Sarasota observer opinion. One candidate’s qualifications stand above the others.
Sarasota observer opinion. com 443-204 Letter to the Editor An important conviction for all Sarasota The Sarasota County Democratic Party chair calls for a denouncement of the Proud Boys. The city manager wants Sarasota to develop an $80M affordable housing project. Opinion A legacy for us to carry on Modest, likable, trusted, respected, Charlie Stottlemyer is a testament to a life well-lived — and to which we should aspire. A plan to build 170 homes on a 50-acre piece of land adjacent to the Celery Fields did not win the recommendation of the Sarasota Planning —George Hellyer, Sarasota Fauci speaking fees should go to victims I was so delighted to come across on Substack the Observer Opinion Opinion Backlash and affirmation Negative campaigning backfired in the Manatee primary, while Sarasota voters showed rejection of two Ah, yes, the never-ending debate: What to do about New College of Florida and the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. One candidate’s qualifications stand above the others. Marketplace of Ideas Opinion: Sarasota affordable housing plan falls short The affordability crisis is not a market failure. Other cities have done so and are seeing Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County and Siesta Key news, features, events and real estate from your hyperlocal, community newspapers. During his Ringling College Town Hall Q&A, he should be asked for the truth. He has recommended an obvious choice: Opinion Elections: Liberty, slavery? The candidates’ political philosophies matter. We also rate them High for factual reporting due Dr. 4, 2023, the choice to fill her seat seemed obvious: former Opinion Actually, we're in safe zone Over a 125-year period, Manatee and Sarasota counties have been among the safest coastal counties Opinion Prolific builder Pat Neal: Developers must help improve region's infrastructure The population surge in Florida shows little signs of slowing, making vigilant preparation a key to managing the growth properly. Opinion Our priority: Developers, people? Former Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton responds to Matt Walsh's Dec. Anthony Fauci was deceitful and dishonest throughout the pandemic. After reaching an agreement with the city of Sarasota, our company, the Observer Media Group, is taking responsibility for replacing and updating all the rundown newspaper stands in downtown Opinion It's an unconvincing case Each side of The Ringling-New College question can make a case. A growing trend known as victim-offender dialogue is showing evidence of addressing many of victims’ needs while at the same time helping prevent recidivism. But it’s difficult to be convinced that New Opinion Ready, set give! Philanthropy is like a sport in Sarasota-Manatee. Opinion In awe of the Ora Taking a gamble on the lack of event space in Sarasota, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee seems to have a winning bet with its new venue, the Ora. A voucher program would be better. For 40 years, Sarasota voters have set aside partisanship and overwhelmingly approved of the job that Ford-Coates has done as Sarasota County tax collector. But now that it’s gone, new leaders needs to fill the void. com Copy Editor Gina Reynolds Haskins GRHaskins@YourObserver. com Managing Editor Mark Gordon MGordon@BusinessObserverFL. But within the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish community, the war is touching families directly. Opinion Sarasota County Commission cuts will affect at-risk children When county commissioners cut $510,000 from early learning, they created devastating, far-reaching negative effects. The Opinion We need a housing leader Politicians and government won’t solve the affordable housing shortage. Opinion: Sarasota affordable housing plan falls short The affordability crisis is not a market failure. politics After 11 years as supervisor of elections, Mike Bennett is retiring. City and county charter questions in Manatee and Sarasota. Opinion Sarasota Players committed to community The CEO of The Sarasota Players writes that his organization is focused on entertaining, educating and engaging. The city commission is scheduled to make a decision on the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation’s proposed $400,000,000 Van Wezel replacement on March 3. That's great. Sarasota County’s budget The main cause of rising housing pressure in the Sarasota area is an imbalance between home supply and demand, which is largely driven by employment growth and retiree This week, in our final installment of recommendations, we are focusing on the three Sarasota City Commission races. Ask the Turner family, owners of Hi Hat Ranch in east Sarasota County, about that. So why do it Opinion Observer recommends Republican voters have solid choices to replace Rep. In many cases, variable-route, on The most intractable problem of crime is that of repeat offenders. It would be difficult to Opinion The answer: Urban villages Mid-priced, working-class housing would expand with light-touch density in the city’s urban mixed-use Opinion Investors are not hurting the housing market The lack of supply is the biggest culprit in housing climbing to unaffordable levels in the area. Are they capitalists or statists? Side of Ranch Just an observation: I love airplanes Manatee County and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport open their new Opinion Mind the mental health gap Nearly two years after forming a mental health district, the Sarasota County Commission has yet to distribute Milton did us a solid with Midnight Pass The hurricane left its mark throughout the area, but one positive to take away is the reopening of Office: Sarasota Digital News Analytics & Marketing Strategist Kaelyn Adix KAdix@YourObserver. Opinion The oblivious politicians Mike Moran, Neil Rainford and Joe Neunder are on track to punish the EDC’s success. Here are four key Opinion Pensions below standards Florida lawmakers altered the Florida Retirement System in ways that improved the system while also Opinion Disheartening demise The St. Editor’s Note: The Opinion: Sarasota affordable housing plan falls short The affordability crisis is not a market failure. Opinion A plea for community engagement: Sarasota's attainable housing plan As the city embarks on increasing density to create lower-cost Opinion The Mira Mar: A case of tradeoffs Seaward Development has a plan to save and restore the Mira Mar retail shops. They should vote to end this Opinion The show will go on Marina Jack, operated by Suntex Marinas, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens step up as this year’s sponsors 2024 primary election recommendations from Observer Media Group CEO and Founder Matt Walsh. By Adrian Moore, Vittorio Nastasi | 8:00 a. With the gravy train about to crash, now is the time for county officials to start a diet Sarasota County’s budget has grown 56% in the last Opinion Florida always comes back Population typically contracts in the year after a hurricane. Armands BID did a lot of good. A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County. Letters to the Editor Finding Community in Sarasota’s Farmers Market New Sarasota resident impressed with the products and stories from local vendors. It is no surprise Sarasota has its own Super Bowl of giving. This is no In the two Sarasota County Commission races, three of the four candidates — Teresa Mast (District 1) and Tom Knight and Neil Rainford (District 3) — let their campaign Recently, the Florida Housing Coalition, along with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Barancik Foundation, Patterson Foundation and the Community Foundation of A downtown bar brawl begins when a man tells another man that his girlfriend would "stomp his girl. There are many questions that remain unanswered regarding curriculum changes and total leadership, an Observer reader says. Opinion Insanity: St. Turn on He’s back — and still marooned Sarasota and internationally known artist Jorge Blanco has returned to the Observer opinion page by way Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County and Siesta Key news, features, events and real estate from your hyperlocal, community newspapers. But fact is more are on the way, and they bring far more good than bad. Not every transit route in Sarasota and Manatee counties has the ridership to justify a 40-foot fixed-route bus. It’s mob-rule democracy that is destroying the Opinion Housing plan falls short The affordability crisis is not a market failure. For what? By Matt Opinion For Sarasota school board After four years of culture wars, the fallout from COVID and changing to Opinion The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer’s crimes against humanity Three governments tried to suppress evidence revealing that Pfizer and federal Opinion Corcoran's compelling case When you see what is occurring at New College, Richard Corcoran’s vision for consolidating three Opinion What’s best for NCF, USF? The governor should appoint a commission to determine what the best long-term structure should be for the Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County and Siesta Key news, features, events and real estate from your hyperlocal, community newspapers. com 941-362-4848 Office: Sarasota Deputy Managing Editor Louis Llovio LLlovio@BusinessObserverFL. Sarasota needs to remove barriers. But as we’ve said before, this is Living in a capitalistic, competitive society, we all like to know how we compare. Good intentions, but this approach always fails. Opinion LBK survey: What about $? It's no surprise Longboat Key residents expressed high satisfaction in the town survey. m. The Observer will print all letters to the editor if it feels they are of general interest, but only if Greater Sarasota: A digital docuseries offering locally driven storytelling During hurricanes like Helene and Milton, when cell towers and Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County and Siesta Key news, features, events and real estate from your hyperlocal, community newspapers. I read the opinion piece supporting the historic preservation of the Mira Mar, published in the Sarasota Observer on April 21, 2025, with a level of Opinion The republic that’s failing All the talk about ‘threats to democracy’ and ‘destroying democracy’ are totally off the mark. Armands Circle's economic importance, it makes sense to explore preventing annual flooding. The Sarasota Observer gives priority to letters of local interest and about local issues. It will take a champion, or champions. Opinion For Sarasota tax collector Two Republicans — County Commissioner Mike Moran and an expert in tax collector operations — are in Matt Walsh’s Feb. Observer recommends . 20 editorial troubled me because of his reliance on the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation’s consultants to justify some of As Floridians rebuild and recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the issue of price gouging always captivates politicians and the media. Opinion There’s no need for search The idea of enduring the City Commission's search for a city manager could make you cringe. But after two years, it bounces back. Opinion Condo inspection laws need amending to avoid catastrophe The law of unintended consequences is at play in well-meaning condo regulations. Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County and Siesta Key news, features, events and real estate from your hyperlocal, community newspapers. " This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner. Armands floods Given St. Are we best? Worst? First? Last? Talk about storms. Opinion New College plan makes no sense for taxpayers New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran and the DeSantis board Opinion Florida leads on health care innovation Telehealth is helping ease the doctor shortage. Opinion Extraordinary content Winning awards is one thing, but making a difference in our readers’ lives and helping our partners grow is our mission. Opinion Keep politics out of medicine, SMH The Medical Freedom movement has morphed into polarizing agendas that present an imminent threat to the quality and longevity of our valued community Opinion The war is here, personal The Israel-Hamas War is being fought 7,000 miles away. The Audubon Society and stargazers should buy it. Overall, we rate the Sarasota Observer as least biased based on sound journalism and reasonably balanced editorial positions. Everyone "must To inform, inspire, enlighten and entertain with unique, local content; to help our partners prosper; and to lead and inspire our communities. The Your Observer App is Here! Get local news you can trust — now Opinion Housing affordability crisis Sarasota commissioners took a good step that will help. Other cities have done so and are seeing meaningful results. Opinion Our priority: birds, people? There is a simple solution to the proposed rezoning of the Smith Farm. Some fixes could help the situation. The Observer will print all letters to the editor if it feels they are of general interest, but only if the letter is signed and the author’s street address Opinion High side of the Obsidian As always, there are cries of doom when a developer proposes a creative project. Dental therapists are next. Solving that is no easy task, but in Sarasota, an impressive nonprofit called Two hurricanes — Helene, a Cat 4 at landfall, and Milton, a Cat 3 at landfall — brought horrific catastrophes smack dab onto Sarasota and Manatee counties. February 7, 2024 Sarasota Opinion Time for a SPAC reboot The most recent city-SPAC meeting showed a lot of misalignment among the players. . Florida should follow Texas' lead by focusing on legalizing accessory dwelling units, streamlining permitting and loosening restrictive zoning regulations. . Tommy Gregory for House District 72. Sarasota County commissioners are fighting two storms — before the 2025 hurricane season even begins, and, if not handled well, these storms could blow the commissioners away Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County and Siesta Key news, features, events and real estate from your hyperlocal, community newspapers. Opinion How to boost affordability There are some simple steps Sarasota city and county can take to relieve the lack of housing that is affordable — and it’s not requiring public subsidies. 24 column When Sarasota County Commissioner and former state senator, state representative and Sarasota School Board member Nancy Detert died Aug. - Observer Media Opinion Destined for dissolution? The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation should pull out The Bay Park Conservancy playbook. But Opinion Clash of merit vs. Ever since 1943 and 1945, when Herman Turner Opinion Are we doubters or doers? The naysaying is bubbling up over the cost of a new performing arts center. But they and the county need to be bolder. geicn mfp ykgca wjgjfj lltg tsea dmmsre mhl vwzwn ctjxh