TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

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

Anthony J. Abbate, architect. My polling place has been changed two times since the last general election. To add to the confusion, the president of our homeowners association sent a message that the polling place had reverted back to its original location for the upcoming elections — wrong! This game of musical chairs with polling places appears to be countywide. How many will show up at the wrong location on voting day with limited time only to be turned away? With no official notification from the Supervisor of Elections, the best course of action is to go online and check for yourself at browardvotes.gov.

Angelo Castillo, commissioner, Pembroke Pines. Nov. 8 is Election Day. There will be early voting ahead of that day and voting by mail. There is no reason why 99% of all U.S. citizens can’t cast a vote in this election using the safe, convenient and approved means available to them. Election after election, we fall well short of that mark, yet there’s no lack of complaining after elections about how things are run. Citizen voting is the foundation upon which our way of life is built. Be a patriot. Vote. Make a habit of it, and get your family and neighbors to do the same; remind them politely that they have a duty to vote in every election, just like you.

Conor Delaney, president and CEO, Cleveland Clinic Florida. Last week, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida’s Lee County as a powerful Category 4 storm with relentless storm surge that flooded homes and businesses and winds that impacted approximately a quarter of the state’s power. Disruptions to key public services like electrical grids and water supplies have greatly impacted local hospitals and nursing homes, making it a challenge to provide access to 24/7 care. More than 900 hospital patients and thousands of individuals in nursing homes have been affected according to Florida Hospital Association CEO Mary Mayhew.

Eleanor Sobel, former member, Florida Senate. The Supreme Court’s 2022-2023 term began this week, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson serving as the nation’s first Black female justice. The justices are expected to hear cases regarding affirmative action, immigration, federal power and election law. Specifically, the court will review the concentration of Black voters’ electoral power in Alabama, race-conscious admissions programs at institutions such as Harvard University, and the prioritized adoption of Indigenous children by Indigenous families. The court is also expected to hear a case revolving around the Clean Water Act of 1972 and potential federal restrictions. The conservative leaning Court (6-3) will move progress backwards.

Larry Rein,

Count me among those struggling to understand and very wary of cryptocurrencies. That their popularity is immense and growing is undeniable. A New York Times article recently reprinted in the Sun Sentinel reported that cryptocurrency users have entrusted roughly $100 billion in virtual funds toward the newest version of cryptocurrency called “Defy” or decentralized finance. The same article, however, provides ample reasons for our fears, claiming that $2.2 billion in cryptocurrency has been stolen from various Defy projects due to weaknesses in their computer programming and likening this to emptying an entire bank vault rather than simply robbing an individual.

CEO and President, ChildNet.

Marlon A. Hill, of counsel, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. This week, tens of thousands of vote-by-mail ballots landed in our mail boxes. With rescue and recovery from Hurricane Ian underway, some voters likely didn’t receive their ballots. It is my hope that plans are in motion to ensure that displaced and homeless voters have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Irrespective of our state in life, socioeconomic status or other self-identifiers, it is fundamental to ensure that Floridians are able to take advantage of all three voting options. Their mere survival and recovery will depend on it.

Gregory Tony, Broward Sheriff. More than three dozen Broward Sheriff ’s Office personnel have been deployed to Florida’s west coast to provide vital public safety services to the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. Their efforts include conducting search and rescue and high-water rescue missions, coordinating communications for first responders, responding to 911 calls and helping treat the injured. Locally, BSO teamed up with community partners to collect supplies to send to the west coast. If you’d like to help, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-435-7669 or visit the Florida Disaster Fund website at volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf. Remember, hurricane season is still active; stay vigilant!

Patricia Williams, member, Florida House of Representatives. Many Florida cities are still dramatically affected a week after the devastating landfall of Hurricane Ian. Those in need may not know how or where to access relief. All who need assistance should immediately call the state assistance line at 1-800-342-3557. If you wish to contribute to relief efforts, visit the online portal at VolunteerFlorida.org or FloridaDisasterFund.org. Additionally, in partnership with the United Way, the Collaboratory has started the SWFL Emergency Relief Fund. All proceeds support Southwest Florida nonprofits helping residents affected by Hurricane Ian. Please visit collaboratory.org.