TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

Mike Caruso,

The Delta variant continues to surge across the country. Hospitals are reporting 90% of the cases are from unvaccinated people. The FDA has signaled the Pfizer vaccine will be formally approved by the end of the month. I encourage all of you to speak with your doctor and make the best decision for yourself. The way I see it, you have two options. You can choose to get vaccinated and possibly avoid getting COVID altogether, or at least a much less severe version. Or you can be unvaccinated, have a much higher chance of hospitalization and an even greater chance of death. Speak with your trusted doctor. Decide for yourself. I got my vaccine. I hope you choose to too. Rest in Peace to my good friend Dick Farrell. You will be dearly missed.

Chip LaMarca,

This week, the Broward County School Board announced Vickie Cartwright as interim superintendent. Cartwright began serving in her position on Aug. 2, which enables her to settle into Broward County before the first day of school on Aug. 18. Prior to moving to South Florida, Cartwright served as superintendent in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and worked within the Orange County Public Schools system. We wish her and all the students, teachers and staff preparing for the first day of school a wonderful school year!

Lois Frankel,

Losing one’s home is especially tragic during a pandemic. That’s why Congress provided robust funding to help keep people in their homes during COVID-19, with financial help for tenants, homeowners, mortgage holders and landlords. Palm Beach and Broward counties are using this federal funding to assist renters and property owners who are eligible. Additionally, President Biden’s extended eviction moratorium will ensure our neighbors keep a roof over their heads as we all build back better. If you need help paying your rent or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please go to RentalAssistancePBC.org, Broward.org/RentAssistance, or OurFlorida.com to apply for assistance.

Philip Purcell,

President Biden set a new national target on Thursday for the adoption of electric vehicles, calling for them to represent 40% to 50% of all new auto sales by 2030. This bold environmental move will require infrastructure to support it. How will renters charge their cars? Are there enough fast charging stations along hurricane evacuation routes? Will there be regulation on charging fees to prevent price gouging? How will the loss of gas tax that maintains roads be replaced? Change is necessary, goals are important, but they need to include an entire implementation plan for success and a healthy planet.

Kerry Ann Royes,

This week, we acknowledged the tremendous wage gap existing between Black women and other races and genders for Black Women’s Equal Pay Day on Aug. 2. This date marked the amount of time it would take a Black woman to catch up to what a white man earns in a single year — one year and eight months to be exact. Black women have always been severely impacted by wage gaps, but COVID-19 has amplified the economic inequalities women of color and their families face at an alarming rate. This is a social justice issue that is deeply rooted in longstanding racial and gender biases that have been present since the nation’s founding. Find out ways to help your local YWCA fight for pay equity at ywcasouthflorida.org. Nora Rupert,

When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the executive order to effectively ban school districts from establishing mask mandates, he stepped out of being Florida’s governor and embarked on a slippery slope of subverting local control of schools. Broward was the first to step forward, in response to rising infections with much younger people getting sick. Broward took a step forward for our school community, as well as the students and districts in Florida. Now, other districts like Orange, Duval, Alachua and Leon are joining the fight to keep our local authority. Next Tuesday we will discuss options. Be sensible, mask up.

Eleanor Sobel,

Here’s the scoop. Ben and Jerry’s has great ice cream flavors, but their boycott of parts of Israel lacks historical insight. The so-called “occupied territories” are land gained by Israel after being attacked by Syria, Egypt and Jordan. Is Israel being held to a double standard? Are Ben and Jerry boycotting for Texas to be returned to Mexico, or Gdansk returned to Germany or for the Czech Republic repatriating 3 million expelled Sudeten citizens? Are their demands on Israel purely partisan, supporting Fatah? People are boycotting Ben and Jerry’s, giving up favorite flavors like “Half-Baked,” just like their policy on Israel.

Ghenete “G” Wright Muir,

In Jamaica we say “Wi likkle but wi tallawah,” meaning we may be small, but we’re powerful. Jamaican women sprinters dominated the premier track-andfield race of the Olympic Games’ by sweeping the 100-meter dash. Elaine Thompson-Herah took the gold, breaking an Olympic record; Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce got the silver and the bronze went to Shericka Jackson. In addition to her record-breaking dash, Thompson-Herah went on to become the first woman to win a “double-double.” That is, she won the gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter races in this year’s Olympics and in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Congrats to our runners, wi proud cyaan done!