Looking ahead to this week

Eleanor Sobel, former member, Florida Senate

Brenda Snipes’ resignation should have been respected. Unfortunately and erroneously, she has become a political scapegoat. Many of the problems within her office - the dislocation of 2,000 ballots — were blown out of proportion. The ballots were found. The Canova incident was for political reasons -- a digital backup of the votes was always available. No criminal intent here. The arrival of tens of thousands of lumped “vote by mail ballots” from the Hialeah post office should be corrected. Counting could be done more expeditiously and efficiently and delays avoided by bringing back the closed Oakland Park post office.

Barbara Sharief, member, Broward County Commission

Hunger affects people from all walks of life, including children and seniors. A growing number of residents in our community count on local food pantries year-round to help feed their families. The holidays are a perfect time to join Broward’s 365 Food Drive campaign. There are food collection boxes at all Broward County libraries, courthouses and governmental centers. To help fill the food collection boxes, we encourage you to check your weekly sale flyers from your favorite grocery store and partake in the BOGOs (Buy-1-Get-1-Free) promotions. All donated items must be non-perishable and no glass containers. More info: 954 357-6990

Frank Ortis, mayor, Pembroke Pines

The air space around us may change soon if a bill just introduced for our 2019 legislative session passes. It would expand the use of drones, or unmanned aircraft. The bill would allow drones to be used for crowd control, traffic management and for law enforcement to collect evidence at crime scenes and traffic crashes. Knowing human nature, I’m wondering how these drones will survive angry protesters during a crowd control situation. Now, a judge can issue a drone warrant only if there is a high risk of a terrorist attack. This will be interesting to watch and accept.

Thomas Wenski, archbishop, Archdiocese of Miami

Today the crèche, or nativity scene, has been widely banished from public display –whether in our cities’ parks or even on the private property of our shopping malls. Nevertheless, in thousands of churches, from great basilicas to humble rural chapels, a crèche enhances the usual liturgical décor. Even many of our Protestant brethren, who normally tend to be iconoclastic, proudly have in their places of worship a crèche which originated with a Catholic saint, Francis of Assisi. It is a sign of hope for the whole human family; a sign of peace for those suffering from conflicts of every kind.

Tim Ryan, member, Broward County Commission

Broward County has designated December as AIDS awareness month. Our county is one of the places hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic, ranking second in the nation in new HIV cases per capita. More than 20,000 of our friends and neighbors are currently living with HIV. Please use this month to get educated about HIV/AIDS, get tested, and promote awareness in our community of ways to prevent transmission. Bringing awareness to this health crisis is an important step toward curbing new infections.

Dean Trantalis, mayor, Fort Lauderdale

Get ready for “The Greatest Show on H20!” Join us on Saturday, Dec. 15, along the New River and Intracoastal Waterway for the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade featuring ‘80s rock icon Huey Lewis as this year’s Grand Marshal. As Fort Lauderdale’s signature holiday event, the Winterfest Boat Parade features spectacular illumination, colorful pageantry, and magnificently decorated vessels. It attracts huge crowds, puts our city in the international spotlight, and generates millions for our local economy. Don’t miss this magical celebration that truly symbolizes the spirit and tradition of the holiday season. For details, visit www.winterfestparade.com.

Marlon A. Hill, partner, Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel

On Jan. 8, 2019, subsequent to the passing of Amendment No. 4, over 1.5 million Floridians will return to our civic fray in having a voice at the ballot box. This seminal moment in our state's history should not be taken lightly. We all benefit from all citizens giving their full selves in contributing to our direction and growth. It is incumbent on Gov.-Elect DeSantis, our next secretary of state, and the incoming Legislature to articulate fair and efficient standards to all Supervisors of Elections on how to welcome these new voters without any unnecessary legal and administrative obstacles. We will be watching this process closely.

Michael Udine, member, Broward County Commission

Distracted driving, which is especially heightened during the holidays, presents a serious threat to everyone. Legislators are working towards solutions that ticket individuals, but some feel it is not enough to reduce accidents. Technology is being created by app developers with the sole purpose of curbing distracted driving. Several new apps show drivers a “report card” of their driving and incentivize with rewards such as free coffee, gift cards, and insurance discounts. For those who simply cannot put the phone down, adding technology into the mix will hopefully be part of a collaborative solution to this very real problem.