By Ihosvani Rodriguez
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
September 21, 2006
Hollywood · Despite being at the center of one the most controversial issues in the city's history, City Commissioner Sal Oliveri is considered by many living in the Hollywood Hills area as their neighborhood champion.
But the majority of Oliveri's fellow commissioners were not ready Wednesday to name the area's first park after him. Commissioners rejected a request made by a group of Hollywood Hills residents to name the yet-to-be constructed park after Oliveri.
At the same time, the commission also rejected an opposing movement to name it after the late Hollywood Mayor Maynard Abrams.
After much debate and several emotional speeches, the commission unanimously opted for a more neutral name: Veterans Park. Hollywood Hills residents suggested the name as an alternative.
The newly named park is near the intersection of 46th Avenue and Tyler Street, at the heart of Oliveri's district.
Hovering above the naming controversy is the six-year saga involving Oliveri's efforts to oust an Orthodox Jewish synagogue from a Hollywood Hills neighborhood last year.
The Hollywood Hills Civic Association wanted to name the park after Oliveri, who has lived in the city for four decades. He also is a former mayor and a popular neighborhood activist.
But others remain upset over Oliveri's battle with Chabad Lubavitch. His actions led to a federal discrimination lawsuit, which the city ultimately settled with Chabad, paying the synagogue $2 million.
The Chabad issue bitterly divided the city as the federal case dragged on for almost six years.
At the height of the ordeal last year, Commissioner Fran Russo applied to have the park named after Abrams. At the time, Russo lauded Abrams for being the first Jewish official to hold public office in the city. Abrams died in 1992.
Naming parks after people who are still alive is not unusual in Hollywood: Mayor Mara Giulianti and Commissioner Cathy Anderson have city parks named for them.
On Wednesday, about a dozen Hollywood Hills residents, including Oliveri's daughter, took turns extolling Oliveri as a public servant. And while most said they respected Abrams, they argued opponents were using politics and religion as thinly veiled dividing points.
"The commission is taking [Abrams and his family's] religion as a pawn," said the civic group's president, Christine DeMinico.
Giulianti denied the issue was about politics or religion. She said she was vehemently opposed to Oliveri because of pastpolitical battles she said ventured into personal attacks.
"There were very horrendous things that occurred to me personally and my family," she said, on the verge of tears. "I can't do this. I can't."
Oliveri said he would be honored to have the park named after him. He found it puzzling the issue stirred up so much emotion.
"It's beyond me that commissioners find it so ... difficult to name a park after a fellow commissioner," he said. "Why is that so painful?"
In the end, Oliveri supporters didn't have enough votes on the commission. Their request needed a 5-2 majority to pass, but the mayor, Russo and Commissioner Keith Wasserstrom voted against it.
Pointing to the wounds left on the city by the Chabad issue, local activist Ed Tobey was the first Wednesday night to publicly push for a neutral name.
"I don't think we need any more yelling or any more hatred," he said. "We've been through a lot."
Oliveri joined his colleagues in voting for Veterans Park.
Ihosvani Rodriguez can be reached at ijrodriguez@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7908.
Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
September 21, 2006
Hollywood · Despite being at the center of one the most controversial issues in the city's history, City Commissioner Sal Oliveri is considered by many living in the Hollywood Hills area as their neighborhood champion.
But the majority of Oliveri's fellow commissioners were not ready Wednesday to name the area's first park after him. Commissioners rejected a request made by a group of Hollywood Hills residents to name the yet-to-be constructed park after Oliveri.
At the same time, the commission also rejected an opposing movement to name it after the late Hollywood Mayor Maynard Abrams.
After much debate and several emotional speeches, the commission unanimously opted for a more neutral name: Veterans Park. Hollywood Hills residents suggested the name as an alternative.
The newly named park is near the intersection of 46th Avenue and Tyler Street, at the heart of Oliveri's district.
Hovering above the naming controversy is the six-year saga involving Oliveri's efforts to oust an Orthodox Jewish synagogue from a Hollywood Hills neighborhood last year.
The Hollywood Hills Civic Association wanted to name the park after Oliveri, who has lived in the city for four decades. He also is a former mayor and a popular neighborhood activist.
But others remain upset over Oliveri's battle with Chabad Lubavitch. His actions led to a federal discrimination lawsuit, which the city ultimately settled with Chabad, paying the synagogue $2 million.
The Chabad issue bitterly divided the city as the federal case dragged on for almost six years.
At the height of the ordeal last year, Commissioner Fran Russo applied to have the park named after Abrams. At the time, Russo lauded Abrams for being the first Jewish official to hold public office in the city. Abrams died in 1992.
Naming parks after people who are still alive is not unusual in Hollywood: Mayor Mara Giulianti and Commissioner Cathy Anderson have city parks named for them.
On Wednesday, about a dozen Hollywood Hills residents, including Oliveri's daughter, took turns extolling Oliveri as a public servant. And while most said they respected Abrams, they argued opponents were using politics and religion as thinly veiled dividing points.
"The commission is taking [Abrams and his family's] religion as a pawn," said the civic group's president, Christine DeMinico.
Giulianti denied the issue was about politics or religion. She said she was vehemently opposed to Oliveri because of pastpolitical battles she said ventured into personal attacks.
"There were very horrendous things that occurred to me personally and my family," she said, on the verge of tears. "I can't do this. I can't."
Oliveri said he would be honored to have the park named after him. He found it puzzling the issue stirred up so much emotion.
"It's beyond me that commissioners find it so ... difficult to name a park after a fellow commissioner," he said. "Why is that so painful?"
In the end, Oliveri supporters didn't have enough votes on the commission. Their request needed a 5-2 majority to pass, but the mayor, Russo and Commissioner Keith Wasserstrom voted against it.
Pointing to the wounds left on the city by the Chabad issue, local activist Ed Tobey was the first Wednesday night to publicly push for a neutral name.
"I don't think we need any more yelling or any more hatred," he said. "We've been through a lot."
Oliveri joined his colleagues in voting for Veterans Park.
Ihosvani Rodriguez can be reached at ijrodriguez@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7908.
Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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