TO PST ORIES FROM LAST WEEK

Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you.

Richard Clark, CEO, Clark Leadership Consulting. There is no single or simple solution to mass killings. The most powerful is uncovering advance indicators. Too many are fearful of reporting. Anonymity provides the real incentive to overcome that fear. Since its creation in 1976, Crime Stoppers has paid millions of monetary rewards. While rewards attract tips, the real and overriding success factor is the guaranteed provision of remaining anonymous. The tips program is already in place to uncover unreported advance indicators. By promoting a Crime Stoppers campaign plus increasing law enforcement resources for follow-up, this nonpartisan partnership will result in countless lives saved.

Lamar Fisher, vice mayor, Broward County. Hurricane season began this week, and we are already seeing high activity with two areas for potential tropical development. As we await any weather event this season, please make sure you, your family and your home are all well prepared. There are many avenues that provide plenty of information. I recommend residents checkout Broward.org/Hurricane, your local city website, RedCross.org/SouthFlorida, NOAA.gov/Hurricane-Prep or FEMA’s site, Ready.gov. Some of these sites also provide you the opportunity to sign up for alerts, to get real time information right on your phone.

Debbi Hixon, member, Broward County School Board. I know exactly how the families from Robb Elementary School feel. Although your thoughts and prayers are appreciated, the families also want your empathy and OUTRAGE! They want you to demand that changes occur to keep our communities safe, and that the loss of their loved one does not just become an additional number in the total of gun violence victims. Most Americans agree that red-flag laws and expanded universal background checks are needed in our country. Let’s start there, let’s demand that the lawmakers we’ve elected get this done NOW. It is never too soon to take action!

Jason Hughes, executive director, ArtServe. America’s first federally supported test-totreat site launched in Providence, Rhode Island, this week. Federal reimbursement now enables COVID-19-positive patients to be immediately medically assessed for oral antiviral treatments if prescribed — in one location serving some of the state’s highest-risk populations. Vaccination is also available. Over 2,500 test-to-treat locations are now open nationwide at local pharmacies and community health centers. Federal test-to-treat sites will open in New York and Illinois soon. It’s also now easier for local pharmacies to order oral antivirals directly from the federal government, so they are now available at almost 40,000 locations nationwide — double from a month ago.

Peter Moore, president, Chen Moore and Associates. The condo reform legislation passed as a “side thought” in the special session on insurance reform was the gem of this legislative year. Putting in place a comprehensive program for inspections, with special emphasis on high risk properties, along with not allowing condo boards to waive reserve funds specifically used for the maintenance of these structures will save lives, period. Just as importantly, this legislation restores confidence in the value of condo structures as a viable place to live and invest. The Florida Legislature showed leadership with compromise and understanding to benefit all Floridians.

Gary Resnick, commissioner, Wilton Manors. An admired third grade teacher resigned because of Florida’s new “Don’t Say Gay” law. As a married lesbian, she felt discrimination in school because of her relationship. Can we afford to lose good teachers? No, but teachers quitting was a foreseeable consequence of this law. Kids can read anything they want about AR-15s, play violent video games about shooting people in the face, but if they hear that their teacher is married to someone of the same sex, or have access to books about two mothers or two dads, all hell breaks loose. What’s happening to our country?

Tim Ryan, member, Broward County Commission. Hurricane season is officially upon us, and experts predict above-average activity for the third straight year. At least one expert gives Florida a 75% chance of being hit by a hurricane, the highest percentage in the nation. For native Floridians, or if you have just been here awhile, this annual rite of passage can feel like much ado about nothing. But don’t let Broward’s recent good fortune lull you into complacency. Make your preparations now. Take advantage of the sales tax holiday through June 10 for disaster preparedness supplies. For a list of eligible items visit floridarevenue.com/disasterprep.

Bob Swindell, president, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. “Upwards, To the Skies” for Broward County. El Al, Israel’s national airline, announced it will relocate its U.S. headquarters, currently located in New York City, to the city of Margate and it will become its headquarters for the Americas. Broward Mayor Michael Udine assisted the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance in meeting with the company and discussing some of the advantages of locating their operations in our community, with our sizeable Jewish population and strong cultural ties to Israel. The Alliance was honored to work with El Al and looks forward to the success of another internationally respected company in Greater Fort Lauderdale.