LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Lamar Fisher, member, Broward County

Commission. Broward County’s Chief Resilience Officer, Jennifer Jurado, provided an update regarding the county’s development of a countywide resilience dashboard. The new resilience dashboard is set to be finalized and promoted in March 2021, and I am eager to get this platform before the public! The dashboard is designed to provide a collective representation of climate adaptation and mitigating efforts, with a showcase and summary of county and municipal initiatives, from inland to the coast. I am excited to see this finally coming to fruition as we continue to show our resilience efforts countywide!

Beam Furr, member, Broward County Commis

sion. What does adaptation to climate change look like? Broward County is already taking positive steps to answer that question. Broward will be implementing new requirements for minimum floor elevation for buildings and structures moving forward. These floor elevations are based on the 100-year flood maps and projections of what floor elevations will be habitable in the decades to come. This is an example of using scientific data to point us in the right direction. We can expect more of these types of adaptations over the years as we continue to grapple with the reality of climate change and sea-level rise.

Marlon A. Hill, of counsel, Weiss Serota

Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. In less than 30 days, there will be a number of local municipal elections throughout South Florida. Though most of us may be recovering from the election cycle of 2020, it is critical that we lend some attention to the impact of local elections on our daily lives. Disappointingly, these local elections result in low voter turnout percentages. This must change. With early voting and vote-by-mail participation options, voters have less excuses to bypass inserting their voices on the ballot. This is a clarion reminder to conduct your research, contact the candidates with questions, and rally your family and neighbors to exercise their right to vote.

Christine Hunschofsky, member, Florida

House of Representatives. Feb. 14, the day of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, will always be a day that profoundly impacts our community. As we move forward, we acknowledge the tremendous loss, pain and trauma that still affects so many in our community. We will always remember the 17 whose lives were taken that day — Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup and Peter Wang. Our hearts go out to their families and friends.

Chip LaMarca, member, Florida House of

Representatives. As a former city and county commissioner, I understand the need for home rule on certain issues. Sometimes, state preemption makes sense. Such was the case for ridesharing and having a statewide solution for companies like Uber and Lyft, instead of different rules between local governments. However, when it comes to vacation rentals, my stance has always been clear — home rule. If a city wants to allow vacation rentals, they should. If a city wants to reasonably regulate vacation rentals, they should. I will continue to fight on behalf of our neighbor

hoods for local control on this important issue.

Tina Polsky, member, Florida Senate. The 2020 elections proved that voting by mail is a safe and secure option for those with health concerns, lack of transportation, etc. So why are we trying to complicate a method that was used by 4,855,677 Floridians? Next week, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections will hear Senate Bill 90, which would require voters to reapply for a vote-by-mail ballot every year, rather than allow the current time frame of every two years. Seeing that Democrats voted by mail in greater numbers than Republicans, this bill is merely an unnecessary ploy to suppress voters.

Daphnee Sainvil, government and external

affairs manager, Fort Lauderdale. Economic recovery is on everyone’s mind. We want to look ahead and reassure residents, visitors and businesses that the city is ready to reopen safely. Our Economic and Community Investment Division is ready to revitalize and reengage the community by ramping up its social media presence, revamping the website, and conducting various free webinars for our entrepreneurial and established business community. Be on the lookout for a new concept, which makes you an ambassador of business for Fort Lauderdale. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram @FtLaudBiz; email economicdevelopment@fortlauderdale.gov for more information.

Pam Tahan, CEO, Wellington Regional Medi

cal Center. Here is my fear. Right now, at this very moment, members of our community are ignoring the signs and symptoms of heart disease or stroke for fear of going to a hospital and being exposed to COVID. Modern medicine can perform what seems like miracles to save a person’s life in a medical emergency, but only if the individual seeks care. Hospitals across the country have taken steps to protect patients by isolating COVID patients in the ER to other parts of the hospital to minimize exposure to non-COVID patients. February is the perfect time to make a commitment to your heart — after all, Valentine’s Day is here and February is National Heart Month.