Fort Lauderdale's Sidewalk Mistake

"It's been 16 years since a public-improvement project shaved too close to Marty Zisholtz's hair salon on Southwest Second Street in a historic district. The semi-retired mortgage banker has been charging Fort Lauderdale $1,270 a year, with annual cost-of-living increases, to allow public use of the improvements. The lease expired this year, and to continue, Zisholtz now wants $2,500 for public access to 376 square feet of sidewalk and 260 square feet of road. City officials say taxpayers are getting clipped."