TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

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

sentatives. President Biden’s executive actions on gun violence will save lives. But they cannot replace congressional action. This week, I introduced legislation to ban high-capacity magazines. Law-abiding gun owners, whether they own for sport or self-defense, have no need for magazines that can hold 100 rounds or 50 rounds. Rather, these magazines are used by gunmen in mass shootings because they maximize human casualties. Smaller magazines would create crucial moments for people to run and save lives. With gun violence tragedies sadly returning to the headlines, we cannot waste any more time.

Eric Eikenberg, CEO, Everglades Founda

tion. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is looking at better ways to manage Lake Okeechobee for the first time in 13 years. Hard to believe, they have never prioritized the needs of the Everglades or public drinking water needs of South Florida when managing the lake. The South Florida Water Management District is seeking a more equitable management of the lake for all stakeholders, including dry season allocations for the environment and public water supply for Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. They deserve congratulations, and the Corps should listen.

Marlon A. Hill, of counsel, Weiss Serota

Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. This past week, the La Sourfriere volcano erupted on the Eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent sending volcanic ash and pyrotechnic flows over the northern end of the island. After a 42-year lull, the volcanic event has displaced thousands of residents on the island to safe shelters nearer to the capital of Kingstown and damaged real property and agricultural assets. With a sizable diaspora community in South Florida, Vincentian-Americans are calling on their friends to support a developing coordinated relief effort to deliver priority relief supplies, especially bottled water and sleeping supplies. To make a tax-deductible donation, donate supplies, volunteer or support the mobilization effort, please visit http://www.sflcaribbeanstrong.org.

Chip LaMarca, member, Florida House of

Representatives. Broward County has funds available through the CARES Act to help Broward County residents who were financially impacted by COVID-19. There are two programs currently available and the third program is opening soon. The Community Development Block Grant helps those needing assistance in rent, electric, gas and utility payments. The Emergency Solutions Grant helps residents with rental assistance. The new COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program Application opens soon. This allows local governments to allocate emergency funding to residents who are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To apply, please visit broward.org/cares/Pages/ RentAssistance.

Tim Ryan, member, Broward County

Commission. In just the last three weeks, New Mexico, Virginia and New York have legalized recreational marijuana. With one-third of Americans now living in the 17 states (and the District of Columbia) where recreational pot is legal, it’s clear that a significant part of the country has decided the financial and human costs of locking people up over marijuana are too high, that adults should have the freedom to partake if they wish, and that legalization’s financial benefits are too great to pass up. It’s time Florida did the same, and if our elected officials don’t act, the voters surely will.

Tom Shea, chairman & founder, Right

Management. One of the rare positive impacts of the pandemic is that South Florida has become one the top regions for venture capital investments. Transactions include multiple “mega-rounds” — meaning $100 million or more in fundraising rounds. Most recently, Fort Lauderdale-based Citrix acquired digital workplace management provider Wrike in an all-cash, $2.5 billion purchase. The acquisition was the fourth-largest deal globally in the first quarter of 2021. Global venture investments reached $125 billion in the same period, a 94% increase year-over-year. We will hopefully see a continued increase locally in entrepreneurial ventures and job creation as the pandemic subsides.

Andy Thomson, member, Boca Raton City

Council. This past week, Boca Raton witnessed a tragic accident in which a young boy and a federal judge walking on A1A were separately hit by a seemingly impaired driver who kept driving. The federal judge, based in New York, later died. Although this tragedy was not the result of an engineering or design shortcoming, it dramatized once again the vulnerability of pedestrians. That’s why I have been championing, and will continue to champion, the implementation of Complete Streets — roads that are safe and convenient not just for drivers but for all our residents, including pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, wheelchair users — everybody.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, member, U.S.

House of Representatives. Keeping all Americans safe in this pandemic means knocking down vaccination roadblocks for our most vulnerable Florida residents, including the undocumented. That’s why I joined my colleagues in asking top federal and state officials to address rules around stringent ID requirements in Florida that prevent migrant populations from accessing vaccines. To beat this virus, and fully revive our economy, all Floridians should be inoculated. As vaccine access opens up to all adults nationally, vaccine tourism should wane, and this at-risk migrant population should not face increased COVD-19 risks due to an inability to get inoculated. Let’s keep all Floridians safe.