LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Irela Bagué, president, Bagué Group. Miami-Dade County will soon have a Chief Bay Officer (CBO). The position, recently approved by the mayor and added to the county’s budget, came because of the Biscayne Bay Task Force report that recommended the need for better coordination on recovery efforts. The CBO will act as a liaison with county departments; county boards; external agencies; stakeholder groups; and local, state and federal governments on water quality issues, policies and appropriations related to the health and recovery of Biscayne Bay.

Traci Callari, President, Broward League of Cities; Hollywood commissioner. Did you know that 60% of eligible voters are never asked to register? Let’s change that by reminding our family, friends and neighbors to register to vote on Sept. 22, 2020 – National Voter Registration Day. This nonpartisan civic effort was first observed in 2012 and, to date, nearly three million voters have registered to vote because of this effort. The hashtag is #VoteReady, so leverage your social media accounts and when calling or video chatting, remind all that September 22, 2020 is the perfect day to register to vote and take part in our country’s democratic process.

Charles Caulkins, managing partner, Fisher & Phillips. Hopefully, Broward County will move us to a full Phase Two. We have been locked down since March 22. Positive tests have trended down to well below 5% for over three weeks. Hospitalizations and deaths continue trending down. There is no rebound even after Labor Day. Broward should join the rest of the state (except MiamiDade) and permit our businesses to responsibly reopen a full Phase Two.

Michael De Lucca, president, Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Inc. A 60-day rabies alert for parts of Davie has been issued by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County after a sick cat tested positive for rabies. As no exact address was provided, state health officials said the neighborhood is bordered by I-595 to the north, Griffin Road to the south, Flamingo Road to the west and South Pine Island Road to the east. All wildlife contact should be avoided as the disease can attack the nervous system and can be deadly to warm-blooded animals, including humans. For more information visit FloridaHealth.gov.

Lamar Fisher, member, Broward County Commission. Next week is the 11th Annual Choose Peace Week celebration! The United Nations celebrates the International Day of Peace on Monday, Sept. 21 and here in Broward County, we want to celebrate “Peace Across Broward Day” by encouraging everyone in our community to wear white to represent equality, fairness, peace, tranquility, comfort and hope. During this pandemic, there have been many acts of kindness in our community and we want to keep this momentum going. Let us continue to treat each other with compassion as we get through these troubling times.

Barbara Sharief, member, Broward County Commission. COVID-19 has put a strain on working parents like never before, and with the heightened stress level, they also have to worry about juggling work and providing for their children at home. The Boys & Girls Club of Broward County (BGCBC) has stepped up to the plate and is a lifeline for many families by keeping children safe and on track academically with virtual school while parents work. Unemployment is rising, and the long-term economic impact of COVID-19 is still unknown, so our community will continue to need programs like BGCBC to navigate through this crisis. For more info visit www.bgcbc.org.

Eleanor Sobel, former member, Florida Senate. Rescuing green open space is becoming an important part of Florida’s agenda. The welcomed defeat of development at the West Boca Golf Club is a signal that whether or not golf courses are profitable, or golf declining in popularity, people enjoy the sweeping green space. The open-air golf courses and clean atmosphere offer a break from urban congestion and traffic. Many proposals are currently on the drawing boards in South Florida, including the Emerald Hills Golf and Country Club. Housing shouldn’t replace green space. Let’s discontinue costly present and future litigation. Once open green space is gone, it is gone forever.

Randall Vitale, president, Hoffman’s Chocolates. Halloween is quickly approaching, and many people are wondering how safe it will be for everyone –especially children – to celebrate this year. Several initiatives have been announced to address these concerns. One from the Harvard Global Health Institute, in partnership with Hershey and the Halloween and Costume Association, has launched a website: halloween2020.org. The site has a color-coded map that assesses each county’s coronavirus risk level and suggests celebration ideas based on that level. The ideas range from how to safely trick or treat to at-home scavenger hunts with themed rooms. There are lots of great ideas, so start planning!