Restaurant Owner Dena Lowell and Candidate Joshua Simmons.
By: Dena Lowell – Guest Contributor
I am a Parkland resident, but was a Coral Springs resident for 20 years, and am the proud owner of The Cook and The Cork Restaurant, along with the property it sits on in the city.
I’m writing today to talk about my friend Joshua Simmons, a local teacher, running for Coral Springs City Commission, Seat 4.
When Coral Springs was built, suburban sprawl was an economic driver. Today is different. Coral Springs faces economical and philosophical challenges. How does the city continue the momentum of prosperity it started 50 years ago? How will the city be in the next 20, 50 or 70 years?
The answer is to stay relevant.
The city must deal with a shifting population and become attractive to millennials who are now contemplating careers and homes for their own families. The city must attract and nourish businesses that provide high paying jobs. The city must beautify its streets and neighborhoods, and maintain its aging infrastructure.
But how will the city do this? Why would anyone want to move to Coral Springs? What will make our city a lively, desirable, special place? A destination?
There is a disconnect between some current commissioners and the practical concerns of our everyday life. Take a look at the members of our commission and you will get an idea of what they represent and what they don’t. A commissioner may show up at a dedication or an event, but are they in the trenches every day? Are they on the ground, going from home to home, business to business? Do they understand resident’s wishes and needs?
From my experience, I don’t think so.
As I mentioned, I own a restaurant, The Cook and The Cork. During the four years that we’ve been open, only three elected officials: Mayor Skip Campbell and Commissioners Dan Daley and Joy Carter have stepped through my doors to see how we’re doing.
I’ll tell you why it’s concerning.
My business brings many “firsts” to Coral Springs. We are the first restaurant here to ever have a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. We are the first restaurant in Coral Springs to partner with Broward County’s Tourism Board. We are the first restaurant in Coral Springs to have a National Distinction in Fine Dining Award. We are the first restaurant in Coral Springs to have a certified executive chef as its owner, and a certified sommelier. We are actively working with the city to make Coral Springs a destination.
The lack of basic conversations from current commissioners really makes me wonder: do they come to their decisions about our city through interaction with residents and business owners? Or is their perspective and the decisions they make for the city drawn strictly from their own personal background, comfort level, and experiences?
Commissioner Lou Cimaglia’s opinion on medical marijuana is a perfect example of an out-of-touch commissioner. He has stated that medical marijuana is a “gateway drug” and compares it to addictive opioids: both factually incorrect. He, along with other commissioners, have denied residents the right to be able to obtain medical marijuana at a location convenient to their homes. This policy keeps a game-changing remedy impossibly out of reach to older people in this city, who cannot use the internet to get it.
Joshua Simmons is in touch with the faces and people of our town. As a teacher at Coral Springs High School, he knows the residents of Coral Springs and their kids very well. As a dedicated volunteer, he has the opportunity to talk to so many people, and he is always listening.
As a city commissioner, Joshua Simmons will bring to the city an energy that the commission and our city so badly need. He has an objective, fresh and unbiased attitude.
Joshua Simmons would be a breath of fresh air from the exclusive culture of the current commission. Some people are making decisions for our city that are on advisory boards, that are so out of touch and do not have the city’s residents, its future, or its best interests in mind as a first priority.
This disconnect can end on November 6, when we band together to elect Joshua Simmons for Coral Springs City Commission, Seat 4. He has my full support, and I hope he has yours as well.
He is a natural leader and caring person. He is filled with energy and eager to advance Coral Springs not just into the present, but also into the future.
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8 comments
This was a good way to plug your restaurant, but I respectfully disagree with you on the following points. Regarding marijuana being a gateway drug, there is no “settled science” on this topic. For every “expert” that says it isn’t, there’s another one that says it is. So let’s just call that an opinion for now. But what is factually correct is that Vice Mayor Lou Cimaglia cares deeply about the opioid epidemic and its effect on our children. He is doing everything that he can to help lower the tragic amount of overdoses. I don’t fault him for that.
As far as out of touch with the progress of our city, that too is not accurate. Vice Mayor Cimaglia was behind the new city hall and that has been the catalyst for economic growth in the downtown corridor. We now have a new development coming with a $200 million project that will be built on nearly 8 acres next to the new City Hall complex. This will include two rental apartment projects, one is to have 300 apartments geared toward families. The other, is for 150 units that will be age-restricted to residents age 55 and older. The rest will be a hotel, business and retail space as well as a new movie theater. The property will garner millions of dollars in taxes for the city which will help keep residential taxes down at the level they are now. Not to mention all the other new businesses that coming into Coral Springs. If our commissioners were as “out of touch” as you suggest, much of this development would not have occurred.
On a personal note, Vice Mayor Cimaglia is an honorable man and a Veteran. He works tirelessly for all Veterans as a founding member of the Veteran’s Coalition of Coral Springs since 2013. He also is very empathetic to the poor and disabled, by distributing wheelchairs to those in need throughout South Florida.
I’m sorry Vice Mayor Cimaglia hasn’t been to your restaurant, but I haven’t either. With two little ones and a new business, there just isn’t enough time to do all the things we would like to do. But I can say that Vice Mayor Cimaglia has a big heart and cares a great deal for the City of Coral Springs and I would encourage any well informed citizen to look closer into his background for he is a good man!
What documentation exist regarding Lou’s efforts on the opioid epidemic? I would like to understand what is being done to protect not only our children but all citizens.
Anyone weak-minded enough to go on about marijuana being a gateway drug simply isn’t intelligent or thoughtful enough to represent anyone but themselves. It’s a nonsensical idea that can’t even be tested. Even if every single user of hard drugs used marijuana at some point prior, that doesn’t mean that marijuana use *caused* the hard drug use.
In as much as you brought your restaurant advertisement into the political arena I fell free to say I have been to your restaurant and have to say that the food was fair and the service was less than fair most likely will not visit again as there are far better restaurants in coral springs. It is very interesting that you chose to move to much better city and then criticize the city you moved from. Coral springs is not parkland, Weston, Boca or even coconut creek however your comments were uncalled for in as much you are no longer a resident.
It appears that a small business owner cannot express their views without being attacked. The focus of her article… is Lou attuned to the needs of the citizens and businesses of CS?
Truth is a god given right and should never be considered an attack just because it is a statement no agreeing with a persons political agenda. Sad American democracy is being turned into a one way street agree or I am offended by the truth and you are the enemy. Maybe if I was bullied into accepting your political choice or gave your eatery a raving review you would you would think differently maybe
Yongo-you attacked the individual and their livelihood and not the issue.
When is Mr Simmons going to speak up about the Coral Springs Police beating up on a young black girl. If Mr Simmons doesn’t speak up, then he doesn’t deserve to be on the Coral Springs Commission. The video is on National and International News. Watch the still frames and take note of the power of the punches to the ribs and the kidneys. Then imagine it’s your daughter that’s taking those punches. Mr Simmons, you NEED to speak up !!!!!