THE TOP 10 STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

Mitchell W. Berger, founder and co-chair, Berger Singerman

Red tide, king tide. Nature is reminding us who is in charge. We can respect nature, consume resources in a renewable fashion or have nature remind us we can be replaced. In the meantime we must build the infrastructure north and south of Lake Okeechobee and along our coasts to prevent the salt water intrusion and pollution issues from damaging our lives and property while new technologies are implemented to prevent further environmental damage.

Anthony Abbate, associate provost, Florida Atlantic University, Broward

Apart from the hubbub surrounding the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh, the EPA announced plans to dissolve the office of the Science Advisor - further eroding the role of science in formulating public policy affecting he health and welfare of our citizens and the environment we live in. The science advisor ensures that the highest quality scientific findings are put forward and integrated into public policies and agency decisions. The Environmental Protection Agency is the legacy of President Richard Nixon, who proposed it in 1970, after public outcry over the degradation of our air, water, and natural resources.

Lori Berman, Florida state senator

Until this week, our area largely avoided the environmental disasters caused by bluegreen algae and red tide. While red tide is naturally occurring, it thrives in nutrient rich waters caused by coastal pollution and other human activities. Several environmental regulations were relaxed or repealed when Governor Scott took office. The era of “Red Tide Rick” began a long time ago – and this is not the first time we are seeing its catastrophic results. With Florida’s stunning coastline, our tourism industry is dependent on clean beaches. The algae is severely threatening both our economy and environment. This is simply unacceptable.

Andrew Duffell, president, Research Park at Florida Atlantic University

Amazon’s announcement that it will raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour is welcome news for earners at the lower end of the pay scale, but the larger concern for the overall economy is the lack of wage growth for those workers who juggle multiple parttime jobs doing mostly service, low-skill tasks. Hourly rates need to rise, and workers need access to training to improve their skills. Until hourly rates for the working poor increase noticeably, we will continue to be faced with growing inequality and the risk of societal rupture. Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, president, Miami Dade College

Spring semester registration at MDC and our state colleges is underway. It’s a great time to register early and get the exact courses and schedule you need to graduate on time. With more than 300 major pathways, there are programs for everyone. Classes are filling quickly. The spring semester starts in January. This weekend I also had the honor of being inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the oldest societies in the U.S. I was humbled to enter with many luminaries including President Obama, Tom Hanks and Justice Sotomayor. It was truly a career highlight for me.

Thomas Wenski, archbishop, Archdiocese

of Miami

Our legal system recognizes the rights of the individual to seek redress for grievances while at the same time affirming the presumption of innocence. When oppositional research designed to uncover dirt about an opponent is seen as a legitimate tactic in the “contact sport” that is today’s politics our system of justice is weakened. In Congress today, debate and argument are replaced with shrill polemics that generate little light but much heat. When a democracy considers every ethical principle or value to be negotiable (including every human being’s fundamental right to life), it is already, on its way to totalitarianism.

Eleanor Sobel, former member, Florida

Senate

Would you expect to find in Davie, Florida (formerly the home of the KKK), a park dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi with a statue of the “bapu” the father of India? What a delight to hear from Raj Mohan Gandhi tell stories of his grandfather. Now with its progressive leadership, Davie has embraced a man who has achieved sainthood-like status for his contributions to non-violence. Many movements in America that have made our democracy stronger have at its’ core the fundamental principle of non-violence espoused by Gandhi- MLK and the civil rights movement, #Me Too, and Stoneman Douglas gun reform.

Frank Ortis, mayor, Pembroke Pines

At a recent U.S. Conference of Mayors’ fall leadership meeting, we pledged to ensure that local internet sales taxes collected by states are sent to local cities. You’d think this would be automatic, however, monies could just sit in state coffers. The Supreme Court ruling on Wayfair, Inc. v. South Dakota earlier this year changed things. Now we need to make certain that cities get their fair share of this tax money. It may take a state analysis and a specific strategy, but a favorable outcome will be worth it since it’s the city where the initial tax took place.