Looking ahead to this week

Mitch Ceasar, former chairman, Broward Democratic Party

Agricultural commissioner and candidate for governor Adam Putnam calls himself “a proud NRA sellout.” Finally truth in advertising. His agency failed to screen 350,000 applicants for a gun permit. Almost 300 had to be revoked, as they failed to meet statutory requirements. In the wake of the Stoneman Douglas shooting, we do not need an elected official who cannot follow the law. I wonder if the disqualification was due to a mental incapacity or worse. Putnam said the media has overblown the issue. There are few enough stringent gun laws and apparently fewer being enforced.

Beam Furr, mayor, Broward County

Hurricane season is here, and Broward County has reached new agreements with the School Board and the municipalities to help with staffing all our shelters. We welcome our new partners, as we are all committed to making sure our shelters are ready for those in need and better prepared than ever. This is especially important due to growing shelter demand and more shelters possibly being activated than ever before. This new partnership will go a long way to making sure the shelters will be well-run and have a knowledgeable and dedicated staff ready to help in case a storm strikes.

Bradette Jepsen, president, League of Women Voters of Broward County

As the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students and their supporters take their message on the road, the League of Women Voters of Broward County continues the fight for gun safety at home. On June 23, 10 a.m. at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach, the League will present a Gun Safety Legislative Forum. Panelists, including Congressman Ted Deutch, State Senator Gary Farmer, State Representative Shevrin Jones, Weston mayor Daniel Stermer, BSO attorney Brooke Latta, and Gail Schwartz, aunt of MSD victim Alex Schachter, will discuss legal actions designed to reduce America’s yearly 38,000 gun deaths. Contact barbaramarkley@bellsouth.net.

Peter Moore, president, Chen Moore and Associates

Next week will be the start of summer, so we need to get ready for the rainy season, right? Already this year, May was recorded as the hottest and wettest month in the 134 years that records have been kept by the National Weather Service. The South Florida Water Management District is showing the year-to-date rainfall amounts are between 120 percent and 200 percent of normal in Broward and Palm Beach County. The rainfall maps that engineers use to design with are from the 1960s — don’t you think it is time to update those charts?

George Moraitis, chairman, Broward Republican Executive Committee

During the 2018 Legislative Session, the Legislature’s omnibus education bill, HB 7055, was passed and signed into law. A key provision of this bill was language originally from HB 839, the Display of the State Motto in Public Schools, which requires each Florida school and each school district building to prominently display the state’s motto “In God We Trust.” Our students will now walk into school each day with a visible reminder of our nation’s early commitment to our Judeo-Christian values that have allowed America to prosper unlike any country in history.

Anna Fusco, president, Broward Teachers Union

Gov. Rick Scott and his appointed managing trustees of the Florida Retirement System pension plan that covers all state, local, school district and public university employees, held an Investment Advisory Council meeting Monday and failed once again to do enough to address the risks involved in investing teacher retirement fund contributions in three firearms manufacturing companies, including the manufacturer of the AR-15 rifle used in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. The governor and trustees need to insist that these companies will address safety concerns and analyze the risk of continuing to invest pension funds if they fail to do so.

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

Fort Lauderdale appears to be exploding. Las Olas Boulevard has witnessed the opening of new bars, restaurants, condos and rental buildings. Venture out on a Friday or Saturday evening and the street is a hotbed of activity. Parking spaces are more valuable and elusive than a quality Dolphins quarterback. Hotels on Federal Highway seem to be rising into the sky overnight, a testament to the city taking its place as a world wide destination. While this is very exciting, our residents continue to have legitimate concerns about congestion, traffic and the increasing burden on our city’s infrastructure.

Steven Ronik, CEO, Henderson Behavioral Health

Kate Spade was revered for her design flair and entrepreneurism. Anthony Bourdain seemed to have it all; women loved him and men wanted to be him. But somehow, they suffered in silence. So much so, that they viewed suicide as the way to relieve their pain. We should never judge those who do this — depression and anxiety are health conditions, that left untreated can overwhelm — and that’s likely what happened here. Some are reluctant to ask friends about suicidal thoughts — thinking it could precipitate suicidal behavior. But in fact, if you are concerned about someone, go ahead and ask — it could save a life.