The Sierra Club is a respected organization whose stated mission includes the protection of public land.

One way it does that is by endorsing candidates who presumably share its views, and few places have had more fierce debate over protecting public land — or giving it away to developers — than Fort Lauderdale. Consider the furor over the city’s approval of private development on one of the last patches of space downtown, known as One Stop Shop, or the giveaway of Lockhart Stadium (which the city can use four days each year) and Snyder Park, where a 43-court pickleball complex is rising next to I-595, where fans can sip “signature drinks” well into the night.

Commissioner Steve Glassman played a major supporting role in all three projects, and especially touts his support for the pickleball courts on social media. “All very exciting!” he tweeted. Not everyone shares his enthusiasm. As nearby residents watch noisy trucks kick up dust and rumble through their streets, they should know that Glassman has the Sierra Club’s endorsement as he seeks a new term as District 2 commissioner.

The Sierra Club didn’t bother to ask either challenger to fill out its questionnaire, because it endorsed Glassman on a “fast track” basis, with an extensive review of his record, which its rules allow if an incumbent had the club’s past endorsement, as Glassman did. Sierra praised the changes to a part of Snyder Park, which Thompson Gonzalez said was “a seaweed dump and a parking area for park facilities.”

Van Horn said Glassman contributed to the “destruction” of Snyder Park. Charlotte Rodstrom said: “They should have had an interview process.” Rodstrom’s son, John Rodstrom III, the lawyer for Save Snyder Park, wrote a fiery letter to club members, accusing them of abandoning their mission by backing politicians who approved tree removal and paving lush green spaces. “I am appalled by your decision to support individuals who have blatantly facilitated the destruction of our environment and our parks,” Rodstrom wrote. He said Glassman shows “a blatantly contemptuous disregard for our environment and natural green spaces.”

Glassman is the clear favorite of the development community, which has by far the deepest pockets of any interest group in Fort Lauderdale elections.  That’s obvious when you look at who’s contributing to his campaign and his separate political committee, Back to Basics, which by law can accept contributions of any amount. Glassman reported a combined $803,000 through this week — an astounding sum in a city commission race.

That would not be possible without the generosity of development interests, including a single eye-popping check of $50,000 Glassman received in October from an entity called 201 N. Federal Highway LLC. Two months later, he approved the developer’s two new towers at that address. The twin high-rises, 47 and 45 stories tall, will be within 10 feet of The Dalmar hotel, downtown. (The vote was 4 to 1, with only Commissioner Warren Sturman voting no.) The Dalmar has sued Fort Lauderdale for approving deviations from the city’s master plan that it said will ruin its guests’ views of downtown.

“No one’s going to buy my vote,” Glassman told me recently.

By Steve Bousquet
Opinion Editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on September 7, 2024

The recent controversy over Florida’s plan to build golf courses and pickleball courts in state parks is not just a state-level issue — it’s happening locally.

Our local parks are under siege, led by our own officials. Fort Lauderdale voters approved a $200 million parks bond, now on your tax bill, to expand and protect our green spaces. Instead, local politicians gave away these parks and now we have to pay to use them.

For example, the city gave away a significant portion of Snyder Park for the private development of 40-plus pickleball courts and a stadium. The same officials pushed for the private development of portions of Holiday Park and Huizenga Park. They also have been at the forefront of efforts to hand over other public lands, like One Stop Shop and Bahia Mar, to private interests.

Even more troubling, environmental groups have endorsed these candidates despite these officials violating everything that these groups stand for. These same politicians, responsible for environmental damage, are once again seeking our votes.

We must elect city leaders who will protect our parks and public lands.

By John E. Rodstrom III, Fort Lauderdale
Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board on September 2, 2024

Cochrane and his attorney, John Rodstrom III, asked the city back in May to place the proposed ordinance on the 6 p.m. commission agenda so the mayor and commissioners could vote on it.

Instead, city officials placed the agenda item on the Aug. 22 commission conference agenda, where voting is prohibited.

Rodstrom urged city commissioners to vote on the ordinance at the Sept. 19 commission meeting, but failed to gain support.

Interim City Attorney D’Wayne Spence told the commission the proposed ordinance was flawed. He also warned that breaking the comprehensive agreement could lead to a lawsuit.

“We’re exploring legal remedies,” Rodstrom told the Sun Sentinel on Friday. “The charter is really clear that this should have been put on a regular meeting. No one on the commission really wants to stop this project. None of them said they’d like to see this placed on a regular agenda.”

By Susannah Bryan on August 31, 2023

Calling it a license evades the letter and spirit of the city charter, said John Rodstrom III, attorney for Save Snyder Park and community activist Kevin Cochrane.

Rodstrom sent the city a red-flag alert on Feb. 15 with an expert opinion from JC Consulting Enterprises President Cecelia Ward saying the comprehensive agreement was flawed and potentially illegal.

On Monday, Rodstrom continued his attempt to poke holes in the deal.

“It’s currently zoned park open space,” he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “The city would have to rezone it to commercial recreation. To rezone it, they’d have to get a land use amendment from the county. It’s not a typical park. It’s a commercial recreation area designed for profit. They’re only paying $100,000 a year [with no multiplier]. That’s the crazy thing.”

In 50 years, $100,000 will be worth $8,720 in today’s money.

But Rodstrom says a judge might not need to weigh in to resolve the matter.

“We shouldn’t need a court case to get the city to do the right thing,” Rodstrom said. “What I would like to see happen is the city manager, city attorney or commission ask the planning staff to weigh in on this. There’s a legal issue here but it’s also a zoning issue. I don’t think it’s allowed under the current zoning.”

By Susannah Bryan on February 28, 2023