LOOKINGAHEADTONEXTWEEK

AngeloCastillo, commissioner, Pembroke Pines. Timeandagain, Florida hasbowedtodemands to rate increases fromhomeownerinsurance carriers, andthat’sbadenough. Wenowhear that carriers are refusing towritenewpolicies to insurehomesor extend existing ones. Yet formostFloridians, homeinsurance is not anoptional luxury but steadfastly requiredby banks. Toavert a crisis, Floridamustbetter protect her citizen homeowners. Weneedreformsthat promotecompetitionand affordability. Howabout telling insurers they can’t sell auto in ourstate if they don’t also sellhomeownercoverage? Florida fails its citizenswhenwe can’tprotect ourhomes. Enoughexcuses; let’s get decisive actiononthis essentially important issue.

PaulCastronovo, host, PaulCastronovoShow onBig 105.9. DearCOVID-19, haven’t youdone enough? Youstoppedthe earthonits axis, killed a million people, Iwipemy groceriesdown, I don’t recognizemy friends because they’re dressed like surgeonsandnowyou’re messing withthe only thing that bringsmejoy inthe fall– college football. Howdare you? Nineteen Gator playersandcoaches testedpositive after afewplayers “hadthesniffles,” thought itwas allergiesandwentontheteam plane toTexas. Maybewe canblamelastweek’s lossonkids playing sick? Note to everyone: if youhave the sniffles, it’sprobablynot allergies.

BeamFurr, member, BrowardCountyCommission. BrowardCountywillbemovingforward with transit interoperability withMiami-Dade County! Whatdoes thismean? Itmeansthat residentswhotake busesbetweenBrowardand Miami-Dadewillnolongerhave to hassle with multiple appsandtickets. Instead, theBroward andMiami-Dadetransit appswill eachallow foroneregional ticketwhena resident is traveling within both counties– withPalmBeachCountyjoining in 2021. For example, a touristwhospendsaday traveling toDowntownMiami andFortLauderdalebeachcurrently hasnoregional ticket. This interoperability changes thatandmakes travelmoreconvenient.

MelissaMcKinlay, member, PalmBeachCounty Commission. TheArmyCorpsof Engineers has begunreleasingwater fromLakeOkeechobee for the first time sinceMarch2019. Thelake’s level has risen swiftly— approximately 1.33 feet — over the lastmonth. With sixweeks remaining in a very active hurricane season, this action is essential toprotect the integrity of theHerbert HooverDikeandthe ecological health of the lake. Moving forward, our regionmust continue topushfor the swift implementation of theComprehensiveEvergladesRestoration Plan, particularly building storage north of the lake, to ensurewater supplyandimprovewater quality for our health, environment, andeconomy.

ChristineHunschofsky, mayor, Parkland. Early Voting inBrowardCountystartsonMonday, Oct. 19, andcontinues throughSunday, Nov. 1. From7a.m. to7p.m. voterscanvote ordropoff theirvote-by-mailballots. Browardregistered voterscanvote atanyearlyvoting location, but onElectionDay, theymustvoteat theirprecinct. Visitbrowardsoe.orgtofindanearlyvoting locationmostconvenient toyou. Withsomanyracesonthe national, stateandlocal level inaddition to constitutionalamendments, youshoulddoyourhomeworkbeforevoting. Asampleballotcan alsobefoundatbrowardsoe.org. So, pleasemakeaplanandvote!

OnJune17,2020, Gov. RonDeSantis signedanexecutiveorder(No. 20-149) that allowsany full or part-time stateemployee to serve as a pollworker in the county inwhich they are anelector. Inresponse, PBSCemployees will receive administrative leave for trainingandforworking ElectionDayonNov. 3. PalmBeachState College takes extremepride in impacting our society positivelyandwewant ourPanthercommunityto have thepowerandfreedomto assist with our valueddemocratic process. We alsowant tochallenge other state agencies andprivatecompaniestoencourage theiremployeesby offering timeoffor other incentives to participate.

BarbaraSharief, member, BrowardCounty Commission. Intheseuncertaintimes, many familiesareexperiencingsocialdistancingblues, whichisparticularlyhardonourkids. Young peoplearemissingtheirfriendsandnormal routine, andtheydon’thaveasympathetic listenertosharetheirfeelingsandproblemswith. Asaparent, itcanbedifficulttotellthedifference betweensadnessanddepression– especiallyforchildrenwho mayalreadyexperienceordinaryupsanddowns. Ifindithelpful toaskquestions, lendanempatheticeartotheirconcerns, rememberourownemotionalvolatilityasachild/teenandreassurethem thattheirfeelingsmatterandthatyouarethereforthem.

TomShea, chairman& founder, RightManagement. Aswork-from-homehas become a newnormthroughout the country, Florida’s tourism industry is promoting another alternative: work-from-hotel. Instead of going on vacation to escapework, employees are taking their laptops to the pool, coffee shop and other nontraditionalworkspaces. Resorts and hotels throughout Florida are increasing their marketing and advertising budgets to reach to these newly remoteworkers. They are offering various incentives such as: discount rates, resort credit and high-speed, reliable internet. As the uncertainty of the pandemic continues to loom over the Sunshine State, a poolside “office” doesn’t sound so bad. Creative pivoting in the moment!