For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Judy Erickson
(954) 924-2980, (954) 214-2456

Hollywood Beach Back In Business With Hurricane Recovery Effort

In the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, it’s business as usual on Hollywood Beach.

Restaurants, hotels and other beach-area businesses are up and running again, with electricity restored to most of the area and city crews diligently working on the cleanup effort.

Gil Martinez, executive director of the Hollywood Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), said the CRA’s capital improvement program, including the complete makeover of the world-famous Broadwalk, remains on schedule.

Martinez, who personally delivered ice to the beach businesses with City of Hollywood Fire Rescue personnel Jeffrey "J.J." Vidal , Michael Maluf and Josh Wells, said business owners have been resilient despite the inconveniences they experienced.

“The businesses have really stepped up to the challenge,” he said. “Things are very positive on the beach, and we’re looking forward to the season.”

The beach recovery effort, which began Oct. 26, is “moving along very well,” said Joe Cangialosi, field services manager for the city’s Department of Public Works.

Wilma downed a few light poles, a half-dozen palm trees on the beach and other trees on side streets, and dumped between 2 and 4 feet of sand on the Broadwalk, which city crews have since returned to the beach. Sand is now being removed from Surf Road and side streets, and all beach-area roads are passable. Twenty temporary workers will be dispatched to the beach on Mon., Nov. 7, armed with shovels and wheelbarrows to ensure that the hurricane recovery effort is completed by Thanksgiving.

“The Broadwalk is clean and the merchants that can be open are open,” Cangialosi said. “We’re at a point now where we’re doing the fine-tuning.”

The City of Hollywood was among the first to be designated as a Business Recovery Center by Broward County, said Arline Hampton, Hollywood’s director of business development. For more information, visit www.hollywoodfl.org and click on the Wilma Emergency Update link.

“We have a very dynamic beach environment, and we want to keep it that way,” Hampton said.

Martinez joins local business owners in inviting residents and tourists to visit the city’s award-winning beach.

“Hollywood Beach is alive and well and welcoming them,” he said.

For information on upcoming beach events or capital improvement projects, visit www.hollywoodbeachCRA.org.