LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Traci Callari, President, Broward League of Cities; Hollywood commissioner. Coincidentally, Sunday is the last day of Passover and Easter Sunday. While Passover celebrates the early Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and freedom from slavery and Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and freedom from sin and death, the two themes of celebration and freedom are prevalent. This past year has not only reminded me how meaningful our personal connections are, but how important it is that we focus on our similarities as opposed to our differences. I hope you are safely celebrating with friends and family and wish you a happy holiday and joyous spring.

Joseph Goldstein, managing partner, Shutts & Bowen Fort Lauderdale. Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 8. Marking this day is important as each year we lose survivors. Remembering is important because hatred of Jews is on the rise. The FBI reported that hate crimes against Jews rose 19% in 2019. Our local WLRN public television presents the new documentary I Danced for the Angel of Death — The Dr. Edith Eva Eger Story on April 8 at 8 p.m. and again on April 11 and 18 at 9 a.m. Eger was sent to Auschwitz when she was 16, but survived. Tune in to learn her story and never forget the Holocaust.

Michael Gottlieb, member, Florida House of Representatives. This week in the Florida Legislature I was lucky to pass a bill in its second committee. This bill helps state attorney offices throughout Florida maintain integrity in exoneration investigations. I have another bill moving that helps schools with children affected by allergies by providing for mandatory EpiPens in school cafeterias. I’m hoping the Senate continues to hear bills, thus keeping this bill in play. One bill that seems dead is one that would revive our film industry. I cannot understand why, in a year of stagnant growth and tourism, we are not advancing more ways to build our economy. This bill would help to create jobs and ensure our future financial stability.

Christine Hunschofsky, member, Florida House of Representatives. Florida’s Bright Futures scholarships have been funded by the Florida Lottery to help high achieving students attend college for free or with significant aid since 1997. High school seniors who, over the last four years, have been working hard to achieve academic success are now faced with the possibility of the state limiting access to these scholarships. It is not time, during a global pandemic, to be watering down a financing option that students have been working toward and families have been counting on. I continue to support all students and the current Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Nancy Metayer, city commissioner, Coral Springs. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of who we all are as people and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. Our great state of Florida has put measures in place that continue to deny individuals the ability to be their true selves. We should continue to advocate for laws and policies that will protect everyone’s dignity. We should aspire to live in a state where all people can enjoy their rights fully.

Howard Simon, retired executive director, ACLU of Florida. Let’s be honest, there is election fraud in Florida — it’s just not the kind that concerns the Legislature. Thanks to the tenacious work of local newspaper and TV reporters, we know that someone or some organization manipulated our recent elections by recruiting and funding ghost candidates in three state Senate races, spending more than half a million dollars for campaign mailers designed to confuse voters and siphon votes from one of the candidates. A former state senator and the ghost candidate he recruited have been indicted, but the source of the dark money is the key revelation to come.

Michael Udine, vice mayor, Broward County. Broward County continues to create partnerships with our local universities. Next week, the county commission will establish a partnership between the county’s Human Services Division and the University of Miami. Students will work together with our healthcare heroes and human services professionals as they serve those in need within our community. Focus areas include nursing, social work and counseling. Offering real world opportunities for students gives them the chance to take knowledge from the classroom into everyday applications. Working with the professionals currently in their field of study will only help our students develop their skills and grant them valuable experience.

Robert Weinroth, member, Palm Beach County Commission. We have endured over a year of social restrictions. Four in 10 Palm Beach County residents are seeking services to help with anxiety and depression resulting from the pandemic. With 50 years of service, the 211 Helpline is a community resource in which residents can speak to caring individuals about fear, grief, isolation and stress. The organization recently updated its website, 211palmbeach.org, with resources to assist residents attempting to navigate the pandemic. As more people get vaccinated and herd immunity takes hold, the stresses of the pandemic will continue to reverberate, and the 211 Helpline will remain a ready resource for residents.