LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Anthony J. Abbate, architect. Fort Lauderdale’s tunnel vs. bridge debate is heating up as claims are made that “bridges divide communities,” unabashedly inventing a narrative that appropriates the racist history of taking land and displacing thousands of Black Americans to construct interstate highways. The fact is, a tunnel requires more land acquisition than a bridge, not less. The Brightline station in Miami is raised high above an active and vibrant street level connecting downtown to the amenities of Overtown. Behind this massive ask for billions from the taxpayer, consider that this controversy all boils down to impacts claimed by the luxury yacht industry.

Robin Bartleman, member, Florida House of Representatives. Florida’s affordable housing crisis is a nonpartisan issue. My office continuously receives calls from residents struggling with rising insurance rates and swelling housing costs. In my district, my daughter, a first-year teacher, and other entry-level professionals like rookie fire fighters and police officers, struggle to afford rental units and, instead, live with their parents. Many Floridians re-signing their rental lease will face substantial increases and price gouging. I urge the Legislature on both sides of the aisle and the governor to preserve the Sadowski Trust Fund and find real solutions to Florida’s housing crisis.

Gary Farmer,

member, Florida Senate.

Next week, the Legislature will continue to consider Florida’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Among the current proposals is a $200 million cut from the budgets of school districts that enacted protocols to protect students during the height of the pandemic, including Broward and Miami-Dade schools. This “disobedience tax” called for by Ron DeSantis is nothing more than a partisan ploy that will have bipartisan devastating effects on the education of our children. As some of us fight to prevent this blatantly political assault on our schools, I urge you to tell your legislators to oppose this abysmal proposal.

Peter Moore, president, Chen Moore and Associates. In light of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict, a new European Union energy strategy is expected to be unveiled March 2. It calls for a 40% reduction in fossil fuel use by 2030, coincidentally the approximate amount that the EU receives from Russia, and requires European energy companies to fill their storage tanks with natural gas this summer so that the continent is less dependent on Russian gas next winter. A focus on renewable energy is a large part of that strategy and reminds us here, far from the conflict, of the importance of energy independence.

Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Broward . The Urban League of Broward and Hispanic Unity recently released reports exploring the inequities people of color face in Broward. The new reports reveal that the pandemic is worsening the gaps for people of color to access health care, education and employment. The State of Black Broward Report and the State of Hispanic & Immigrant Broward Report can be found online at www.ulbroward.org. I encourage everyone to use these reports to learn more about these challenges so we can work together to make this a community where everyone has a better opportunity to succeed.

Pam Tahan, CEO, Wellington Regional Medical Center. February is Black History Month, and in the field of medicine, James McCune Smith’s pioneering contributions are vital. Dr. Smith was the first African American to hold a medical degree in the United States, however, because of racial inequality, he had to earn his medical degree from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Upon his return in 1837, he became one of the first African Americans to publish articles in U.S. medical journals and worked tirelessly to end slavery. After a thriving career and medical practice, he died in 1865, just a few weeks after the 13th amendment abolishing slavery was passed — realizing his lifelong goal and placing him amongst the nation’s civil rights trailblazers.

Robert Weinroth, mayor, Palm Beach County. Sea turtle nesting season begins March 1. Palm Beach County beaches are home to more sea turtle nests per mile than anywhere else in the United States. Sadly, only one in every 1,000 hatchlings survives, with fatalities higher on popular beaches where the chance of nest disruption is higher. Consequently, it is imperative to keep our shores clear of trash and potential hindrances. We urge all beachgoers to remove recreational beach equipment, fill in holes, clean up your trash, dismantle sandcastles and turn off artificial lights to assist the thousands of hatchlings attempting to make their way to the water.

Thomas Wenski, archbishop, Archdiocese of Miami. Countering anti-immigrant rhetoric, which has grown in recent years, demonstrates the Church’s commitment to a consistent life ethic and a witness to the God-given dignity of every human person. A consistent life ethic certainly defends human life in the womb, but it also embraces the dignity of all, including the migrant, regardless of his/her legal status. It is unfortunate that not a few Catholics harbor anti-immigrant sentiment; this betrays a lack of familiarity with the Church’s work and teachings on migration-related issues, as well as the historical challenges faced by Catholic immigrants.