South Florida 1

Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you.

The top stories last week Anthony Abbate, Florida Atlantic University, Associate Provost, Broward

Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, providing the opportunity to reflect on what real progress we’ve made to alleviate poverty and eliminate violence and injustice in our society. We are the third wealthiest nation, yet poverty — and extreme poverty — persists and we hold the distinction of having the highest child poverty rate (25 percent) in the developed world. Violent crime and reported hate crimes have increased in recent years breaking a 25 year downward trend. To truly honor MLK’s legacy we need to work on solutions to these problems that continue to plague our society.

Anna Fusco, president, Broward Teachers Union

Most Broward students returned from spring break as normal last Monday. However, for Marjory Stoneman Douglas students, who have faced a “new normal” every day since Feb. 14, there was yet another change. Douglas students (and only Douglas students) were issued clear backpacks in the name of heightened security. Their incensed reaction has been well documented. As victims of this tragedy they feel their privacy is being violated while the greater issue is ignored. Their criticism is merited. Clear backpacks at one school will not keep all of the district’s students safe. We need a comprehensive plan to make all schools safer.

Beam Furr, Broward County mayor

Teachers throughout Oklahoma and Kentucky walked out to protest poor funding for public education. This hits close to home for teachers in Florida, which has been cited by Huffington Post as “the most hostile state to public education in America.” During session, Gov. Rick Scott signed a budget that shifts millions of dollars away from school resources, as well as a bill that dramatically weakens teacher unions. This latest budget includes only 47 cents in additional funding per student! Public education has been gutted in Florida over the past decade. Our students and teachers deserve better than broken textbooks and canceled programs.

Irela Bague, president, Bague Group

The Environmental Protection Agency’s reversal of fuel efficiency standards on vehicles this week makes no sense and is an attack on human health and our natural environment. Vehicles remain one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Eliminating these standards poses a serious threat to the health of Americans particularly children, older adults and people with lung disease. The American Lung Association’s new poll shows that nearly 7 in 10 voters support keeping current fuel efficiency standards in place as well as the enforcement of stricter limits on air pollution at 61 percent.

Andrew Duffell, president, Research Park at Florida Atlantic University

The three South Florida counties — Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade — have all the attributes for entrepreneurs to successfully grow their companies and yet the perception that an entrepreneur or engineer needs to go to Silicon Valley to make it big persists. Regional success Modernizing Medicine’s CEO Dan Cane, himself a product of the Palm Beach County school system, reminded the Broward Workshop that we — South Florida — need to do a better job of connecting with rising graduates and would-be entrepreneurs to show them tech and entrepreneurship have a rich heritage here, and you can make it big in South Florida.

Earl Maucker, commissioner, Lighthouse Point; former editor, Sun Sentinel

Media giant and politically conservative Sinclair Broadcast Group ordered anchors at its 173 stations to read a corporate-written script that should send chills down anyone who believes in a free and independent press. The topic: Condemning media outlets other than their own for irresponsible journalism and fake news. The so-called promotion sounded like something out of a government-run media propaganda machine one might expect to see in a dictatorship not a democracy. The president’s endorsement of Sinclair’s methods speaks volumes about his lack of understanding of legitimate journalism. These are difficult times for honest, hard-working journalists.

Clarence V. McKee, president, McKee Communications

It’s amazing how many are upset that a question on citizenship will be included in the 2020 census form. They argue that such a question will lead to an undercount of minority and immigrant communities and that it will misrepresent the U.S. population. As a black American, I say “Yes” to whether such a question should be included. Blacks’ ancestors were brutalized and paid in blood; and, the nation fought a Civil War over their right to citizenship, which was not gained until the adoption of the 13th Amendment ending slavery and the 14th Amendment which guaranteed that right.

Ian S. Seitel, attorney, Ian Seitel P. A.

Gov. Scott appealed a federal ruling that Florida’s system of barring ex-felons is unconstitutional. As it is, convicted felons are automatically denied the right to vote and must wait a minimum of 5 years after completion of all aspects of their sentence. They can then appeal to the clemency board controlled by the governor. The system doesn’t work, there are no rational guidelines and there is a backlog of 10,000 cases. The Court ruled that Scott has “unfettered discretion” to deny clemency. Florida is one of only three states where ex-felons permanently lose their voting rights. It’s another example of voter suppression that must be remedied.