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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
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 9, 2015
What we pay is none of Obama’s business

The president’s new rules for overtime will be another unnecessary intrusion into the relationship between employer and employee. Enough of this dictatorship.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2015
Sarasota letters to the editor 7.9.15

Letters to the editor

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 9, 2015
Let Uber and taxis compete

Research shows taxi regulations do much more harm than good.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 2, 2015
Letters to the editor: Sarasota 7.2.15

Sarasota Observer readers write letters to the editor

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Our View
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 1, 2015
Our View: The spirit of liberty defined

We publish our annual “Spirit of America” section — with the hope we can capture and keep alive some of the values and characteristics that have defined American exceptionalism since our nation’s founding 239 years ago.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
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Latest News

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Ed Ference is running for the District 6 at-large Manatee County commission seat.
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From left to right: Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith, Gulf Coast Community Foundation Senior Vice President Jon Thaxton and One Stop Housing CEO Mark Vengroff made up a panel hosted by Miracle on the Key Thursday, March 19 on the subject of affordable housing.
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Wearing her mother's favorite color, Abby Ferreira, one of Cathy Ann "Cam" Maddox's children, raises a glass in memory of her mother on March 21 at Harry's Continental Kitchens with Brian Maddox. He said his late wife wanted a celebration of life that brought together loved ones and friends to smile, share fond memories and show their support for the Longboat Key Turtle Watch, a conservation program she passionately championed.
  • March 24, 2026
Longboat volunteer supports conservation through celebration of life

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