to solve it.

The state of Florida just approved $2 million to fund research. That’s in addition to the money being spent by the federal government, private research facilities and universities.

Including Florida Gulf Coast University. 7News was there as they made yet another dive in search of the cause.

Adam Catasus, research coordinator, FGCU: “We want to look at all the environmental structures can be, we want to make sure we are measuring everything that we possibly can while we are here.”

On this day, university scientists are diving in the middle Keys, off the southern end of Long Key, collecting water, sea grass and seaweed samples.

Heather Walker: “The answer to what’s causing the fish to spin could be in here.”

Adam Catasus: “Potentially, yeah.”

7News got an exclusive look inside the lab, where the samples then go for testing.

The FGCU scientists said that once again, their samples showed high levels of a microscopic algae called Gambierdiscus. It is a naturally occurring toxin that is normally harmless but can be dangerous at high levels.

Adam Catasus: “If fish swim through it, or if they eat some of it, or they are exposed to it, they’ll have a response and impact, for example, spinning fish.”

Several spinning sawfish have been captured in an attempt to save them, but all have died.

Heather Walker: “Can this mystery be solved?”

Tonya Wiley: “I think it can. It’s going to take time.”

And all of these scientists know they are in a race against time before it’s too late.

Heather Walker, 7News.

Swimming where there are dead fish is not recommended.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to save the sawfish can do so here.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Kitty loves to swim. By the way, Kitty is 81 years old.

Kitty Kessler: “Because it keeps me in good condition. So I just go back and forth for the 80 lengths, and that’s not a workout, that’s just a swim.”

But her love of swimming brings something else: more pain.

Kitty Kessler: “Both shoulders and both hands. Thumb and the next two fingers, because they’re arthritic.”

Kitty has suffered from arthritis for 27 years, damaging her hands, feet and shoulders. Then she got a postcard from a company that said they could relieve her pain.

Kitty Kessler: “For me, it would grow new cartilage in the shoulder.”

Kitty says the company, called Reclaim Health Group in Orlando, invited her to a free luncheon along with 20 other people to learn about their treatment.

Kitty Kessler: “They told us that they use umbilical cord stem cells that are frozen and preserved, and we get our stem cells through the National Organ Donor Program.”

Kitty was desperate to try to live a pain-free life.

She did her research and spoke to a woman who said she was the doctor for Reclaim Health.

Kitty Kessler: “She had called me and said, ‘You know, I’ve reviewed your records, and you’re a great candidate.'”

She signed this contract for what she was told were stem cell injections and wrote the company a check.

Kitty Kessler: “[The check was for] $14,445.75.”

A few days later, a woman arrived with four needles.

Kitty Kessler: “And about that much fluid in it, a clear fluid. I don’t even know if with stem cells.”

Kitty was told her pain would start to lessen in two days.

Patrick Fraser: “Did it help?”

Kitty Kessler: “No, and it kept getting worse, and it was getting worse for like two months.”

Patrick: “It’s now been four months. Is it better?” 

Kitty Kessler: “No. It’s not. Not at all.”

That surprised Kitty, because she said the salesman claimed only one patient in eight years didn’t get better, and he told her the treatment was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

But Reclaim Health Group’s own website states the treatment is not currently approved by the FDA, nor does it cure, mitigate or treat any disease.

The company, though, was about to find out they had signed up the wrong patient.

Patrick Fraser: “You are tenacious.”

Kitty Kessler: Yes, I am, like a bulldog. My husband used to say that.”

Kitty says she checked out the company reps’ claim that they got their stem cells from the National Organ Donor Program.

Kitty Kessler: “They said they only deal in organs, and tissue and stem cells are neither, and they never deal with private companies.”

Kitty filed a complaint with Fort Lauderdale Police and the Florida Health Department, and she is not alone. The FDA told us they had received other complaints about Reclaim Health Group.

The FDA didn’t want to talk to us on camera, but they did do an online discussion with the New York Stem Cell Foundation and suggested people like Kitty rely on the state and not the federal government to investigate complaints.

Dr. Peter Marks, FDA: “In some cases, state boards of medicine have been able to go in and say, ‘Wait a second, you are charging a patient for an unproven therapy, and they’ve been able to take action that way.'”

Patrick Fraser: “How do you feel now about signing up with them?”

Kitty Kessler: “Like an idiot. But I was desperate, and I needed to believe, 27 years of swimming through pain and not being able to sleep.”

We repeatedly tried contacting Reclaim Health Group in Orlando. No one would return our calls, and there is no Reclaim Health Group in the building where they list their address.

Kitty Kessler: “I want to see this made public enough so that other seniors who are being targeted, obviously, do not fall prey to this.”

They got Kitty’s $14,445 dollars. Her dream of waking up without pain is gone, but she won’t stop what it pains her to do.

Kitty Kessler: “And I can’t give up swimming, so I’m going to hurt. But I’ve been doing it so many years, and I’ll just keep doing it.”

And keep living in pain.

I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Eighty-two-year-old Gloria Usheroff has a bad heart and a hard time talking after suffering a stroke. But she doesn’t let that slow her down.

Gloria Usheroff, resident: “I want to go to bingo, and I can’t.”

Gloria lives at the Five Star Premier Residences in Hollywood. It’s a sprawling senior living apartment complex which boasts about having live entertainment, art classes and movie nights.

But Gloria, who lives on the fourth floor, has a hard time getting to any of those activities, because her elevator is broken.

Carol Flynn, Gloria’s sister: “Since April, when we had that big flood. The one that she depends on, water got into the bottom and ruined an electrical part.”

Gloria’s sister Carol says, while there are elevators working in the building, they are too far away for Gloria.

Carol Flynn: “With the short distance of the walking that she does, her breathing is so labored. She has to stop along the way, catch her breath and keep going.”

And since she eats in the community dining room, she has to make that trek at least twice a day.

Carol Flynn: “They have raised her rent over $700 since the elevator has been down. You don’t raise someone’s rent when they’re being inconvenienced like that.”

Carol says she has been in constant contact with building managers for almost a year.

Carol Flynn: “I have over 35 to 40 emails back and forth about the elevator.”

First, she was told there weren’t any parts because of COVID. Then, that the elevator would be fixed in November.

Now, three months later, the manager told her they’re waiting on an inspection from the county.

Carol Flynn: “I don’t know what to believe anymore. One hand, he’s telling me he’s got a two-week window and it’s going to be up and running. Next text, nothing. No inspection, not even a date now.”

A county spokesperson tells us they did inspect one elevator earlier this month, but it failed because of several violations. After we reached out, the county also discovered that the working elevators did not have the proper safety certifications, which for Carol, is the worst news for her sister.

Carol Flynn: “It just annoys me because I would move her in a heartbeat, Heather. But being she has aphasia and cannot communicate, it’s hard for her to make friends.”

We went to management to find out when the elevator would be fixed. They told us to contact the corporate office.

Days later, a spokesperson told 7 Investigates, the elevator near Gloria’s apartment was fixed, inspected and fully functional.

Carol Flynn: “And without you, what would we do?

Gloria Usheroff : “Right.”

Carol Flynn: “We owe you a ton of gratitude. Thank you so, so much for putting her smile back on her face.”

Now Gloria can once again enjoy all the activities with her friends.

Heather Walker, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Chara Fitzpatrick moved to Hollywood with her young kids so she could be closer to her dad.

Chara found a one room apartment for $1,400 a month.

Chara Fitzpatrick, apartment leaks: “We were looking for somewhere for six months to a year. You know, get settled in the town, look for things, find good jobs.”

But her plans started crumbling when the summer rains caused her ceiling to fall apart.

Chara Fitzpatrick: “They said that they were going to send people to fix it. They didn’t even go on the roof. They just took the sheet rock down and replaced the sheet rock and painted over it.”

When the rains kept coming, so did the damage.

Chara Fitzpatrick: “And I woke up to them crying, and it was just dripping water on them, and there was just roof debris on them.”

Robin Er, trailer leaks: “I was sound asleep, and it started raining, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m getting wet.'”

Robin Erb has rain coming in the bedroom window of the trailer she rents in Davie.

Robin Erb: “See that right here? It’s all – the walls are ready to cave in.”

Robin asked her landlord to fix the leaks.

Robin Erb: “He came over and looked and said, ‘I’ll get somebody on it.'”

But he didn’t.

Robin Erb: “This is where there’s black mold.”

She now has mold growing on her ceiling.

Chara also believes she has mold, and it made her daughter sick.

Chara Fitzpatrick: “She started getting feverish, and then after about two days that I couldn’t break it. I took her into the ER.”

She had pneumonia, so the family moved into a hotel. Her landlord still hasn’t fixed the leaks.

Chara Fitzpatrick: “He feels like we’re desperate and have nothing else, so we’re gonna do whatever our – you know, deal with it just like the other tenants have.”

Finding an apartment to rent is very difficult in South Florida.

Miami-Dade is the most competitive rental market in the U.S. Broward County is ranked ninth, and landlord complaints are on the rise.

Alexander Johnson, tenant lawyer: “In a tight market, the landlords frequently feel that there’s no real incentive to retain tenants when they can get new ones at higher prices.”

While most Florida laws benefit landlords, Alexander Johnson says renters can still fight for their rights.

Alexander Johnson: “If there’s something that needs to get fixed, you need to fill out this seven day notice form, notice of noncompliance. Until you use this form, you don’t have any rights.”

Johnson says list everything that’s wrong with the unit and then send it by email, regular mail, or even text message to your landlord. Your landlord then has seven days to fix the problem.

Alexander Johnson: “The tenant needs to document what, if anything, happened during the seven days.”

If nothing is done, you can then legally withhold your rent. But under Florida law, your landlord can still file for an eviction, and even if you win in court, that eviction stays on your record.

Alexander Johnson: “Even though the tenant did exactly what the state of Florida told him to do, it still shows up as an eviction.”

Chara still hasn’t heard from her landlord and stopped paying rent, but lives in fear he’s going to try to evict her family.

Chara Fitzpatrick: “The housing market is very high right now, so it is harder to find a spot.”

Robin doesn’t want to move, so she taped plastic around the window to stop the leaks.

Robin Erb: “He wanted me to take that down. He fought with me about taking it down because it didn’t look right.”

If your landlord isn’t fixing things in your apartment, links to the seven day notice form, along with instructions, are at the end of this report.

Friday in our special series, “Paradise Lost,” we talk to seniors who are struggling with the rising cost of housing in South Florida.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

7-DAY NOTICE FORM:
static1.squarespace.com/static/5de2ca573d393a7e062b6144/t/63af3def8772f76aafee333e/1672429054561/7+Day+notice+to+cure+new.pdf

INSTRUCTIONS FOR 7-DAY NOTICE:
static1.squarespace.com/static/5de2ca573d393a7e062b6144/t/5e3ddfa57895e322668efd5d/1581113253162/7+DAY+NOTICE+TO+CURE+-+INSTRUCTIONS.pdf

ATTORNEY ALEXANDER JOHNSON’S WEBSITE:
browardlandlord.com

CHAPTER 83/LANDLORD TENANT LAWS:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0083/0083.html

7 Investigates was there for the reunion.

Here’s Karen Hensel.

Timothy Sweat/Bear’s owner: “My baby bear. I know. I miss you so much. Oh my goodness. Daddy’s here.”

Timothy Sweat has spent the last 91 days fighting for this moment.

Timothy Sweat: “My little baby boy. My little baby boy.”

On July 26, someone tried to take his dog Bear while they were on a walk in Dania Beach. Timothy fought the person off but he was severely beaten and rushed to the hospital Police took Bear to animal care for safe keeping but the shelter did not keep the Yorki-poo safe for Timothy.

Timothy Sweat: “The second I got out of the hospital, still bleeding, still had the tags on me, I got to the animal shelter and they just politely walked out and said, ‘He’s gone and we gave him away.'”

Through 7 Investigates, Timothy made a public plea to the woman who adopted Bear, Sharon Barnett

But Barnett refused to take his calls and our calls. She wouldn’t talk to us when we caught up with her at home.

With no other option, Timothy sued her in court.

Barnett told the court she gave Bear to her godson and the dog was in New Jersey.

The court ruled Bear likely belonged to Tim and he was “entitled to take possession” of the dog.

Gregory Elder/Timothy’s attorney: “So, I think she knew there was a process server and that the day of reckoning was coming.”

Attorney Gregory Elder was getting ready to ask the court to order Barnett to bring Bear back to Florida, but the family in New Jersey suddenly said they would give Bear back.

Gregory Elder: “It was a culmination of terrible events happening one after another, you know, and ultimately, of course, the worst part of it is he had to resort to the legal system.”

7 Investigates flew with Timothy to New Jersey for the reunion he feared would never happen. He was nervous until the moment bear ran into his arms.

Timothy Sweat: “My baby. We’re going to go home. Ya, we’re going to go home.”

Timothy flew Bear back here to Fort Lauderdale the same day. He is still considering a lawsuit against animal control for the money he’s spent on lawyers and flights, but for now, is just glad to have Bear back where he belongs.”

Timothy Sweat: “We’re just going to enjoy each other’s company and just get back into our normal routine and start our life again.”

A life filled with the kind of joy a precious pet can bring.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

This is Bear. Timothy Sweat adopted him when he was just a puppy.

Timothy Sweat: “He is a very sweet little boy. He is a Yorkie-poo, spoiled. He’s 3 years old, and we have never been apart.”

But that changed on July 19, when Timothy took Bear for an evening walk near Federal Highway and Northeast First Street in Dania Beach.

Timothy Sweat: “I was approached by a young man who seemed very interested in my dog, and then he attempted to take my dog. And when I stopped him, he assaulted me.”

Timothy was so badly beaten, he suffered a brain injury and had to be hospitalized for nearly two weeks.

Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies took Bear to Broward County Animal Care.

Timothy Sweat: “He was supposed to be taken into protective services while I was in surgery, and I’ve heard that they keep dogs up to three weeks if you’re out in a medical situation. And my dog was put up for adoption after seven days and adopted quickly.”

The woman who adopted Bear is Sharon Barnett of Margate. Timothy says he called her every day to ask her to return Bear.

He says she only talked to him once.

Timothy Sweat: “She listened to what I had to say, and she goes, ‘I have no further comment.’ And now there’s been no response from her whatsoever.”

We tried to talk to Sharon Barnett at her home.

Karen Hensel: “I’m Karen with 7News. Can we talk to you about the dog that you adopted?”

She would not answer our questions.

Timothy says he felt his only choice was to hire a lawyer.

Marcy Lahart, Sweat’s attorney: “It’s unfortunate that this had to happen. If this person who adopted the dog had an ounce of compassion, she would return the dog to its rightful owner who loves and needs the dog.”

Attorney Marcy Lahart says the shelter had no right to adopt Bear out in the first place.

Marcy Lahart: “Never have I seen a situation where the animal control knew exactly who owned the dog and where that person was, and they were in the hospital, no less, and just said, ‘Too bad, so sad, you didn’t get here in five days, so your dog is no longer yours.'”

Lahart says Bear was microchipped, and Timothy never gave permission for him to be adopted, so they’re asking a judge to order Sharon Barnett to return the dog.

Timothy, meanwhile, is slowly recovering from his injuries.

Timothy Sweat: “Other than my vision and my balance at times, I’m on the road to recovery, but it’s just a slow process. They said there’s no time frame for improving your brain.”

But his broken heart would be healed if he could get Bear back.

And he has a message for Sharon Barnett.

Timothy Sweat: “This is my child. You can’t keep him. That’s it.”

A judge still has to review the court filing. Meanwhile, Timothy now has legal bills on top of his mounting hospital bills.

He has started a GoFundMe page. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

From the moment he picked up a camera, John Bouma knew he wanted to photograph pets. So he decided to get some practice at a local animal shelter.

John Bouma, pet photographer: “I was looking for ways to volunteer that would allow me to practice, and I found out that animal shelters love having volunteer photographers come.”

Little did he know, his practice would become a passion.

For the last 10 years, John has volunteered to spend a morning a week with the dogs at Miami-Dade Animal Services.

John Bouma: “The shelter brings in a lot of dogs, so they’re only able to take a quick photo of the dog when it first comes to the shelter. Obviously, the dogs are confused and a little sometimes scared, so it doesn’t come across really well in their photos.”

He takes pictures of dogs that have been at the shelter a long time. The hope is to find them a home.

John Bouma: “Providing my photos to the shelter, as well as sharing them on my own social media channels, I believe it’s helped a lot of dogs and cats get adopted quicker or just adopted in general.”

But all of us who have tried to photograph own pets know it’s not easy. So how does John manage to get great photos of dogs he just met?

John Bouma: “We use a number of techniques. We always have yummy treats, sometimes a squeaker toy to get their attention when looking at the camera.”

And even on a day when there is a raging thunderstorm, John is able to put the dogs at ease and get a great shot.

John Bouma: “Ideally, the goal is, when photographing a dog, you want it to look its best. With a dog, that typically means ears forward. If we’re lucky, we might get a head tilt and smiling.”

Seeing the dogs relaxed and playful is part of the fun for John.

He hopes his photos will show people that these shelter dogs are loving animals in need of a happy home.

John Bouma: “People that don’t know think that there’s something wrong with the dogs at the shelter, that the whole reason they got here was because they’re broken in some way, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

And the truth for this photographer is, being here, in a raging thunderstorm, with these dogs is exactly where he wants to be.

John Bouma: “I find doing this a little more satisfying, because I know I’m helping these dogs, and it’s really rewarding.”

And he believes the biggest reward is for the family who finds the picture perfect dog.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Yoli Alvarez has spent her entire life in Miami.

Yoli Alvarez: “I was raised in Wynwood, and single mom and two sisters.”

Her mom always told her if she applied herself, she could become anything she wanted.

So in high school, Yoli told her mom she wanted to be a soldier in the Army.

Yoli Alvarez: “I said, ‘Hey, Ma, I joined the military.’ She was like, “No,’ she didn’t believe me until, actually, the sergeant came to pick me up.”

Yoli says there is something special about serving her country.

Yoli Alvarez: “I started as a Morse code interceptor. I was assigned to the National Security Agency, NSA.”

But by her late 20s, she wanted to come home to serve her community. Yoli joined the fire academy.

Yoli Alvarez: “Back then, I weighed like 112 pounds; everything weighed more than I did. And it was hard, I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and say it was easy. No, it was brutally hard.”

But her hard work paid off.

Yoli Alvarez: “This right here was when I actually graduated as a firefighter. This is a proud moment.”

Yoli remembers the heartbreak of her very first emergency call after graduation.

Yoli Alvarez: “My first call was actually a pregnant female that was overdosed, and sadly, you know, she didn’t – she nor the baby made it.”

During the course of her 33-year career, Yoli served on the elite search-and-rescue team. Her hard work and dedication got her noticed.

Yoli Alvarez: “This is when I got promoted to lieutenant, proud moment.”

And then district chief, where she oversees five fire stations, the Technical Rescue Team and the dive team.

Even though the journey was tough, she says it was all worth it.

Yoli Alvarez: “I wanted to help people, I just want to help people in the time of need.”

The challenge she leaves behind: who will fill her shoes?

Capt. Ignatius Carroll, City of Miami Fire: “You see a woman who not only devoted herself in the military but came here to the fire department, determined, moved up the ranks to becoming the first Hispanic district chief fire officer in our department’s history.”

Chief Alvarez hopes to inspire the next generation to dream big.

Yoli Alvarez: “It doesn’t have to be firefighting; it has to be whatever your dreams are. As long as you believe in yourself, you work hard, it can happen.”

Chief Alvarez is planning to spend more time with her family during her retirement.

If there’s someone or something you think we should feature, send us an email at 7spotlight@wsvn.com.

Tonight, 7’s Patrick Fraser continues our living nightmare stories with a look at how rising insurance premiums could force people out of their homes.

Julie and her husband live in Miami, but have built a house that looks like their favorite spot.

Julie Colon: “It’s our key sanctuary. My husband and I love the Keys.”

Marlis Cintra and her family bought their very first home in Hollywood a year and a half ago.

Marlis Cintra: “The first time I came here, and I was like, ‘This is my house. This is the place where I want to live.'”

Laura Newton has been a homeowner in Plantation for the last 21 years.

Laura Newton: “Remodeling inside the house. I redid the kitchen, I redid the living room, all the floors. So I’ve put a lot of money in it. It’s my, like, safe haven when I get out of work.”

Three families living what’s called the American Dream, but the dreamers didn’t plan on an insurance nightmare.

Laura Newton: “I got the bill in the mail and it was $17,400.”

Julie’s bill only increased by a thousand dollars. But she’s retired, on a very tight budget and a thousand is too much.

Julie Colon: “I can’t pay this money. I can’t afford it. My mortgage has gone up every year due to the fact that the property insurance.”

Marlis’ insurance went up another $7,200. To afford it, she had to sell her car and ask her teenage son to get a job.

Marlis Cintra: “He is 17, and I was like, ‘Hey, the mortgage raised, you need you to start working to help us.'”

The solution right now? There isn’t one.

The Florida Legislature passed a bill to try to help, but that won’t have an effect for a year or two, and homeowners need help now.

Chris Frimes/Fitch Ratings: “There are certainly challenges that the insurance market is faced in Florida.”

Fitch Ratings tracks insurance markets around the country. They say the cause of Florida’s soaring rates is clear.

Thousands of lawsuits filed against insurance companies after they refused to pay claims for storm damage.

Now add in false claims and insurance fraud.

The result of all that, many insurance companies went out of business.

And with only a few companies insuring homes in Florida, the cost of re-insurance went up. That’s the insurance that insurance companies buy to cover their losses.

Its a perfect storm of problems creating the current crisis.

Alex Ray/ John Galt Insurance: “That’s the future. You know, who can afford a couple thousand dollars a month increase in your expenses. It’s just, you know, unrealistic.”

Terrible news for homeowners who just can’t afford the insurance and might have to sell.

Marlis Cintra: “I talk to people and everybody’s kind of like, ‘This is too much with insurance. It’s just too much.'”

Its too much, leaving many people thinking like Laura.

Laura Newton: “I’ve thought many times of selling and moving to North Carolina. I definitely won’t retire here, but I’ll probably spend a couple more years here.”

The living nightmare.

She loves her house, but like so many South Floridians can’t afford the insurance for it.

Patrick Fraser, 7News.

Forty-six-year-old Anthony Gonzalez worked as a production engineer, posted about being vegan and as a former college baseball player spent a lot of time at the gym.

Emy Gonzalez, brother: “My brother was the type of person that he was really outgoing, give the shirt off his back. He was an athlete, loved by everybody he worked with, family and friends.”

Anthony’s final post to Facebook was Sept. 13, talking about coming back to Miami Lakes, telling friends, “I just moved back from LA 7 months ago.”

Emy Gonzalez: “What I know about that night was that my brother had found himself in a very dangerous situation.”

That night is Oct. 30, one that brings not only heartache but questions for his family.

Police said Anthony Gonzalez carjacked a woman, sideswiped another driver, then jumped off the Julia Tuttle Causeway, into the water.

Emy Gonzalez: “When they found my brother, he was still alive.”

He would later die at the hospital.

Emy Gonzalez: “My initial thought was that that wasn’t him. My brother will never do that. He will never– he wouldn’t take his life. He will never take his life.”

His brother believes he was actually running for his life.

Emy Gonzalez: “My brother was in fear for his life, whatever situation that he was in, that definitely he thought that was going to cost him his life … frantically waving down passengers in their car, and he was full of blood in his head.”

According to this Miami Police report, a witness told police Anthony Gonzalez had approached him “asking for a ride.”

The man refused because he was “bloodied and seemed to be under the influence.”

Soon after, a woman was stopped in traffic at 79th and Northeast Second Avenue.

That’s when police say Anthony Gonzalez forced her from her car “throwing her to the ground.”

Emy believes his brother took the car out of desperation and fear.

Emy Gonzalez: “He was involved in some type of altercation, maybe. What I think, they tried to rob him. They tried to take his vehicle. They tried to take his money, whatever it was, you know. But that’s not normal to have somebody in the middle of the street waving on cars full of blood.”

His car, keys, wallet and cell phone were all missing

Then they noticed something odd after he died, his car was racking up tolls on Sunpass.

Emy Gonzalez: “I went into the area where the initial incident took place, and I was able to locate his car within 20 minutes … the car passed right by me.”

He immediately called police and the car was impounded.

Now detectives are investigating.

Anthony Gonzalez was driving a 2016 white Nissan Altima. If you saw something near 79th Street and Northeast Second Avenue the night of Oct. 30, please call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. For one family, one call could make the difference.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

There have been concerns for years about how the Broward Animal Care Shelter has been run, but now it is police officers who are fed up and frustrated.

Every day, police officers risk their lives to keep South Florida residents safe, but now they are also being forced to take on the role of keeping animals safe.

Anabelle Lima-Taub, Hallandale Beach Commissioner: “I have never seen anything like this, ever.”

Hallandale Beach City commissioners got this letter from a police captain. He writes he found it “…very disturbing…” when animal services refused to respond to help a “mortally injured dog with wounds infested with flies and maggots.”

Anabelle Lima-Taub: “The police department isn’t equipped to be an animal care facility. That’s what our tax dollars are allocated for Broward Animal Care Shelter.”

Officers say the Broward County Animal Shelter also refused to pick up this stray dog. Hallandale Beach Police placed her in a makeshift outdoor pen, but moved her into a city jail cell when she started to overheat.

Karen Hensel: “Is a crate outside a holding facility?”

Emily Woods, Animal Care Director: “That is for the city to decide.”

And Hallandale is not alone.

Davie Police officers were forced to jump in and rescue a drowning dog from this canal.

They too were denied help from the shelter.

One officer wrote in an email, “When I asked if the officers should have left the dog to drown in the canal last night, she stated it was a choice they made and yes, they should have left it, if they did not have other accommodations….”

The officer ended by saying, “I’m still in shock…I have no words.”

We took the issue directly to shelter director Emily Wood.

Emily Wood, director, Broward County Animal Care: “I certainly did not say that.”

Karen Hensel: “The officer’s lying?”

Emily Wood: “I think maybe it’s a little bit of an exaggeration of a heated conversation.”

According to auditors investigating a slew of problems at the shelter, the trouble began when Wood updated intake practices requiring local police to hold pets for 72 hours.

Emily Wood: “This animal, who is only a few blocks from their home, is much less likely to get home if they come here, and they’re taking these resources that another animal might really need.”

Problem is investigators say Wood never told city officials about the 3-day rule.

Ana Campos, Animal Activist: “It’s an ongoing situation with police officers being put in this position. I’m very upset.”

The parents of this yorkie are also upset. Their precious pet was mauled to death by a loose pitbull last Thursday night.

Their 12-year-old daughter was walking the dog when the attack occurred.

Hallandale Beach Police say they called animal services repeatedly, but the dangerous dog wasn’t picked up until four days later.

Michele Lazaro, Hallandale Beach Commissioner: “If the county’s not going to hold her accountable, we’re going to make sure that she’s accountable.”

Hallandale Commissioner Michele Lazaro spoke at a county commission meeting saying the policy is ridiculous.

Michele Lazaro, Hallandale Beach Commissioner: “The police department are not doing Ms. Wood’s job. It’s not happening.”

One Broward City has now passed a resolution calling for the county commission to do away with the new policy.

Other cities are expected to follow suit.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

This is home security video of Officer Matthew Barbieri in March of 2017, obtained exclusively by 7 Investigates.

Gary Jeffries, Hollywood resident: “Barbieri grabs the door, whips it open, reaches and grabs me by the wrist and dragged me outside and body slams me right on the ground, right down as hard as he could. And then he jumps on top of me and puts his knee right in my back and my lumbar and the other knee and my neck choking me. And I’m screaming in pain. And I’m saying, I’ve had back surgery and neck surgery. “

Sixty-nine-year-old Gary Jeffries showed us the X-rays of plates and screws from a previous injury.

Gary Jeffries: “That’s the plate that’s in my back where his knee was, right here crushing.”

Jeffries says that day, he got into a fender bender.

Gary Jeffries: “I said, ‘Well, I just live eight houses down. Let me go get my checkbook, and I’ll pay to repair the car.'”

Moments later, Hollywood Police Officer Matthew Barbieri and a female officer showed up.

Six home security cameras and Jeffries’ friend witnessed their arrival.

Gary Jeffries: “I heard banging on the window. Doorbell didn’t ring or anything.”

His dogs, an 11-pound Jack Russell terrier and a Labrador, started barking.

In a sworn deposition, the friend, Tom Brady, testified that Officer Barbieri “…said something about shooting the dogs…” so Brady went in and put them in the backyard.

Gary Jeffries: “Anybody that’s going to kick down your door and shoot a dog, you don’t know what’s in their frame of mind, so I was scared to death.”

Moments later, Barbieri grabbed Jeffries through the front door.

Jeffries contacted 7 Investigates after seeing the following story on 7News.

Barbieri was acquitted just last week of misdemeanor battery. He was charged after being caught on camera slapping a handcuffed suspect.

Jeffries says in his case, not only was he mistreated, but the officers lied about what happened.

In the police report, the officer wrote “… he shortly thereafter came outside …”

Gary Jeffries: “It’s a total lie. The video proves that I did not do that.”

Video also shows him handcuffed, then taken to the sidewalk, where a camera view is not as clear.

Gary Jeffries: “He parks me out there on my butt. I lay down on my back, and he goes, ‘Sit up, [expletive language].’ And I said, ‘I can’t sit up at a 90-degree angle. It hurts. And he started kicking my feet and kicking my legs.”

His friend witnessed the kicks, saying in his deposition, Jeffries was “moaning … almost crying …”

Jeffries says, when they got him up to put him in the police car, he was roughed up again.

Gary Jeffries: “He goes to push me, and right at the last second gives me a good jab right in the belly. He slams my face right into the car and knocked out all my top upper and lower, except my two front teeth.”

His teeth in this baggy are now evidence in a lawsuit, which claims the officer “illegally entered” Gary’s home …” and prepared “… a false, untruthful and fraudulent …” police report.

Including this statement that Jeffries was “…under the influence,” yet he says he never took a breathalyzer or blood test when they took him to the hospital for his injuries.

Greg Durden, attorney: “He has no priors at all. He’s a model citizen, and if this can happen to somebody like Gary, it can happen to anybody.”

Jeffries was arrested for hit-and-run DUI.

The charges were later dismissed.

He gave Hollywood Police a copy of the video but was told…

Gary Jeffries: “We did not find anything wrong in the arrest.”

Gary says it has taken a physical and emotional toll, and he is worse off now than he was before the arrest.

Hollywood Police declined to comment on this lawsuit.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

August 24, 1992, 5 a.m.

7Weather meteorologist: “We have the core of the hurricane coming in here. It’s well-formed, and it’s going to cause significant damage.

“Significant damage.” Who knew what an understatement that would turn out to be.

Ken Tolliver: “It’s really, really picking up here on Collins and about 82.”

Andrew was supposed to hit Miami Beach, but it took a dip and landed in South Dade.

Patrick Fraser: “The trucks almost tipped over. We’re coming down.”

Alice Jacobs: “At this point, guys, that’s the best we can hope for. We don’t want anybody to get hurt here.”

If you were in the path of Andrew, you probably weren’t concerned with getting hurt. You were worried you were going to die.

Man: “You can feel this whole wall moving that I’ve got my shoulder against.”

Older woman: “I started to scream, ‘God, please, don’t kill me, God, don’t kill me, please.”

Andrew’s 140 mph winds, combined with hundreds of tornadoes, destroyed everything.

As the sun came up, I will never forget the sight. No one who was there during and after Andrew ever will.

First responder: “I was a combat medic in Vietnam, and the devastation does not compare with the devastation here.”

Homes leveled, cars smashed. It sounds strange to say, but if you just lost a roof, you were considered lucky.

Arlene Rodriguez: “The roof came off, and all of us were screaming in the room.”

Many people were forced to run from room to room as their homes blew up around them.

Man: “The rumbling, the shaking.”

Woman: “He dug me out of the rubble twice and put me where I needed to go.”

Older woman: “I said, ‘The daylight’s coming, please. I wanted the daylight, I wanted the daylight.'”

But all the daylight did was shine a light on the destruction … and make it clear the nightmare had only begun.

Man: “There’s nothing. There’s nothing left. There’s no more Homestead. I don’t think there’s a building I’ve seen that hasn’t been destroyed.”

The storm of the century killed 44 people, destroyed 170,000 homes. Think about it: 170,000 houses and trailers, gone, leaving 250,000 people without a place to live.

Girl: “I wish it wouldn’t have happened.”

And it got worse. No food, no water, no help.

Man: “It’s survival of the fittest. Every man and woman for themselves.”

Finally, Kate Hale, then the head of Dade County’s Emergency Operations Center, challenged the country and spoke out in frustration.

Kate Hale, Dade County emergency manager: “Where in the hell is the calvary on this one?”

And the help started arriving.

President George Bush landed in a field near what was left of Homestead to see the National Guard go to work.

Tents gave families a place to sleep at night.

Woman: “It’s better than anywhere. We have light here; we have everything.”

Supplies poured in. Trucks, helicopters bringing water and food for more than 100,000 people.

Parents stood in line to get food for their babies and then slept in tents with hundreds of others, one eye open to make sure their children were safe.

Woman: “Can you move back in your house?”

Girl: “Nope.”

Many people gave up, got their insurance money, loaded up a truck and took off, never to return again.

But Homestead did recover, not in weeks or months; it took years. Today, the city is bigger and better, with no sign of that horrible storm.

Unless you search people’s memories.

Man: “A lot of work, a lot of dreams into this, all gone overnight, just in two hours.”

Woman: “Words can’t explain it. You have to go through it yourself.”

Patrick Fraser, 7News.

Residents were left digging through the rubble of their homes after andrew ravaged south dade. They desperately searched for any remnants of their lives.

Entire neighborhoods were destroyed. There was no shelter, no food, no water and no help on the way.

All of the suffering prompted the Emergency Management Director Kate Hale to send out a desperate national call .

Kate Hale: “Where in the hell is the calvary?”

Only then did help arrive.

People stood in line for hours for food, water, clothing and other basic necessities.

National Guard soldier: “We’ve got to get the people who need food fed.”

Andrew showed us how catastrophic hurricanes can be, and it should remind us why preparing for a storm is so important.

Pete Gomez, Miami-Dade EOC director: “Well, number one is we live in hurricane alley. There is a very good chance that we’re going to be affected by some kind of weather event, specifically hurricanes.”

Pete Gomez is the new director for Miami-Dade’s Emergency Operations Center.

He says people need to shop for supplies that can keep their family safe after a storm.

Pete Gomez: “Part of that is understanding that government or somebody is not going to be able to help you for a period of time. Right, so we ask you to be self-sufficient for a period of three to seven days.”

Your kit should include plenty of food and water, ice to keep food at a safe temperature. You should also have emergency tarps and hardware to make repairs if your home is damaged.

But, Gomez says, the government is working behind the scenes to get emergency help to you as soon as possible after a storm hits.

Pete Gomez: “We’ve made a lot of improvements in our processes, not only at the local and state level, but at the federal level, but we still want you to be taking care of in case we can’t get to you yet.”

Gomez says part of that process includes emergency supplies being readied before the hurricane hits.

Pete Gomez: “The federal government will pre-stage them in certain locations away from the storm so that soon as the storm passes, they’re able to get all those supplies in there.”

But, to be on the safe side, buy your supplies, make a plan and follow it if a storm heads our way.

A full list of critical supplies you’ll want to stock up on can be found by clicking here.

Two days before Andrew slammed into Southern Miami-Dade County, people along 443 miles of Florida’s East Coast were warned to be ready for the monster storm.

7News, 1992: “As we take a look at the hurricane watch, it does extend from the Dry Tortugas to Titusville.”

A huge area but, back then, scientists didn’t have the tools to better predict where Andrew would hit.

Dr. Jack Bevin, Senior Storm Specialist, National Hurricane Center: “In 1992, we were only making three-day forecasts.”

Check this out, back in 1992, this was the predicted three-day track for a hurricane.

It’s a large area, and scientists could only say the storm would hit somewhere in here.

If they would have used the cone of concern, it would have looked something like this.

Now, compare that to today, this little circle represents where the cone would be focused three days out from a storm making landfall.

This tighter cone is the result of new technology that gives forecasters a better understanding of how hurricanes work.

Here’s another example of how far forecasting has come.

This is the track scientists can currently study when a storm is three days away from landfall, and this is technology they had when Andrew was one day away from landfall in 1992, which means we now know days earlier where a storm is going to hit.

And that means people are now getting earlier and better warnings so they can prepare.

Dr. Jack Bevin: “Now we are issuing watches 48 hours in advance and warnings 36 hours in advance as compared to back in 1992.”

Dr. Jack Bevin is now a senior storm specialist for the NHC.

He was just an intern during Andrew.

Dr. Jack Bevin: “I was getting my Ph.D. at Florida State and doing intern work at the Hurricane Center.”

He has been on the front lines to see all of the changes, which have led to better and more accurate forecasts today.

Dr. Jack Bevin: “We got these new fancier dropsondes in, start throwing them out into the strongest part of the hurricane eyewall and made some very interesting discoveries about how the hurricane worked.”

But when Andrew hit, scientists could only measure wind speed at 10,000 feet above ground.

Now ,the dropsondes allow them to check wind speed in the actual eye of the storm.

Hurricane Hunter Pineda: “This is the transmitter right here that sends all the data back to the aircraft.”

Another big advancement: weather satellites that can take pictures above a hurricane every 30 seconds.

Dr. Jack Bevin: “You put it all together, we have improved our capabilities a lot, of monitoring the storm, tracking the storm and forecasting the storm.”

The Hurricane Center is now actively working on seven day forecasts. We don’t know yet when those will start being issued.

Kristina Sharpe lives in this North Bay Village condo, Treasures On The Bay. She loves the water view from her seventh floor balcony.

Kristina Sharpe: “I’ve been here since 2017. I’ve been here for, it’s going to be my fifth year.”

But she says this balcony fire in February, started by one of her neighbors, ignited trouble for residents.

Kristina Sharpe: “There was a fire this year from someone’s barbecue on my floor, which ended up messing up the service elevator.”

The fire also took out one of the two passenger elevators. She showed us how five months later, elevators are still not working, so when her rent was raised another $400 a month to $2,035, she decided to move out, but she couldn’t.

Kristina Sharpe: “The service elevator is the way we could only get my furniture down seven flights of stairs, so I was forced to sign because how am I going to get out of here?”

Tenant: “I can’t move my things out. We are held hostage here.”

Other neighbors agree, like this man who wanted to remain anonymous.

Karen Hensel: “Do you feel like this is a safety issue?”

Tenant: “It’s a big time safety issue. You only have one elevator working, and that’s about to break soon, because what happens is people start to overload that elevator.”

That’s why Kristina says she often just takes the seven flights of stairs.

Kristina Sharpe: “My neighbors have gotten stuck in it like numerous times, and they’re literally afraid to go in the elevator. I one time saw on the Citizen app, my neighbor was stuck in the elevator for an hour with his dog, and you know, I will not go in the elevator without a phone because of that.”

And if she does take the elevator, Kristina says she has to plan for delays.

Kristina Sharpe: “It takes so long just to get on the elevator. You have to leave about 15 minutes earlier, because then you stop on almost every floor going down.”

Miami-Dade County records show all three elevators failed the annual inspection last August. County records also show the violations have still not been corrected. The company was cited and fined $780. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for later this month.

Kristina Sharpe: “I just hope that the association, everybody will do something about it. You know, that’s what I hope.”

And that may happen. We contacted the New York company that owns the building. No one there would comment, but when we asked North Bay Village officials, they sent out code enforcement the very same day.

They spoke with the property manager who promised that both elevators would be fixed within weeks. Code enforcement says they will be back to ensure the repairs are made.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

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