LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Michael De Lucca, president, Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Inc. Over the past three decades, the rate of people dying from cancer in the U.S. continuously declined according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. The U.S. cancer death rate has fallen 33% since 1991. The decline in cancer deaths is due to improvements in cancer treatment, drops in smoking and increases in early detection. The report also included projections for 2023, estimating that there could be nearly 2 million new cancer cases — the equivalent of about 5,000 cases a day — and more than 600,000 cancer deaths in the United States this year. Let’s hope the decline continues.

Anna Fusco, president, Broward Teachers Union. A recent survey of voters and parents about the direction of education in 2023 strongly prioritized teaching of fundamentals over the politically driven fear-mongering and factionalism that some state houses and Congress have directed at education. While American history, race and gender issues may provide great campaign sound bites, the survey indicated all sides strongly want what educators want — a safe learning environment focused on essential knowledge and skills. Students need to learn how to think and not be told what they can and cannot think. Politicians need to focus on providing adequate funding to make that happen.

Tom Shea, chairman & founder, Right Management. The workforce and workplace are evolving faster than ever. We are currently in a readjustment phase. The workplace themes for 2023 will be pay transparency, mental health and upskilling. As organizations embrace diversity in the workplace, pay transparency is imminent. Providing a good-faith salary range will be beneficial for both parties. Mental health has been at the forefront of the workplace since the pandemic, but it will become increasingly important as economic uncertainty is still looming. Upskilling and soft skills will be crucial to drive employee growth and development.

Sheryl Woods, CEO, YMCA of South Florida. The New Year for students thinking about attending college brings with it stress and uncertainty. One of the barriers, in many cases, is financial. That’s why it’s so important for students and parents to take advantage of every opportunity. On Jan. 23, we’ll have more than 40 colleges at the YMCA of South Florida and Infinite Scholars Scholarship Fair, prepared to offer acceptances and scholarships to qualified students on the spot. Infinite Scholars has facilitated $2 million in scholarships and financial aid. If you know students who could use the help, please have them call 954-467-2444, ext. 1717.

Howard Simon, retired executive director, ACLU of Florida. The DeSantis remake of Florida doesn’t involve just the embrace of a far-right credo. There are now reports of parents of LGBT and transgender children leaving friends, families and jobs to relocate to places where they can raise their families, provide needed medical treatment and send their children to school without fear of being further marginalized, or worse. Interviews indicate that they are heading to states that have not normalized discriminatory policies and unleashed hateful attitudes and treatment. DeSantis’ mantra of “parents’ rights” clearly does not extend to all Florida parents. It is heartbreaking that we are creating political refugees.

Gregory Stuart, executive director, Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization. In the past month, we have witnessed the fragility of our country’s airlines and infrastructure. From a systems perspective, we should have redundancy to provide options for regional and national travel. In South Florida, we are fortunate to have both Tri-Rail and Brightline providing regional and intercity service using historic rail lines. Luckily, Broward County has funding to expand local access from these existing rail services to residents and businesses. The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization is already working with our partners to bring additional intercity rail back to our historic downtowns. Let’s hope that the success of the local rail we are building becomes part of a new interstate railroad network.

Michael Udine, member, Broward County Commission. When competition picks up, the consumer wins. Mercedes-Benz, along with other automakers, has announced plans to invest in electric car infrastructure and supercharger stations. The automaker announced plans to install 2,500 chargers at over 400 stations nationwide to support the rollout of future electric models. This is especially important since last year the company began production on electric vehicles and batteries in Alabama. The future of the automotive industry will rely on continued investment to provide infrastructure. This partnership between private and public sectors will make sure the vehicles of the future can take you anywhere!

Melissa McKinlay, vice president for government relations, WGI. As we get closer to the opening day of the 2023 Florida legislative session, one story those with an interest in Florida’s tourism giant, Walt Disney World, will be watching is the Mouse’s response to the proposed reshaping of Reedy Creek Improvement District. It will be interesting to see how it ultimately changes.