The top stories last week

Ian S. Seitel, attorney, Ian Seitel P. A. The Republican led U.S. Senate, awash in NRA cash, has blocked an Obama-era regulation that prevented an estimated 75,000 people with various mental disorders from being allowed to buy firearms. The regulation, which expanded background checks of those with mental impairments, came on the heels of the Sandy Hook massacre. President Trump, who likewise received huge contributions from the gun lobby, is expected to sign the measure that will put more guns in the hands of mentally disturbed persons. In November, Estaban Santiago told the FBI his mind was controlled by the CIA. Two months later he shot 11 people in the Fort Lauderdale airport. Perhaps the politicians pushing for more guns should have their mental health examined.

Clarence V. McKee, president, McKee Communications

We recently learned that in Broward County blacks sentenced for felony drug possession received sentences 65 percent longer than whites — 40 percent longer for burglary, 39 percent longer for battery, and 15 percent longer for robbery. Now a Sun Sentinel analysis shows that in 2015, Broward’s black students were suspended at about 3.4 times the rate of white students, up from about 2.3 times in 2010. The rate for white students went from over 10,200 in 2010 down to 3,870 in 2015. If the criminal justice and education systems are any example, Broward does not appear to be color blind.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archdiocese of Miami

Some in Florida’s government want the state to get out of the refugee resettlement business. Yet, do the 3,000 or so refugees in our state of 20 million present real threats? According to the Cato Institute, nationwide from 1975 to 2015 just 20 refugees have been involved in carrying out or planning terrorism in the U.S. — and no terrorist incident in Florida can be attributed to refugees. Globally in the last two years there were seven acts of terrorism attributed to refugees and 32 to refugees’ children. Refugees through international and State Department screening processes are already well vetted.

Irela Bagué, president, Bagué Group

The termination of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy for Cuban migrants has left thousands of Cubans stranded all over Central and South America. Those who are stuck in Mexico’s detention camps are being used to extort money from relatives in the U.S and at least three detainees disappeared with no trace. It does not look hopeful that the new administration in Washington will reinstate the policy so these people will likely never reach the U.S. — or worse they’ll be sent back to Cuba without the hope for the freedom they assumed they would have once they reached America.

Ted Deutch, member, U.S. House of Representatives

Michael Flynn’s resignation as national security adviser is just the latest disturbing revelation in the concerning relationship between the Trump administration and Russia. Reports now state that Trump associates were in regular contact with Russia during and after the election. How high in the Trump administration do these dangerous contacts with Russia go? How many more cases do we not yet know of? We need a full bipartisan independent investigation into Russian interference in the election and Russia’s close relationship with President Trump. Our national security decisions cannot be influenced by Russian interference.

Paul Castronovo, host, Paul Castronovo Show

There was a time when the Russians were our mortal enemies. My have times changed. Or have they? In 1966 there was actually a movie called, “The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming!” It was about a Soviet sub that runs aground off New England. It was a comedy. Now, here’s what happened this week: A Russian spy ship sits 30 miles off the coast of Connecticut, while an armed Russian warplane carried out a “mock attack” against a U.S. ship. Oh and allegedly, some of President Trump’s Cabinet members were in contact with the Russians for months. I don’t think it’s a comedy any more.

Pastor D.H. Dawkins Sr., Praise Tabernacle International

The alleged arresting of criminal illegal immigrants across the country has sparked a fear and greater disdain for what’s going on in our country. From what I understand, this round up of undocumented persons who have caused trouble in our nation was not initially Trump’s idea. This has been going on since before he took office. Yet again, the motives of those behind the story determined how it’s told. I don’t agree with everything going on, but i will not be made a puppet at the hands of mainstream communicators either.

Anna Fusco, president, Broward Teacher’s Union

When Betsy DeVos visited Jefferson Middle School Academy, protesters blocked the doors to prohibit her entrance — an action rich with irony since her lack of public school experience nearly doomed her appointment. While we desperately need her to fill that knowledge gap, visiting a school described as “one of the most outstanding middle schools in Washington” will not give her a true sense of issues affecting learning and teaching in all public schools. A more productive first step would be a chat with the presidents of the 10 largest teacher unions to learn first hand what challenges public schools face.

Sheldon Harr, founding rabbi emeritus, Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El

With the arrival this past week of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he greets our new administration, Congress and president, we are again reminded of the close, tight and unyielding bonds which bind American and Israel. As the only democratic freedom-loving nation in that challenging part of the world, and as America’s staunchest ally, we as Americans who support Israel can be certain that while Israel and the United States may differ in specific policies from time to time, that which they share is indestructible and in the best interests of both countries — ethically, morally, politically and militarily.

Bob Tucker, director, corporate affairs, ADT

Florida CFO Jeff Atwater resigned last week to become CFO at FAU in Boca Raton, marking yet another extraordinary achievement for FAU President John Kelly. In his three years at the helm, Dr. Kelly is fast transforming FAU into the country’s most improved university. And attracting Atwater is another major coup for the once laid-back campus that now has 30,000 students and a $6.3 billion economic impact in South Florida. Watch out UCF.

Keith Koenig, president, City Furniture

At the Broward School Board workshop on Tuesday, board members and the public got a thorough report out on the fine job our school system is doing from the independent accreditation review recently completed. Broward public schools are well above national averages in many evaluations, which may surprise some people. And the trend is solidly upward. Thanks to Bob Runcie and his team for their leadership. Board members got some candid reflections on ways to improve their governance and, to their credit, are discussing how to get better.

Justin Sayfie, publisher, SayfieReview.com

A new report underlines several remarkable trends that are fundamentally changing one of America’s enduring traditions: marriage. The report notes that the average age of first marriage in the United States is currently 27 for women and 29 for men. In 1990, it was 23 for women and 26 for men, and in 1960, 20 and 22. In fact, 72 percent of adults 18 and older were married in 1960. Today, that number is just 52 percent. These trends are expected to continue, which means that very soon less than 50 percent of American adults will be married. This will have a number of social, political and economic impacts on our society.