TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

Clarence McKee, president, McKee Communications. The election of Mayra Flores as the first Mexican-born congresswoman and the first Republican elected in the 34th Texas Congressional District in over 100 years should be a gigantic political wake-up call for Black American voters and the Republican Party establishment. As she said, “For over 100 years, we have been taken for granted.” Republican candidates at the local, state and federal levels must reach out to Black voters on issues — not party: crime, illegal immigration, inflation and parental choice in schools. They might be surprised at the result. Blacks buy groceries and gas too!

Gary Resnick, commissioner, Wilton Manors. As with abortion, the Constitution does not mention gay marriage or adoption. With overturning Roe, will Obergefell be next? Florida prohibited gay marriage and adoption until fairly recently. Thousands of LGBT households already exercised their rights to get married, divorced or adopt. If outlawed in Florida, will people have to travel out of state, and will their rights be recognized in Florida? More than ever, we need to make it known that if Florida wants LGBT residents and tourists, it cannot adopt laws that would be so hurtful to our community.

Kerry Ann Royes, CEO, YWCA South Florida. Summer camps are underway, and children across South Florida are enjoying outdoor activities and making new friends. Each year, I love seeing the smiling faces of the children who take part in our summer programs. It brings back my own childhood memories and reminds me how formative these experiences are for our youth. Summer camps are an essential part of our community. They provide a safe space for children to develop social skills and working parents to feel reassurance that their children will continue learning and thriving, even during the summer months. Thank you to all of the community-based organizations taking part in caring for our children this summer.

Laurie Sallarulo, CEO, Junior Achievement of South Florida. Studies by academic institutions show how children’s early reading activities reap meaningful academic gains in elementary school and beyond. In addition, they show that parents who read with their children grow closer to their children through conversations about the book. As chair of the Early Learning Coalition Broward, we’re committed to getting books to children as early as possible. ELC offers the “Broward Bookworms” program, designed to build home libraries and create a love of reading from the earliest point in a child’s life. Any Broward family with children up to 5 years old can sign up to receive free books and activity packs. To register, visit browardbookworms.org.

Gregory Stuart, executive director, Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization. Last week the Broward County Commission reached a consensus on Broward Commuter Rail. The proposed project will be built in phases starting from Aventura to the south of the New River, eventually moving north to Deerfield and into Palm Beach. This service will provide new connections to many of our coastal downtowns, neighborhoods and our bustling airports and seaports. Residents and visitors alike will be able to enjoy more of what our county has to offer without the traffic. Strong partnerships between the county, the Florida Department of Transportation, our municipalities and the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization will be paramount to the success of this transformative project.

Calibe Thompson, executive director, Island SPACE. Insurrection was not a word I grew up hearing in Jamaica. At the time, we feigned democracy, but regularized phrases like “stuffing the ballot box.” We were advised not to wear green or orange, because like the Bloods and the Crips, or modern-day Democrats and Republicans, you could end up hurt or worse for showing certain affiliation. Today, Jamaica is more like the U.S. ideal I grew up learning about. But here, while one group of political media shouts that democracy is under siege, another seems ever more comfortable with autocracy and the misappropriation of words like liberty, freedom and justice.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, member, U.S. House of Representatives. One year ago, a nightmare occurred when Champlain Towers South in Surfside partially collapsed, taking 98 lives, upending hundreds more. Our governments, first responders, engineers and caseworkers worked nonstop to provide support to devastated families and begin an investigation. President Joe Biden swiftly authorized critical, aid and I pushed Congress to provide the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology with $22 million to probe the technical causes of the collapse — and to help us avoid a similar future tragedy. I continue to stand in solidarity with the families and will keep supporting them for as long as it takes.

Matt Willhite, member, Florida House of Representatives. Palm Beach County Community Services is working to assist low-income homeowners in need of replacing their home’s HVAC system with assistance up to $15,000. Clients must be income-eligible, live in Palm Beach County, and are required to show that they are in a crisis situation. Completed applications must show one or more of the following: HVAC system no longer cools, HVAC unit is 10 years or older, proof of high energy bills, and/or proof of life-threatening environment via a doctor’s statement. For program guidelines and to apply for assistance, please visit utilityassistancepbc.org or call 561-3554792.