LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Angelo Castillo, commissioner, Pembroke

Pines. This holiday season, take an opportunity to thank our doctors, nurses and health care workers, the first responders, teachers and essential employees in the private sector for the good service they offer us every day. Let’s demonstrate our thanks to them even as we do our part to stay alert to the new variant without panic, to help not hinder, and take personal action where we need to. Only by creating a team committed to winning the fight against COVID can we ultimately succeed. Be part of that team and play a role in that success. We can get past anything together.

Jamie Cole, municipal attorney, vari

ous Broward County cities. On Tuesday, the Broward County Commission will be choosing the new boundaries for county commission districts. Although there has been little talk about the new districts outside of political circles, the changes in boundaries will impact residents throughout the county. The districts are redrawn every ten years to reflect changes in population. The redistricting this year is even more significant because of a 2018 Charter Amendment that reinforced the prohibition on racial or partisan gerrymandering. More information, including the four proposed maps, is available at www.broward.org/redistricting.

Dr. Michael Dennis, chair, FAU Schmidt

College of Medicine. Palm Beach County’s only medical school, the Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, has completed its first highly successful, community-oriented decade of service. A primary goal is to provide excellent care to South Florida residents, but the environment is challenging. There’s a predicted shortage of 9,000 physicians in Florida by 2025; 19% of the regional population is over age 65 and requiring more attention. As a result, graduates are strongly encouraged to remain in the area, and those entering residencies can now choose among many local hospital affiliations with the college, thus demonstrating commitment to your health.

Michael Gottlieb, member, Florida House

of Representatives. As I finish my final of six committee weeks, I find we should all be bothered by the lack of governmental transparency. Maps for redistricting were drawn and released without input from the public or from the Legislature. The same can be said for our special session regarding COVID 19 measures; all legislation was drafted without legislative input and minimal public oversight. The same can be said for the special session on gaming, which is currently in the courts. We all do better when all are invited to the table and have a voice, that is what government in the sunshine is all about.

Chip LaMarca, member, Florida House of

Representatives. It’s time to deck the hulls!

The 59th Annual Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade will be Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. The parade will start at Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach and proceed north through the Hillsboro Bridge ending at Sullivan Park in Deerfield Beach. On Saturday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m., the 50th Annual Winterfest Holiday Parade will start at the Stranahan House traveling east along the New River in Fort Lauderdale to the Intracoastal Waterway, continuing north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. It’s known as the Best Show on H20, and you can see both!

Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Broward.

A new national poll shows only 58% of Americans have a “great deal” or “good” amount of trust that elections are fair. According to the NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll, four in 10 Americans (39%) say they don’t trust election results. False claims that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged” fuel distrust and deepen partisan divides — 75% of Republicans polled questioned the election’s legitimacy. A growing lack of trust in our elections threatens the foundation of our democracy. We must rise above partisanship and find ways to restore faith in voting, and in each other.

Michael Udine, mayor, Broward County.

For most folks, getting home after working late at night is something they dread — and rightly so. The “last mile” can be a tough one. Broward County wants to make that easier for our residents by implementing the Community Microtransit Pilot Program. Using Surtax Transportation Funds, this program will use smaller vehicles and special technology for our residents to easily participate in the program. This addition to Broward County Transit will also allow hard-working people to consider job opportunities that involve late night hours and avoid dreading “the last mile.”

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, member, U.S.

House of Representatives. The U.S. Senate must act on the House-passed Build Back Better

Act. This historic legislation makes the largest investment in America’s working families and safety net since the New Deal. It will expand affordable health care coverage, extend child tax credits parents need, and help older and disabled Americans pay for home care, prescriptions and hearing aids. The legislation also provides paid leave and child care help for families, so Americans can safely return to work. It also takes on Big Pharma, negotiating lower prices for critical medicines like insulin. America needs this help, and Democrats are fighting for it.