The top stories last week

Mitchell W. Berger, founder and co-chair, Berger Singerman

As a nation we suffered the loss of a Navy Seal in Yemen. His name was Ryan Owens. If the United States continues to pursue a foreign and domestic policy of “America First” and “America Alone,” we must be prepared to examine the consequence of that policy and whether it will have the results of us mourning more like Ryan Owens. Today, many like Ryan are fighting side by side with Iraqi Muslim soldiers against ISIS. We should not be surprised if Muslims who cherish liberty and freedom in Yemen assisted our Navy Seals in the raid in which Ryan lost his life. Banning those who assist us — and their children — who flee death and destruction cannot be beneficial to those who are replacing Ryan on

the front lines.

Philip Purcell, CEO/ president, Marine Industries Association of South Florida

The marine industry is traditionally a proud supporter of national security efforts conducted by agencies such as the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard, and does not take for granted the safe and secure borders we currently enjoy. As such, we maintain a long-standing professional relationship with vessels from worldwide ports of call and rely on the business they bring to our area. We will be watching diligently for any unintended consequences of border protection that negatively impact visiting vessels and our ability to continue to maintain our business operations.

Michael Dennis, M.D., chairman, Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine

Buried beneath the massive media coverage of the fierce turmoil in Washington over nominations and executive orders is a very disturbing observation. In complete defiance of the Nuclear Deal of 2015, Iran has launched yet another ballistic missile in experimenting with potential weapon delivery. Our side has lifted sanctions and freed frozen assets for their use, expecting reciprocal compliance. They have disregarded any obligation and, in fact, still fill the streets with “Death to America” demonstrations. One missile carried the label: Israel must be wiped out. No wonder Defense Secretary Mattis identifies Iran as the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Near East and beyond.

Gary Resnick, mayor, Wilton Manors

Like so many, we have not watched the news much since the election, expecting the worst. One tidbit that sneaked in is that on Day 1, the White House took down the LGBT page on the website. Why? Do we no longer exist? We always believed in making our little corner of the world as great as possible and watching it expand, and this worked as more and more communities around the country embraced the ideals of Wilton Manors. It looks like the opposite is happening with intolerance forcing its way in.

Kathleen Cannon, president, United Way of Broward County

In the past half century, suicide rates tripled among youth and teenagers; peaking among adolescent females. Broward high school students have reported higher rates of depression and thoughts of suicide than students in the rest of the state. In a recent survey, at least 16.8 percent of high school students had considered suicide in the last year. One of the major risk factors of suicide could be attributed to lack of mental health treatment access or reluctance by parents and physicians to address depression in adolescents. Reducing stigma around mental health and ensuring access to adequate services is vital to reducing suicide rates.

Irela Bagué, president, Bagué Group

Gov. Rick Scott made a significant investment of $794 million in water protection and infrastructure for the state of Florida — specifically, appropriations for construction of the C-51 Reservoir project in Palm Beach County while providing significant funding for other alternative water supply projects throughout Florida. As a former water manager, I am pleased that the governor has taken proactive steps to ensure that adequate funding goes toward water. These funds will not only help grow our economy but will ensure a sustainable and affordable supply of water for future generations. Investing in our most valuable resource makes good business sense.

Michael De Lucca, president, Broward Regional Health Planning Council Inc.

National researchers say that we look at our phones on average 190 times per day. This shows that we are addicted to this machine. Researchers are indicating that we need to figure out what downtime is and how to disconnect from technology throughout the day. While you are eating dinner with your friends and family, put your phone down and enjoy the company. Your texts, calls and emails can all wait. Be engaged with each other and have a good conversation. Let’s all work together on breaking the habit and enjoying the in-person conversations.

Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, president, Children’s Services Council of Broward County

Pools, ocean, ponds, lakes, canals — they are all bodies of water that can be dangerous to our children when unattended, even for a split second. My heart broke recently when I read headlines about a one-year-old in Sunrise who apparently drowned in a bathtub. My condolences go out to this family, and I implore Broward parents, caretakers and community leaders to share the safety tips on WaterSmartBroward.org with family, friends and neighbors. Thousands of residents are learning child water safety and safe sleep practices through the #SaferBy4 campaign, but the outreach must be constant if we are to make a difference.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archdiocese of Miami

Sen. Anitere Flores (RMiami) and Rep. Larry Ahern (R-Seminole) are sponsoring bills SB 196 and HB 205 to ensure that all children in Florida receive equal access to civil citations, rather than arrest, when committing first-time, nonviolent misdemeanors. Juvenile civil citations serve as an alternative to criminal arrest and provide a second chance to youth who make mistakes while still holding them accountable for their actions. Such diversion programs also benefit society by reducing crime, saving the state money and helping build a productive citizenry.