TO PST ORIES FROM LAST WEEK

Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you.

Andrew Duffell, president, Research Park at Florida Atlantic University. Florida’s governors have been known for several administrations as pro-business, eager to make the state as attractive as possible for exciting, innovative employers to consider locating in our low-tax, diverse, exciting state. Banning books and openly attacking one of state’s largest employers in its largest industry for speaking out has changed how business leaders and entrepreneurs evaluate Florida as a viable, stable business destination, despite the best efforts of economic development professionals, including incubators and research parks. We need thoughtful, long-term strategies to make Florida a hub of intellectual excellence and banning books is not a way to do it.

Beam Furr, member, Broward County Commission. A mountain of sand has arrived on our beaches for the Segment III Beach Restoration Project! This project will deliver 887,000 cubic yards of sand to replenish and renourish the beaches in Dania Beach, Hollywood Beach and Hallandale Beach. The Segment II phase of this project occurred along the northern beaches of Broward County. This will help build a protective barrier against extreme weather and sea-level rise while also restoring the beauty of our beaches. This project is a long time coming, and I am glad to see the sand being delivered so that work can begin!

Sarah Leonardi, member, Broward County School Board. We need and value your input! The School Board of Broward County is developing a student outcomes focused approach to governing to improve what students know and can do with the knowledge and skills Broward County Public Schools provides. A series of community meetings will inform the priorities and goals for the district’s strategic plan. The first is Monday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at Northeast High School in Oakland Park. The second is Thursday, April 28 at 6 p.m. at McArthur High School in Hollywood. Meetings are open to all Broward County residents.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, member, U.S. House of Representatives. Gov. Ron DeSantis stood with shaken local leaders nearly a year ago and said he would help ensure a Champlain Towers tragedy never occurred elsewhere in Florida. Unfortunately, no state laws have passed since then to address needed condo reforms. Yet when given another chance, DeSantis pushed state legislators to use their recent special legislative session to attack Disney for choosing to defend LGBTQ+ children and their families. After 98 people died in the Surfside building collapse, commitments were made to prevent it from ever happening again. State lawmakers need to enact reforms to protect millions of Florida condo residents.

Wayne Messam, mayor, Miramar. The recently passed congressional district map supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis is a blatant attack on two Black congressional districts that provide for representation in Washington. It appears the districts were drawn in a way to benefit Republicans and potentially will add seats in their favor. This unprecedented move needs to be overturned and challenged. Too many voting rights and fair districting battles have been fought and won to allow a single person to define what’s best for our state. We can do better.

Larry Rein, CEO and president, ChildNet.

The 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline being implemented this summer may exemplify a federal road paved with good intentions leading to a very undesirable place for the states that must drive on it. A single three-digit number for people in dire crisis to call and receive timely help is wonderful, if there are sufficient qualified staff receiving and responding to the calls. A Sun Sentinel story Monday, however, detailed the concerns of Florida experts who suggest that resources necessary to develop the needed staff and infrastructure did not accompany the federal mandate. The results, they fear, could prove disastrous.

Wendy Sartory Link, supervisor of elections, Palm Beach County. Have you ever wondered how elections are conducted in Palm Beach County? This week, your PBC Elections Office kicked off our Virtual Elections Experience Tour on social media: a behind-the-scenes look at how elections are run in Palm Beach County. Follow us @VotePalmBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube over the next several weeks as we share the election process step-bystep in this exclusive nine-part series. Here’s your chance to learn first-hand how elections are conducted, from start to finish. We hope you enjoy the tour!

Sheryl Woods, CEO, YMCA of South Florida. A shout out to the Miami Heat for an outstanding season and exciting start in the playoffs. As a former college basketball player, I appreciate the teamwork, dedication and competitive edge it takes to win. Here’s a little-known fact — there would be no basketball without the YMCA. In 1891, the Y asked college faculty member James Naismith to invent a new game that “would be interesting, easy to learn and easy to play indoors.” The result? The game of basketball. Wilt Chamberlain, Christian Laettner and Cliff Robinson are among those that played at the Y before becoming NBA stars.