• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Key Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Sarasota | Opinion

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 31, 2019
Beware of the vitriol

Don’t let the vitriolic hyperbole about Selby’s restaurant cloud the bigger picture. Every concession weakens Selby’s ability to achieve long-term sustainability.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Thomas Luzier
  • October 23, 2019
My View: Time for a reality check on Selby

Not in my backyard opposition to master plan has played out to an extreme.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 23, 2019
Sarasota County School Board must leave a positive legacy

Superintendent Todd Bowden’s handling of the sexual harassment charges against the district COO demonstrates he is not a good fit, nor fit for the job.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 17, 2019
The $15 minimum wage: What does it mean for Florida?

Floridians are likely to be voting in 2020 to mandate a 77% increase in Florida’s minimum wage. Don’t be fooled. It would be destructive to all Floridians — lost jobs, less service, higher prices.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 10, 2019
Sarasota government, school board bodies are doing a disservice to taxpayers

Every summer and fall, our government bodies produce enormous budget books with every last detail of how they’re spending your money. But it’s an exercise in confusion.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • October 3, 2019
Should we stop worrying and learn to love the roundabouts?

Florida has more roundabouts than any other state, but that doesn't mean locals and snowbirds are more comfortable with them.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 25, 2019
Oil: villain or lifeblood?

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 248-120 on a bill to ban permanently oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • 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
    By
  • 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
    By
  • 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
    By
  • 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
    By
  • 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
    By
  • 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
    By
  • 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
    By
  • 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?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Sarasota

1
Sarasota nonprofit Casting For The Kids helps children with cancer and their families breathe a little easier.
  • February 6, 2026
Annual fishing tournament casts for a cause
2
Jennifer Rominiecki brought the living museum concept to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens when she was named president and CEO in 2015.
  • February 5, 2026
Botanical gardens' potential lured Rominiecki family to Sarasota
3
Capt. A.J. Grande operates a "six pack" fishing charter business who often picks up and drops off customers at Nora Patterson Park.
  • February 5, 2026
Permits will be required for charter boat operators using county parks
4
The home at 3851 Tangier Terrace was built in 2024 and has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,379 square feet of living area.
  • February 5, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 19-23 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis
5
Sarasota residents Erma and Dave Miller were drawn into the world of bicycle motocross because of their son, Doug Miller, and have spent decades in the sport.
  • February 5, 2026
Sarasota couple stand side by side with BMX

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now