LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Howard Dvorkin, CPA, chairman, Debt. com. President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan made headlines last week, but only now are the details trickling out. As expected, the Education Department said it is “assessing whether to expand eligibility” to some borrowers with private federal student loans. I’ve said it before in this space: Once you begin student loan forgiveness, you can’t stop. Someone else will demand what others have already received, and before you know it, we’re all paying for something that never solves the problem: College is too damn expensive. Until we address that side of the equation, we’re spinning our wheels — and paying for it.

Marlon A. Hill, of counsel, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. The summer is over. Sorry to remind you. The general election is approaching in less than 10 weeks. If Democrats intend to have an impact on the direction of statewide elected offices, Broward County, and equally important Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, stand at the center of the storm with the largest pool of voters. The race is already on for every county to outperform the others. Without an inspired turnout, breaking old habits beyond this 60% threshold and connecting with independent voters in Broward County, the other counties are unlikely to feel the peer pressure to overperform.

Debbi Hixon, member, Broward County School Board. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness for this often-taboo topic. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. Suicide is often a result of an untreated mental health condition. We must remove the stigma of addressing mental health issues and provide better resources, treatment and support. It is OK to admit you are struggling and seek help. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors, call or text 988, the National Suicide Hotline, for immediate help.

Christine Hunschofsky, member, Florida House of Representatives. With summer travel starting to wind down, it’s no secret that, recently, traveling domestically or internationally has been a headache. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg have launched a new dashboard providing travelers with a guideline of what airlines will cover in the event of flight disruption. Access the new dashboard at transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard.

Kerry Ann Royes, CEO, YWCA South Florida. Our nation is facing a turning point where your voice can be the deciding factor. Participation in the voting process is critical to our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, not just in South Florida but our nation at large. It’s your voice. It’s your vote. It’s your future. Whether by mail or in person, participating in your local and state elections provides you with the power to shape the country as you see fit by electing leaders who share a vision of America that is safe, healthy and filled with opportunities for women, girls and all people.

Alissa Jean Schafer, member, Broward Soil and Water Conservation District .Aswe continue through hurricane season, crossing our fingers and hoping it remains a quiet one, it’s good to stay prepared in ways that are economical and environmentally friendly. Clean drinking water is always a concern in the wake of a storm, an issue we unfortunately see nationally. Here in South Florida, folks can plan ahead by purchasing large water containers (similar to what is used for camping or sporting events) or using containers they already own. These containers can be filled with clean tap water before a storm hits, avoiding the need to buy expensive and wasteful bottled water.

John “Jack” Seiler,

former mayor, Fort Lauderdale. Our beloved Miami Dolphins kick off their first season under new head coach Mike McDaniel with a rivalry game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. After a productive NFL draft, many positive off-season additions through free agency, and a promising preseason, there is a high level of excitement, enthusiasm and optimism about the “new and improved” Dolphins, especially the potentially explosive offense. Playing before the best and most loyal fans in the league at the spectacular Hard Rock Stadium should propel our Miami Dolphins to a winning season!

Chad Van Horn, founding partner attorney, Van Horn Law Group, P. A. “Game of Thrones” was such a sensation that moms and dads actually named their children after characters in the show. Chartr reports there were 3,047 baby girls named Arya during the program’s heyday in 2019 and 563 Khaleesi babies (technically not a character name, I suppose) and 166 Daenerys babies in 2018. With HBO’s summer debut of the “Game of Thrones” prequel, “House of Dragons,” I wonder if we’ll see a few — or a few thousand — Rhaenyra, Alicent or Mysaria babies in a few years.