Help Make A Holiday Dream Come True Thu Oct 03 2024 16:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Commitment to Quality, Safety, And Excellence In Care - Jewish Community Services Of South Florida Earns Prestigious Three-Year CARF Accreditation By jcsfl.org Jun 18, 2026 Jewish Community Services Of South Florida (JCS) Proudly Announces That It Has Earned A Three-Year Accreditation Of All Of Its Clinical Mental Health And Case Management Programs From CARF International Under The Behavioral Health Standards, One Of The Highest Levels Of Accreditation For Meeting The Highest Professional Standards Awarded By The Internationally Recognized Accrediting Body. CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation signifies an organization’s dedication to delivering high-quality services and a commitment to continuous improvement in health and human services. Achieving accreditation requires a rigorous peer-review survey process and confirms that an agency meets or exceeds internationally recognized standards for professional best practices, quality, safety, and performance. Following a comprehensive survey, JCS has been awarded a Three-Year Accreditation through June 30, 2028, for the following programs: • Case Management/Services Coordination: Family Services (Adults) • Case Management/Services Coordination: Family Services (Children and Adolescents) • Case Management/Services Coordination: Family Services (Older Adults) • Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults) • Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents) • Prevention: Family Services (Children and Adolescents) “This recognition reflects the extraordinary professionalism, integrity, and expertise of our Clinical and Case Management teams,” said Miriam Singer, President & CEO of JCS. “CARF accreditation reinforces our commitment to delivering behavioral health and case management services with excellence, accountability, and compassion to the individuals and families who rely on us.” CARF noted that JCS’ services, personnel, and documentation clearly demonstrate an established pattern of conformance to standards, an achievement that reflects the agency’s ongoing pursuit of quality improvement and service excellence. As one of South Florida’s leading nonprofit providers of safety-net services for frail and vulnerable residents, JCS remains committed to ensuring that individuals, children, families, and older adults receive dignified care that is effective, ethical, and grounded in best practices. About Jewish Community Services of South Florida Since 1920, Jewish Community Services of South Florida, based on Jewish values, has remained true to its mission in providing a resilient safety-net of health and social services through a broad array of programs that promote, health, safety, and self-sufficiency. By collaborating with community partners, funders, hundreds of volunteers, sister organizations and local leaders, our team continuously strengthens its engagement and impact. Our professional team continues to provide healing and hope in serving the many layered needs of residents in our diverse and vibrant community. JCS is here for you. For more information about JCS and its accredited behavioral health programs, visit: www.jcsfl.org Previous Next

Academics, Kvetchers And Laugh-Lovers Unite - Avi Hoffman To Lead A Joyful, Fun-Filled Lecture Series On The Culture, History, And Poetry Of Yiddish Jewish Connection News Oct 23, 2025 Feeling Farklempt About The State Of Modern Language? Longing For A Class That Is Equal Parts Brainy, Bouncy, And A Bisl Nostalgic? Look No Further—Movies Of Delray Is Proud To Announce The Return Of Avi Hoffman’s Yiddish Fun01, A Hands-On, Participatory 3-Week Series Using The Original Curricula Crafted By Columbia University Professor Miriam Hoffman, While Her Son, The Renowned Actor And Professor Of Freylakh, Avi Hoffman, Will Lead The Learning—And The Kvelling. Rooted in the rich academic tradition of Yiddish studies, this course isn’t just about language; it’s about culture, history, music, poetry, and chutzpah. NO prior knowledge of Yiddish required—just an open mind and a curiosity for the mishigas that makes Yiddish tick. This isn’t just another online class, oy vey. This is a Yiddish adventure, using the world-renowned curricula created by Columbia’s own Professor Miriam Hoffman. Taught by her son, the one, the only, your beloved professor, Avi Hoffman. They’ll connect the ancient wisdom and deliciously dramatic roots of Yiddish with all the mishigas of modern culture—think Netflix with subtitles like your bubbe used to do, but with more gefilte fish jokes. “My friends and I who signed up for your class are really enjoying it. It brings back a LOT of memories.” – A. Lewin Yiddish may be an ancient language, but around here, it’s always in session—and always a little bit funny. Mazel Tov to that! Participants will: • Engage with the same material taught at Columbia University (minus the tuition bill) • Experience music, poetry, comedy, art, and plenty of “oy vey” moments • Walk away with new words, lots of laughs, and an appreciation of how Yiddish shaped mainstream culture Whether you are a curious academic or just curious about what your grandparents were muttering when they didn’t want you to understand, this course promises knowledge, nostalgia, and nakhes in equal measure. As one student raved, “Not only is it fun, but the inclusion of history and culture provides a richness that is astounding.” Others just call it “the highlight of my week.” Avi Hoffman’s Yiddish Fun01 is based upon material by Miriam Hoffman and led by Avi Hoffman. The event will take place Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 - Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $18 per class and $48 for the series. For reservations call: (561) 638-0020. All classes will be held at: The Movies of Delray 7421 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33446. For more information, visit: https://yilovejewish.org/events/ Previous Next

Happy Independence Day Aventura: Nothing Says July 4th Like A Big Ole Flag Cake Fri Jun 09 2023 16:11:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Prom To Remember: Their Health Didn't Stop Them From Celebrating Thu Jun 29 2023 16:10:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Latest Cyberwell Research Highlights Surge In Online Antisemitism Jewish Connection News Sep 18, 2025 Ahead Of World Democracy Day, CyberWell — A NonProfit Dedicated To Monitoring And Combating Online Antisemitism, And A Trusted Flagger For Meta (Facebook, Instagram, And Threads) And TikTok — Has Published A New Report Revealing A Sharp Rise In Election-Related Antisemitic Content. It Revealed That Enforcement Efforts Tagged During Recent National Election Cycles In The United Kingdom, United States, Canada And Australia. This Surge Comes On The Heels Of A Wider Global Trend Among Democratic Countries Toward Authoritarian Tendencies (Pew Research Center, 2024), Intensifying The Stakes For Both Civic Integrity And The Spread Of Targeted Hate During Elections. Examining election-related content between 2023 and 2025, the report found that antisemitic narratives accusing Jewish communities of political manipulation or control repeatedly surfaced and were amplified online. These narratives, which align with the second example in the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, were often tied to conspiracies alleging Jews exert disproportionate, secretive influence over electoral processes and governance. Such rhetoric has, throughout history and arguably today, incited violence against the Jewish community while undermining public trust in democratic institutions and governments. Despite clear prohibitions against hate speech by most major platforms, CyberWell’s research found a notable decline in enforcement during election periods. X (formerly Twitter) hosted the highest volume of election-related antisemitic content while removing the least amount of content, despite regular reporting by CyberWell. This reflects its broadly permissive stance toward extreme election-related material, including misinformation, hyper-partisan narratives, and hate speech. Conversely, YouTube recorded the lowest incidence of antisemitic election content, likely due to its explicit policy prohibiting election-related hate speech against protected groups. Meta and TikTok showed enforcement rates consistent with average removal rates against antisemitic content at 40%, after violations were flagged through trusted reporting channels by CyberWell. TikTok, like YouTube, had a significantly smaller sample size, suggesting either lower prevalence of antisemitic election-related content or more effective proactive moderation. Across all platforms, the predominant form of antisemitism linked to elections centered on long-standing conspiracies about undue Jewish influence in government. Posts falsely accusing Jews or "Zionists" of covertly controlling governments, financing candidates, or rigging elections appeared consistently in every country surveyed. “While social media companies are dedicating sporadic and reactive resources to detect election misinformation, they continue to underestimate the extent to which hate speech, especially classical antisemitism, is gaining traction during politically sensitive times,” said CyberWell Founder and CEO Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor. “Our report illustrates that narratives blaming Jews for societal and political failures often surge during elections, yet enforcement remains below average.” “We continue to provide data and enforcement-based insights to develop the tools to effectively identify and address anti-Jewish posts at scale and effectively,” added Cohen Montemayor. “Stereotypical and conspiratorial claims about Jewish control over politics have fueled violence and mass scapegoating against Jewish communities in free countries in the past, before they turned fascist. Today, the same narrative is gaining increasing traction in the online universe, primarily on social media. Taking care to enforce digital policies against hate speech at scale during election time is a crucial part of ensuring safe elections and preventing additional erosion of trust in our democratic institutions.” CyberWell’s report also offered clear recommendations to social media platforms on more effective enforcement of their own policies. It urged them to refine their election-related hate speech enforcement policies—not just focus on election-related misinformation. The report also called for improved moderator training to better distinguish between legitimate political discourse and targeted attacks on protected groups. CyberWell also called for improved detection technologies capable of identifying visual cues, coded language and emojis which typically accompany antisemitic content. CyberWell’s World Democracy Day Elections Report is available here: https://cyberwell.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Antisemitism-Online-Amid-National-Elections-Report.pdf About Cyberwell CyberWell is an independent, internationally focused, tech-rooted nonprofit combating the spread of antisemitism online. Its AI-technologies monitor social media in English and Arabic for posts that promulgate antisemitism, Holocaust denial and promote violence against Jews based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Its analysts review and report this content to platform moderators while indexing all verified posts in the first-ever open database of antisemitic social media posts – democratically cataloging it for transparency at app.cyberwell.org . Through partnerships, education and real-time alerts, CyberWell is holding social media platforms and their moderators accountable, promoting proactive steps against online Jew-hate. For more information, visit: https://cyberwell.org/ Previous Next

Hollywood's Historic Armory: Transformed Into A Vibrant Community Center August 24, 2023 Share In the heart of Hollywood, history and modernity are coming together in a remarkable way. The city, known for its vibrant culture and beautiful beach, is taking a step back in time to breathe new life into a historic landmark. The Dowdy Community Center Project has officially kicked off, aiming to renovate the old National Guard Armory building into a State-Of-The-Art Community Hub. Stepping back to 1934, Hollywood's recreational landscape was enriched with the opening of Dowdy Field. What started as a local baseball park quickly became the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles. The park later became the spring training camp for a New York Yankees minor league baseball team, making it a significant piece of sports history for the city. The park itself was named after Earl T. "Pop" Dowdy, a well-loved manager of the town's Piggly Wiggly grocery store and a passionate supporter of local baseball leagues. Located in the city's south-central section on Johnson Street, Dowdy Field was a symbol of community spirit and shared experiences for decades. Adjacent to Dowdy Field stood the National Guard Armory, constructed in 1954. This sturdy building served as the base for the Florida National Guard's First Battalion 124th Infantry, from where soldiers were deployed around the globe. Stepping into the armory was like entering a time capsule, with its original construction and lack of modern amenities like HVAC. In 2018, as the National Guard moved on to new facilities, the City of Hollywood took ownership of the Armory. Unfortunately, for the last five years, it served merely as storage space, its potential untapped and its historical significance overshadowed. However, Hollywood's commitment to preserving its heritage and enhancing the quality of life for its residents did not wane. With the aid of the General Obligation Bond, the City set its sights on transforming the old Armory into a vibrant community center that would become a focal point for residents of all ages. The "Kicking Off" Ceremony, held recently, marked the official beginning of the Dowdy Community Center Project. This lively event gathered members of the community, city officials, and local celebrities to celebrate the building's revitalization. As the event unfolded, excitement filled the air, knowing that this historic gem would soon experience a grand transformation. The proposed floor plan for the Dowdy Community Center is nothing short of impressive. Among the amenities planned are an indoor sports facility boasting basketball courts, batting cages, and soccer goals. Sports enthusiasts and aspiring athletes will soon have a dedicated space to hone their skills and engage in friendly competitions. The community center will also be equipped with ADA-Compliant Restrooms, meeting rooms, and office spaces to accommodate various activities and gatherings. Whether it's a community meeting, a workshop, or an art class, the center aims to be a place where ideas are exchanged, talents are nurtured, and friendships are formed. One of the most exciting additions is the new gymnasium. The gymnasium will also cater to indoor soccer enthusiasts, and retractable bleachers will provide seating for spectators to enjoy the games in comfort. Moreover, the incorporation of drop-down batting cages is a thoughtful touch, allowing baseball and softball enthusiasts to perfect their swings and work on their pitching skills regardless of the weather outside. The space will be a sanctuary for sports lovers, where they can embrace their passion and find like-minded individuals. With an eye on preserving its historical charm, the Dowdy Community Center will also feature the original Armory vault door, reminding visitors of the building's past significance. The blend of history with modern facilities and conveniences is what makes this project unique. As the Dowdy Community Center project gains momentum, the excitement in Hollywood grows palpable. Local residents eagerly anticipate the day they can step inside the transformed Armory and experience the sense of community that will flourish within its walls. Beyond being a place for sports and events, the center will undoubtedly become a beacon of togetherness, where generations come together to create memories and strengthen their bond. Hollywood's commitment to preserving its history and investing in the future will soon become a reality, and the Dowdy Community Center will undoubtedly stand as a testament to the city's dedication to its people. Hollywood proves that even as the world moves forward, it's essential to embrace the past and cherish the stories that shape a community's identity. The Dowdy Community Center once completed will be located at: 2161 Johnson Street, Hollywood, Florida 33020. < Previous News Next News >

Kids Are back In School: Here Are Some Time-Saving Weeknight Meal Solutions September 8, 2022 Share Whether it's long days at the office, calendars full of social commitments or evenings spent enjoying your little ones' extracurricular activities after school, it's easy to find yourself short on time to spend in the kitchen. Calling on quick and easy mealtime solutions can be just what your family needs to ensure dinners together are always on the menu. Start with a versatile base ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes from snacks and appetizers to main courses and sides. For example, you can add protein-packed Success Boil-in-Bag Tri-Color Quinoa to your pantry for a good source of fiber in meals to keep your family moving. Enjoy its light, nutty flavor in a twist on Taco Tuesdays with these Baja Fish Taco Bowls, a deconstructed take on classic fish tacos that swap out the tortilla for quick-cooking quinoa mixed with nutrient-dense kale and drizzled with a zesty lime and yogurt crema. As a tasty way to encourage kiddos to eat fish and veggies, it can also help you add hearty whole grains to the weekly menu while savoring a lighter version of traditional Baja sauce. These delicious, bite-sized Beef and Quinoa Meatballs provide a perfect meal prep option for families as they can be mixed and matched with your loved ones' favorite sides from rice to steamed veggies. Adding quinoa to your meatballs is a quick upgrade of plant-based protein that adds flavor to every bite. Baked in marinara sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese, they're simple to put together before tossing in the oven for an easy weeknight solution. Another tasty hack: turn this dish into kid-friendly sliders by warming dinner rolls right alongside the meatballs. Find more quick yet flavorful family meal ideas at www.SuccessRice.com Baja Fish Taco Bowls Recipe Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 • 2 bags Success Tri-Color Quinoa • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 4 white-fleshed fish fillets (5-6 ounces each) • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt • 1 tablespoon lime zest • 1 teaspoon lime juice • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin • 4 cups packed baby kale • 1 ripe avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and thinly sliced Prepare quinoa according to package directions. In large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Season fish with Cajun seasoning and salt. Cook 2-3 minutes per side, or until fish is lightly browned and starts to flake. Set aside. In small bowl, stir yogurt, lime zest, lime juice and cumin. In medium bowl, toss quinoa with kale. Divide between four bowls. Top each with fish, sliced avocado and dollop of yogurt and lime crema. Substitutions: Use taco seasoning or chili powder in place of Cajun seasoning. Use arugula or baby spinach instead of kale. Beef and Quinoa Meatballs Recipe Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Servings: 4 • 1 bag Success Tri-Color Quinoa • nonstick cooking spray • 1 pound extra-lean ground beef • 1 egg • 1/4 cup grated carrot • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion • 2 tablespoons ketchup • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 tablespoon soy sauce • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves • 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Preheat oven to 400 F. Coat large baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In large bowl, mix quinoa, ground beef, egg, carrot, onion, ketchup, garlic, soy sauce, salt, pepper, oregano and thyme. Form mixture into walnut-sized meatballs and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Bake approximately 20 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown. Spoon marinara sauce over top then sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 minutes, or until sauce is hot and cheese is melted. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley. Tip: Make sliders by slicing dinner rolls in half and placing meatballs on bottom halves. Cover with top halves of rolls and serve. < Previous News Next News >

Don’t Bow Down: America Is A Prison Disguised As Paradise By John & Nisha Whitehead February 23, 2023 Share The government wants us to bow down to its dictates. It wants us to buy into the fantasy that we are living the dream, when in fact, we are trapped in an endless nightmare of servitude and oppression. Indeed, with every passing day, life in the American Police State increasingly resembles life in the dystopian television series The Prisoner. First broadcast 55 years ago in the U.S., The Prisoner—described as “James Bond meets George Orwell filtered through Franz Kafka”—confronted societal themes that are still relevant today: the rise of a police state, the loss of freedom, round-the-clock surveillance, the corruption of government, totalitarianism, weaponization, group think, mass marketing and the tendency of human beings to meekly accept their lot in life as prisoners in a prison of their own making. Perhaps the best visual debate ever on individuality and freedom, The Prisoner centers around a British secret agent who abruptly resigns only to find himself imprisoned in a virtual prison disguised as a seaside paradise with parks and green fields, recreational activities and even a butler. While luxurious, the Village’s inhabitants have no true freedom, they cannot leave the Village, they are under constant surveillance, all of their movements tracked by militarized drones and stripped of their individuality so that they are identified only by numbers. “I am not a number. I am a free man,” is the mantra chanted in each episode of The Prisoner, which was largely written and directed by Patrick McGoohan, who also played the title role of Number Six, the imprisoned government agent. Throughout the series, Number Six is subjected to interrogation tactics, torture, hallucinogenic drugs, identity theft, mind control, dream manipulation, various forms of social indoctrination and physical coercion in order to “persuade” him to comply, give up, give in and subjugate himself to the will of the powers-that-be. Number Six refuses to comply. In every episode, Number Six resists the Village’s indoctrination methods, struggles to maintain his own identity and attempts to escape his captors. “I will not make any deals with you,” he pointedly remarks to Number Two, the Village administrator a.k.a. prison warden. “I’ve resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.” Yet no matter how far Number Six manages to get in his efforts to escape, it’s never far enough. Watched by surveillance cameras and other devices, Number Six’s attempts to escape are continuously thwarted by ominous white balloon-like spheres known as “rovers.” Still, he refuses to give up. “Unlike me,” he says to his fellow prisoners, “many of you have accepted the situation of your imprisonment and will die here like rotten cabbages.” Number Six’s escapes become a surreal exercise in futility, each episode an unfunny, unsettling Groundhog’s Day that builds to the same frustrating denouement: there is no escape. The series is a chilling lesson about how difficult it is to gain one’s freedom in a society in which prison walls are disguised within the seemingly benevolent trappings of technological and scientific progress, national security and the need to guard against terrorists, pandemics, civil unrest, etc. The Prisoner’s Village is also an apt allegory for the American Police State, which is rapidly transitioning into a full-fledged Surveillance State: it gives the illusion of freedom while functioning all the while like a prison: controlled, watchful, inflexible, punitive, deadly and inescapable. The American Surveillance State, much like The Prisoner’s Village, is a metaphorical panopticon, a circular prison in which the inmates are monitored by a single watchman situated in a central tower. Because the inmates cannot see the watchman, they are unable to tell whether or not they are being watched at any given time and must proceed under the assumption that they are always being watched. Eighteenth Century Social Theorist Jeremy Bentham envisioned the panopticon prison to be a cheaper and more effective means of “obtaining power of mind over mind, in a quantity hitherto without example.” Bentham’s panopticon, in which the prisoners are used as a source of cheap, menial labor, has become a model for the modern surveillance state in which the populace is constantly being watched, controlled and managed by the powers-that-be while funding its existence. Apart from the obvious dangers posed by a government that feels justified and empowered to spy on its people and use its ever-expanding arsenal of weapons and technology to monitor and control them, we’re approaching a time in which we will be forced to choose between bowing down in obedience to the dictates of the government—i.e., the law, or whatever a government official deems the law to be—and maintaining our individuality, integrity and independence. When people talk about privacy, they mistakenly assume it protects only that which is hidden behind a wall or under one’s clothing. The courts have fostered this misunderstanding with their constantly shifting delineation of what constitutes an “expectation of privacy.” And technology has further muddied the waters. However, privacy is so much more than what you do or say behind locked doors. It is a way of living one’s life firm in the belief that you are the master of your life and barring any immediate danger to another person (which is far different from the carefully crafted threats to national security the government uses to justify its actions), it’s no one’s business what you read, what you say, where you go, whom you spend your time with and how you spend your money. Unfortunately, we now find ourselves in the unenviable position of being monitored, managed, corralled and controlled by technologies that answer to government and corporate rulers. This is the electronic concentration camp—the panopticon prison—the Village—in which we are now caged. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, it is a prison from which there will be no escape. Certainly not if the government and its corporate allies have anything to say about it. So how do you escape? For starters, resist the urge to conform to a group mind and the tyranny of mob-think. Think for yourself. Be an individual. Stop doping yourself with government propaganda and break free of the political chokehold that has got you marching in lockstep with tyrants and dictators. Until you come to terms with the fact that the government is the problem (no matter which party dominates), you’ll never stop being prisoners. < Previous News Next News >

A Nation of Snitches: DHS Is Grooming Americans to Report on Each Other By John & Nisha Whitehead September 28, 2023 Share Are you among the 41% of Americans who regularly attend church or some other religious service? Do you believe the economy is about to collapse and the government will soon declare martial law? Do you display an unusual number of political and/or ideological bumper stickers on your car? Are you among the 44% of Americans who live in a household with a gun? If so, are you concerned that the government may be plotting to confiscate your firearms? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be an anti-government extremist (a.k.a. domestic terrorist) in the eyes of the government and flagged for heightened surveillance and preemptive intervention. Let that sink in a moment. If you believe in and exercise your rights under the Constitution (namely, your right to speak freely, worship freely, associate with like-minded individuals who share your political views, criticize the government, own a weapon, demand a warrant before being questioned or searched, or any other activity viewed as potentially anti-government, racist, bigoted, anarchic or sovereign), you have just been promoted to the top of the government’s terrorism watch list. I assure you I’m not making this stuff up. So what is the government doing about these so-called American “extremists”? The government is grooming the American people to spy on each other as part of its Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, or CP3 program. According to Journalist Leo Hohmann, the government is handing out $20 Million in Grants to Police, Mental Health Networks, Universities, Churches and School Districts to enlist their help in identifying Americans who might be political dissidents or potential “extremists.” As Hohmann explains, “Whether it’s COVID and Vaccines, the war in Ukraine, immigration, the Second Amendment, LGBTQ ideology and child-gender confusion, the integrity of our elections, or the issue of protecting life in the womb, you are no longer allowed to hold dissenting opinions and voice them publicly in America. If you do, your own government will take note and consider you a potential ‘violent extremist’ and terrorist.” Cue the dawning of the Snitch State. This new era of snitch surveillance is the lovechild of the government’s post-9/11 “See Something, Say Something” programs combined with the self-righteousness of a politically correct, hyper-vigilant, technologically-wired age. For more than two decades, the Department of Homeland Security has plastered its “See Something, Say Something” campaign on the walls of metro stations, on billboards, on coffee cup sleeves, at the Super Bowl, even on television monitors in the Statue of Liberty. Colleges, universities and even football teams and sporting arenas have lined up for grants to participate in the program. The government has even designated September 25 as National “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day. If you see something suspicious, says the DHS, say something about it to the police, call it in to a government hotline, or report it using a convenient app on your smart phone. This DHS slogan is nothing more than the government’s way of indoctrinating “we the people” into the mindset that we’re an extension of the government and, as such, have a patriotic duty to be suspicious of, spy on, and turn in our fellow citizens. This is what is commonly referred to as community policing. Yet while community policing and federal programs such as “See Something, Say Something” are sold to the public as patriotic attempts to be on guard against those who would harm us, they are little more than totalitarian tactics dressed up and repackaged for a more modern audience as well-intentioned appeals to law and order and security. The police state could not ask for a better citizenry than one that carries out its own policing. This is how you turn a people into extensions of the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent police state, and in the process turn a citizenry against each other. It’s a brilliant ploy, with the added bonus that while the citizenry remains focused on and distrustful of each other and shadowy forces from outside the country, they’re incapable of focusing on more definable threats that fall closer to home—namely, the government and its cabal of Constitution-destroying agencies and corporate partners. This is how the government keeps us under control and in its crosshairs. By the time you combine the DHS’ “See Something, Say Something” with CP3 and community policing, which has gone global in the guise of the Strong Cities Network program, you’ve got a formula for enabling the government to not only flag distinct “anti-government” segments of the population but locking down the entire nation. Under the guise of fighting violent extremism “in all of its forms and manifestations” in cities and communities across the world, the Strong Cities Network program works with the UN and the federal government to train local police agencies across America in how to identify, fight and prevent extremism, as well as address intolerance within their communities, using all of the resources at their disposal. What this program is really all about, however, is community policing on a global scale with the objective being to prevent violent extremism by targeting its source: racism, bigotry, hatred, intolerance, etc. In other words, police will identify, monitor and deter individuals who could be construed as potential extremist “threats,” violent or otherwise, before they can become actual threats. The government’s war on extremists has been sold to Americans in much the same way that the USA Patriot Act was sold to Americans: as a means of combatting terrorists who seek to destroy America. However, as we now know, the USA Patriot Act was used as a front to advance the surveillance state, allowing the government to establish a far-reaching domestic spying program that has turned every American citizen into a criminal suspect. Similarly, the concern with the government’s ongoing anti-extremism program is that it will, in many cases, be utilized to render otherwise lawful, nonviolent activities as potentially extremist. If you can’t read the writing on the wall, you need to pay better attention. As I point out in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, unless we can put the brakes on this dramatic expansion and globalization of the government’s powers, we’re not going to recognize this country five, ten—even twenty—years from now. As long as “we the people” continue to allow the government to trample our rights in the so-called name of national security, things will get worse, not better. It’s already worse. Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an Attorney and Author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Popular Culture. John Whitehead's Commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org . Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org < Previous News Next News >

Hollywood Marina Master Plan onto Next Phase City of Hollywood November 18, 2021 Share Thank you to all who participated in the first round of the City of Hollywood Marina Master Plan Public Input Sessions. Those sessions were an important opportunity for the team to present concepts for a Marina Master Plan, and to hear from the public on what their suggestions, concerns and ideas were. The team heard you, and now the ideas gathered have been incorporated into the proposed plan. This second round of public input sessions is a great opportunity for residents and stakeholders to see the proposed plan and offer their feedback. The City of Hollywood, Fl has embarked on the preparation of a marina master plan that seeks to provide a modern, safe, and secure marina facility, with year-round recreation opportunities for locals and visiting boat owners. Our second virtual public input sessions are scheduled for November 16 and 17. To register to participate visit www.publicinput.com/X1623 or www.PlanHollywoodFlMarina.com There is still time to add your suggestions! The next public survey is now available on the project website here: https://www.publicinput.com/X1623 About the Plan: The Marina Master Plan will serve as a comprehensive guide for future in-water and landside capital improvement investment projects. The Plan will address public launching sites, dry slip parking, wet slip dockage, competitive docking feeds, ADA accessibility enhancements, traffic, public safety concerns, the public Right-of-Way, and a unified shoreline. Visit the Hollywood Marina Master Plan website at www.PlanHollywoodFLMarina.com to learn more about the plan and subscribe to eblasts to be notified of project and plan updates during key milestones in the planning process. The Marina Master Plan website will be updated throughout the planning process. Take an active role in your community, visit www.PlanHollywoodFLMarina.com and stay up-to-date today. Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday, November 19 Come to the ArtsPark at Young Circle in Downtown Hollywood for the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony with special appearance by Santa, followed by the Movie Night featuring “Cruella.” The Tree Lighting and Movie Night will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is FREE. As a reminder, single-use plastics and foam are prohibited at this venue. For more information, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts at 954.921.3500. < Previous News Next News >

Mayor Joy Cooper: Better Safety At Our Schools By Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper August 23, 2024 Share Last week, I had the chance to join with many Mayors at a School Board Round Table. This was not the first but the third in a year to discuss the future of our schools. Over the past year, we all have had to reevaluate and work to address under enrollment and how we can unite to make sure our public school system is successful. While it was not the first Mayors meeting it was the first with the new School Board Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn and his team. We all know that there has been continued uncertainty and upheaval at the school board. I cannot tell readers what the backstory is, but I can tell you Mayors are very tuned in to working for our students. We do not have control over the school board’s actions, but we can and do have the voice for many parents that simply cannot attend meetings to advocate. This meeting was a breath of fresh air. We finally have metal detectors rolled out in our High Schools. In our K-8 Schools, we have safety upgrades and added security on all campuses. After the state finally demanded phone policies, a policy of no phone use during school hours. They have rolled out “Discount to Reconnect.” It is a simple concept. Students should be focused on class, their surroundings, and their fellow classmates. It is a way to re-engage and learn to connect with one another. This is between the morning bell to the end bell unless they are needed for class. This means that all cell phones need to be in airplane mode. I personally had a debate with my eldest daughter about having no phones. Her argument included: ‘But Mom what if it is an emergency? What if I need to contact him? Remember, they had a school alert, and he was stuck in a bathroom not knowing what was happening and I was talking with him.” I looked at her and said “exactly, what if a shooter heard him talking?” There is nothing that a student needs more than an environment focused learning. There is no true need for phones in a classroom. Parents can drop their children off and certainly give students instructions for picking up or planning safe after school activities. If those plans need to be changed that is why there are offices. I attended the first day of school at Gulfstream Academy K-8. It was safe and all teachers and support staff were fully engaged in assisting parents that needed help. At no time was anyone without an ID allowed to enter the school. There was one entrance for Middle School Students and one for Elementary School Students. After the first bell there was only one entrance to the campus. School safety should be at the top of the list when it comes to our children. Our cities and the school board have worked to make sure it is the priority. Our City provides School Resource Officers-SROs at the schools and collaborates extremely closely with school safety officers and the Broward Sheriff’s Office on training and communications. With two new principals: Principal Bonny at Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach K-8 and Principal Peters at Hallandale Magnet High School focused on improving school performance. It is great that they have one less distraction to address. Not only do phones distract from education, but they also create a platform for cyber bullying that needs to be stopped. While we cannot stop all phone posts we at least now have a pause during the day. Students will not be able to take pictures and videos of other students. There is a policy that addresses violations that includes confiscation and parental notification. Multiple violations can result in suspension. All parents can contact their school offices if they need to contact their child. At the Mayors Meeting, we also asked for a district wide Uniform Policy for all schools. Currently it is up to each school to make an annual decision. This policy creates another distraction from academics. In Hallandale Beach we have a Uniform Policy, and it helps to create a more disciplined environment at our K-8. It provides for less distraction and discipline issues. Also, less bullying over clothes. We need to collaborate with our teachers. We need to fight to ensure they have the resources to instruct our children. As always feel free to contact me anytime with your questions and concerns via email: jcooper@cohb.org . Or at: joycooper@aol.com I’m always reachable via phone or text at: (954) 632-5700. You can learn more at: www.mayorjoycooper.com Working for you! Always Have! Always will! < Previous News Next News >