TOPSTORIESFROMLASTWEEK

Steve Geller, former member, Florida Senate. There has been speculation that Democrats would pack the Supreme Court if there’s a Democraticwave. Republicans have already packed the court through their insistence on only appointing judges fromthe conservative Federalist Society, and through Mitch McConnell’s refusal to ratify former President Obama’s judicial appointments. Ratifying JusticeBarrett less than 10 days before the election, afterRepublicans’ repeated statements that a Supreme Court justice shouldn’t be ratified in the year before an election, has broken things and shown Republicans believe that if you have the votes, you can do what youwant. They shouldn’t be surprised whenDemocrats learn that lesson.

JasonHughes, executive director, ArtServe. The Community Foundation of Broward recently announced the inaugural Broward Nonprofit HiddenHeroes Awards to recognize employees at nonprofits who, during the pandemic, went above and beyond when the community needed them most and enabled their nonprofit to continue valuable services to their clients and the community. We are fortunate to have so many “hidden heroes” in our community.

BelindaKeiser, vice chancellor, KeiserUniversity. Froma constitutional standpoint, the Senate vote ofAmy ConeyBarrett onMonday was consistent with the Constitution and the process dating back to the Founders. The Constitution doesn’t prohibit a candidate’s nomination based on perceived political beliefs or ideology. Shifts in the court’s compositionwere commonplace over the years. There is no language preventing a confirmation vote this close to election. Somemay oppose a candidate or base their objections on perceived ideology, but the rule of lawapplied to the Constitution must bemaintained ifwe are to continue our freedoms and liberties.

NormKent, publisher, South Florida Gay News. In a year with toomany losses already, please take a moment to celebrate the passing of Alvin Entin, an individual whose life embraced civility and decency, goodness and grace. Hewas a principled attorney with a passionate respect for our democracy and a thespian who gave life to community theater.

TimLonergan, commissioner, Oakland Park. OnThursday, Oct. 29, dozens of adults and children in BrowardCounty andmillionsmore aroundtheworld volunteered for the JumpstartRead for theRecordcampaign. This annual campaign is to raise awareness about the critical importance of early literacy and access to high-quality books. This year, volunteers read a book titled“Evelyn DelRey isMovingAway” to children ages4-6 inaneLearning virtual format. Evenas the pandemic requires us to take special precautions to protect our kidsand everyone else, engagingand educating our kids remains a priority. Learnmore atwww.jstart.org orwww.cscbroward.org.

PeterMoore, president, ChenMoore and Associates. Lastweek included a relatively unheralded day called “Imagine aDayWithoutWater.” Started in 2014, the day is a national education campaign that brings together diverse stakeholders tohighlighthowwater is essential, invaluable and in need of investment. Not all Americanshave to imagine aday withoutwater. More than2,000,000Americans live without basic access to safedrinkingwater and sanitation. Even in these divided times, 73% of Americans support investing in water infrastructure to increase resilience to climate change, even with a$1.27 trillion price tag. Let’s not turn “imagining” into “realizing” this loss.

LarryRein, CEOand President, ChildNet. Amendment 2 on the Florida ballot promises an annual minimumwage increase of $1 until it reaches $15 per hour in 2026. Debate on the issue typically focuses on its economic impacts. Attention might be better focused on its impact on children and families. Florida’s foster children disproportionately comefrom low-income and minority households led by singlemoms. The increase will bring 1.3 million households out of poverty and help shorten the pay gap forwomen and minorities. There should, therefore, be no debate about the immense positive impact passage could have.

HowardSimon, retired executive director, ACLUof Florida. Lastweek’shardtoignore storywas the revelation that, asaresult of the Trumpadministration’s child separation policy, 545childrenmayneverbereunitedwiththeir parents. Theadministration’s policy of taking childrenfromtheirparents isonepiece of its hostility toimmigration. It devisedthe policy thinking thatsuchacrueltywoulddiscourage peoplefromfleeingimpoverishedandcrime-riddenCentral Americancountries toseekasylumandabetter life in theUnited States. But the storyis alsoaboutthesheerincompetenceof the Trumpadministration’s failuretokeeprecords so families could eventually be reunited.