Looking ahead to this week

Dean Trantalis, mayor, Fort Lauderdale

On Tuesday, the City Commission will consider much needed regulations on sober homes, residences where people stay while recovering from substance abuse. Too many of our neighborhoods have been overwhelmed by these facilities. This has impacted all segments of Fort Lauderdale. The proposal that the commission will consider follows new guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice and a carefully crafted ordinance from Delray Beach. We want to require these homes to be certified and limit how many can be in one area. We need as a society to ensure people can overcome substance abuse, but at the same time, we must protect the quality of life and safety of our neighborhoods.

Howard Simon, executive director, ACLU of Florida

Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has called for repeal of the Second Amendment. This would be a distraction — without reducing gun violence and protecting schoolchildren. Rights have limits: The First Amendment prohibits laws abridging freedom of speech, but courts have not protected falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater or inciting to riot. The right to free speech and the right to bear arms can be limited — even though both are constitutionally safeguarded. States can regulate — even ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. These restrictions have not been overturned by the courts as Second Amendment violations.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archdiocese of Miami

The 1.3. trillion-dollar spending bill was a lost opportunity for Congress and the White House to provide a solution for DACA recipients. President Trump claims to champion a “happy” solution for the Dreamers as do many congressmen on both sides of the aisle. A deal was offered that along with granting a path to citizenship for 1.8 million Dreamers 25 billion would be allocated for the “wall." Immigration remains a wedge issue for both sides to exploit among their bases into the November 2018 elections. It seems that everybody concerned has lost the art of deal making.

Sandra Bernard-Bastien, chief communications officer, Children's Services Council of Broward County

I remain hopeful that the Justice Department will reverse its decision to include a question about citizenship on the 2020 census. That request could be interpreted as attempted intimidation of immigrants and would result in a huge drop in response rates and leave a lot of people uncounted. Census data, in part, determines where federal money is spent and how congressional districts are drawn. The census is intended to count the entire population, not just U.S. citizens. The citizenship question was dropped nearly 70 years ago, after the 1950 census. Why include it now?

Tim Ryan, member, Broward County Commission

The Trump administration’s decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census could hurt states with large immigrant populations — including Florida. It is crucial to have accurate census data because it’s used to allocate both congressional seats and federal funding. Federal law prohibits disclosure of individual census responses, even to other government agencies. But many immigrants — legal or not — likely will refuse to participate in the census because they’re afraid the information will be used to persecute them. The federal government should scrap the citizenship question to ensure everyone responds, and we have an accurate count of all Americans.

Gerry Litrento, senior executive vice president, BankUnited

The Federal Reserve recently increased the federal funds rate by a quarter-point and the U.S. Central Bank is forecasting at least two more rate hikes this year. April is financial literacy month and there has never been a better time to save, make a major purchase or pay off debt. Interest rates on savings accounts, certificates of deposit, credit cards, home equity loans and adjustable rate mortgages are likely to go up. The cost to buy a home, finance student loans through a financial institution, or expand your business will increase with each rate hike.

Tom Shea, president, Right Management

Miami-Dade County’s proposed plan to build workforce housing on or near school grounds to help recruit teachers is worth watching. High-rent markets from San Francisco to Boston are grappling with creating more affordable housing for teachers. For example, Fort Lauderdale apartment rents are already less affordable than in most large U.S. cities and up by nearly three percent in the last year. It’s a trend many Florida cities will need to address.

Maria Sachs, former member, Florida Senate

The 2018 campaigns have begun, and the conversations resonating in town halls and debates will center on the issues of public safety. The Republicans will take sides, cherry picking certain issues of gun control or siding completely with the NRA, hoping for their financial support. The Democrats will chose on the spectrum of either a complete recession of the Second Amendment or limiting the purchase of ammunition. The American people already know that beneath all the politics lies the real answer, the need for more mental health counselors in our schools and tolerance and love for those who suffer in our community.