Looking ahead to this week

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

The 2018 Legislative Session begins on Tuesday. Broward’s municipalities and the Broward League of Cities will have laser focus on protecting and defending home rule, the constitutional right enabling our cities to develop unique and innovative solutions to problems affecting them individually. Local elected officials are best positioned to understand the challenges and needs of our residents. We’re the “boots on the ground” governments that hear from our residents daily. One-size-fits-all legislative solutions will not fix or help our neighborhoods meet their challenges and opportunities. We must stand up for the right of our communities to determine their own destinies.

Scott J. Israel, sheriff, Broward County

It’s about time Florida pumps the brakes on texting while driving. As just one of four states in the nation where this dangerous activity is not a primary offense, it’s little wonder why the state experienced a 10 percent jump in accidents due to distracted driving and a staggering 13 percent hike in fatalities from those crashes between 2015 and 2016. That could all change soon thanks to important and long-overdue legislation making its way through the Florida Legislature that bumps texting while driving to a primary offense and stiffens penalties associated with it, which will ultimately save lives.

Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, president, Children’s Services Council of Broward County

This week the Florida Legislature will reconvene for its 2018 session. Making higher education more accessible by expanding merit and need-based aid is among the most important issues it will consider. Senate President Joe Negron is to be commended for championing this initiative. Although the cost of higher education in Florida is among the lowest in the country, it is still a very expensive proposition for far too many students. Expanding education opportunities for our youth will ultimately result in a workforce that is better prepared for the challenges of the future and a state that will be better positioned to compete in the new economy.

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

Were you aware that the IRS cannot verify a fraudulent tax return unless two or more returns are submitted with the same Social Security number? That’s worrisome to say the least since someone can beat you to a refund by filing earlier than you. That’s why as we enter the tax preparation season the Federal Trade Commission recommends checking your credit report annually for unknown accounts, securing the internet connection if filing electronically, mailing the IRS directly from the post office, shredding all unneeded documents, responding to any IRS correspondence immediately, protecting your SSN, and vetting everyone preparing your returns.

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

There is broad consensus that our nation’s infrastructure is declining. Our bridges, highways, ports, and tunnels desperately need improvements to keep our country running and economy competitive. The White House must work with Republicans and Democrats in developing an infrastructure plan that addresses actual needs in local communities. Any infrastructure plan must consider the impact of climate change on our cities, the need for resiliency plans, and the exorbitant costs already burdening local governments. Especially here in South Florida, where we’re seeing the implications first-hand, any congressional effort to invest in infrastructure must consider the long-term costs of climate change.

Eleanor Sobel, former member, Florida Senate

HB 9 is a dangerous anti-immigration bill heading to the floor of the Florida House. This law eliminates sanctuary cities (within 90 days of enactment) and includes onerous penalties. Federal law will pre-empt all local laws with local governments using local resources without funding from state or federal governments. Minorities may become targets of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests by local law enforcement agencies and potentially violate civil rights of legitimate citizens with ensuing costly litigation. Local police agencies shouldn’t be required to master details of federal immigration laws. The more reasonable and moderate Senate should reject this costly and unconstitutional bill.

Stephanie Toothaker, attorney, Tripp Scott

Even as his elected status ends, Jack Latvala remains an intimidating political figure. While Latvala has resigned his Florida Senate seat and is no longer a viable gubernatorial candidate, he still controls almost $5 million in his political war chests. Friends are wondering if he will direct that money to help them, and foes are wondering if they may be the target of his ire next.

Chuck Shaw, chairman, Palm Beach County School Board

It appears the story coming forward will be the crisis in Iran. Nobody has an answer to the situation facing the people of this corrupt regime, and none of us trust our current leaders on both sides to solve the problem. I feel we need to look at all of our options and hope our leaders will stop playing politics on foreign affairs and sit down and plan a strategy that makes sense and protects us and the Iranian people. Opportunity has risen and we need to show action.