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Opinion

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 26, 2015
OUR VIEW | Manatee tax dilemma

County Administrator Ed Hunzeker says the county’s reserves will be depleted by 2018 if it keeps balancing its budget with them. He hopes a task force will face the reality.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 20, 2015
The dirty Clean Power Plan

Every choice the president and Congress make is a trade-off, not a solution. Once again, the states are usurped.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Bill Nelson
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 11, 2015
Another appeaser

In spite of the American people’s overwhelming opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson claims there is ‘no other available alternative.’ He’s voting for it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 6, 2015
City pension reform can’t wait

You have seen many times in these pages that the city of Sarasota has more than $150 million in unfunded liabilities in the city-employee pension systems. 

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 6, 2015
Meritocracy at Town Hall

Longboat Key Town Manager David Bullock is implementing a private-sector, pay-for-performance system at Town Hall. He’s proving once again he’s not your ordinary government guy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 5, 2015
OUR VIEW | Meritocracy at town hall

Longboat Key Town Manager David Bullock is implementing a private-sector, pay-for-performance system at Town Hall. He’s proving once again he’s not your ordinary government guy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2015
City pension reform can’t wait

You have seen many times in these pages that the city of Sarasota has more than $150 million in unfunded liabilities in the city-employee pension systems.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 30, 2015
It's a private-sector project

Sarasota is an ideal place to have a conference center. But not so ideal is the idea to fund one with tax subsidies. If it’s such a great deal, the private sector should do it.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 29, 2015
Progress in education

In spite of all you hear and read about too much testing and not enough money being spent on education, Florida students are improving.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 23, 2015
Beware: form-based vision

The ‘transportation summit’ was a prelude to a grander scheme for an urban-planner’s dream.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2015
Hoping ignorance vanishes is not enough

AIDS deaths have declined, but HIV cases are on the rise.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 22, 2015
Forget global warming; data show next Ice Age is more likely

Constant change has been a part of the Earth’s climate history since the planet was formed 4.5 billion to 4.6 billion years ago. There has never been a long period of flat-line temperature in the history of the sphere.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 22, 2015
It’s time: peacocks must go

Round up all of them. Keeping a dozen male peacocks won’t change this fact: They’re a nuisance.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 15, 2015
Great information for every LBK taxpayer

Kudos to Town Manager David Bullock and town staffers who produced the online information about the underground-utility referenda. It’s a ‘must-read’ for an informed electorate.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Elia Rofail acquired the 1940s-era Monterey Village Motel at 24th Street and Tamiami Trail and plans to develop a 33-unit, $3 million apartment project.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2015
OUR VIEW | How to change N. Trail’s insanity

Capital flows where it is welcome. For more than 25 years, anti-market regulations have chased away innovation.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
2
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  • December 19, 2025
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Charlie Shachat, a co-founder of the Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade, decided to be part of the show for the "Jaws" 50th anniversary.
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Esplanade continues tradition of being 'foolishly festive' for parade
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District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
  • December 19, 2025
Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair
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Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables

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