LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Lori Berman, member, Florida Senate. The Buccaneers and the Chiefs are getting ready to play in the Super Bowl in Tampa, making the Bucs the first team in NFL history to play at their home field. This year’s game is going to look very different than in past years because of COVID precautions and general security measures. Only 22,000 fans will be allowed inside the stadium, signaling a loss of revenue for the NFL. Some 7,500 health care workers were given free tickets, and they’ll be honored during the game for their service. Hopefully, we can all enjoy the “big game” safely.

Dr. Michael Dennis, chair, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. The debate whether to terminate the Senate filibuster deserves everyone’s attention. Instead of a simple majority vote of 51 to pass legislation, this political maneuver requires 60 affirmative votes for approval. It has been used by both parties — sometimes embarrassingly. In the 19th century the procedure was used to protect slavery. And later, Southern Democrats used it to prevent Black Americans from voting and to defeat anti-lynching bills. It favors those who resist change, and that’s a factor when the nation is facing complex issues like climate change, gun control, immigration, equal pay, tax increases and Medicare expansion.

Tina Polsky, member, Florida Senate. Why do we need Holocaust Remembrance Day? Because antisemitism and white supremacy continue to run rampant in our country. There are times these hate groups go underground, but they are always lurking. And then there are times, like over the last four years, where these racists come out publicly. We must learn the lessons of the Holocaust to see what happens if this hate goes unchecked. It began with division of us vs. them and diminishing the rights of others, and it ended with the extinction of 6 million Jews. We must remember so we never forget.

Harold Pryor, state attorney, 17th Judicial

Circuit, Broward County. Black History Month begins this week, but the history of Black people should be taught and celebrated yearround. Words, stories and tributes are nice and welcomed, but everything done in the month of February needs to be backed up by actions every day of every year. The Black community still reels from the aftereffects of slavery and Jim Crow. Black people want an opportunity to live the American Dream, which means access to safe communities and opportunities to make a better life for their families — things that more privileged people have enjoyed since the founding of our republic.

Laurie Sallarulo, CEO, Junior Achievement of South Florida. Since the COVID-19 pandemic spread and governments enforced school closures and containment strategies, the use of digital technology by children has risen. One survey of over 3,000 parents found screen time for their kids increased by 500% during the pandemic. According to a worldwide device-usage tracker, screen time for kids aged 4 to 15 doubled by May and kept rising. The trouble with excessive screen time is that it overpowers healthy behaviors that all children need. When children return to school, psychologists expect they may face a period of epic withdrawal from their tech screens but with help from parents and teachers, the brain can be rewired.

John “Jack” P. Seiler, former mayor, Fort Lauderdale. The Department of Homeland Security issued a threat bulletin due to the ongoing potential for domestic violence after the presidential inauguration, including concerns that American extremists may be emboldened by the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Indictments and investigations against alleged insurrectionists have revealed members of some paramilitary groups communicated about training camps and tactical preparations for the Capitol siege, and several open cases include defendants with military training. Members of Congress continue to report threats, and concern is growing about the safety and security of certain lawmakers when they travel outside Washington.

Joshua Simmons, vice mayor, Coral Springs. The Florida Legislative session starts in March. There are several preemption bills that continue to curb the authority of your local elected officials. One bill in particular is back from the dead after it was effectively killed last session. Under House Bill 219, the state would regulate vacation rentals, which means you could potentially have an Airbnb or some other short-term rental open up next door to you, with no recourse. These aren’t empty nesters looking to fill up a home; these are investment homes with out-of-state owners that care little about you or your neighborhood.

Richard Stark, former member, Florida House of Representatives. The Biden administration will be pursuing expansion of Medicaid coverage. Thirty-eight states have agreed to expand Medicaid in the past decade; Florida is not one of them. To improve medical outcomes this is something that must be worked on. Too often in Florida, the legislature has rejected this issue due to ideological reasons. It is time for the legislature and the governor to get together and come up with a sound plan to get this done. The high amount of people in Florida without health coverage is unsustainable.