LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Anna Fusco,

Social media platforms, when misused, can be perilous. It was damaging enough when Facebook ads and misleading tweets spread false information impacting fair elections and America’s future while cyberbullies hid behind keyboards to attack their prey. Now totally reprehensible Tik-Tok videos encourage young people to submit clips of themselves blatantly destroying school property along with stealing items of value from their teachers. Not only do they challenge kids to break the law, but also to post video evidence of their crimes. It’s time for the use of social media to be accompanied by the exercise of social responsibility!

Michael Gottlieb,

Florida just now applied for federal food aid. We have yet to access the early learning education money that has been apportioned for us. Our state is not moving in the right direction. We have federal funds available to lift Florida, to help us, to get us back on our feet, to help families put food on the table and get kids back into child care programs so parents can work. The time is now to stop the political gamesmanship and take what we have been offered through the Biden American Rescue Plan. Let’s use those funds to help us all.

Chip LaMarca,

The governor has announced legislation that proposes the elimination of Florida Statewide Assessment testing to be replaced by the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) plan. The FAST plan would monitor student progress on three occasions during the school year to measure individual growth. If adopted, this legislation would make Florida the first state to completely adopt progress monitoring in place of yearly standardized testing and would eliminate Common Core. Even more so, this proposal would reduce test time by 75%, which increases time for learning and will minimize the stress of testing. I am looking forward to seeing this legislation in my Education & Employment Committee, as well as on the House floor.

Tim Lonergan,

An important time for Medicare beneficia- ries is quickly approaching. Medicare’s annual open enrollment period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Medicare beneficiaries can evaluate their current coverage, and if beneficial, make a plan change to better meet their personal needs. Many options exist and a variety of programs are available for individuals who qualify for special assistance. The Florida SHINE Program is free and staffed with volunteer counselors available to assist Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions. Call 800-963-5337 or visit floridashine.org to learn more. Assistance is also available by calling 800-633-4227 or visiting www.cms.gov.

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Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, .

October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important reminder that early treatment saves lives, and now new hope for breast cancer survival is rolling into neighborhoods that lack health care services. The Community Foundation of Broward has partnered with Memorial Healthcare System to support free breast cancer screenings provided in a mobile primary care center. Too many Broward residents face obstacles to healthier living due to poverty, discrimination and other systemic hurdles. Deploying mobile health care units is an innovative way to help overcome health inequities and bring critical health care services where they are needed most.

Tina Polsky, Bills for the 2022 Florida legislative session have started to be filed, among them HB 75, which limits COVID-19 restrictions or mandates and HB 167, which enacts a Texas-style fetal heartbeat abortion ban. A dark legislative session is looming, and it’s vital for everyone to be involved and vigilant. Call Senate and House leadership, as well as the offices of bill sponsors, and make it known when bills are bad for the people. There is so much power in a community working together to defeat bad bills. Your advocacy does work. Stay vigilant, stay united and stay hopeful.

Laurie Sallarulo,

Zachary Hopkins is soon to become the first graduate of Broward College’s autism-friendly avionics training program. With his associate degree in avionics, Hopkins will be ready to enter the workforce in aviation electronics. This program is a collaboration between Broward College and the HAAPE Foundation (Helping Adults with Autism Perform & Excel). With the unemployment rate for people with autism at around 80%, these are the sort of initiatives we need more of. Adults with disabilities can be a great source of labor; let’s help prepare them.

Beverly Williams,

On April 6, 2021, we mourned the loss of Congressman Alcee Hastings. To fill Congressman Hastings’ seat in the U.S. House, there will be a special election on Jan. 11, 2022. In advance of the special election, Democratic and Republican party primaries are scheduled for Nov. 2, 2021. Remember, in Florida, you must be a registered Democrat or Republican to vote in the primary election. To check your voter status, if you live in District 20, and to view early voting locations in Broward County, visit browardsoe.org/ Voter-Information/Primary-Election-Information.

To read responses from more South Florida 100 participants, go to SunSentinel.com/100