LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

Angelo Castillo, commissioner, Pembroke Pines. Broward County could use an elected superintendent and an appointed school board of parents, selected from districts countrywide, to advise the administration and provide certain oversight functions. Our public school system has grown to where we have simply outgrown the current arrangement. It is obsolete, the exact opposite of what our system needs. Small school systems can be run by committees, but large ones are simply too complex and demand an empowered CEO. Broward schools need and deserve an elected superintendent to run our school system in ways directly accountable for results to the people. There’s no better way to improve the system’s effectiveness and the time is right now to demand that sensible change.

Michael De Lucca, president, Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Inc. Amgen Inc.’s lung-cancer pill Lumakras beat out a common chemotherapy in a late-stage study, helping patients survive without their tumors getting worse. Lumakras is the first approved drug in an emerging class of treatments that target a genetic mutation called KRAS that is among the most common found in cancers. This new drug may be more attractive than chemotherapy to some patients because it has fewer side effects. However, Lumakras is more expensive. One in four of all patients who received Lumakras lived for at least one year without their cancers getting worse, compared to 10% of patients who received chemotherapy docetaxel.

Conor Delaney, president and CEO, Cleveland Clinic Florida. Cleveland Clinic’s annual educational campaign, MENtion It, aims to address that men often do not mention health issues or take steps to prevent them. The survey, which sampled 1,000 U.S. adult males, revealed about one-third of men say they have never been screened for prostate cancer (33%), bladder cancer (36%) and testicular cancer (37%). Particularly with September being Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, it is the perfect time to remind the public of the importance of screening and prevention, as early detection is essential to diagnosing many of these conditions while they are still in early treatable and curable stages.

Anna Fusco, president, Broward Teachers Union. It’s staggering to note that more than 47,000 Americans die by suicide each year. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, so now’s a good time to reflect about people you know. Do any of them display dramatic mood changes or have any withdrawn from their family and friends? Have you noticed an increase in their alcohol or drug use or observed that they frequently seem anxious or agitated? Do they express hopelessness about their life situation? If so, seek help for them with a mental health professional by dialing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or simply dial 988.

Mike Ryan, mayor, Sunrise. The Venezuela government that holds power refuses to accept election results and seeks to crush the economic, social and political dreams of its people. That government is not recognized as legitimate; the legitimate leaders are in exile. Many Venezuelans have fled the oppression. Our South Florida community stands with the Venezuelan people who are dreaming, fighting and working for a better future. Yet, Florida reportedly spent our tax dollars to fly mostly Venezuelans from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard without prior notice. Why? No effort was made to arrange availability of dignified resources on arrival. We are better than this.

Tim Ryan, member, Broward County Commission. The Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress earlier this year created tax credits and rebates for consumers to reduce their overall energy consumption. The Biden administration has rolled out a new website to help people navigate which credits and rebates they may be eligible to receive. If you are considering buying an energy-efficient appliance, installing solar panels, purchasing an electric vehicle, or replacing an AC system, consult the website for possible savings and sign up for updates on other tax credits and rebates that become effective in 2023. To learn more, visit cleanenergy.gov.

Michael Udine, mayor, Broward County . Railroads and their unions reached a deal on a collective bargaining agreement that will keep trains rolling and stop additional impacts on the supply chain. The transportation of most goods throughout our country happens via rail. From cars to gravel and everything in between, freight rail moves it. A potential strike could have also impacted passenger rail by canceling future Amtrak routes since it operates on the same tracks. By working together, railroads and labor have reached an agreement that is not only good for their respective sides, but the American family.

Thomas Wenski, archbishop, Archdiocese of Miami. Title IX is a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in public schools and many private schools, from kindergarten to the university level. The U.S. Department of Education has proposed a new regulation revising the concept of “discrimination on the basis of sex” to include SOGI, i.e. “Sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” This goes beyond the law’s original intent by requiring schools to comply with gender ideology. Schools could be punished for distinguishing between boys and girls in locker rooms and dorms. These SOGI regulations offered in the name of tolerance are in fact intolerant of those upholding traditional moral values.