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Longboat Key | Opinion

Nastiness of campaigns
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 12, 2026
Nastiness of campaigns

Elections have always had smears and lies. And with first-time candidates, voters have only faith that, if elected, those candidates will do the right thing.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Observer recommends: Federal, state races
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 5, 2026
Observer recommends: Federal, state races

Florida has had a good run with 16 years of GOP governors and legislators. Let’s hope voters keep the ‘Free State’ on track.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Where are the statesmen?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 29, 2026
Where are the statesmen?

Too many county commission candidates can make old-timers nostalgic for past public servants. And how sad: The drumbeat to stop development and vilify developers is myopic and dangerous rhetoric.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Observer recommends: Local races
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 29, 2026
Observer recommends: Local races

The Observer’s recommendations for primary races for Manatee County Commission and Manatee School Board; Sarasota County Commission, Sarasota City Commission, Sarasota School Board, Sarasota Hospital Board and Charter Review Board.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Why the worst rise to top
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 15, 2026
Why the worst rise to top

By comparison to other U.S. locales, we are so fortunate in Manatee and Sarasota counties and in Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Lots of loopholes in Florida's laws on fines
  • By Adrian Moor, Vittorio Nastasi
  • July 8, 2026
Lots of loopholes in Florida's laws on fines

With a potential hit to general fund revenue coming, municipalities may have more incentive to supplement their income from fines.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The 56 who signed for us
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 1, 2026
The 56 who signed for us

As many people have often said: Being an American is winning life’s lottery. Nowhere in the world are people as free as we are.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
DeSantis versus DeSantis
  • By Jeff Brandes, contributor
  • June 24, 2026
DeSantis versus DeSantis

One DeSantis encouraged starter homes. The other may have just made them fiscally impossible to approve.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Another travesty of power
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 17, 2026
Another travesty of power

Everyone knows we need more affordable housing. But Sarasota County commissioners are more concerned about losing their home rule power.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
This is not how to 'cut' taxes
  • By Jeff Brandes
  • June 2, 2026
This is not how to 'cut' taxes

The governor’s property tax plan won’t eliminate taxes. It will just shift them. Your city will become increasingly dependent on the state.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The gentle, warm waters of the Gulf can be an aid to mobility for those with arthritis.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • May 29, 2026
It's possible to live with arthritis. Here's how.

Exercise, as counter-intuitive as it might seem, can go a long way toward relief.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
No good deed goes unpunished
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2026
No good deed goes unpunished

St. Regis fight with town is a Longboat Key classic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lessons on how not to do it
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 13, 2026
Lessons on how not to do it

The Sarasota tax collector-school board dispute has reached a partial resolution. Taking the high road can bring it to the best ending.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Letter to our legislators: Don't turn USFSM over to New College
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 12, 2026
Letter to our legislators: Don't turn USFSM over to New College

The fate of USF Sarasota-Manatee depends on the Legislature's special budget session. It will decide whether to shut down the college and transfer the buildings to New College.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Is the only way to protect kids online for all of us to give up our data?
  • By Adrian Moore, Nicole Shekhovtsova
  • May 6, 2026
Is the only way to protect kids online for all of us to give up our data?

Legislators are passing laws to verify the age of social media users — but does it inadvertently require these sites to keep more data than necessary?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Chris Watts stretches Petar Sibinkic in the newly-expanded Longboat Key Fitness studio at 511 Bay Isles Pkwy.
  • August 14, 2026
Fitness pairs with mobility at Longboat Key Fitness
2
The Cortez Bridge is a drawbridge connecting Cortez to Bradenton Beach and the barrier islands. In its 70th year of service, a replacement bridge will be constructed starting later this year, and is expected to take more than three years to complete.
  • August 13, 2026
Cortez Bridge replacement to start soon
3
Traffic is shown backed up on the John Ringling Causeway Bridge.
  • August 12, 2026
Third Longboat bridge could be nixed from Sarasota transportation plan
4
Closure of the Bayfront Park pickleball courts would lead to a riot if it were done in March. When it happens in the summer, it’s an inconvenience.
  • August 12, 2026
Summer is project season on Longboat Key
5
The home at 612 Juan Anasco Drive sold for $18.99 million. Built in 2024, it has six bedrooms, six-and-two-half baths, a pool and 8,815 square feet of living area.
  • August 12, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for July 27-31 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

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