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Longboat Key | Opinion

The show will go on
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • June 25, 2025
The show will go on

Marina Jack, operated by Suntex Marinas, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens step up as this year’s sponsors of the city of Sarasota’s Fourth of July fireworks display.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Fascist kings behead you
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 18, 2025
Fascist kings behead you

Calling Trump a fascist, dictator king is the Democrats’ new mantra to get you to hate Trump even more. The gullible protesters have no clue what a real king does.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
WEDU PBS isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.
  • By Paul Grove
  • June 17, 2025
WEDU PBS isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.

If you're skeptical of funding media with taxpayer dollars, you're not alone. In fact, you're asking the right question: Should the federal government be in the business of funding media at all?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Republicans against Trump must stand up
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • June 4, 2025
Republicans against Trump must stand up

Those who state they don't like him, just sit back and watch without speaking up.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Actually, we're in safe zone
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 4, 2025
Actually, we're in safe zone

Over a 125-year period, Manatee and Sarasota counties have been among the safest coastal counties in Florida when it comes to hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A missed opportunity?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2025
A missed opportunity?

With a looming $14 million library-community center a football field away from the $2.1 million Tidewell building, it makes you wonder.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Arts can (and should) stand on their own
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2025
Arts can (and should) stand on their own

Whenever the region’s arts organizations and their leaders and representatives convene for a conference or summit, inevitably, discussions get around to lamenting the state of taxpayer funding for the arts.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Democracy takes foresight and forethought
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 27, 2025
Democracy takes foresight and forethought

One should consider the consequences before making a decision, a reader says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
How to boost affordability
  • By Adrian Moore, Eliza Terziev
  • May 21, 2025
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.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
How we compare
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 21, 2025
How we compare

Living in a capitalistic, competitive society, we all like to know how we compare. Are we best? Worst? First? Last?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Manatee does it again
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 14, 2025
Manatee does it again

Learning Manatee commissioners voted to pursue voiding a contract was too much for SMR’s Rex Jensen.

  • East County
  • Opinion
LBK survey: What about $?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 7, 2025
LBK survey: What about $?

It's no surprise Longboat Key residents expressed high satisfaction in the town survey. That's great. But maybe they also should be asked about their taxes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Tyranny of Trump's tariffs
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 30, 2025
Tyranny of Trump's tariffs

Who is ripping off whom in international trade. How can Donald Trump know more about tariffs than 250 years of economic evidence? Tariffs punish everyone.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans
  • By Randall G. Holcombe
  • April 30, 2025
In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans

While the Trump administration’s economic policies are aimed at least partly toward eliminating the nation’s balance of payments deficits, Americans should understand that they benefit from those deficits.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Noted economists past and present on tariffs and free trade
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 30, 2025
Noted economists past and present on tariffs and free trade

In any discussion to understand free trade, protectionism and tariffs, there is no debate among credible economists: Free trade: good; protectionism and tariffs: bad.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Angie Cupp uses a tractor and landscaping rake attachment to clean Longboat Key beaches of debris.
  • May 25, 2026
Beach raking cleans the shoreline but comes with erosion concerns
2
Frank Biondello, Jr. has been overseeing the transformation of The Dock on the Bay's hurricane-damaged marina as the marina manager for the past year.
  • May 25, 2026
Dock on the Bay makes progress on 'long road to recovery'
3
Grant's Gardens has a two-bay garage at 525 Gulf Bay Road, and is proposing to build an office building on the lot across the street at 524 Gulf Bay Road.
  • May 23, 2026
Landscaping company seeks expansion in Longboat Key
4
  • May 23, 2026
New town clerk hired for Longboat Key
5
A black skimmer incubates its eggs.
  • May 21, 2026
Colony of black skimmers continues to thrive on Lido Key; here's how to respect their space

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