Interview with Councilman Wigder

I met with Boca Raton city councilman Mark Wigder to discuss senior-specific problems in the local area. I referred Councilor Wigder to issues that I covered in my previous paper, Effects of U.S. Demographic Trends on the Senior Population, in order to give him a basic understanding of my specific point of view on the issue and to serve as a launching point in our interview. Councilor Wigder brought my attention to a few points that are vital for understanding the local situation:

 

ISSUE #1

The pandemic-driven influx of residents to the South Florida area has not been matched by people moving out. In other words, the population of Boca is increasing rapidly. However, the rate of new homes is not matching the rate of the city’s growth. Thus, real estate valuations are skyrocketing.  While this might seem like a beneficial thing, rising home values has led to a dramatic increase in property tax. This is bad news for seniors on fixed incomes.

 

Furthermore, homeowner’s insurance in Florida is increasing due to the fact that hurricanes are getting more intense and more numerous. According to Weather Underground, this has led to $236 billion in damages since the year 2000 in Florida alone. Because of this omnipresence of hurricane season, rates are stratospheric. 

 

If seniors are able to relocate, they can sell their homes for very high values and move into smaller homes in more affordable cities. Essentially, they’re taking advantage of high home prices in order to alleviate the stresses of living on a fixed income. However, this is not an option for some. Many seniors can’t move because of health reasons or the fact that the moving process is a major ordeal. For those that cannot move, these financial factors among others can be devastating. This is a massive issue, and it can only really be addressed by chipping away at it bit by bit.

 

ISSUE #2

Councilor Wigder informed me about a movement in urban planning called “15 minute cities.” These are essentially communities in which anything that an individual needs falls inside a 15 minute radius. This looks different for different individuals—my radius (as a 17-year-old who can drive) is much larger than that of a 12 year old getting around on a bike. 

 

He explained that as an individual matures, that radius increases. But only to a point, and then it starts shrinking again. For senior citizens, many of whom have difficulty with transportation, that circle is relatively small. Boca Raton is a very spread out city; in many of these seniors’ respective fifteen minute radii, there really isn’t all that much that they can access. This makes everything more difficult for these individuals. It can lead to profound isolation, as well as total disenfranchisement, which are both topics I discussed in my aforementioned paper. 

 

Councilor Wigder gave some insight as to how a teenager such as myself could get more involved. He suggested creating a joint-effort between clubs and charity organizations in order to address specific issues, like helping seniors get groceries, or writing them cards to help with loneliness, or teaching them how to use their smartphones. Small actions can make big waves; and taking a first step towards alleviating these issues is crucial.