Looking ahead to this week

Michael Dennis, M.D., chairman, Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine

Another two million Americans have recently lost their medical coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s confusing structure. Why can’t Congress provide a better health care plan by retaining its good features and improve everyone’s access? Include women, Democrats, and public representatives in the discussion. Free O ba mac are compliant insurers to sell lower-cost coverage for healthy consumers. Find ways to continue Medicaid expansion by supporting states and help the underprivileged. Allow dollars to be deposited into tax-deferred Health Savings Accounts to purchase needed therapies. Repeal laws that prevent people from buying policies across state lines. And require Congress to use the same system.

Walter G. “Skip” Campbell, Jr., mayor, Coral Springs; former member, Florida Senate

While the Russian involvement with the Trump administration seems to be getting all the news, I see that one of the administration’s top priorities seems to be getting some momentum. That is the famous Mexican wall. Republicans are now pressing to fund its construction. Mexico, though, is not going to pay for it. Rather House Republicans say that they will take money from food assistance for low income Americans. They want the people who are at the bottom of the ladder and their children to pay for the border wall. How more mean spirited is government going to get?

Gary Farmer, member, Florida Senate

It seems that every day we hear about a new tragedy occurring because of our insufficient firearm regulations. This year alone we have seen nine children killed and 43 others injured in gun related incidents in Florida. The sad reality is that many of these incidents are entirely preventable. Our laws do not take strong enough steps to mandate the safe storage of firearms around children. We need to take the required steps to prevent kids from accessing guns. This coming session I will be resubmitting my safe firearms storage bill, in hopes of keeping our children safe.

Mike Ryan, mayor, Sunrise

Volvo announced it will phase out combustion engine only vehicles. Research is confirming that wind and solar energy is cheaper (and cleaner) to produce than energy from coal; of course, many factors go into that analysis. What are we doing in Florida to generate the economic boom from latest clean energy initiatives like solar farms, stronger residential opportunities for solar, micro-grids, advanced solar sharing technology and wind farm energy? We seem to have an abundance of sun and wind and should be leading the nation, not lagging it. Think of the resulting jobs from technological innovation and production.

Claudette Bruck, realtor; former commissioner, Coral Springs

Housing affordability remains a concern around the state. Those waiting for prices to come down should be reminded that interest rates are creeping up. Housing market health indicators including unemployment and delinquency rates do not indicate that we are likely to see a decline in home prices in the near future. The biggest concern is affordability since income is not rising with property values. The good news is that fewer homeowners are upside down with mortgage balances greater that their property value due to rising values.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archdiocese of Miami

July 25th marks the 49th anniversary of Paul VI’s controversial encyclical, Humanae Vitae. The pope was prescient in warning of the consequences of a “contraceptive mentality.” The “pill” far from freeing women from male domination made them more likely to be victims of sexual exploitation by men. The break-up of families and the epidemic of divorce in our culture, the increasingly high incidence of women bearing children out of wedlock, the flight from adult responsibility and the extended “adolescence” of men, all point to — in hindsight — the rightness of Paul VI’s and the Church’s teaching on human sexuality.

Barbara M. Sharief, mayor, Broward County

Broward County’s Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division has been awarded $194,000 from the Florida Division of Emergency Management as part of the Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program to strengthen homes in the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD). This program provides assistance for repairs to storm proof windows, doors, and roofs of homes that are vulnerable to damage from severe weather including hurricanes. Funding will be secured in a nointerest 60-month mortgage, requiring no repayment if program requirements are met. Owner occupancy for five years is required. For more information dial 311 or go to broward.org/municipalservicesdistrict

Dan Daley, vice mayor, Coral Springs; president, Broward League of Cities

Four years ago, Broward County residents recycled nearly 60 percent of the garbage they created. Today that number stands at only 48 percent. This decline is not only the reverse of what city and county leaders had hoped for, but will inevitably mean that more garbage winds up in the landfill or is incinerated rather than being sustainably disposed. Our cities are aware of the benefits of recycling and are working to engage residents to build a more environmentally sustainable community and economy. For the betterment of our environment and our future, we must do better.