TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

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

Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, president, Children’s Services Council of Broward County. The story this week of a Deerfield Beach teenager being brutalized by other teenagers for the second time because of his sexual orientation is a stark reminder that words matter and hate-filled rhetoric leads to violence. There are varying opinions about when and what children should learn about sex and sexuality, but I hope we can all agree that we are all human beings who deserve to be safe in our communities. As adults, we have an obligation to not dehumanize those we disagree with. Our children are listening, watching and acting on our example.

Dr. Michael Dennis, chair, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. Statistics released this week magnify the impact of the COVID pandemic, which seems endless. Example: Nursing homes in America are a compassionate, dedicated service to people requiring special medical attention. However, a study found facilities have struggled to fill their staffs since they’ve lost more than half their nurses and aides in the past year. The high quality care that the nursing staff provides is key to a healthy, supportive environment for those in need of bedside and ambulatory management. America’s skilled-nursing facilities serve a growing elderly population with greater needs than previous generations and should not be ignored by policymakers.

Lamar Fisher, vice mayor, Broward County. Early voting in Broward County begins Saturday, Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 21. For those seeking to go vote in person during this time, please visit BrowardVotes.gov to find the nearest early voting site. Due to redistricting and precinct changes, these sites may have changed from years past. Additionally, Saturday, Aug. 13 is the last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Those who already have their ballots in hand may return their ballots via USPS, dropped off at any early voting location via a secure drop box or in person at the SOE building in Lauderhill.

Wendy Sartory Link, supervisor of elections, Palm Beach County. Early voting for the August primary election began this week. As of Thursday, Aug. 11, 5,196 Palm Beach County voters have voted early and 84,088 have voted by mail. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 23, and voters vote at their assigned polling location. Voter ID cards were recently sent to all voters with their updated precinct number and voting precinct. For more information, please visit votepalmbeach.gov.

Marlon A. Hill, of counsel, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. With the Jamaican diaspora celebrating its 60th anniversary of independence last week with a plethora of local events and commemorations, it is evident that this immigrant community has emerged as a visible fixture of South Florida’s multicultural landscape. As a result of this community integration, the Jamaican community will also bear the burden of greater scrutiny of elected leaders, candidates and others holding positions of power. It is incumbent on the community to properly vet, nurture and support those leaders who will represent the community’s spirit of excellence and resilience.

Christine Hunschofsky, member, Florida House of Representatives. Our veterans risked their health and safety to protect our freedoms and lifestyle in this country. We all owe them a debt of gratitude not only in our words but also in our actions. Last week, President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act, which expands VA health care services to veterans who have been exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. The act’s passage is monumental, but it almost didn’t happen due to political posturing in the Senate. Only after a massive public outcry did the Senate minority vote change. Supporting our veterans must continue to be a top priority.

Richard Stark, former member, Florida House of Representatives. Abuse of power by Gov. Ron DeSantis must be called out. Suspending Andrew Warren, a two-time elected state attorney in Hillsborough County, because he declined to agree with the state abortion ban and that he would not prosecute violations of the statute is abusive use of office by the governor. This is a trend that continues, and must stop. Time for the governor to become a statesman for all of us instead of a narrow base of his supporters.

Chad Van Horn, founding partner attorney, Van Horn Law Group, P. A. As part of the Florida Python Challenge, about 800 novice and professional hunters are swarming the Everglades tracking Burmese pythons, an invasive creature that’s decimating entire populations of racoons, opossums and rabbits. The job of these hunters is to take out a python, one of the largest snakes in the world. Adult pythons can reach more than 16 feet, weigh up to 200 pounds and can grow as wide as a telephone pole. Considering these giant predators constrict their prey until they suffocate, you have to admire the snake hunters’ bravery and hope they have the expertise to conquer these wild reptiles.