Opinion

Matt Walsh
September 19, 2019

The city’s fiscal fiasco

With the city having to tap its savings for $19.7 million next fiscal year, if it were a business, shareholders would dump the board and CEO.

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
September 19, 2019

He might cry ‘wolf,’ but it is for good reason

Sarasota businessman Martin Hyde used his three minutes at the City Commission meeting with a fiscal message.

Sarasota
Opinion

Adrian Moore
September 12, 2019

Stopping sewage spills should be top priority

Sarasota County has had sewage spills almost every week since March. You would think commissioners would be alarmed.

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
September 6, 2019

Our View: Who's playing politics now? Draw new county districts now

Sarasota County voters overwhelmingly approved single-member districts in the 2018 election. There are many compelling reasons to implement them.

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
August 29, 2019

Our View: What's the strategy?

Add up all the projects the city talks about, and the total would top $600 million. Is there really a plan or strategy for all this?

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
August 29, 2019

Our View: More gun laws won't matter

In the wake of shooting tragedies, state lawmakers always want to adopt more laws, bloviating they will be the cure to stopping evil or a mangled mind. The lack of laws is not the problem. It's how we've devalued life.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Emily Walsh
August 26, 2019

Anti-semitism is on the rise

It’s not just in Europe. It’s rising in the U.S., too — thanks to social media. The Trump administration is making the fight against anti-Semitism a priority.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Guest Author
August 23, 2019

Letters to the editor: Missing Dora and Longbeach Village peacocks

Observer readers sound off on local events.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Marty Fugate
August 22, 2019

Lakewood Ranch is mastering the art of reinvention

Don’t settle for a home you don’t love. Radical reinvention is possible. Jason and Tracy Cotterill proved it in Lakewood Ranch.

East County
Opinion

Jay Heater
August 14, 2019

Growth in eastern Manatee and Sarasota counties key to administrators

East County
Opinion

Matt Walsh
August 14, 2019

The consummate journalist

In her 70s, former Longboat Observer senior editor Dora Walters ran circles around the young Turks in the newsroom. She knew everyone and everything about Longboat Key. "She was our best reporter."

Longboat Key
Opinion

Adrian Moore
August 8, 2019

The power and limits of home rule

In recent years the Florida Legislature has gone after home rule polices restricting guns, vacation rentals, plastic bags and tree ordinances, just to name a few. When is overriding home rule merited?