Surfside, #RunTheCity, and Other Boca Raton Updates
SURFSIDE TRAGEDY
The tragedy in Surfside dramatized the need for strong measures relating to the structural integrity of large condominium and commercial buildings. Miami-Dade and Broward Counties require that structures be recertified after 40 years, while Palm Beach County has no such requirement. At the City of Boca Raton, where we have many large condominium and commercial buildings near the ocean, upon learning of the situation in Surfside, our city staff immediately began working to draft and implement even stricter recertification measures which our City Council will discuss at our next meeting on July 27. We continue to pray for everyone impacted by the Surfside tragedy.
#RUNTHECITY UPDATE – HALFWAY THERE!
We keep moving in my #RunTheCity initiative, where I’ll be running and cleaning all 475 miles of Boca Raton streets in 2021. At this point, we’re halfway done! Since January 1, here’s what we’ve done:
Here’s how much of the City I’ve run so far (in navy), and how much I have left to go (white):
#RUNTHECITY COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
Here’s the schedule for the neighborhoods we’ll be coming to next:
So far, over 175 residents have joined us as we #RunTheCity to help keep their City clean and safe:
Boca Raton Innovation Campus
Boca Bath & Tennis
Old Floresta with volunteers from Boca Raton Regional Hospital
Downtown with volunteers from Boca Raton Historical Society
As we make our way through the City, I’d love for you to join me. Whether you run, walk, or just meet up with us to give me your thoughts, I want your input. Let me know what your neighborhood needs and what the City can do better. If you or your organization want to partner with us as we #RunTheCity, you can sign up at www.andythomson.com/run-the-city
NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMING TO BOCA!
For several years, many public schools in Boca Raton have suffered from overcrowding. Since the schools here are excellent and Boca is a wonderful place to raise a family, it was no surprise that more and more families wanted to take advantage of the great education. At some point, though, the classes can become so crowded that the quality of the education can begin to suffer, so something had to be done.
Thankfully, the School District of Palm Beach County just broke ground on a new elementary school in Boca Raton, near the corner of Military Trail and Potomac Road. This school, which should open for the 2022-2023 school year (i.e., not this school year, but next), will help alleviate the overcrowding at Boca’s elementary schools along with the rebuilt and expanded Addison Mizner Elementary and Verde Elementary.These new facilities, together with the expansion of Spanish River High and more intensive address-confirmation requirements at Boca High, will address much of the overcrowding issues that were so acute only a few years ago.
SOUTH BEACH PAVILION REOPENS
The pavilion at South Beach Park reopened last month after several months of repair work. In February, a driver pulling into a parking space at the pavilion had his foot get caught between the brake and the gas which caused him to crash into the pavilion. Inspections revealed that additional work was necessary, which took additional time, but we’re glad to have our beautiful pavilion back and good as new!
BOCA RATON TO HOST HOSPITALITY JOB FAIR
Here’s a shout-out to the City of Boca Raton’s Economic Development team. The very same day that Jill Goodman, a restaurant owner in town, reached out to me to ask if the City could help connect hospitality business owners with people seeking work (an industry-wide issue), they and CareerSource Palm Beach County organized a Hospitality Job Fair for August 26, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Spanish River Library. If you’re a hospitality business with job openings, please email EconomicDevelopment@myboca.us to register.
SUSTAINABLE SUMMER
CITY OF BOCA RATON BEACH CLEANUP THIS SATURDAY!
Come join us this Saturday, July 17 as we help make our beautiful beaches a little bit cleaner. Register by email at sustainability@myboca.us and include the number of participants, names, and ages.
Washington Post, July 11, 2021
USA Today, July 11, 2021
Sun Sentinel, July 10, 2021
NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
July 27, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
6500 Congress Avenue
Visit www.myboca.us/calendar for details on all public meetings
