Looking ahead to this week

Robert Weinroth, council member, Boca Raton

Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham has put forward the idea of suing the pharmaceutical industry to recover the costs of treating people addicted to opioids. This is not an outlandish proposal given the growing evidence that the pharmaceutical companies who marketed these drugs downplayed their addictive nature. Graham has history on her side with the similarities between this and the landmark Florida case against the tobacco industry, settled 20 years ago. First responders, hospital emergency rooms, physicians and morgues are being overwhelmed by the results of this health care crisis. If proved, the complicity of the drug companies needs to be redressed.

Kathleen Cannon, president, United Way of Broward County

In true community partnership and the desire to help all people in Broward County, The Community Foundation, the Jewish Federation, and United Way joined forces several years ago and formed a collaborative disaster recovery and rebuilding coalition where we will jointly fundraise and pool one hundred percent of the resources raised to grant out to service providers in case of a major disaster. Donations can be made to any of the three agencies above or to BrowardCares.org. We are preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best and working in unison to provide the best for Broward.

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

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, millions of people will face enormous physical and emotional challenges. Many will be left without power or running water. Lives will be endangered, possessions lost and homes destroyed. Hopefully, anyone touched by the storm will be able to rely on the kindness of strangers to lessen the blow. Let’s each make sure our friends, families, neighbors, and folks who we just met are safe. If people need help, try to help them. Ultimately, our communities will be rebuilt by everyone working together. Hurricane Irma can bring out the best in all of us.

Linda B. Carter, president, Community Foundation of Broward

Being prepared for hurricanes means preparing for potential aftermath. That’s why an unprecedented partnership between The Community Foundation of Broward, Jewish Federation of Broward County and United Way of Broward County was forged called BrowardCares. Visit BrowardCares.org or any of our websites. If Broward has been hit hard, this collaboration allows us to work together to rebuild our community instead of diluting each other’s attempts to help. It’s a more efficient way to collect and distribute dollars for maximum benefit to the community. And finally, this provides a reliable (trusted) way for individuals to help in the recovery efforts.

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

After the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, our community united to help those whose lives have been turned upside down. Now with Hurricane Irma, South Floridians must be prepared to help our fellow neighbors recover and, if necessary, to rebuild. As reports come in of the destruction in Irma’s path, we fear that many in our region may face severe conditions and disastrous effects. I urge everyone to keep local emergency contacts and resources handy for any issues. Palm Beach and Broward counties resources can be found at Deutch.House.Gov/ Hurricane, including shelter locations and preparedness guides. Stay safe, South Florida.

Chip LaMarca, member, Broward County Commission

On Monday, the 16th anniversary of 9/11/01, we remember the innocent people who perished on that day, as well as our brave first responders. We lost 343 FDNY firefighters, 23 NYPD police officers and 37 Port Authority officers, as well as the many civilians that risked their lives to save the lives of their fellow Americans. While this day is ingrained in our memories for the tremendous loss of the nearly 3,000 innocent people going to work that day, we must also not forget the bravery of the men and women who run toward danger, while everyone else is running from it.

Ina Lee, president Travelhost Elite of Greater Fort Lauderdale

The announcement of the Trump administration to rescind the DACA program unless Congress acts within six months, is heartless and politically driven. Targeting these 800,000 young people for deportation, the majority of whom have jobs, pay taxes, and are an important part of our society, is immoral. What has happened to the conscience of our country? What has happened to these elected officials who have somehow forgotten what it is to truly be an American — the land of the free, the home of the brave, with liberty and justice for all?

Frank Ortis, mayor, Pembroke Pines

South Florida’s full attention is on Hurricane Irma. We prepare, we monitor, we pray and wait, and then she’ll show her face. I am extremely proud of our communities in how they worked together in preparing for this monster storm, and for all of our city workers who tirelessly prepared our city as they also prepared their homes. Words like “catastrophic,” “dangerous” and “mammoth” are being used to describe Irma which makes us all shudder. I don’t know what South Florida will look like after the storm, but I am confident we will be strong and face it all together.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archdiocese of Miami

The decision to rescind DACA was disappointing; but, given the lawsuit threatened by a number of state attorney generals, perhaps it represents a punt and not a turn over. In other words, had the judiciary decided against DACA (as it did with DAPA), the “dreamers” risked losing status immediately. As it stands, there is time for Congress to pass a path to permanent residency for DACA beneficiaries. Polls suggest that even 75 percent of Trump voters support such a resolution. There should be enough bi-partisan votes to enact the DREAM ACT and give back to these kids a future.